The Compass - Dallas Sierra Club

May’s Program: Water Quality on page 1
ANWAR Double Feature on page 1
Endorsments for Dallas City Council on page 1
www.dallassierraclub.org
The Compass
Dallas Sierra Club
May 2005
Dallas Executive Committee
Ann Drumm - Chair
Bryan Carpenter - Vice Chair
Cari Henkin - Secretary
Calvin Nichols - Treasurer
Mary Colston
Ze’ev Saggi
Mike Rawlins
David Van Winkle
Political Coordinator
David Griggs
H: 972-240-4141
H: 214-618-1424
H: 214-692-5907
H: 972-783-0962
H: 972-562-7174
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
H: 972-406-9667
[email protected]
H: 214-350-6108
H: 817-745-9988
[email protected]
Newsletter Editorial Board
Arthur Kuehne
Bryan Carpenter
Laura Kimberly
Mike Rawlins
Matt Wales
Webmaster
Kelly Carlson
H: 972-624-8534
Photography
Wendell Withrow
H: 972-416-2500
Sierra Club HQ / Austin
512-477-1729
Dallas Sierra Club
214-369-5543
Dallas Sierra Club
PO Box 800365
Dallas, Texas 75380
(214) 369-5543
Issue 0505
May 2005
[email protected]
Adopt a Shoreline
Carol Nash
H: 214-824-0244 [email protected]
Conservation Committee
Rita Beving Griggs
W: 214-373-3808 [email protected]
Conservation Issues
Leaders
Media / Water
Clean Air
Endangered Species
Forests
Population
Sustainability
Recycling
Rivers / Wetlands Protection
Solid Waste
Trinity River
Sprawl
Water
Energy
Responsible Trade
Rita Beving Griggs
Katy Hubener
Tom Green
Volunteer neeced
Gayle Loeffler
Margie Haley
Volunteer needed
David Gray
Shirley Holland
Joe Wells
Bud Melton
Coordinator Needed
Lisa Silguero
Molly Rooke
W: 214-373-3808 [email protected]
W: 972-296-9100 [email protected]
H: 972-684-5423 [email protected]
Fundraising Chair
Mary Colston
H: 214-618-1424 [email protected]
Inner City Outings Chair
Liz Wheelan
H: 214-739-2269 [email protected]
Media
Rita Beving Griggs
W: 214-373-3808 [email protected]
Membership Chair
Kelly Carlson
H: 972-732-6566 [email protected]
Sierra Singles
Volunteer needed
Outings Committee Chair
Backpacking
Bicycling
Canoeing / Kayaking
Car Camping
Dayhikes
Training Coordinator
Mick Nolen
David Van Winkle
Bill Beach
Terry Sullivan
Volunteer needed
Steve Longley
Arthur Kuehne
H: 972-991-9351
H: 972-562-7174
H: 214-662-3224
H: 972-492-3038
Program Chair
Bryan Carpenter
H: 817-745-9988 [email protected]
Program Sales Coordinator
Patsy Huston
H: 972-732-6566
Special Events Coordinator
Volunteer needed
Video Coordinator
Lisa Silguero
Volunteer Coordinator
Volunteer needed
H: 817-430-3035 [email protected]
H: 214-823-1537 [email protected]
H: 214-342-2019 [email protected]
H: 972-294-8078
H: 214-948-3406 [email protected]
H: 214-828-2144 [email protected]
C: 214-893-7990 [email protected]
H: 214-369-6667 [email protected]
www.dallassierraclub.org
Non-Profit Organization
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PAID
Richardson
Permit No. 1181
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
H: 214-826-3993 [email protected]
H: 214-902-9260 [email protected]
C: 214-893-7990 [email protected]
May 2005
The Compass
A monthly publication of the Dallas Sierra Club
ENDORSEMENTS
M A Y ’ S
P R O G R A M
IN DALLAS CITY COUNCIL RACES
L
ocal elections on May 7, 2005 present a golden opportunity for Sierra Club members
to make an impact on the outcome of several important races for the Dallas City
Council. The Council has considered a number of important local environmental
issues this year, including the controversial plans for construction of the Marvin Nichols
reservoir. Advocating Sierra Club's position opposing new reservoirs and educating the
Council on important local conservation issues continue to be top priorities for our Group.
The Dallas Group Political Committee recently made recommendations for the endorsement of several City Council candidates based upon its analysis of the races. The
Committee mailed questionnaires to each of the 41 Council candidates who filed for the
14 positions. Based upon candidate responses and the voting records of various incumbent members, the Committee made its recommendations to the Dallas Group Executive
Committee at its April 6 meeting. The Executive Committee has approved the endorsements of the following candidates:
District 2 - Pauline Medrano
District 6 - Steve Salazar
District 7 - Leo V. Chaney, Jr.
District 8 - James L. Fantroy
District 11 - Danny Harrison
District 14 - Candy Marcum
Many of the candidates who returned questionnaires provided answers supportive of
some of the Sierra Club positions. However, these six candidates demonstrated a keen
understanding of and indicated the strongest support for Sierra Club's local conservation
priorities. Your vote and support could make a difference. They also need your volunteer
support. The election is Saturday, May 7, 2005. Early voting begins April 20 and ends
May 3. However, specific days and times the locations are open may vary, so go to Early
Voting on www.dalcoelections.org for details. If you would like to volunteer for any of these
candidates, you may contact the candidates' campaigns directly or contact David Griggs,
Political Chair at 972-406-9667 ([email protected]).
May’s Program - Darrel Andrews, Water Quality Manager for the Eastern Division of
the Tarrant Regional Water District, will provide us some fascinating information on the
Richland-Chambers Wetlands Water Reuse Project - an integrated water supply and
wildlife habitat project that is the first of its kind in the United States (see more information below).
