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Offshore Drilling Stalls;
More Battles AheadA few weeks back, we sent a loud and clear message to the U.S. House: Hands Off
Our Coasts! Your voice and many others were raised in opposition to a dangerousproposal to lift the moratorium on offshore natural gas drilling as part of the Interior
Appropriations process. And it paid off. By a 217-203 vote, the House passed thePuttnam-Capps-Jim Davis -Foley-Bill Young-Pallone amendment to maintain themoratorium and stop offshore drilling proposals dead in the water. The vote highlighted
the strong, bipartisan commitment to protecting America's coasts and the economies,recreation opportunities and wildlife habitat they support.
Pat yourself on the back for being a part of this victory, but then roll up your sleeves
because, unfortunately, the fight has only just begun.The oil and gas industry and their allies in Congress will not take "no" for an answer.
They have coveted America's coasts for decades, and we fully expect them to pull out
all the stops in the coming weeks. In fact, they've teamed up House ResourcesChairman Richard Pombo (R-CA) and others to push bills that would severely cripplecoastal protections or revoke them entirely -- allowing gas and oil drilling.
(continued on page 2 )
Central Florida Sierrans cool off with a kayak trip. If you want to jump
into summer with a Club outing, see page 9. Photo by Mary-Slater Linn.
Good NewsRead All About It,
Then Help Make More
This issue ofThe Pelican is packed
with victories big accomplishmentslike beating back efforts to open ourcoasts to oil drilling, to smaller ones
such as protecting a local park. All of
them have one thing in common ordinary people just like you and me
banded together to protect somethingthat is precious to them. As MargaretMead said, Never doubt that a small,
group of thoughtful, committed citizens
can change the world. Indeed, it is the
only thing that ever has.
If you want to help keep those victoriecoming, contact your local group chair
(continued on page 13)
Inside This Issue:
Sierra Victories Pages 2, 4, 7Legislative Summary Pages 6, 12
Outings Page 9Chapter Elections Pages 14, 15
Summer 2006Vol. 38, No.2
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Page 2 The Pelican
Court Hands Major Victory to Florida ActivistsA federal judge has ordered the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
to take control of Buckeye pulp millpermitting in Perry, Florida. JudgeEmmett Sullivan was extremely critical
of the Florida Department of
Environmental Protections (DEP) long-time mishandling of the Buckeye facility
and expressed extreme disappointmentover the ongoing degraded state of theFenholloway River.
Judge Sullivan recognized yesterday
that the Clean Water Act does apply in
Florida after all and EPA cant ignore
its responsibilities for this environmental
travesty, said Sierra Club litigationdirection David Bookbinder. Bookbinder
filed and argued the case against theEPA.
The case goes back to 1998 when the
EPA objected to the proposed Buckeyepermit, which included a 15-mile longdischarge pipe to the Gulf of Mexico.
This stopped the permit from movingforward. In 2000, EPA issued anextensive technology report that
provided affordable solutions, but DEPand Buckeye shunned it. The case thenfloundered and Buckeyes dioxin-
contaminated pollution continued to pourinto the Fenholloway River andeventually to the Gulf of Mexico, where
it has caused a 10-square-mile dead
zone.Sierra Club and the American Canoe
Association then sued EPA to get thepermit moving forward again andeventually won that suit as well. EPA
was forced to hold a public hearing,which was requested by DEP andBuckeye. After the hearing, DEP had 30
days to either correct the permitsdeficiencies or deny the permitapplication from Buckeye but failed to
do either one. EPA then had a mandatoryduty to take back the permit and write
one that complies with requirements ofthe Clean Water Act. When EPA failedto do so, Bookbinder again filed suit,asking the court to make EPA obey the
law.Florida DEP has proposed a second
pipeline permit for Buckeye which has
been temporarily stopped by a group ofcitizens who petitioned for anadministrative hearing. That hearing was
scheduled to take place in November,
but will have to be cancelled as a resultof Judge Sullivans ruling.
Whatever happens with an EPApermit, now that we are in a federal
permit proceeding, there will be
safeguards and public participation
opportunities that will enable a just andlegitimate process to unfold, said Linda
Young, director of the Clean WaterNetwork of Florida.
-- Linda Young, Director,
Clean Water Network of Florida
Fort De Soto Battle
Was Short but Sweet
Fort De Soto Park in Pinellas Countyboasts 1,136 acres of beaches, uplands
and wetlands between the Gulf ofMexico and Tampa Bay, with threemillion visitors a year. It is largely
undeveloped, providing onlybike/jogging paths and a series of openpavilions, restrooms and parking lots to
facilitate enjoyment of its natural setting.Starting last July, the county
commission quietly began formalizing
plans to add concessions such as a 225-seat restaurant, a trolley service,packaged beer sales, an ice cream cart,
etc. which would have effectivelyDisneyfied the unspoiled park setting.
After a series of articles by Howard
Troxler of the St. Petersburg Times thisFebruary, news of this planneddesecration sparked a community
outpouring of over 1,000 e-mails to thecommission in about a week.
Commissioners got the message anddropped the plans, citing the massivenegative response.
All this goes to show that conservation
activism (e-mails, phone calls, etc.) doeswork, especially with the help of thepowerful media.
-- Ellen Thompson
Suncoast Group Conservation Chair
Offshore Drilling
(Continued from page 1)But opening our coasts to destructivedrilling would do little to lower gas
prices or make us more energyindependent, but it would threaten ourbeaches with pollution and potential oil
spills and destroy billion-dollar tourismand fishing industries. There are faster,cheaper, cleaner and longer-term energy
solutions like making our homes, officescars and trucks more efficient and usingclean, renewable energy.
Over the next few weeks, your favoritebeach destination or fishing spot along
the coast could be on the choppingblock, and we'll need your help onceagain.
Here's what you can do to help keep
America's beaches clean and oil rig-
free:
Learn more about the threats to ourcoasts at www.sierraclub.org/
wildlands/coasts
Send an e-mail or letter to yourRepresentative, asking him or her tostand strong for coastal protections.
Sign our petition to protect theAmerica's coasts (on our website).
Support the Sierra Club and itsefforts to protect our coastlines, as
well as our other critical efforts toprotect America's wildlife,wildlands, air and water.
Thank you for making your voice heard.
-- Heidi Hess
Natl Sierra Online Outreach Manager
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The Pelican Page 3
Biofuels Are the Latest GreenscamBy Karen Orr, Water and Wetlands Issue Chair and Energy Committee Member
The movement toward biofuels as an environmentally friendlyalternative to fossil fuels is a greenscam with potentiallydisastrous consequences.
The Bush brothers, a cabal of giant agro businesses, their paidconsultants and political cronies are behind a series of initiativesthat involve massive taxpayer-funded subsidies to large
environmentally destructive corporations. Sadly, they're aidedby a number of well-meaning but misguided groups andindividuals.
Biofuels derived from corn, palm, soybeans and other cropsare not only environmentally destructive, they can' t be producedprofitably without massive subsidies -- subsidies that should b e
used for environmentally viable solutions such asconservation/efficiency initiatives and wind and solar energy.
