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2006 Alabama Annual Retreat

Bear Creek Education Center -- November 3-5, 2006

Hosted by the North Alabama Group, the Chapter's Annual Retreat was held November 3-5 at the Bear Creek Education Center in Franklin County, near Russellville. The Alabama Chapter's outings impresario, Bruce Martin, and his team arranged several outings: a high ropes course, including a zip line; a canoe trip of up to ten miles on the lake just down the hill; a two mile hike on a trail created several years ago by the North Alabama Group; a barred owl calling session using a recording (but the owls refused to show). Bruce also showed and discussed pictures made during a bicycle outing on the Natchez Trace several years ago. The zip line was a big hit. The lake and the surrounding woods were beautiful. If you missed the 2006 retreat, plan on participating next year. Other activities included the presentation of awards for service to the chapter and/or the environment (see article below). Peggie Griffin, Associate Regional Representative, presented an update on the Building Environmental Communities program — family farm tours, farmer's market festival, and the green building project in the Mobile County community of Coden. She also reported on the settlement of the lawsuit against a hog CAFO near Henagar. Lisa Evans, Southeast Office Administrative Coordinator, told of the responsibilities of the Sierra Club staff supervised by Staff Director Jim Price of the Southeast Regional Office in Birmingham (see article page 2). Montgomery Group Chair John Ackerman discussed the Cool Cities program of the Sierra Club. John stated he has made presentations to officials in Prattville and Montgomery. He reported Alabama is one of four states without at least one city that has signed the pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. (The other states are South Dakota, West Virginia, and Wyoming.) If you need assistance in getting your community to sign up, contact John at 334-361-4732 or apac4@knology.net. David Newton reported on several changes this year in the development of the chapter's newsletter. There was a statewide search for a printer and a mailer. At this writing, the printer and the mailer are both in Birmingham, along with club member Joe Watts, who does the layout for the newsletter. David also gave each group a compact disk that contains the key findings of the National Purpose, Local Action research study most of the chapter's groups participated in about two years ago. (You can also view this information on line at the Clubhouse website: http://clubhouse.sierraclub.org/go/lea derpositions/ldp/tools_for_you.asp). The Mobile Group volunteered to host the 2007 Annual Retreat. The location and dates have not been chosen. Stay tuned for an announcement. - by David Newton

The winners of the Alabama Chapter's awards for 2006 appear below. The awards were announced November 5 at the annual retreat held at the Bear Creek Education Center near Hodges, Alabama.

John Ackerman (Awards Committe chair in background), Kevin Marek, Bryan & Leslie Burgess, David Underhill, Bruce Martin

David Underhill, 2006 Sierran of the Year - for dedicated service and outstanding leadership David is the chair of the Mobile Group, and has been very active in opposing a liquefied natural gas facility in the Gulf of Mexico. He has also been an important member of the Gulf Coast Green Rebuilding Project that has been rebuilding a home in Coden that was severely damaged during Hurricane Katrina.

Bob Hastings, 2006 Conservationist of the Year - for dedicated service in protecting Alabama's environment

Bruce Martin, 2006 Environmental Educator of the Year - for dedicated service to the people of Alabama in environmental education For 20 years, Bruce has volunteered to train outings leaders throughout Alabama.

Mark Martin, 2006 Environmental Defender of the Year - for his work in support of maintaining clean air, land, and water in Alabama Mark worked long and hard as the attorney in the recently settled lawsuit against a hog factory next to members Barbara and Willard Jones' property in Henagar.

Kevin Marek - in appreciation of continued service as webmaster for the Alabama Chapter
James Nat Berry - in appreciation of continued service as webmaster for the Alabama Chapter
For several years, Kevin and Nat have volunteered to maintain the Alabama Chapter's website.

Lawrence Rives - in appreciation of leadership in the Gulf Coast Green Rebuilding Project of the Alabama Chapter of the Sierra Club
Stephen Guesman - in appreciation of leadership in the Gulf Coast Green Rebuilding Project of the Alabama Chapter of the Sierra Club
Both Lawrence and Stephen have served as crew chiefs for the green rebuilding project. Lawrence was very active in seeking volunteers and low cost materials for the project. He also has been an active member of the sustainable agriculture steering committee. Stephen works as a green builder and is educates folks about energy efficiency

Margo Rebar - in appreciation of leadership in the Inner City Outings (ICO) program in Birmingham
Margo has been very active in the ICO program for five years. Recently, she chaired the Cahaba Group.

Bryan and Leslie Burgess - Eco Team of the Year - for leadership in the creation of small grassroots organizations through their Friends of Rural Alabama c3 organization and for.their continuous search for financial support for environmental projects - such as the GIS for which they now have an EPA grant that allows them to develop the program for 14 other states. Bryan was invaluable in research and assistance throughout the recently concluded Clean Water lawsuit.

Alabama State Senator Quinton T. Ross, Jr. - in appreciation of his past and continued work in the establishment of an Environmental Justice Unit within the Alabama Department of Environmental Management

Alabama State Representative Jeffrey McLaughlin - in appreciation of his past and continued work in protecting the quality of the waters of the State of Alabama