Short Program - Dallas Sierran Bud Melton - our Urban Sprawl issues leader - will
do a short presentation for us on the growing problem of urban sprawl, and offer
some solutions on how some cities across the country are successfully addressing
this issue.
T
See May’s Program on
Being Caribou - Distributed by Alaska Wilderness League
Oil On Ice - A Sierra Club film
"Oil On Ice" connects the fate of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to critical decisions
America makes about energy policy. Caught in the balance are the Gwich'in Indians and
the migratory wildlife in this fragile ecosystem. You already know you don't want drilling in
the refuge. This film gives you the reasons why.
The Dallas Sierra Club’s general meetings are held the second Wednesday of
each month. Meetings are open to all
interested persons. The meetings are
held at Greenhill School located at
the corner of Midway and Spring
Valley. Please enter from Hornet
Drive. Check www.dallasseirraclub.org for
directions. (Mapsco 14F)
Hornet
Greenhill School
Spring Valley
Tollway
Environmentalist Leanne Allison and wildlife biologist Karsten Heuer follow the 120,000
member Porcupine caribou herd on foot across 1,500 kilometers of rugged Arctic tundra.
Dramatic footage and video diaries provide an intimate perspective of an epic expedition.
Page 3
Midway
On Friday June 17 and Saturday June 18 Bill Greer will present an Arctic Refuge double
feature at the REI store near IH 635 and Welch Road. Show times are 7:00 PM Friday
and 2:00 PM Saturday. The films to be shown are:
he Dallas Sierra Club has made water conservation one of our top priorities
over the last few years, especially since North Texans use more water per capita than in any other region across Texas. As the area's population increases,
wise water usage will become even more critical to us.
The Tarrant Regional Water District provides raw water from surface water sources
to over 1.6 million people in an area that spans across ten counties in North Central
Texas. Using conservative projections, the population numbers will swell to over 2.6
million by the year 2050. The challenge is paramount: the District must provide highquality, reliable water supplies to meet future demands. I response to this challenge,
the District has partnered with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) to
develop a solution that will significantly supplement water supplies.
Historically, water supply needs have been met by constructing reservoirs. However,
as anyone who has followed the Dallas Sierra Club's fight to stop the controversial
Marvin-Nichols reservoir project knows, this option has become increasingly more difficult because of lack of nearby sites, water-rights issues, the costs of construction of
the reservoir and transmission facilities, as well as a desire to avoid loss of riparian
habitat and the displacement of landowners from their homesteads.
The search for viable water supply alternatives led District planners to pursue an
innovative measure - tapping into an available resource to supplement the yield in
LBJ Freeway
Check out the June issue of Compass for more details!
The Compass
May 2005
1
The Compass
May 2005
Volume 100, Issue 0505
The Compass is the monthly publication of the
Dallas Regional Group of the Sierra Club.
Members of the Dallas Group support The
Compass and receive the publication as part of
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Opt Out: You can download and view The
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your name and member number. Or send your
name and member number on a post card to
Cancel Compass, Dallas Sierra Club, P.O. Box
800365, Dallas TX 75380-0365
GENERAL
CALENDAR
5/4 • 6/1 First Wednesday. Executive
Committee Meeting 6:30PM at REI 2nd
Newsletter Subscriptions:
Dallas Sierra Club
P.O. Box 800365
Dallas TX 75380-0365
Address Changes: To change your address,
send your name, old and new addresses and
member number to:
Sierra Club Member Services
PO Box 52968
Boulder, Colorado 80322-2968
or email the information to:
Road & Midway Road, MAPSCO 14Q), to
discuss
Club
projects,
policy
and
finances. All members are welcome to
attend and participate. Call Ann Drum at
214-350-6108.
5/9 • 6/5 Monday before the General
Meeting. Deadline for electronic materials to be submitted to the Compass
E-mail
[email protected]
or
General Meeting.
5/11 • 6/8 Second Wednesday. Sierra
Club General Meeting 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Come to the General Meeting at
Greenhill School located at the corner of
Midway and Spring Valley. Check
www.dallasseirraclub.org for directions.
Come early to pick up activity materials
and afterwords join the socializing at
Pappa’s Pizza.
5/18 • 6/15 Third Wednesday. Outings
Comittee Meeting 7:00 PM at REI (MAPSCO 14Q) to discuss schedules and
issues. All outings leaders, future outings
leaders, and interested Sierrans are welcome. Call Mick Nolen at 972-991-9351
for more information.
[email protected]
Submissions: Article and photograph submissions are always welcome. Please send submissions by the deadlines given in the General
Calendar. Send submissions to the newsletter
editor at the e-mail address and phone number
listed on the back fold.
© 2005 Dallas Sierra Club
Giving Dallasites Reasons to Recycle:
Don't Focus on the Environment
floor meeting room (I-635 between Welch
deliver diskettes to editors during the
Subscriptions: The Compass is available to nonmembers by subscription for $12 per year. To
subscribe, send a check made payable to
"Dallas Sierra Club" to:
Letter from Chair
5/25
•
6/22
Fourth
Wednesday.
Newsletter Party 7:00PM at the Churchill
Recreation
Center
at
Hillcrest
&
Churchill Way (MAPSCO 15V). Help
sort, bundle and label the newsletter.
Socializing afterward. Contact Charlotte
Forst at 972-248-7581.
Volunteer Opportunities
INNER CITY OUTINGS (ICO)
Sierra Club outreach program provides hikes and camping to disadvantaged youth. A
special volunteer orientation meeting / dinner will be planned. For details, watch website
(www.dallassierraclub.org) or contact Liz Wheelan at [email protected] or 214-739-2269.
SPEAK ABOUT MERCURY CONTAMINATION
Why do you recycle? You hold a particular value and a conviction that recycling is a
behavior that promotes that value, so you act accordingly. What motivates you, the
"environmentalist", is different from that which motivates your neighbor, the one who
recycles but wouldn't ever call himself an "environmentalist" and doesn't identify with
the "agenda" of the environmental movement. And your other neighbor isn't yet motivated to recycle at all. What are the differences here?