Biofuels are an economic, environmental and humanitarian
disaster:
The production of biofuel from crops consumes moreenergy than it produces.
The production of biofuel from crops will lead to more airpollution, irreversible soil depletion, natural gas depletion,
water depletion and pollution, erosion, forest destruction,higher use of fossil fuels, pesticides, fertilizers and harm toanimals.
Crops to produce oils to meet the demand for biofuel aredirectly destroying tens of thousands of square miles of rainforest now.
Fertilizer for biofuel production will lead to a massiveincrease in phosphate strip mining, destroyed wetlands,poisoned water and disturbed river systems.
Conversion of U.S. farmland from food production to fuel
crop production will lead to dependence on foreign nationsfor our food supply.
The overuse of toxic agrochemicals on subsidized Midwestcorn crops has created a poisonous runoff that produces the
gigantic summertime "Dead Zone" in the Gulf of Mexico. This5,000 to 10,000 square-mile chemical gumbo suffocates all Gulfof Mexico marine life that cannot escape it.
The subsidies required to make biofuel product ion "viable" aremore corporate welfare to the same giant agro companiesdamaging the environment now. They divert funds from real
solutions such as conservation/efficiency initiatives, publictransportation systems, increased use of solar and wind energy,and sustainable small-scale food farming vs. massive
monoculture fuel crop production. Government mandates ofbiofuels for transport will further hasten environmentaldestruction.
We can't grow our way out of the impending energy crisiswith more destructive practices that fuel more cars for morepeople to drive on more roads to more parking lots to buy more
junk. There must be a massive shift in our thinking, behaviorand consumption.
The biofuels scam must be stopped in its tracks. If it proceeds,we'll plunge further into debt, destroy irreplaceable naturalresources and send another portion of the biosphere up insmoke.
For more information on biofuels, see:
The Energy Justice Network fact sheet atwww.energyjustice.net/ethanol/factsheet.html
Feeding Cars Not People atwww.monbiot.com/archives/2004/11/23/feeding-cars-not-
people
Worse Than Fossil Fuel atwww.monbiot.com/archives/2005/12/06/worse-than-fossil-
fuel/
R e s i d e n t i a l - C o m m e r c i a lI n v e s t m e n t
Maggi Hall, Broker/Owner441 S Woodland Boulevard * DeLand
3 8 6 . 7 1 7 . 9 9 9 1
westvolusiaproperties.com * maggihall@bellsouth.net
Serving Central FloridaSierra Club Member Since 1983
Recipient of National, State, & Local Preservation & Conservation Awards
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Page 4 The Pelican
Victories
Miami Holds the LineAgainst Urban Sprawl
By Mark Oncavage, Miami Group
The Miami Group and other activist organizations havebanded together to fight sprawl and recently defeated eight out
of nine applications to move the Urban Boundary Line inMiami-Dade County.
The Hold the Line campaign focuses on quality of life
issues like traffic, schools, infrastructure, clean water andaffordable housing. The campaign messages explain that sprawlincreases traffic, overcrowds outlying schools, drains
infrastructure funds from existing neighborhoods, stresses watersupplies and does nothing to help the crisis in affordablehousing. For residents of the Florida Keys, sprawl makes
hurricane evacuations more time-consuming and dangerous.Miami Sierra Club and 10 other activist groups created the
alliance, which rapidly expanded to 132 organizations and 19municipal governments. Civic groups, businesses, homeownersassociations, growers, and clubs of all types signed on to HoldThe Line. The alliance then took these messages to Miami -Dade
Countys Planning Advisory Board, the Board of CountyCommissioners, the County Mayor, the South Florida RegionalPlanning Council, the Florida Department of Community
Affairs and the Governor. More importantly, the messages weretaken to the people.
Help poured in. The Miami Herald published articles,
editorials and political cartoons in support of holding the line.The County Mayor supported Hold the Line. A CBS Channel 4poll showed that 71 percent of respondents were in favor of
holding the line. The Florida Department of EnvironmentalProtection recommended against the proposals based on sewageand water supply shortfalls. The South Florida Water
Management District recommended against the proposals due tothe lack of an adequate water supply. The Florida Dept. ofCommunity Affairs recommended against all construction
proposals citing lack of water, impacts on schools, lack oftransportation infrastructure and loss of farmland. For moreinformation, see www.udbline.com .
Nine applications to move the urban line were submitted to theBoard of County Commissioners. Due in part to media scrutinyand intense community pressure, four of the applications were
withdrawn prior to the final hearing. At the final hearing, four ofthe remaining five applications were defeated. The landownersof the approved application stipulated that they would be
responsible for building the necessary roads and constructing areverse-osmosis water treatment plant.
The fight against urban sprawl in Miami-Dade County will
never end. Applications for two large Developments of RegionalImpact have been filed and a third is expected shortly. All threeare close to either Biscayne or Everglades National Park and are
expected to impact important projects of the ComprehensiveEverglades Restoration Plan (CERP). The Miami Group haslearned that building alliances, coalitions, and partnerships for
environmental issues can produce excellent results.
Island Development Scrapped
Travatine Island is an 80-acre mangrove stand in theintracoastal waterway that provides wildlife habitat, wetlands,
and a hurricane buffer for Pinellas County. It was purchased bythe county with funds marked for protecting environmentallysensitive lands. However, the county commission recently
considered a proposal to build a boat ramp, restaurant, bait shopa marine facility for 150 boats, parking and a bridge to theisland. It was scrapped when the county parks department
recommended against the project. We can assume that thepartnership of a local citizens group with national conservationleaders, such as Sierra Club, helped squelch this development.
The Save the Travatine Island Committee is now looking forways to secure permanent protection for the island.
-- Ellen Thompson, Suncoast Group Conservation Chair
(Photo courtesy of Friends of Travatine Island)
Rural Lands Protected
In February, Seminole County Commissioners voted
unanimously against a rezoning request by a Geneva propertyowner to change the zoning to build homes on 3-acre lotsinstead of 5-acre lots. The attorneys for the landowner argued
with selective reading from the county comprehensive plan, butthe commissioners did not buy the argument; they all knew whatthe comp plan said and they upheld it. We who live in rural
areas thank them for their continuing vision to protect the ruralareas of Seminole County. These victories make the grassrootseffects of citizens worth all the hours we spend trying to protect
one of our most precious resources: rural lands and lifestyles.-- Central Florida Group
Moving?Dont miss any Club publications!
Send your address change to: Sierra Club, P.O. Box52968, Boulder CO 80322-2968
OR e-mail: address.changes@sierraclub.org
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The Kissimmee River in 1960, before straightening.Photo courtesy of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Kissimmee River Restoration ProgressBy Frances H. Coleman, Polk Group
Land acquisition for the
world's largest riverrestoration was completedin April. Now the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineerswill proceed with thefinal phases of partially
backfilling C-38 (theditch); completion isestimated to be in 2010.
