SIERRA CLUB MISSION STATEMENT: To explore, enjoy and protect the planet. To practice and promote the responsible use of the earth's ecosystems and resources; to educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment; and to use all lawful means to carry out those objectives.

CENTRAL ARKANSAS GROUP NEWSLETTER JUNE-AUGUST 2007

CENTRAL ARKANSAS GROUP GENERAL INFORMATION

A reminder about organizational structure: the whole state makes up the Arkansas Chapter of the Sierra Club (SC). The regularly updated Arkansas Chapter’s website at http://arkansas.sierraclub.org contains all kinds of information on local and national issues. The two groups within this Chapter are the Central Arkansas Group (CAG) and the Ozark Headwaters Group (OHG).

Glen Hooks is the Associate Regional Representative on staff for the national Sierra Club. You can contact him at glen.hooks@sierraclub.org or (501) 301-8280 or at the Arkansas Chapter’s office address, 1308 W. 2^nd St, Little Rock, AR 72201.

The Central Arkansas Group meets on the third Tuesday of every month (unless otherwise noted) in the party room at the Oyster Bar, 3003 W. Markham, in Little Rock. Come at 6:30 pm for social time before the program and discussion begin at 7 pm.

CENTRAL ARKANSAS GROUP OFFICERS

Chair: Kate Althoff ktalthof@aol.com

(501) 223-2744

Vice Chair & Membership: Dina Nash dina_nash@yahoo.com

(501) 246-3026

Newsletter: Zabelle Stodola kzstodola@ualr.edu

(501) 664-8747

Outings: Bill Saunders wasaunders@aristotle.net

(501) 664-2539

Steve Heye steve_heye@aristotle.net (501) 455-2210 and Chuck Oberste chuckoberste@aciplastics.net

Secretary/Treasurer: Bob Stodola

bstodola@hotmail.com (501) 664-8747

Conservation: Cindy Fribourgh

cfribourgh@yahoo.com (501) 224-3510

We do not currently have chairs for Political/Lobbying or Communications. If you are interested in helping out in these areas and/or would like to stand for election, contact Kate Althoff at ktalthof@aol.com OR 223-2744

CENTRAL ARKANSAS GROUP MEETINGS

JUNE 12 & JULY 17. NO MEETING IN AUGUST!

Hope to see you at the Oyster Bar on these dates:

On June 12, Taldi Walter, Alaska Field Coordinator for the National Audubon Society, will speak about Audubon’s conservation work in Alaska and the particular challenges facing Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

On July 17, Gerald Cound, Manager of the Heifer Building here is Little Rock, accompanied by a certified “green” architect, will speak about sustainable building in the state.

NO MEETING IN AUGUST.

CAG SOUND SYSTEM UPDATE

A big THANK YOU to everyone who donated money for the CAG to buy a portable microphone and sound system for our monthly meetings and other events. How did we get the money to do this? We passed round a hat at the April and May meetings. In addition, several of your CAG officers made generous donations. We plan to begin using it in July.

SIERRA CLUB ANNUAL CANOE PICK-UP & FLOAT PHOTO

The SC and Pinnacle Mt. State Park partnered for the easy and scenic 4^th annual 2 ½-hour trash pick up float and lunch on the Little Maumelle River. Great turnout. The biggest “catch” of the day was a truck tire! Thanks to all for helping our environment.

NATIONAL SIERRA CLUB STAFFERS VISIT ARKANSAS

On May 30, officers from the Arkansas Chapter met with two visitors from the national Sierra Club: Jim Price, director of the Southeast Region of the Sierra Club, and Sarah Hodgdon, new deputy field director for national. They will take the lead on various environmental concerns including the proposed lignite-fueled, 600-megawatt power plant to be built near Fulton, Arkansas. This plant would run on an 85 percent mix of coal and lignite with gas which would pose many environmental dangers.

SIERRA CLUB RADIO PROGRAM

Radio station KABF (88.3 FM) and the Sierra Club of Arkansas are partnering to present a weekly environmental issues radio program here in Central Arkansas.

Tune in on Tuesday mornings from 9:30-10 a.m. for SIERRA CLUB RADIO. Host Orli Cotel will interview environmental movers and shakers from around the

country each week, plus provide the latest information on how you can remain active in the drive to protect our planet.

Local Sierra Club staffer Glen Hooks will also spend part of each show updating you on Arkansas environmental issues and upcoming Sierra Club activities.

The first show is TUESDAY, JUNE 5TH, at 9:30 a.m You can hear SIERRA CLUB RADIO in Central Arkansas by tuning to 88.3 FM on your radio dial OR listen live at www.kabf883.com

ONGOING LOCAL ISSUES

For more information and to take action on the issues below, contact CAG Chair, Kate Althoff, at ktalthof@aol.com or 223-2744

BFI LANDFILL:

BFI Waste Systems operates a landfill at 3715 Mabelvale Pike, in the middle of town. Now BFI wants to expand the dump acreage by 15 acres and the height by an additional 50 feet. BFI recently acquired an option to buy 123 acres west of Mabelvale Pike on the old Coleman Dairy property across from UALR. Unless people protest, Little Rock could be the only city in USA with a major dump in the middle of it, causing all kinds of environmental threats to the nearby Rock, Coleman, Fourche, and Brodie creeks, the possibility of flood and fire, and also noise pollution.

THREATS TO LAKE MAUMELLE DRINKING WATER:

Continued vigilance is needed to ensure that developers are unsuccessful in their plans to open up more housing around Lake Maumelle by appealing to the Planning Commission. Although there is a Watershed Management Plan for Lake Maumelle, it has not been fully implemented and developers are trying to capitalize on the current delay.