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APRIL 2008   NEWSLETTER

UPCOMING EVENTS FRIDAY, APRIL 11.      MAQUILAPOLIS;   CITY OF FACTORIES      See details below.  Time:  6:30 pm                                     Place:  The Progressive Center, 413 Waco Street MONDAY, April 14.  Meeting together with Coastal Bend Bays Foundation     Truan Natural Resources Center, TAMU-CC.  Social, 5:30 pm.      Program, 6 pm.  See below TUESDAY, APRIL 15.  Regular luncheon planning meeting st the central    Library, 215 Comanche at 11:30 am.  Planning for EARTH DAY/BAY     DAY BOOTH  THURSDAY, APRIL 17.  Pre-event social for participants in EARTH DAY   /BAY DAY.  Details below  SATURDAY, APRIL 19.  EARTH DAY / BAY DAY.  10 am to 5 pm. At   COLE PARK.  Details below. ………………………………………………………………………………………  COMMENTS FROM THE CHAIR April is really a very busy month for all of us.  First of all the film…Hal Suter received a copy from national Sierra and Naomi Linzer arranged for the showing.  We hope all of you will come see it.        The film is an inspiring story of women workers fighting for decent working conditions and a clean and healthy environment.    These women show that there is hope for improving the lives of maquila-workers and their communities.  The Sierra Club urges  you to watch this documentary and take action. ***  The next event is on Monday evening with the Bays Foundation.  The program is COASTAL DUNE MANAGEMENT:  DEVELOPMENT, MITIGATION AND RESTORATION.  The speakers are Dave Sullivan from Naismith Engineering (think Torguga Dunes and the dune problem next to Zahn Road), John Reilley speaking on Revegetation and Restoration; Jennifer Smith-Engle, Nueces County Protection Program Support specialist and Fred McCutchon, chair of the Nueces County Beach Management Advisory Committee.    It promises to be a lively meeting. ***  Tuesday, April 15, Regular meeting of the planning committee. **** Thursday:  April 17, the sponsors of the EARTH DAY / BAY DAY EVENT are invited to the pre-event social.  It will be held in the Cheniere offices on the 16th floor of the north tower of 1 SHORELILNE PLAZA  FROM 5 TO 7 PM   Please RSVP if you are attending. ****  SATURDAY; APRIL 19,   EARTH DAY / BAY DAYFREE FAMILY FUN…..COLE PARK…10 AM TO 5 PM We need volunteers to help staff the booth.  Please call me at 852-7938 or e-mail to phsuter@stx.rr.com to tell me when you can work (and enjoy) the event. ………………………………………………………………………….. THE ORRIN BONNEY AWARD       Pat Suter was presented with the ORRIN BONNEY AWARD on April 5 in Austin by the Lone Star chapter of the Sierra Club.  This is the highest award the club presents and was in recognition of her many years of working for the club.  In her remarks on the presentation, Pat said that the successes of the Coastal Bend Group is due to the pro-active nature of her EX-COM.  Mina Williams and Venice Scheurich take care of in-situ uranium mining issues.  Joyce Jarmon and Edie Cosgrove assist with monitoring the refineries and their emissions.  Kenn Jobe helps with recycle issues.  The Group also follows the suggestions of national in their efforts to cooperate with other groups working the environmental.  Hal Suter, president of the Beach Access Coalition, keeps up with beach affairs.  Kathy Griffith is the membership chairman of the Group and is also the editor of the Audubon Outdoor Club’s NEWSLETTER and so keeps that contact going.    She also thanked the state office for all their help.      Teresa Carrillo, treasurer of the Coastal Bend Group and member of the Lone Star Chapter EXCOM, made the presentation.      cej To read more about Pat's honor: http://www.caller.com/news/2008/apr/04/local-activist-honored-by-texas-sierra-club/ ……………………………………………………………………………………………… Check our web site for the excellent minutes of our meetings prepared by Venice Scheurich, Secretary and Cheryl McGrath, webmaster.                         http://texas.sierraclub.org/coastalbend

THE LONE STAR CHAPTER WILL MEET HERE ON JULY 19 FOR THEIR REGULAR EXCOM MEETING.  They are interested in hearing about uranium mining and wind energy.  So we will begin to prepare for the members to come here.

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COASTAL BEND SIERRA CLUB - April 2008 Meeting Minutes

The Coastal Bend Sierra Club met on Tuesday, April 15 from 11:30 am until 1:30 pm at the Central Library, 805 Comanche Street.  Chairperson Pat Suter welcomed members and reminded them that March meeting minutes are on the club’s web site.  In her introductory remarks, Pat also reported briefly on the April 11 showing of the DVD, Maquilapolis: City of Factories, and she expressed special thanks to Naomi Linzer for working to make all arrangements for the viewing.

Senator Carlos Truan moved that the Coastal Bend Sierra Club officially recognize and congratulate Pat Suter for receiving the Orrin Bonney Award, which is the highest award of the Lone Star Sierra Club.  Lois Huff seconded the motion which carried unanimously.  Members expressed their appreciation to Pat for her dedication and hard work in the Sierra Club for which she received this honor, and she graciously thanked those in Coastal Bend Sierra who worked with her on many projects through the years.

Treasurer Teresa Carrillo’s report presented a detailed account of present finances, and Pat Suter gave members a review of how funds have come into, and have been dispersed from, the treasury during the club’s existence.  There was some discussion of how money might be raised in the future to replenish the treasury when worthy projects need funding.