Dr. Don Beck has spent 30 years studying the motivations for human behavior, digging below the surface factors that are often offered as explanations for behavior to
identify the deeper values that drive our behaviors. He has articulated a process of
human evolution through different levels of value development in a map called "Spiral
Dynamics". Human values evolve in response to changing conditions, and individuals
and cultures at any given time have a center of gravity at a particular level, or "meme".
Spiral Dynamics explains how different behaviors arise from these different value
memes and how conflict often arises out of a clash between different memes.
For a short overview of his model, see the article, "The Never-Ending Upward Quest"
from the Fall/Winter 2002 issue of What Is Enlightenment? magazine
(http://wie.org/j22/beck.asp).
Environmentalists are doing a lot of soul-searching after the 2004 election, asking
why, after more than three decades of environmental advocacy, we still struggle so
hard for environmental gains and lose so often at the ballot box. The best explanations
are hitting on this question of values.
A recent article* in The Portland Oregonian described "enterprise environmentalism"
as an alternative to traditional environmental advocacy that promotes "green" solutions
for their economic value and profit potential rather than their contribution to nature.
This, of course, is a theme of such influential books as Natural Capitalism (Hawken,
Lovins and Lovins) and Cradle to Cradle (McDonough and Braungart).
What's missing from this approach, according to the Oregonian article, is "soul". It
cites an MIT research study that finds a substantial majority invoked caring for God's
creation as the rationale for environmental protection and argues that "spiritual arguments for the environment, seldom used by the environmental movement, will be far
more effective than utilitarian arguments".
The article is almost right. Don Beck is showing us that BOTH arguments are important because they appeal to different value memes. We must learn to speak to traditionalists and modernists, the religious and the secular, capitalists and social conservatives in the language of their particular values. We must demonstrate that behaving
in ways that promote sustainability is consistent with those values. Changing the values of our audience is not necessary or realistic and therefore should not be our goal.
Speaking effectively to the existing values of our audience is the key to our success.
Our new Recycling Outreach Team is speaking to audiences in Dallas with a presentation that is informed by Spiral Dynamics. Although we talk about the environmental benefits of recycling, we focus on the other benefits of recycling. Yes, recycling
helps preserve the natural world by easing the pressure for extraction of resources.
But it also helps us fulfill our responsibility to care for God's creation and our responsibility to future generations. It promotes our children's health and helps develop
responsible children. It saves tax dollars. It even enhances our national security by
saving oil, minerals and energy.
Different people recycle for different reasons. Our job is to identify the different motivations and speak effectively to each of them. If, in the process, we persuade a few of
them to think of themselves as "environmentalists", so much the better.
You can be part of this team. Contact me at [email protected] or 214-350-6108.
Even if you can't be a team member, send me your suggestions for places we can go
speak - churches and religious institutions, PTAs, homeowners' associations and business groups. Include a contact name and phone number so we can call to make an
appointment.
Ann Drumm
Dallas Sierra Club Chair
* "Replanting the Environmental Garden" By Richard Louv , March 27, 2005
Staff tables at events to educate the public about mercury contamination of Texas lakes.
Contact Paul Huston, [email protected].
COMPASS REPORTER
Write an occasional article about events going on in the Dallas group.
Contact [email protected]
RECYCLING TEAM NEEDS PUBLIC SPEAKERS
Talk to community groups about recycling. We’ll train you and give you handouts for
your audiences. Great advocacy opportunity! Contact Ann Drumm at 214-350-6108.
Subscribe to
the Dallas Sierra Club
email lists at:
www.dallassierraclub.org
NEWSLETTER LAYOUT VOLUNTEER
Need experience in electronic publishing or be computer-literate and willing to learn.
Click on the "Email Lists" link.
NEWSLETTER AD SALES
Help boost club revenue by selling newsletter ads
2
May 2005
The Compass
Sierra Club Wine Tasting
May 21st at Tony's Wine Warehouse
S
ierra Club is once again having its fabulous wine tasting fundraiser at Tony's
Wine Warehouse in Dallas. The date
for this event is May 21st at 8:00 pm. Sierra
Club members and nonmembers are welcome to attend.
Bring your friends and taste at least 12-15
wonderful red and white wines in a fun,
classroom like atmosphere where a wine
professional will share fun facts about
wines.
Space is limited to 40 attendees, so make
your reservations now. This event fills up fast
with all proceeds benefiting the Sierra Club.
Reservations are required. To reserve
your place, mail a check made payable to
Dallas Sierra Club to Chris Fader at 4932
Harvest Hill Road, Dallas, TX. The cost is
$20/Single or $35/Couple. Reservations
are accepted on a first paid, first reserved
basis. Please note your email address
and/or phone number so that your reservation can be confirmed. Call Chris at 972387-2302 or email him at winetasting@dal-
lassierraclub.org for more information.
Appetizers, as well as Tony's full menu of
dinner selections, are available before and
after the wine tasting class. These costs are
not covered in the price of the wine tasting
class. If you wish to enjoy a meal at Tony's
before the class, make your dinner reservation for between 6:00 and 6:30 pm by calling Tony's at 214-520-9463 so you can be
finished prior to the tasting. If you are interested in having dessert or a meal at Tony's
after the class, please include a note with
your check or send an email to Chris who
will request Tony's reserve seating for our
group after the class.
Tony's is located near the Melrose Hotel
at 2904 Oak Lawn Ave.in Dallas. Dress is
business casual.
The class will last
approximately one and a half hours. We
ask that attendees arrive fifteen minutes
early as Tony's starts the class promptly on
time. This is a great way to treat friends or
meet other Sierra Club members.
M AY ’ S P RO G R A M
Memorial Day Weekend Trip - May 27
T
he Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club plans a Memorial Day Weekend trip May
27 through 30 to the Nature Conservancy open house at their Davis Mountain
Preserve, which is located north of the McDonald Observatory.