These final phases ofrestoration are primarilyin Highlands and
Okeechobee Counties.Remember: in the 1990sthe entire river was not
slated for restoration. Toomuch development in the
northern and southernareas of the river and itswatershed made restorationthere financially and politically infeasible. The Corps
determined it had to have channelization for flood control inthose sections.
When the partial restoration is completed, 43 miles of the
original 103-mile meandering river will wind through 40 squaremiles of floodplain. These wetlands are home to 320 fish andwildlife species, including snail kites, wood storks, bald eagles,
and largemouth bass. The success of restoration will be judgedin large measure byhow well wildlife, especially the premierspecies, rebound. Wildlife, which was decimated by
channelization in the 1960s, has already increased dramaticallywith the completion of the first phase.
However, the quality of water entering Lake Okeechobee has
not yet shown improvement. "...evidence from the last severalyears points to sources at the southern end of Lake Kissimmeethat are increasing concentrations [of phosphorus] at the lake's
outlet. If sources of phosphorus at the lake's southern end can beidentified and controlled, phosphorus inputs into the KissimmeeRiver...could decrease." (2005 South Florida Environmental
Report, SFWMD, Chapter 11.) Also the interim regulationschedule (of water levels) has not allowed the full developmentof the broadleaf marsh in the restored area. When the
Headwaters Revitalization Project regulation schedule isimplemented, the marsh should be capable of assimilatingincoming phosphorus at a much higher rate of efficiency. In the
lower reaches of the valley we must also consider the possibilitythat dairy farms have so super-saturated the earth withphosphorus, that current best management practices cannot
mitigate that element in the runoff. Experience and observationmay yet prove that the only solution is the restoration of morefloodplain. Because water quality is so crucial for the recovery
of Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades, we must expect -- anddemand -- intense work on this problem.
Historically, the wide floodplain of the Kissimmee River was
considered extraordinary in North America because it remained
inundated throughout the
year providing bountifulhabitat for wading birds,winter habitat for
migratory waterfowl anda nationally recognizedsport fishery. Then came
a series of devastatinghurricanes, with resultantflooding. The 1950s were
prime years for ditch,dike and drain solutionsto water problems. At the
request of some interestsin Florida, Congressdirected the Corps of
Engineers to turn theriver into C-38, a 56-mile
drainage ditch. Thiswould drain 30,000 acres ofwetlands -- encouraging
development and more extensive agriculture.
Before the canal was finished in 1971, the birds and sports fishlargely disappeared and the water entering Lake Okeechobeewas foul. In the 1970s, conservationists led a swelling tide of
protest to correct this tragic mistake -- their commitment put theKissimmee on the national environmental agenda. There weremany dedicated scientists, engineers and paid conservation staff
who worked to bring about this restoration, but we Sierrans areespecially indebted to our citizen activists who made this issue amajor part of their lives for decades. Foremost among these was
Richard L. Coleman, who was our Kissimmee River Issue Chairfor 30 years. Working with Lake Region/Florida Audubon andthe Florida Lake Management Society, he effectively and
enthusiastically generated widespread support for this verycrucial and expensive public works project. This sportsman wasa scientist by training and well qualified to generate data and
review the studies. He traveled the state to help the public,candidates for public office and office holders understand whathad been lost and what could be regained. His special talent was
in connecting people from all interest groups to work for thecommon good.
Now it's up to a new team of activists -- conservationists and
sportsmen -- to cooperate for the good of the river. Concerned,knowledgeable people are needed to monitor the physical riversystem and report on approaches that work and those that don't
and be watchful forbuilding, fencing and drainage activities thaaren't permitted. Conservationists must be alert to and analyzeproposals for development which might cause over-drainage and
an influx of nutrients. It will be our pleasure to enjoy therestored river but our responsibility to ensure that the benefits ofrestoration are maximized.
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2006 Florida Legislative SummaryBy Susie Caplowe, Florida Chapter Lobbyist and the Legislative Team
When we reflect back to the beginning
of session, as usual we had a lot of badbills coming up at the same time and inseveral committees. We did what we
could every day to emphasize what was
wrong with the legislation. When thelegislators, agencies and the Governors
office are known to be supportive oflegislation, you make the decision tokeep fighting or find a way to make it
better. Sierra and its allies did such agreat job of applying grassroots pressure,and our Tallahassee lobbying team kept
up pressure on our target list of bills, thatwe made a real difference. We killedbills, modified bills or worked with the
sponsors, committee chairs and staff tominimize damage. Senate President Leeand Speaker Bense; the Governors
office; Senators Dockery, Clary,Constantine, Campbell, Smith, Millerand Argenziano; Representatives Evers,
Vana, Gannon, Joyner, Richardson andGelber; and so many others were veryresponsive. The dialogue was open and
we made significant headway.This year we had a new tool: a bill
tracker on our website at
www.florida.sierraclub.org/Tracker.
You can visit the tracker for backgroundinformation about the legislation.
Here is the list of bills on the Tracker
that passed both chambers (they areunderlined to show you which version is
on the way to the Governor):A. Florida Keys Area of Critical StateConcern: SB2098/HB1299: oppose, then
monitorB. Anti-Landscaping Billboards:SB566/HB273: oppose
C. Class Action: SB2304/HB7259:oppose then monitorD. Lead Poisoning Education:
SB1324/SB642/HB393: supportE. Guns in State Parks:
SB1546/HB1029: opposeF. NWFWMD Environmental ResourcePermit: SB2026/HB7163: support withconcerns
G. St. Joe Coastal Hazard Mitigation:SB2216/HB1359: opposeH. Septic Tanks: SB1874/HB749:
oppose, then monitorI. No net loss of hunting lands:SB430/HB265: oppose
J. Pave over Farmlands: Agriculture
Enclave: SB1880/HB1015: opposeK. Development of Regional ImpactExemptions: SB1020/HB683:oppose
L. Energy: SB888/HB1473: oppos e
M. Rock Miners: No CAP:SB1306/HB1039: oppose
N. Babcock Ranch money and landmanagement: SB1226/ HB1347: supportwith concerns
Bills on the Tracker That Died:O. SB1608/HB949: Charter Counties vs.
City Governments: opposeP. SB1910 and other Election Reformgood bills: support
Q. SB720/SB1244/HB773: Anti-PetitionGathering bills: opposeR. SB2544/HB1343: Wetlands
delegation from Army CORP andFlorida Forever Forward Funding:Oppose delegation/support FF funding
S. SB26: Supreme Court Subject FilterCitizen Initiatives: opposeT. SB1918/HB7165: Purifying (NOT)
the Constitution: (factory farms aresafe): opposeU. SB1264: Clean Money Clean
Elections: supportV. SB1558/HB653/HB229: Prohibit Oiland Gas Drilling: mixed
W. SB2478/HB713: Solar Energy
Rebates (rolled into SB888): supportX. SB226: Surplus lands, no House
companion: monitorY. SB2680/HB7129: Dept. of InteriorConstitutional Amendment: monitor
Z. SB2484/HB7207: Water ManagementDistricts authorized millage rate: opposeAA. HZB7167/HB7253: Various
Growth Management/Sprawl bills:monitorBB.SB2510/HB261: Florida Incentive
(NOT) Based Permitting: opposeCC. SB1906: Performance Based
Permitting: never movedDD. SB1302/SB2446/HB1307/SB82/HB491: Variety of bills relating tomercury contamination; fish
consumption; reduction of automobileswitches into the waste stream;autism/immunizations: support.
