Summer 2006 Pelican Newsletter, Florida Sierra Club

8/9/2019 Summer 2006 Pelican Newsletter, Florida Sierra Club

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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 * [email protected]

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: [email protected]


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The Pelican Page 5

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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Page 6 The Pelican

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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The Pelican Page 7

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

[email protected] (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

[email protected] (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

[email protected] 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 [email protected]. 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 [email protected]

August 19-20: Wilderness First Aid Training (WFA) inHollywood, Fla. Cost $ 125. Contact Judy Kuchta at954-924-5001 or [email protected], or Rudy Scheffer at

727-726-8375or [email protected].

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 [email protected] 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 [email protected].


10/16

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: [email protected] 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: [email protected]

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


11/16

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

[email protected].


12/16

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.


13/16


14/16

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, [email protected], 954 946-7359

Ron Haines, [email protected], 561-964-1995

Corey Hyde, [email protected], 239-887-0095

John Hedrick,[email protected] 850-421-2483

Ervin Duncan, [email protected]

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

[email protected] 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/


15/16

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

[email protected]

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 [email protected]


16/16

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

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