This area, which includes Mount Livermore, the highest Peak in the Davis Mountains,
and from which on a clear day (which are becoming rarer and rarer) you can see the entire
Trans-Pecos from the Chisos Mountains in Big Bend to Guadalupe Peak. This area is not
regularly open to the public and is a spectacular site. We will camp together (and it is only
about 45 minutes from Ft. Davis if folks want motel accomadations). While they have some
scheduled activities, including a Mount Livermore hike (very steep, but spectacular and not
incredibly long), there will be lots of free time for shorter hikes, bird watching, visiting the
Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute, or going to San Solomon Springs at Balmorhea. It
would be very easy for us to to go to a star party at the observatory. They haven't finalized
their plans for this year, but often they have a program onthings such as falconry, wildfire
prevention, or cattle-herding with dogs. The Preserve is an inviting place, and the weather
is likely to be cool in May-- indeed it is well over a mile high. They have a web-site at:
http://nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/texas/preserves/art6647.html
To participate contact Sandra Grimes at [email protected] or 512-472-3774.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
existing reservoirs. In this case the plan
called for diverting return flows from the
Trinity River that originated from District
reservoirs first into the Richland-Chambers
and eventually into Cedar Creek reservoirs
and reusing or recycling that water. It is a
unique project that could ultimately augment current yields in both reservoirs by
30%, which equates to a dependable supply of over 115,000 acre feet per year.
During much of the year, flows in the
Trinity are made up of highly treated wastewater discharges from treatment plants in
the D/FW area. The Trinity watershed also
receives runoff from both urban and rural
areas. Concern for the impact which this
additional supply would have on the receiving reservoir's water quality due to elevated
concentrations of nutrients and sediment in
the Trinity led to the investigation of an
effective method for the removal of these
loads - natural wetlands filtration. Using
wetlands as a natural filtration/treatment
system eliminates the need to build biological or chemical treatment plants to achieve
suitable water quality. In 1991 the District
implemented a pilot-scale wetland system
in order to determine if wetland usage
would be a viable alternative to help D/FW
meet its water reuse / recycling needs. The
District's Environmental Team spent eight
years thoroughly studying the pilot scale
wetlands-system. They determined that
water quality from water filtered through the
wetlands showed target levels for nutrient
and sediment concentrations for "finished"
water that were as good as or better than
water flowing into the reservoirs from its
natural tributaries. Based upon the success
of the pilot system, the District constructed
a 243-acre field-scale system of wetlands
in 2000, which was completed in 2002. The
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department partnered with the District to locate the wetlands on the North unit of the Richland
Creek Wildlife Management Area (WMA).
The new wetlands also address two major
goals for the WMA - habitat enhancement
for a variety of wildlife species and additional public outdoor recreational opportunities, including hunting and birdwatching. In
2005 the District will construct another 250acre field-scale wetland system, with an
eventual goal of 2,000 acres of wetlands
per reservoir.
So come join us in May to learn more
about this fascinating project. We're sure
that you will find both of these presentations
to be both educational and entertaining.
Wine
Tasting
Saturday, May 21st
Tony’s Wine Warehouse
at 8:00 p.m.
Come taste and learn about 12-15 wonderful
red and white wines in a fun
and fabulous classroom like atmosphere.
$20 per person $35 per couple (per event)
Limited Seating
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED
Make check to Dallas Sierra Club
(note email address/or phone on check so we can
contact you to confirm receipt)
and send to:
Attn: Chris Fader, 4932 Harvest Hill Rd.,
Dallas, TX 75244-6519.
Reservations confirmed ONLY
upon receipt of your check and is
based on first paid, first reserved basis.
For info, call or email Chris at 972-387-2302
or [email protected]
Tony’s is located near the Melrose Hotel
at 2904 Oak Lawn Ave. in Dallas
Monies benefit the Dallas Sierra Club.
Nonmembers welcome.
CORRECTIONS
The editors regret that bylines for our new reports were omitted from the
April issues. Laurie Orloff wrote the article "Ned Fritz: A Texas Orginal",
and Pryor Lawson wrote the article, "Boy Meets Girl" about Cari Henkin and
Pete Tucker. Thanks, Laurie and Pryor!
The Compass
May 2005
3
May 2005
Sierra Club Outings
www.dallassierraclub.org
Backpacking
Canoeing
Car Camping
Cycling
Day Hiking
Education
Fishing
Kids Welcome
Service Project
Strenuous
Women Only
Notice: To receive this outings list monthly
via e-mail, send message to:
[email protected]
Type SUBSCRIBE OUTINGS LIST
on the subject line.
HOW THE OUTING
PROGRAM WORKS
Dallas Sierra Club Outings are open to members
and non-members. Some trips may require special
qualifications and capabilities. The leaders of each
outing / trip are serving in a volunteer capacity and
assume no responsibility above that of trip organizer.
If you have a medical problem, it is your responsibility
to inform the leader before the outing / trip. Outing /
Trip leaders are encouraged to participate in training
and classes to increase their skills, but they are not
paid professionals. They will assist you within their limitations. It is the responsibility of the participant to be
aware of any personal limitations before going on an
outing.
Radios and firearms are prohibited from all outings.
Pets are not allowed unless specifically stated. All outings officially begin at the trail head or outing start
point. Leaders cannot assign carpools, but may help
coordinate ride sharing for energy conservation and to
promote fellowship. All non-commercial transportation
is the responsibility of the individual. Car-pooling is
SOLELY voluntary, but the costs are shared. The
usual method of sharing transportation cost is for all
riders in the car, including the driver, to divide the cost
of transportation equally. The recommended method
of computing cost is to multiply round trip mileage by
$0.13 a mile for small cars, $0.16 for large cars and
$0.19 for vans. Before leaving, be sure this or some
other method is agreed upon.