EE. SB1436/HB7037: Fiscal Impact andCitizen Initiatives: raising the voternumbers for passage depending on fiscal
impact. oppose.
Highlights:
Northwest Florida WaterManagement District (NWFWMD)
Environmental Resource Permit:
SB2026/HB7163. PASSED.
As the Rolling Stones sing, You cantalways get what you want, but you getwhat you need. That would be the case
for the NWFWMD ERP legislation. TheHouse bill passed, but we wanted theSenate version because the
implementation dates would have beenearlier. The Senate bill also stated thatthe rule would be comparable to the
other water management districts rulesand that the local soils, etc. would beconsidered. The House bill says the
NWFWMD will use the leastrestrictive of the other WMDs rulesand guidelines. The analysis by thecounties wetlands experts assured us the
least restrictive measure was NOTproblematic for them. The bottom line is:1) Local government wetlands programs
will not be pre-empted and 2) there isreal money now to make a go of it! We
just need to stay on top of everything as
the rulemaking proceeds.
Babcock Ranch Money and Land
Management: SB1226/HB1347.PASSED.
There were plenty of amendments filed
to SB1226 on the last day of session tomake the House and special businessinterests happier. The House and Senate
were having a tug of war on the landmanagement issues. The House wantedto have more multiple use activities,
silviculture (making cypress mulch outof the cypress and intense timbering TO
GENERATE MONEY). But what Sen.Paula Dockery did was very sheroicbecause she withdrew all theamendments and replaced Rep. Trudi
Williams bill with the completecontents of the better bill -- SB1226. TheSenate then passed HB1347 as amended
and the House voted at 8:37 p.m. to keepthe bill from dying altogether. TheSenate language eliminates the cypress
(continued on page 12)
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Sweet Victory: Top Five Environmental WinsBy Katrina vanden Heuvel, The Nation
Co-written by Sam Graham-Felsen
Of all of the disastrous hallmarks of the Bush presidency,Bush's darkest legacy in the long run may be his unmitigatedassault on the environment and his deliberate campaign to cover
up the immediate threat of global warming.
The Bush Administration has undermined the EnvironmentalProtection Agency, appointed corporate cronies in the oil
industry to critical environmental posts, and muzzled topscientists from warning the public about the imminent climatecrisis. It was no exaggeration when Al Gore said "George W.
Bush has by all odds been by far the worst president for theenvironment in the entire history of the United States ofAmerica -- bar none."
Yet, Bush's actions have brought the environmental movementcloser together than ever before, as activists have redoubledtheir efforts to combat Bush's relentless assault on the planet.
We salute those who took part in the top five environmentalvictories of the past year.
Saving ANWR: In what the Sierra Club called an "against-all-odds victory for wildlife, wild places and all Americans," theSenate rejected Sen. Ted Stevens' (R-AK) attempt to at tach
provisions to the Defense Appropriations Bill last Decemberthat would have opened up the Arctic National Wildlife Refugeto drilling for oil. And in April, the House Budget Committee
also refused to appropriate funds for ANWR drilling in theFY2007 budget. Thanks to overwhelming pressure fromenvironmental advocates, one of our nation's most pristine
natural refuges remains safe from corporate poachers.
Governors Embrace Apollo: In July, the Apollo Alliance, one
of the best progressive ideas of the millennium, gained someimportant new supporters. Six new Democratic governors --Rod Blagojevich (IL), Jim Doyle (WI), Christine Gregoire
(WA), Ted Kulongoski (OR), Janet Napolitano (AZ) and BrianSchweitzer (MT) -- joined an earlier trio -- Jennifer Granholm(MI), Ed Rendel (PA) and Bill Richardson (NM) -- in
embracing the Alliance's goal of achieving sustainableAmerican energy independence within a decade. The ninegovernors are all leaders in state-based efforts at energy
efficiency and increased use of renewables, the core twin planksof the Apollo program. That program calls for a nationalinvestment of $300 billion over the course of ten years to build
the basic production and distribution infrastructure needed for acleaner energy economy.
Cleaning Up Mercury Pollution: While Bush's EPA hasderegulated controls on mercury emissions -- making it easierfor power plants to emit this deeply harmful chemical into the
environment -- several states have strengthened anti-mercurylaws. Gov. Rod Blagojevich of Illinois announced a proposal toreduce mercury emissions by 90 percent, and weeks later, Gov.
Jennifer Granholm of Michigan followed suit. Massachusetts'legislature just passed legislation that would prevent mercurypollution in household items such as thermostats, automobiles,
fluorescent lights and electrical switches. And Idaho just passed
a two-year moratorium on the building or operating of mercury-emitting coal-fired power plants.
Mayors Say Yes to Kyoto: We remain one of only two major
industrialized nations that have not signed the Kyoto Protocol.Yet America's mayors are letting the world know that they stand
with the global community -- not Bush -- on Kyoto. So far, 220mayors, frustrated with federal environmental inaction, havecreated their own Kyoto-complying standards, investing in
cleaner vehicles, cutting dependence on oil, and promotingefficient and renewable energy projects. See the Cool Citiesarticle on page 8 for more information on this growing
movement.
Clean Cars Movement Rolls On: Last year, Clean Car
legislation -- requiring the reduction of harmful auto emissions -- was adopted in California and now eight other states have
followed suit. These states combined cover a full third of the carand SUV market in the U.S.
(Thanks to our friends at the Natural Resources Defense Council
and the Sierra Club for their nominations.)
Copyright 2006 The Nation. Used with permission.
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Page 8 The Pelican
Cool Cities:
Solving Global Warming One City at a TimeAll over America, cities, counties and
states are launching an exciting
grassroots movement to help solve one
of our country's most pressing problems:global warming. Frustrated by stalling on
the federal level, local leaders aremoving forward with innovative energysolutions that cut our dependence on oil,
benefit public health and save taxpayerdollars. These mayors, countycommissioners and governors are
leading the way toward a safer and moresecure future.
Right now, communities are making a
difference by investing in cleanervehicles, energy efficiency andrenewable energy. Every one of these
local solutions is already saving taxpayerdollars and improving public health byreducing energy waste and pollution. By
taking innovative actions, forward-
looking cities are re -energizing ournation, proving that we can solve global
warming one city at a time.
The mayors of several Florida citieshave signed the U.S. Mayors Climate
Protection Agreement -- the first step tobecoming a Cool City. This agreementsets the goal of reducing citywide global
warming carbon dioxide (CO2) pollutionto seven percent below 1990 levels by2012.