Joyce Jarmon, one of the club’s representatives on the Community Advisory Council and on the Long-Term Health Care Committee, gave a report on recent benzene emissions from operations in the industrial area.  There has been a dramatic improvement in these emissions since 2004.   This lowering trend has continued for the most recent time interval (March 8 to April 7, 2008) when benzene emissions fell from 1.43 parts per billion to 1.12 ppb.

Lois Huff, Executive Director of the Coastal Bend Bays Foundation, reported on final preparations for Saturday’s (April 19) Earth Day/Bay Day celebration in Cole Park from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm.  Over 100 vendors have registered to participate.  There will be no parking on the water side as in previous years, but the city will run a shuttle service all day between the parking lot at First Methodist Church and Cole Park.   Lois and Pat reminded members of the pre-event party for volunteers from 5 to 7 pm on Thursday, April 17, in the Cheniere offices on the 16^th floor of the north tower of 1 Shoreline Plaza.

Coastal Bend Sierrans are needed to work at our booth throughout the day on Saturday.  If you can contribute some time, call or e-mail Pat Suter at:  phsuter@stx.rr.com.

Mina Williams and Venice Scheurich had just returned from their attendance in Goliad of the Uranium Research and Advisory Committee (URAC) meeting and gave a brief report.  They also reported that members of South Texas Opposes Pollution (STOP) are planning to host a seminar/workshop in Kingsville on Saturday, May 17 with Dr. Richard Abitz, a nationally recognized geochemist with over twenty years of experience working on environmental problems associated with hazardous and radioactive waste.  This work includes remediation of soil and groundwater contaminated with uranium and its decay products and the assessment of human health risk from exposure to toxic and carcinogenic substances.  They reminded members that Kleberg County has had uranium mining for twenty years and that Goliad County has had extensive uranium exploration activity for nearly two years.  Also, they reminded the group that STOP has several members who are also members of Coastal Bend Sierra.  Similarly, several URAC members are members of Coastal Bend Sierra.  These members from both areas  are actively working on the uranium issue.  Mina and Venice distributed a letter to Coastal Bend Sierra members urging them to co-sponsor with STOP the May 17 event in Kingsville.

After considerable discussion, Hal Suter moved and Joyce Jarmon seconded a motion that the Coastal Bend Sierra Club officially co-sponsor with STOP a toxic water conference in Kleberg County with Dr. Richard Abitz dealing with how to effectively understand the process of uranium mining.  After more discussion, the motion carried.

Pat Suter volunteered to include a column in the next Coastal Bend Sierra newsletter asking members to make contributions to help fund projects which the club endorses.

Submitted by Venice Scheurich

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                          COASTAL BEND GROUP

                       EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Pat Suter	852-7938	Chairman
phsuter@stx.rr.com
Mina Williams	882-1179	V.Chairman
Teresa Carrillo	361-672-4703	Treasurer
Venice Scheurich	241-4289	Secretary
Hal Suter	852-7938	Lone Star Ch. Rep.
COMMITTEE CHAIRS
Recycling	993-3737	Kenn Jobe
Venice Scheurich	241-4289	Conservation
Bill Alling	289-9090	Air Quality
Kathy Griffith	578-5291	Membership/Publicity
Hal Suter and Mina Williams	852-7938	Political
Hal Suter	852-7938	Walks
Hal Suter	852-7938	Rep. to Lone Star Ch.
Kathy Griffith	578-5291	Field Trips
Teresa Carillo	882-3439	Field Trips
Cheryl McGrath		Webmaster

  Cheryl McGrath      Webmaster
  csmcgrath@earthlink.net             

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Texas State Legislature Online CORPUS CHRISTI MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL Mayor Henry Garrett                                           District 1 Bill Kelly Business: 826-3100                                               Business: 888-6600 Mobile: 850-3113                                                  Mobile: 815-7314 email: Lindale@cctexas.com                               email: BILL@BILLKELLYONLINE.COM District 2 John Marez Business: Mobile: email: JOHNMAREZDISTRICT2@YAHOO.COM District 3 Pricilla Leal                                         District 4 Mike McCutchon Home: 853-1748                                                  Business: 883-6211 Mobile:537-1746                                                 Mobile: 853-4745 email: pricillalealatdistrict3@yahoo.com           email: MMCUTCH@STX.RR.COM

District 5 Larry Elizondo                                    At Large: Nelda Martinez
Home: 844-5259                                                  Business: 779-7938
Mobile: 991-2680                                                Mobile (city) 826-3105
email: LRElizondoSr@Hotmail.com                   email: nelda@neldamartinez.com

At Large: Melody Cooper
Business: 887-8014
Mobile: 74-4170
email: JOE@MELODYCOOPERLAW.COM

At Large: Mike Hummell
Business: 883-3563
Home: 906-0782
email: mhummell@HDHLawFirm.com
       
         
STATE  ELECTED OFFICIALS ADDRESSES

Hon. Solomon Ortiz                         State Rep. ____
House Office Bldg.                           P.O. Box 2910  
Washington, D.C. 20515-4315       Austin, TX 78768-2910
                                                                Solomon Ortiz, Jr.
                                                                Abel Herrero
                                                                Juan Garcia


Hon. Kay Bailey Hutchison            Sen. John Cornyn
 Senate Office Building                   Senate Office Building
 Washington, D.C. 20510                Washington, D.C. 20510