Most outings require reservations. To participate in
an outing contact the leader, who will decide if the trip
you are interested in is suitable for you based on your
capabilities and the demands of the trip. There is usually a limit to the number of people allowed on a given
outing / trip. Reservations are necessary for outings
unless otherwise noted. If you must cancel, inform the
leader as soon as possible so that someone else can
go in your place.
Please respect the wishes of your leader who has
volunteered his / her free time to allow you to go on the
trip of your choice. If you have any questions, or if you
are interested in becoming a leader, contact either the
Outings Chair or the appropriate Outings Committee
Coordinator on the newsletter back page.
4
MAY 6-10 (FRI-TUE) GILA WILDERNESS
ADVANCED BACKPACKING TRIP The
Gila Wilderness is located in southwestern
New Mexico, approximately 900 miles from
Dallas. Car pooling will be encouraged. The
journey includes a backpack trip of 24 miles
over three days on the Crest Trail (USFS
trail 182). Start at the Sandy Point trailhead
at 9100 feet. The trail quickly climbs a ridge
to 10000 feet. The trail passes Whitewater
Baldy Peak (10,895í ñ highest point in the
Wilderness), Center Baldy (10535’),
Hummingbird Saddle (10400’), ending at
Mogollon Baldy (10770’). The view from
Hummingbird Saddle of Whitewater Baldy
is one of the most breathtaking views in the
Wilderness. The view from Whitewater
Baldy of Whitewater Creek is also superb.
Tracks of coyotes, lions, bears, deer, and
elk can sometimes be found on this trail.
This backpack trip is considered difficult. In
addition to the hike, we will visit the Gila
Cliff Dwellings National Monument.
Leaders: David Van Winkle
Emil Raggi
972-562-7174
[email protected]
MAY 6 (FRI) DEADLINE for submission of
outings to be listed in the May Outings List
and June Newsletter.
Contact: Mick Nolen
972-991-9351
[email protected]
MAY 7 (SAT) DAYHIKE AT ARBOR HILLS
NATURE PRESERVE Meet at 9:00AM
near the pavilions. Arbor Hills is located at
6701 W. Parker Rd. in Plano just west of
Midway Rd. We will walk 4 - 6 miles mainly on a paved path and some on a dirt trail.
No reservations, just show up. Optional
Starbucks afterwards.
Leaders: Laura Kimberly
972-307-8364 (H)
Judy Cato
972-238-5738 (H)
MAY 13-15 (SAT - SUN) CANOE THE
WASHITA RIVER
Part two of the '05
canoe and kayak odyssey takes Sierrans
up to Oklahoma for a campground weekend
and a 15 mile fast float down a category 2
river only 2 hours away from Dallas. This
trip starts at the Dougherty Bridge and
ends at Highway 53 bridge near the
Municipal Airport on the Washita River.
Along the way several rapids later including
"Big Canyon" rapids the water enthusiasts
will see wildlife, cliffs and birds galore.
Camping will be at the Turner Falls campground Friday and Saturday nights or arrive
at the put in by 9 A.M. Saturday to start this
one day trip. This trip is not for novices
since the rapids at Big Canyon are at least
a mile long.
Leader: Terry Sullivan
972-492-3038
[email protected]
MAY 14-21(SAT-SAT) DARK CANYON
SOUTHERN UTAH BACKPACK AND
DAYHIKE Four day backpack in Dark
Canyon starting in Alpine scenery and
ending in the desert. Also day hikes in
Natural Bridges and other areas with the
remaining time.
Leader: Don Purinton
This trip is currently full.
MAY 14 (SAT) WHITE ROCK LAKE
CLEANUP Walk and talk while helping to
pick up trash and recycleables at the Sierra
Club's adopted section of White Rock Lake
Park. Meet at 8:15 AM at the Love of the
Lake office on the Northeast corner of
Garland Rd. and Buckner Blvd. Look for a
crowd of people drinking free juice and coffee. Gloves, trash bags, etc. provided. Our
area includes one of the wonderful prairie
restoration areas, so there are always birds
and wildflowers to enjoy. The lake and your
karma wil thank you. Brunch afterwards.
Leader: Carol Nash
214-824-0244 (H)
[email protected]
MAY 18 (WED) OUTINGS COMMITTEE
MEETING Meet in the upstairs program
room at REI (on north side of LBJ between
Midway and Welch), at 7:00 PM. Bring your
ideas for the Dallas Sierra Club Outings
program. We will be planning local outings
and bus trips. All outings leaders, future
outings leaders, and interested Sierrans
welcome.
Contact: Mick Nolen
972-991-9351(H)
[email protected]
MAY 21-25 (SAT - WED) ZION AND
BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK
BASE CAMP / DAYHIKE See the incredible towering cliffs and slickrock canyons of
Zion National Park, learning about the
unique geology that created this region.
See the unique, colorful hoodoos and natural bridges in Bryce Canyon, learning
about the powerful forces that created
these structures millions of years ago and
the current day forces that continue to
modify them. We will day hike from our
base camp in Zion Canyon to numerous
locations in Zion National Park, plus drive
to a dayhike in Bryce Canyon National
Park. Included in the Zion portion of the trip
will be the Lower Narrows of Zion Canyon,
and outstanding vistas from Angels
Landing and Observation Point / Hidden
Canyon. We will day hike in Bryce Canyon
at either Fairyland loop or the Under the
Rim trail. We will hike 6-10 miles with up to
2200’ of elevation gain (and down) every
day. This trip is rated strenuous. This is a fly
/ drive trip.