GainesvilleHallandale Beach
Holly HillHollywoodKey Biscayne
Key WestLauderhillMiami
Miramar
North MiamiPembroke Pines
Pompano Beach
Port St. LucieSunrise
TallahasseeTamaracWest Palm Beach
Sierra Club is assisting the Cool Citiesby recruiting activists who will help the
mayors follow through on theircommitments. For more information, goto www.sierraclub.org/coolcities . Click
on the Get Involved button to registerand join the Cool Cities community. Thepurpose of this website is to provide a
resource for citizens and local officialswho are ready to start taking real actionin their communities to solve global
warming.
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The Pelican Page 9
Summer Outings
Stay Cool with a Paddle Trip or Escape to the Mountains
July 25: Shell Key Paddle. An easy trip for beginners. We willlook for and study shells, dolphins, birds and any other wildlifewe can find. Contact Ben Berauer at 727-392-2821 or
bfberauer@aol.com (Suncoast).
August 5: Sunset Sea Kayak Trip to Caladesi Island StatePark and dinner at a local restaurant afterwards. Easy kayaking,but previous open water kayaking experience a prerequisite.Contact Rudy Scheffer at 727-726-8375 or
rudy@adventuresworldwide.com (Suncoast).
August 12: Ding Darling on Sanibel Island. Paddle through
the mangrove tunnels followed by biking through the naturepreserve. We will also visit the Ding Darling Nature Center.Sign up for paddling, biking or biking both. Contact Brigita at
bbgahr@earthlink.netor 239-337-1857 (Calusa).
September 2: Sunset Sea Kayak Trip to Caladesi Island
State Park. See August 5.
September 17-22: Sierra Club's Clair Tappaan Lodge in
California. Sierra Club volunteers built the lodge back in the1930s for us to enjoy. For the six days and five nights withroom, board and trail guide, the price will be around $400.
Activities abound for the able adventurist right out the backdoor (7,000 feet elevation): hiking, rock climbing, swimming,fishing, biking and a panoramic view of the mountains. Plus not
far away, kayaking and hot springs. The lodge provides family-style meals, trail guides (included in our package), library andbunk-style sleeping (bring your own bedding). More private
rooms are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Reno,
Nevada is about 45 minutes away and Sacramento is 90 minutesaway. Contact Peter Mitchell at 941-729-8006 or Ed Martin
941-747-2801, or e-mailpalmettop2@yahoo.com. For moreinformation, go to the Lodge website atwww.sierraclub.org/outings/lodges/ctl/(Manatee-Sarasota)
TrainingEvents
July 29: Outing Leader Training OLT 201. This is requiredfor all new outing leaders who lead level 2 outings. OLT 101 a
prerequisite. Location is Upper Tampa Bay Park. Contact RudyScheffer at 727-726-8375 or rudy@adventuresworldwide.com
August 19-20: Wilderness First Aid Training (WFA) inHollywood, Fla. Cost $ 125. Contact Judy Kuchta at954-924-5001 or judykuchta@yahoo.com, or Rudy Scheffer at
727-726-8375or rudy@adventuresworldwide.com.
September 8-10: Weekend Outing Leader Training
Workshopoffered by the Outdoor Activities Training Program(OATP). This workshop fulfills both the OLT 101 and OLT 201
requirements. Location: Camp Dorothy Thomas in Riverv iew,about 25 miles east of Tampa. For more information and
registration, go to the Clubs website atwww.sierraclub.org/outings/training/brochures/2006_Florida.asp.
Or contact Rudy Scheffer at rudy@adventuresworldwide.com or727-726-8375.
Have a Mountain Adventure
In the High Sierras
The Donner Summit area abounds with spectacular vistas and
hiking trails, high lakes and meadows and historic sites like theold railroad tunnels, the China wall and the Immigrant Trail.
Join Turtle Coast Sierrans for a week of adventure! This funand fundraising trip dates are September 3 to 9. Well havefour days of hiking with a different vista each day. with a day
mid-week for a walk on the Immigrant Trail, a visit to theDonner Museum, a trip to historic Truckee or a drive to LakeTahoe -- your choice.
Lodging will be at Sierra Clubs own Clair Tappaan Lodge. In1934, Sierra Club volunteers built the lodge as a retreat forhikers, skiers and mountain climbers. The lodge has a special
rustic charm, with a spacious living room and enormousfireplace, a cozy library, outdoor fire ring and even a hot tub.
All accommodations are in bunk beds. The lodge is situated nearDonner Summit (at 7,000 feet), about 45 miles west of Reno,Nevada.
The trip price of $455 includes six nights lodging, all meals,
hiking guides and transportation to the lodge on Sundayafternoon and back to Reno on Saturday. Travel arrangements toReno are on your own. The trip is limited to 13 people. For
further information or to register, call Suzanne Valencia at321-984-0604 or email Valencia_suzanne@yahoo.com.
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Page 10 The Pelican
Stay Informed with
Sierra E-Mail Groups
There are several e-mail lists of interest tomembers of the Florida Chapter. You can alsokeep up-to-date on the Chapter's activities at
www.florida.sierraclub.org
Florida Chapter Leaders list for Sierra Clubactivists to stay informed of the activities ofFLEXCOM, the Chapter Executive Committee.To sign on, go to the following website and have your membership number handy:
http://www.sierraclub.org/memberlists?listname=FL-LEADERS-ANNOUNCE
The Florida Chapter Conservation Forum for Sierra Club members.
Open discussion of Florida conservation issues.To sign on, go to the following website and have your membership number handy:http://www.sierraclub.org/memberlists?listname=FL-CONSERVATION-FORUM
The Tallahassee Report for Sierra members only.This is a must for all Florida Sierrans who want to be kept informed of the doings of the
politicians in Tallahassee. It is published by our own lobbyist, Susie Caplowe.Go to this website and have your membership number handy:http://www.sierraclub.org/memberlists?listname=FL-TALLAHASSEE-REPORT
The Florida outings list for Sierra members only. This is a must for members interestedin outings all over the state because it includes trips sponsored by all groups in theChapter. Go to this web site and have your membership number handy:
http://www.sierraclub.org/memberlists?listname=FL-OUTINGS-LEADERS
An Everglades issues discussion list for Sierra members and others.
To sign on: SEND AN EMAIL To: LISTSERV@LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORGLeave the subject line blank. In the message box put:SUB COMMONS-EVERGLADES Yourfirstname Yourlastname
A Florida environmental news clipping list for Sierra Club members and others.To sign on: SEND AN EMAIL To: LISTSERV@LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG
Leave the subject line blank. In the message box put:SUB FL-ENVIRONEWSCLIPS Yourfirstname Yourlastname
Sales Tax Holiday
for Energy-EfficientAppliances
Even though Sierra Club did notsupport the energy bill passed by the
Florida Legislature (SB 888), it did
contain some benefits for consumers.The week of October 5 11 will be
Energy Efficient Week, during whichFloridians will be able to purchasecertain energy-efficient products without
having to pay sales tax. The taxexemption will apply to the followingitems, provided they sell for $1,500 or
less and meet or exceed the requirementsof the federal Energy Star program:
Dishwasher
Clothes washer
Air conditioner
Ceiling fan Incandescent or fluorescent
light bulb
Dehumidifier
Programmable thermostat
RefrigeratorThe bill also sets up a solar energy
system incentive program. Any Florida
resident who purchases and installs anew solar energy system is eligible for arebate on a portion of the price. The
program is funded through June 2010.Certain restrictions apply; read the bill at
or www.flsenate.gov or contact theFlorida Department of EnvironmentalProtection.