Leader: David Van Winkle
972-562-7174
[email protected]
May 2005
MAY 27-31 (FRI - TUE) MEMORIAL DAY
BUS TRIP TO THE WHITE MOUNTAINS
WILDERNESS / RUIDOSO AREA Enjoy
one of five different 3-day trips to central
New Mexico. New to this year's trip 1 will be
based in a Bed & Breakfast with dayhiking,
fishing, a possible White Sands Monument
outing--or if you prefer, just relaxing and
enjoying the view! Trips 2 thru 5 will backpack in the White Mountain Wilderness of
the Lincoln National Forest. Backpack
trips range from moderate to strenuous
and we recommend that participants have
at least one prior backpacking trip. Our
chartered sleeper bus will leave Dallas
after work on Friday, May 27 and return at
about 5:00 AM on Tuesday, May 31. Cost
is $180 for members, $200 for non-members for backpacking trips. The trip that
stays in the Bed & Breakfast will be $360
for members and $380 for non-members.
Send checks payable to "Dallas Sierra
Club" to Cari Henkin, 5419 Morningside
Ave, Dallas 75206.
Leader: Cari Henkin
214-826-5461
[email protected]
MAY 28 - JUN 5 (SUN - SAT) BOUNDARY
WATERS CANOE AREA, MINNESOTA
Mudro Lake entry point. This entry gets
booked-up very quickly because of its scenic beauty and fantastic fishing. Routes
start at the end of an old logging road from
a private landing adjacent to the locally colorful "Chainsaw Sisters Saloon". Portaging
into Horse or Fourtown Lake can find the
base camping unit at their campsite by
noon. For those wanting to continue, a
chain of small lakes to the northwest leads
to good walleye and northern fishing.
Parties may also paddle the Horse River up
to the it’s confluence with the Basswood
River which forms a section of the
Canadian Border. Another mile, and paddlers can gaze at some very clear pictographs adorning a cliff face along the
river. Bring a fishing rod as Smallmouth
Bass fishing is excellent this time of year.
Side trip to International Wolf Center in Ely
(time allowing). Deposit Required, get it in
early to secure lodging for both Saturday
nights. Fly / Drive from Minneapolis.
Contact: Paul Huston
972-732-6566
[email protected]
JUN 3 (FRI) DEADLINE for submission of
outings to be listed in the June Outings List
and July Newsletter.
Contact: Mick Nolen
972-991-9351
[email protected]
JUN 5 - 11 (SUN - SAT) BUFFALO
NATIONAL RIVER CANOE TRIP The
Buffalo River in northern Arkansas is one of
the most beautiful rivers in the United
States. The Buffalo River is administered
by the National Park Service and features
clear water, magnificent high limestone
bluffs and an outstanding canoeing experience. We’ll canoe about 60 miles of the
river from Gilbert down to a take out on the
White River and camp on the gravel bars
along the way. Exact mileage may change
due to river level. Some canoeing experience required.
Leader: Arthur Kuehne
214-902-9260
[email protected]
The Compass
JUN 11 (SAT) WHITE ROCK LAKE
CLEANUP Walk and talk while helping to
pick up trash and recycleables at the Sierra
Club's adopted section of White Rock Lake
Park. Meet at 8:15 AM at the Love of the
Lake office on the Northeast corner of
Garland Rd. and Buckner Blvd. Look for a
crowd of people drinking free juice and coffee. Gloves, trash bags, etc. provided. Our
area includes one of the wonderful prairie
restoration areas, so there are always birds
and wildflowers to enjoy. The lake and your
karma will thank you. Brunch afterwards.
Leader: Carol Nash
214-824-0244 (H)
[email protected]
JUN 15 (WED) OUTINGS COMMITTEE
MEETING Meet in the upstairs program
room at REI (on north side of LBJ between
Midway and Welch), at 7:00 PM. Bring your
ideas for the Dallas Sierra Club Outings
program. We will be planning local outings
and bus trips. All outings leaders, future
outings leaders, and interested Sierrans
welcome.
Contact: Mick Nolen
972-991-9351(H)
[email protected]
JUN 21 (TUE) OUTINGS LEADER TRAINING CLASS So, no trips going where you
want to go. You can fix that problem by
becoming an outings leader for the Dallas
Sierra Club. That way, you are in charge
and you can go where you want to go. If
you would like to be an outings leader, or
you’re just curious, come to this class and
learn what it takes. We’ll cover Sierra Club
rules and regulations, leader requirement,
insurance, and much, much more. The
class will start at 7:00 PM at REI. REI is
located on the north side of LBJ between
Midway and Welch. No reservations are
necessary, just show up.
Leader: Arthur Kuehne
214-902-9260
[email protected]
JULY 1-5 (FRI -TUE) ANNUAL FOURTH
OF JULY BUS TRIP TO THE SANGRE DE
CHRISTO MOUNTAINS IN SOUTH CENTRAL COLORADO This early summer
outing to the high Rockies is for backpackers to escape the heat of Dallas. We will
leave on a bus on Friday evening and arrive
at the trailhead Saturday morning. There
will be five trips available rated from moderate to strenuous. Each trip will camp at
above 11,000 feet. Each will have one or
two days available for peak bagging or
other high country exploration. The area
has streams, lakes, mountains, and magnificent scenery. We arrive back in Dallas by
5 AM
the morning of the 5th. We have not been
to this destination in few years, so we
expect it to fill up fast.
Leader: Mick Nolen
972-991-9351
[email protected]
Co-Leaders: Greg Holman
Phil Sanders
JUL 16-17 (SAT-SUN) SIXTEENTH ANNUAL BASTILLE DAY CANOE TRIP
Celebrate this French national holiday
marking the beginning of the French revolution with our annual canoe trip on the Red
River. We’ll canoe 20 miles of the Red starting at the I-35 bridge near Gainesville.
Saturday, we will canoe, swim and relax
The Compass
before camping on a large sand bar.
Sunday will be an easy paddle to the takeout with a stop or two to swim and look for
fossils. Some canoeing experience is
required and you must furnish your own
canoe and camping equipment. Also, you
must bring something French, or you will be
guillotined at dawn.
Leader: Arthur Kuehne
214-902-9260
[email protected]
Flatside Wilderness Hike 2005
AUG 20 - 27 (SAT - SAT) BACKPACK THE
SINKYONE WILDERNESS LOST IN
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA Also day hike
some of the State and National Redwood
parks. Need to get low priced tickets to San
Francisco area now for the trip. Will rent
autos to get to trailhead and Redwood
State and National Parks.
Leader: Don Purinton
972-985-1774
[email protected]
SEPT 1 - 6 (THU - TUE) LABOR DAY BUS
TRIP TO THE WEMINUCHE WILDERNESS IN COLORADO Escape the Texas
heat and join us for our trip to the cool
Colorado mountains of the Weminuche
Wilderness. Trips will range from a short
backpack with dayhikes to strenuous long
hikes. At least 1 prior backpack trip is
strongly recommended. Our sleeper bus
leaves Dallas at 4:00 PM on Thursday
evening and returns at about 5:00 AM on
Tuesday morning.
The Weminuche
Wilderness offers a great diversity and all
the miles you want to hike. It is a hidden
jewel and one of or most popular trips. Full
Details to come!
Contact: Mick Nolen
972-991-9351
[email protected]
Above: Cari Hinkin leads 9 men into the
wilderness (one is taking the picture).
Pretty nice work if you can get it - and
you can if you become a trip leader for
the Dallas Sierra Club.
Right: Crossing Crystal Prong Creek.
Below: A close up of a Trout Lily.
On the Cover: Grayson takes a cat nap
on top of Flatside Pinnacle.
SEPT 17 (SAT) BEGINNER BACKPACKING AND CAMPING CLASS Aimed at
beginners, this class is an ideal way to learn
about backpacking. Topics include: wilderness ethics, outdoor clothing, boots, backpacks, tents, sleeping bags, cookware,
food, and preparing for a trip. Instructors
are experienced Dallas Sierra Club leaders.
There will be time for questions and a
hands-on look at outdoor gear. Lunch of
backpacking food is included. You will also
have the opportunity to learn about, and
sign up for, several beginner backpacking
trips. The fee is $20 for Sierra Club members and $30 for non-members (you can
sign up to be a Sierra Club member at the
class). No reservations are necessary, just
show up.
Contact: Arthur Kuehne
214-902-9260
[email protected]
NOV 23 - 28 (WED - MON) ANNUAL BIG
BEND BUS TRIP The Dallas Sierra Club
Thanksgiving tradition continues with the
annual bus trip to Big Bend. New This Year:
An option to backpack the Rancherias Trail
in the Big Bend Ranch State Natural Area
(strenuous). The canoe trip option will be
available again this year as well. If you've
never been, you owe it to yourself to discover this unique part of Texas. If you've
been before, take advantage of the new
options! Our chartered sleeper bus leaves
Dallas on Wednesday at 6:30 PM and
returns about 4:30 AM on Monday. We will
have four backpacking trips from moderate
to strenuous and one canoeing trip through
Boquillas Canyon where the walls tower to
May 2005
over 1,200 feet. Some backpacking experience is required for the backpack trips and
some canoe / camping experience is
required for the canoe trip. Full Details
to come.
Contact: Arthur Kuehne
214-902-9260
[email protected]
5
SIERRA SINGLES
MAY 2 (MON) SIERRA SINGLES DINNER
Join other DFW area Sierra Singles for
casual dinner and conversation. Meet at
BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse (972-3924600) at 7 PM in Addison, 4901 Beltline, on
the north side, west of the Tollway between
Quorum and Landmark. No RSVP required.
Look for us in the patio room. BJ's offers a
full menu including vegetarian items.
Contact: Sue Schaeffer
972-304-0974
972-979-8555
[email protected]
MAY 24 (TUE) SIERRA SINGLES - FREE
OUTDOOR CONCERT IN LEWISVILLE
Come join us at the "Sounds of Lewisville"
Concert with Mingo Fishtrap, named by the
Austin Music Awards as the "Best Jam
Band" and "Best Funk Band." Meet us 6:457:00 PM under the GREEN brick pavilion
near the entrance plaza of the Vista Ridge
(Lewisville)
Amphitheater.
The
Amphitheater is located off of the Hwy 121
Bypass, 3/4 mile west of I-35. From Hwy
121, turn left onto Lake Vista Dr. and follow
it around. The Amphitheater will be on the
left. If you arrive after 7:00 PM, look for us
inside. We'll try to have a visible "Sierra"
sign. Music starts at 7:30. Bring a lawn chair
or blanket to sit on. You may also bring food
and drinks (non-alcoholic.) There is also a
concession stand. No RSVP required. See
www.soundsoflewisville.com and www.mingofishtrap.com.
Contact: Sue Schaeffer
972-304-0974
972-979-8555 (C)
[email protected]
JUN 4 (SAT) SIERRA SINGLES - NAT'L
TRAILS DAY AT FT WORTH NATURE
CENTER Come join the Sierra Singles
See You in September?
group at 9:00 AM at the Fort Worth Nature
Center Hardwicke Interpretative Center.
The park opens its gates at 9 AM so be
there promptly. We will hike a 4-mile section
of the trails. Bring water and raingear, but
no pets please. You can join us for a picnic
lunch at the picnic tables within the park
afterwards. Each person should bring lunch
and a beverage. In celebration of National
Trails Day, a drawing for camping equipment and related gear will be held after the
hike. For directions to the Nature Center,
visit www.fwnaturecenter.org or call the Nature
Center at 817-237-1111. In the event of
rain, the hike is cancelled.
Leader: Claudia Blalock
817-924-6242.
JUN 5 (SUN) SIERRA SINGLES - GINGERBREAD TRAIL TOUR OF HOMES IN
WAXAHACHIE Come join the Sierra
Singles group for the 37th Annual
Gingerbread Trail Tour of Homes, Arts &
Crafts Festival, and the 3rd Annual
Chautauqua Antique Market, as we celebrate the rich history of Waxahachie. We
will meet in front of the historic Texas
Theater, 110 W. Main Street at 1:00 PM.