Rustle The Leaf Comics characters courtesy of Go NaturL Studios, LLC, 2006. The Rustle The Leaf Comics properties
copyright and trademark of Go NaturL Studios, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Website: www.rustletheleaf.com
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The Pelican Page 11
Escape the Florida Heat at
Cedar House Inn & Yurts
Eco-Friendly B&BIn the heart of the North Georgia Mountains
and Wine Country70 miles north of Atlanta
Minutes to Appalachian Trail, waterfalls,canoeing, fishing, horseback riding,
Historic Dahlonega, wineries, and dining
For more information:Call 706-867-9466 or visit
www.georgiamountaininn.com
Americas Crown Jewels at RiskYosemite! Grand Canyon! Yellowstone! Denali! Everglades!
What do these names have in common? They are all nationalparks whose names are known by everyone, the true crown
jewels of America.
And being national parks, theyre all well protected, right?Wrong! The present administration, attuned to maximizing
commercial profits and minimizing the public values of ourpublic lands, has other plans for your national parks.
The Interior Department proposal to rewrite the management
policies for our parks would topple conservation of resourcesunimpaired for the future as the mission of our national parks.Under proposed new policies, the Park Service could:
Allow increased motorized use in spite of airpollution, noise, and damage to the land.
Let commercial outfitters keep caches and otherdevelopments in Wilderness.
Consider increased uses of park resources just as
important as preservation of these resources.Sierra Club and other concerned activists commented
extensively on the proposed damaging changes. Most commentscan be summarized as follows:
If it aint broke, dont fix it.
Our parks need more protection for the future, notless.
If the Administration listens to the publics concerns, they will
withdraw the proposed changes. However, were not countingon that. Although the first round of comments is over, theAdministration, overwhelmed by the outpouring of public
opinion, is considering reopening the comment period. Now isthe perfect time to public ize our outrage over this attempt toshift our national parks mission frompreservation to
development and commercialization.Please send a letter to the editor of your paper, and send a
copy of it to your members of Congress. (Or, send a separate,
more detailed letter to your legislators.) Heres sample languagefor a letter to the editor, to put into your own words.
(Start with some personal info and reasons why you care about
the parks or about one particular park that you like to visit.)Americas National Parks provide some of the finest outdoor
recreation opportunities, scenic wonders, and wildlife habitat.
Millions of Americans and visitors from around the world flockto our parks each year, but the National Park Services (NPS)proposed rewrite of the parks Management Policies would
fundamentally shift how our nations national parks are
managed from resource conservation toward commercialization.The proposed policies fail to meet the current level of
protection afforded our National Parks and eliminate referenceto the mission to conserve parks unimpaired for futuregenerations. They would limit the agencys ability to protect air
quality and soundscapes, and control inappropriate motorizeduse in national parks. In short, the proposed NPS ManagementPolicies are fundamentally flawed and cannot be fixed.
National Parks are special places and should be preserved forfuture generations. The public doesnt want morecommercialization, more off-road vehicles, and other threats to
our crown jewels, Americas great natural treasures. NPS shouldabandon its proposed changes and keep its current strong
preservation policies.
Thank you for writing. The Sierra Clubs brand-new NationalParks and Monuments Committee is working to raise public
consciousness about major threats to our National Parks andMonuments. Please join our network of parks activists. Just sendan e-mail to committee staff liaison Vicky Hoover at
vicky.hoover@sierraclub.org.
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Page 12 The Pelican
Legislative Summary(Continued from page 6)
and timber cuttings and other problems
we had with the House version. Kudos tothe Senate for sticking to their bill.
Energy: SB888/HB1473 PASSED.
Sen. Lee Constantine agreed to theHouses changes and now this bill is
basically a streamlined permitting billfor coal and nukes. The EnergyCommission members can now work for
the industry as long as they disclose theiroccupation. The pages ofrecommendations and instructions for
the Commission were changed to just askeleton of direction-setting goals,including a skimpy recognition of carbon
emissions and a need for a ClimateAction Plan. What has gone unnoticedis the elimination of the public health
and environment, and broad public
interest test. Here is the language incurrent Florida Statutes now deleted by
this bill: (c) Minimize, through the useof reasonable and available methods, theadverse effects on human health, the
environment, and the ecology of the landand its wildlife and the ecology of statewaters and their aquatic life; and (d)
Serve and protect the broad interests ofthe public.
Other components of SB888: $15
million in technology grants for
alternative energy (way too broad), $2.5million for solar energy rebates and a
tax-free week for consumers to buyenergy-efficient products (see page 10).
Rock Miners: No CAP:
SB1306/HB1039. PASSED.The Rock Mining Cap has been deleted
from the Miami-Dade County Lake Beltbill. Now the financing of the new watertreatment plant will be negotiated in the
future, because the CAP of $112 millionwas removed from the bill.
Congratulations to the Miami SierraGroup, including Rod Jude and AlanFarago, for winning the issue with last-minute, strategic grassroots pressure!
St. Joe Coastal Hazard Mitigation:
SB2216/HB1359.PASSED.
The Florida Chapter had National Sierrapurchase some St. Joe stock a few yearsago, and we worked on a hurricane
resolution to take to the upcoming
stockholdersmeeting. This
resolutionpointed out that St. Joe was notaddressing coastal wetlands protections
and did not have hurricane evacuation
routes for all of the upcoming new townsthey are creating. So voila, what does St.
Joe do, but indirectly answer ourresolution (which was rejected by theSecurities and Exchange Commission on
technicalities) with last-minutelegislation that would allow them tomeet hurricane evacuation requirements
by paying money and building roads orstructures that would provide hurricaneshelters. And they can build to their
hearts content, using mitigation tokeep building where (as we all know)nothing should be built.
Development of Regional Impact
(DRI) Exemptions: SB1020/HB683.
PASSED.
The DRI bill was amended in the Senatewith language for a new bio-research
park in St. Lucie at the last minute. Wesucceeded in closing a permittingloophole and adding a requirement for
Environmental Resource Permits, but wecouldnt get them to require localgovernments to use the Boat Siting
Facility Plan guidelines when building
marinas, dry storage or wet slips. Theessence is that DRIs in many categories
have been eliminated. Because of that,local comprehensive plans will becomeeven more important in growth decisions
on many major projects and facilities.
Pave over Farmlands: Agriculture
Enclave: SB1880/HB1015. PASSED.
This bill has been trying to get passed forthree years and it finally did, but not
without us working against it at everystep. The final bill was bad, but not as
bad as originally filed. The bill cuts theagency response time to agricultureapplicants in half, to 90 days (same asthe earlier versions). What changed was
that the original bill stated over and overagain in different sections that theapplication shall not be subject to the
9J-5 Florida Administrative Code orSprawl rule and that the agency shallnot even use the Sprawl rule to deny an
application. The final version that passed
changed from shall not use 9J-5 tothe application is presumed to be
consistent with rule 9J-5. This
presumption may be rebutted by clearand convincing evidence However,
the definition of the Agriculturalenclave still means agricultural landthat is 75% surrounded by industrial,
residential, commercial, etc. and theacreage is not to exceed 1280 or not toexceed 4480. Visualize patchwork,
leapfrog development.
Guns in State Parks:SB1546/HB1029.
PASSED. Now you happy campers cankeep your guns in your tent, RV, trailer,car or truck. Keep yourself safe from
pesky wildlife and those renegade nastycampers that will come attacking. Atleast that was the reason given by the
NRA lobbyist, who told of a camper whowas attacked, and said that if theyd hada gun, the outcome of the attack would
have been different. Imagine what thatoutcome would have been.
These bills died:
SB720/SB1244/HB773: Anti-Petition
Gathering bills; SB26: Supreme Court
Subject Filter Citizen Initiatives:
SB1918/HB7165: Purifying (NOT) theConstitution: SB1436/HB7037 Fiscal
Impact: (Citizen Initiatives and
petition gathering survived). We cancelebrate this victory as well. While we
were fighting on a daily basis, it all camedown to the internal fighting betweenleadership, and against the legislators
themselves sponsoring so manyconstitutional amendments. Many of thelegislators sounded off on how
hypocritical this was. Our hard linelobbying efforts and our Save the Voters
Voice coalition work around the statewas wonderful. Kudos to ACORN,FPIRG, Clean Water Action, Sierra,AFL-CIO, Florida LCV, Florida
Consumer Action Network, League ofWomen Voters of Florida, CommonCause, Panhandle Citizens Coalition and
others. We did an excellent job workingtogether, sharing responsibilities andsupporting each other.
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Page 14 The Pelican
Chapter Nominating Committee Call
for Candidates - Deadline is July 7
The Chapter Nominating Committee is seeking the names of candidates who areinterested in serving on the Florida Chapter Executive Committee (FLEXCOM). Ninemembers of FLEXCOM are elected at large from the Chapter. Four positions are up for
election this fall. These nine elected members, along with a representative from each of
our 18 groups, constitute FLEXCOM. FLEXCOM meets at least four times a year andprovides leadership and direction for all Chapter conservation and lobbying activities;
political endorsements; developing the annual budget; coordinating the annualconservation conference; and publication of the statewide newsletter, The Pelican.
The newly-elected members will serve a two-year term, beginning January 2007.
They will also be expected to attend the Mini-FLEXCOM meeting in November forelection of officers and also a transition meeting between the old and the newFLEXCOM that occurs in December.
Chapter officers are elected from the FLEXCOM, including Chair, ConservationChair, Administrative Chair, and Council Delegate and Alternate. According to our by-laws, the Secretary and Treasurer do not have to be elected officers. They may be
appointed by FLEXCOM, though we usually appoint an elected officer.The Nominating Committee is seeking candidates who meet the following criteria:
Members of the Club, in good standing, as of December 31, 2005. Willing to attend and participate in four (at least) FLEXCOM meetings a year and
serve on any appropriate committees.
Demonstrate knowledge of Sierra Club history, culture and legal requirements ofthe Chapter.
Able to accept a leadership position on FLEXCOM.
Understand their responsibility for the Chapters financial health.
Be familiar with conservation, political and regional issues of Florida.
Represent a geographical diversity from around the state.
Able to work cooperatively with activists who have differing viewpoints.
Able to work productively both at and in between FLEXCOM meetings.
Understand group dynamics and organizational processes and structures.The Nominating Committee will be accepting nominations through July 7. Any
member interested in being considered for the upcoming fall election can contact anymember of the committee (see below).
We will ask all candidates to complete a short form for our review. Any interested
person who seeks nomination but is not nominated by the committee will have theopportunity to run by petition. Contact info:
Barbara Curtis, Nominating Committee Chair, legalbarb@aol.com, 954 946-7359
Ron Haines, ronaldhaines@bellsouth.net, 561-964-1995
Corey Hyde, cmhjunques@yahoo.com, 239-887-0095
John Hedrick,johnhedrick13@yahoo.com 850-421-2483
Ervin Duncan, enduncan@bellsouth.net904-261-7539
2006 Florida Sierra Election Calendar
July 7 Deadline for nominations to nominating committeeJuly 15 Nominating committee report to FLEXCOM of committee nomineesJuly 29 Deadline for receipt of candidate petitionsAug. 5 Deadline for delivery of ballot information and candidate statements to the
Pelican.Sept. 15 Mail Pelican with ballots for Chapter electionNov. 3 Closing date of election, ballots due by midnightNov. 4-5 Count ballots Nov. 11-12 Fall Conservation Conference, mini-FLEXCOM election of officers
Sierra Gets Artsy
This summer, Sierra Club will cohost
an exhibit of works painted by theFlorida Highwaymen, to be displayed indowntown St. Petersburg. The
Highwaymen is a group of African-American folk landscape artists whohave been have been painting scenes of
the wetlands and backroads of Floridasince the mid '50s. The Highwaymenhave been inducted into the Florida
Artists Hall of Fame. The exhibit, whichwill run from July 19 through August 12,will focus on the endangered and
disappearing landscape and wetlands ofFlorida.
We anticipate having several
roundtable discussions of current Floridaenvironmental challenges, as well assome outings to highlight some of the
areas we're trying to save.For more information, contact Bob
Sullivan at 727-522-0398 or
SIERRAFLA@aol.com or Buddy Baker
at 727-385-9623.
National SierraElection Results
This springs election returned Bernie
Zaleha of Boise, Idaho, who currentlyserves as the Club's Vice President, for asecond term on the Board of Directors.
The following candidates were elected totheir first terms: Marilyn Wall of
Cincinnati, Ohio; Raphael Reyes of SanMateo, California; Robin Mann ofRosemont, Pennsylvania, and EllenPillard of Reno, Nevada.
The total number of ballots cast was76,141 -- less than 10 percent of themembership.
For more election information, visitwww.sierraclub.org/bod/2006election/
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The Pelican Page 15
Everything is hitchedto everything else
Make a commitment to the nextgeneration by remembering the
Sierra Club in your will. Your supportwill help others to preserve theintricate balance of nature. Bequests
have played a key role in the SierraClubs environmental successesover the years.
There are many gift options
available. We can even help youplan a gift for your local Chapter.