Look for the Sierra Singles sign. Tickets can
be purchased in advance ($3 discount for
adults) or purchased on the day of the
event for $15. Tour takes 2-3 hours with free
bus transportation between homes. The
grand dame of Waxahachie - The
Courthouse - will be open with docent-led
tours. Several other historic downtown
buildings will be open as well. We'll decide
where to meet for dinner during the tour. For
tickets and other information, visit
http://www.rootsweb.com/~txecm/ginger.htm.
Leader: Kathy Rushing
972-938-1784
[email protected]
Sign up for the Dallas area Sierra Singles email list by going to
www.DallasSierraClub.org and following the instructions under "Email Lists." If
you would like to help organize DFW Sierra Singles events or want further
information, contact Sue Schaeffer at 972-304-0974 or (Cell) 972-9798555 or [email protected], or contact Paul Heller at 972-620-1703 or
[email protected].
6
May 2005
Largest Gathering Ever: Sierra Club Convention to
Welcome Thousands to San Francisco, Build Vision for Future
S
ierra Summit 2005 was born at a a
Sierra Club Board of Directors meeting two years ago. Harvard sociologist
and former United Farm Worker organizer
Marshall Ganz gave a talk about successful
social movements of the past century, and
noted that they all held conventions where
local leaders celebrated, told their stories,
and returned home inspired and energized.
Bob Perkowitz, a trustee of The Sierra Club
Foundation, asked why the Sierra Club
couldn't host a convention, then he offered
to donate seed money to get the ball rolling.
Former board member Nick Aumen offered
a resolution accepting that challenge and
charging a task force
to pursue it.
Gallons of blood,
sweat, and tears
later,
and
voilá,
Sierra Summit 2005,
the Sierra Club's
first-ever large-scale
convention, to be
held September 8-11
in San Francisco's
Moscone Center.
The summit will
feature
speakers
and entertainment comedian Bill Maher
will
headline
Saturday night and
pundit
Arianna
Huffington will speak
Sunday at lunch, an
exposition featuring
more
than
150
green and outdoor
businesses as well
as a cooking stage,
a climbing wall, and
an on-site ecohouse. And at the
center of all this
activity will be an unprecedented gathering of delegates from chapters, groups,
committees, and task forces, who will
work together to plot the direction of the
Club for the coming years.
"This will be the most inclusive directionsetting process we've ever had," says
board member Greg Casini, co-chair of the
Summit Steering Committee.
For years, the Sierra Club has hosted an
annual meeting that includes the board of
directors and the Sierra Club Council,
where each chapter is represented by a
Council delegate. But at most, several hundred members have gathered at one time.
The Sierra Summit will bring 3,000 members together, 1,000 of whom will be
Summit delegates.
There is broad debate in the environmental community now that so much is at risk,"
says Summit Co-Chair Lisa Renstrom.
"With the summit, we have an extraordinary
opportunity to give voice to our members,
and draw upon their experience, passion,
and wisdom to set our future."
Other speakers at the summit include
Poet Laureate Robert Hass, documentary
filmmaker Ric Burns, "green" architect Bill
McDonough, Mississippi River cleanup
champion Chad Pregracke. There will also
be dozens of panels, such as "Women Who
Rock," "Working to Build Progressive
Media," and "The Impossible Will Take a
Little While." Other workshops will focus on
international tourism, technology and
activism, leadership development, campus
organization, and more. The Sierra Club
Showcase will give participants a chance to
share their activism success stories. The
expo will include green lifestyle/organic food
exhibits, outdoor equipment retailers, hybrid
vehicles - there's even going to be a "green"
dollhouse, with miniature (and functioning
solar panels). (For more, see "Sierra
Summit 2005 At-a-Glance," at right.)
Before, during, and after the Summit, volunteers from the Loma Prieta, Mother
Lode, and San Francisco Bay chapters will
lead outings and explorations to local
parks, trail restoration service trips in
Golden Gate National Recreation Area
(part of the Dr. Edgar
Wayburn
Legacy
Project), and even,
promises
David
Simon,
longtime
leader who is coordinating the outings, a
trip to the San
Francisco
Giants
game on Friday night.
(All outings will be
accessible via public
transportation.)
The
Summit
delegate-selection
process, which is still
being refined, is
designed to reflect
the broadest possible
participation
while
honoring the Club's
leadership structure.
Here's how the delegates break down:
Each group will
send one Summit
delegate, and each
chapter will send
four - its Council of
Club leaders delegate, a senior leader, someone under 30,
and someone from outings. Another 163
at-large delegates will be selected, based
on chapter membership size - one atlarge delegate per 5,000 members. In
addition, there will about 285 national delegates, including the board of directors,
conservation govcom members, and
other national leaders.
The direction-setting process will start far
in advance of the summit, says Casini, and
in fact has started already in some chapters. In the Rocky Mountain Chapter, for
example, chapter leaders held a pre-summit discussion recently where they came to
a consensus that the top priority for the
Club was to develop more effective messages and framing about values.
Between now and the summit, says
Casini, the Club will be surveying activists
about the goals we should set, the roles we
should play, the strengths we should nurture, and how we can best build involvement and support for our work in local
communities. (You can find out more about
the Summit delegate process at
clubhouse.sierraclub.org/sierrasummit/delegates.)
To register, go to www.sierrasummit2005.org
and either complete the form online or mail
or fax it in. You can also call (301) 694-5243
or e-mail [email protected] .
If you sign up by May 31, you save $75 off
the regular Sierra Club member rate.
(The registration fee varies depending on
whether you are a member, leader, or delegate, as well as whether you attend the
whole summit or part of it.)
The Compass
The Compass
May 2005
7