For more information and
confidential assistance, contact:John CalawayDirector of Gift Planning
85 Second Street, 2nd
FloorSan Francisco CA 94105415-977-5639 or
planned.giving@sierraclub.org
Florida Chapter Election RulesElection of not less than four at -large members ofthe Florida Executive Committee (FLEXCOM) fortwo-year terms shall be held according to acalendar prepared annually and approved byFLEXCOM. The calendar shall set the dates of: Deadline for appointing the election committee.
Deadline for appointing the nominatingcommittee.
Deadline for notifying willing candidates of theirright and method for seeking nominating petitions.
Nominating committee report of names ofnominees.
Deadline for receipt of candidate petitions. Production of eligible voter list. Mailing the ballots (Pelican). Receipt of returned ballots.
Date, time and place for counting the ballots.
The following officers will be appointed to one-year terms by FLEXCOM at the last meeting of thecalendar year: Chair, Vice-Chair forAdministration, Vice-Chair for Conservation,Secretary, Treasurer, Council Delegate, AlternateCouncil Delegate, Gulf Coast Regional
Conservation Committee (GCRCC) Representativeand Alternate GCRCC Representative. All electedChapter members-at-large should expect to serve inone of these positions.
The election shall be held by secret ballot. Theballot shall be mailed in The Pelican to everymember. The ballot shall appear on the oppositeside of the mailing label so that the eligibility ofthe voter can be verified without looking at theballot. The ballots shall be sorted into three groupsduring verification single membership, jointmembership and questionable ballot. Fo llowingverification, the labels shall then be removed orcovered so the ballot will remain secret. Each jointmembership is entitled to two votes. The ballotswill contain the statement: Ballots must be mailedto: . . . Ballots may not be submitted at the lastmeeting of the calendar year. The ballot willcontain the closing date of the election as thedeadline for receiving the ballot.
Voters shall be eligible if they are members as ofthe date of the ordering of labels. Labels for themailing ofThe Pelican shall be handled so that arecord of the ordered labels is maintained. If amember does not receive a Pelican, the membermay submit a ballot with their membershipinformation (name, expiration date andmembership number) on the opposite side of theballot. The election committee shall check theeligibility of the vote using the record of theordered labels.
Petition candidates shall be nominated consistentwith the bylaws and the election calendar. Theballots shall contain all committee-nominated andpetition candidates placed in alphabetical order bylast name, then first name, and then middle name.A minimum of 50 signatures is required to becomea petition candidate.
Ballots will be mailed to a member of the electioncommittee designated by the election committee.Ballots will be counted prior to the last FLEXCOMmeeting of the year. Each candidate may observethe counting of the ballots or send a representative
to the counting. The results of the count will bemade available to all candidates and posted to theChapter Leaders e-mail list as soon as possiblefollowing the count.
Both nominating committee candidates and petitioncandidates for at-large members of FLEXCOMshall be members of Sierra Club since December
31 of the preceding year. The membership date ofnominees will be determined from the databaseavailable to volunteers (MUIR), provided that oneexists. The membership chair will check by name,and if that fails will request the membershipnumber from the candidate. The membership chairwill then check by membership number and ZIPcode, by the on-line member lookup function.
Petition signers must be members on the date theysign the petition. Petitions must include themembership numbers to facilitate in verifyingmembership. The membership chair shall beresponsible for verifying the membership.
Candidates will be allowed to place a statement inThe Pelican that contains the ballot. The statementshall be no more than 125 words in length.Candidate statements shall be reviewed foraccuracy by the nominating committee chair.
Campaigning is allowed. Campaign materials shallbe so identified. Articles not identified ascampaign materials by or about individualnominees shall not be published in group orchapter newsletters, after publication of nomineesand prior to an election, unless they relate to theordinary performance of the duties of the nomineeas a Club member. All candidates shall bepermitted an equal opportunity to address SierraClub meetings concerning their campaigns. Anywritten campaign material shall be identified bysource and shall be circulated to the election
committee chair and to all other candidates withsufficient time to permit candidate response.
Club entities shall not endorse candidates, but Clubmembers, acting on an individual basis and notacting in an official capacity, shall be permitted toendorse and speak for a candidate. Newslettereditors shall not be permitted to endorse acandidate in the newsletter.
Appointment of FLEXCOM officers shall takeplace at the last FLEXCOM of the year followingthe election committee report . The new at-largemembers shall have a vote in the election ofofficers. The outgoing at-large members will nothave a vote in the election of officers. The newofficers will take office at the first FLEXCOM of
the next year.
Your Ad Here Reaches
30,000+ Readers
The Pelican is published by the
Florida Chapter of the Sierra Club forits members and other interestedreaders. Sierra Club members, as a
group, have above-average incomeand education levels. They enjoyoutdoor activities and travel.
Our readers are interested inproducts or services that areenvironmentally considerate,
enhance enjoyment of the outdoorsor help them express theirenvironmental ethic.
For a rate sheet, call BenOchshorn at 850-894-2869 ore-mail benoc@netscape.com
8/9/2019 Summer 2006 Pelican Newsletter, Florida Sierra Club
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Save the Date
Fall Conference
November 10 - 12
Don't miss this fall's Florida Chapter ConservationConference, to be held Friday - Sunday, November 10 - 12.
Well feature programs and discussions on Florida'senvironmental challenges such as: Energy - Red Tide -Growth - Wetlands - Biodiversity - Water quality - Offshore
drilling Everglades, as well as training sessions and outings.
New Location!
We're excited about the new location, which will be thebeautiful Pine Lake Retreat in central Florida. Pine LakeRetreat is conveniently located on U.S.Hwy. 27 just south of
Leesburg and the Florida Turnpike.Housing options include chalets, lodges and RV or tent
camping. The cafeteria has great food and the meeting roomsare spacious and fully equipped. The camp is loaded withactivities and sports -- fun for the whole family.
So mark your calendar now for this weekend of learning,
sharing and fun. More details and a registration form will be inthe next Pelican. More information on the camp is atwww.pinelakeretreat.com.For details about the conference,
call Rosalie Shaffer at 941-729-9248.
Chapter Fund Appeal
Its Not Too LateTo Donate
Yes, I remember that fund appeal letter fro m the Florida
Chapter of the Sierra Club. That was back in March and Ididnt respond right away. Just put it aside so I could get to itlater. Well, now its later and I cant find it.
Is this you too? Well, you can still contribute to one or bothof our funds:
Florida Chapter General Fund. This is not tax-deductiblebecause funds support our effective advocacy andlobbying efforts.
Florida Chapter Political Committee (PAC). This is nottax-deductible because this money is used for politicalactivities.
Write a separate check for each fund and make it payable tothe specific fund. Include your full name, address, ZIP code
and phone number. If your political contribution exceeds$100, you must also include your occupation.Send to:
Florida Sierra Fund
c/o Don S. Lieb21 Kingsbridge Crossing DriveOrmond Beach FL 32174
If you have already sent in a donation, we thank you for
your support!
FLORIDA CHAPTER SIERRA CLUB NONPROFIT ORG.
THE PELICAN U.S. PostageP.O. Box 575 PAID
Tallahassee FL 32302-0575 Tallahassee FL
Modern MailersPermit 236