October NEWS2001
OUR NEXT MEETING
Date:  October 16, 2001
Time:  11:15 for Lunch; 12:15 Meeting
Place:  Art Community Center, 100 Shoreline
Program:  Conservation Begins at Home
                     Teresa Carrillo, Executive Director
                     Coastal Bend Bays Foundation

Comments from the Chair  on October Events  

You might know that Packery Channel took up some time at the meeting. The Chamber of Commerce has asked their
members to write letters to the GLO in favor of money from the state to dredge. We will need to counter this.
Read the Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce Packery Channel Letter and send your opposing opinions!

 WATER FOR PEOPLE AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Local sponsors of this event were the AUDUBON OUTDOOR CLUB OF CORPUS
CHRISTI, INC., and OPUS.

Well, the WATER CONFERENCE is over and it seems to have been a success in the view of those attending.
The Austin office people were really impressed as they only expect about 100 or so people in Dallas where they
are drawing from a membership of over 8000.
Many thanks to those of you who helped put it on. Karen Johnson made very good looking lunch tickets.
Henry and Randy Berryhill got the badges, Helene Fennessey, Mina Williams, Venice Scheurich, Frank Hankins,
Kathy Griffith, Hal Suter worked the registration tables. Bill Alling wrote the press release which was sent out to most
of the media. All three TV stations came and the Caller wrote something. I had lots of help from the univeristy in the details.
So that is behind us.

The events over the past month have permanently changed the way we do business.
But nevertheless, all things Sierrans believe in still continue to be importnat.  We
must band together to preserve and enhance our environment.  In this regard, the
WATER FOR PEOPLE AND THE ENVIRONMENT conference which will be held on
October 13 at the TAMU campus is very important.  I hope you will plan to attend.
Make a commitment to the future by learning all about what will really be the biggest
environmental fight of the coming years, which is water.  People here may be
lulled into complacency as we have had rain over the past few weeks, but this is
historically the season for rain and so is no real surprise.  The area is still in an
over-all water deficit for the long haul.  And just to keep you on your toes,
San Antonio hopes to take water from the San Antonio River just before it empties
into the bay system.  This is worrisome as this water is badly needed by the bays
and estuaries to keep them healthy.
Several of our members have volunteered to help with the conference and some
are already working.  What is needed most now is people who will be present and
working at the registration table on October 13.  Many thanks to the helpers to
date who are Teresa Carrillo, Henry and Randy Berryhill, Frank Hankins, Trian Serbu,
Bill Alling, Kathy Griffin, Venice Scheurich, Mina Williams, Helene Fennessey,
Karen Johnson.  We still need others to help on October 13th. Please call me
at 852-7938.
Local sponsors of this event are the AUDUBON OUTDOOR CLUB OF CORPUS
CHRISTI, INC., and OPUS.

NOTE:  While talking to someone in the General Land Office on another
matter, the person told me of his concern about
all the barges going up and down the Intercoastal Canal in all those deserted places
as there is no supervision of these boats.  They could rather easily
carry hazardous materials for terrorist purposes and off load such
stuff in remote places.  A horrible thought.  Please call Rep. Solomon Ortiz's office
(361-883-5868) and ask him to request more oversight of these vessels.
Thanks.  If crop dusters can be checked, so can barges.

WATCH THE COASTAL BEND SIERRA CLUB ON CABLE CHANNEL 10 on
WEDNESDAY NIGHTS AT 8:30PM.  Galaxie Video does an excellent job of
producing the show. 

HELP WANTED -
We could certainly use someone to
prepare the newsletter and work on outings.
We have two offers from members
who have country properties for
us to use for field trips.

September 18, 2001 MINUTES   by Frank Hankins, Secretary

Twelve members attended the meeting. Pat Suter, Chair, presided. Most of the
meeting was taken up with preparations for the Regional Water Conference at
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi on October 13. It begins at 8 a.m.
Registgration and ends around four o-clock. See full schedule on linked page.
The conference is sponsored by the Sierra Lone Star Chapter in partnership with
Environmental Defense, National Wildlife Federation, Texas Center for Policy
Studies, Texas Committee on Resources, and others.

Pat reported that a sizeable contribution had been made to Coastal Bend
Sierra Club by Donald Pedico, step-son of the deceased Ed Notzon, who had
been active int he Land Mass and other area issues.
Members approved allocating $600 to pay for technical assistance from Galaxy
Vision for six months of forthcoming Sierra Club half-hour shows on the
Public Access channel at 8:30 Wednesday nights.

                    Important Upcoming Events
     Sierra Celebration 2001 - Lone Star Chapter Annual Celebration
                                                                             October, 2001 at  Mo Ranch
       Coastal Bend Bays Foundation  -   September Meeting and Fall Calendar
        Water Conference in Corpus Christi - Water and the Environment October 13
       Forest Protection Worshop in Arkansas

                    Important Articles and News
        KEMPS RIDLEY TURTLE UPDATE by Mina Williams &Venice Scheurich
         The Corpus Christi Experiment VX Nerve Agent Disposal by Bill Alling
                  Should This City Be the Waste Dump
              for Chemical Weapons Residue?? 
                Bill Alling's Letter to The Caller-Times
         GLOBAL WARMING - WHAT MUST BE DONE by Pat Suter - see Feb. 2001 News
         Environmentalists are Worried  -by Pat Suter
      CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI DOUBLE STANDARD READY TO UNFOLD by Pat Suter - see November News
        
 WATCH THE COASTAL BEND SIERRA CLUB ON CABLE CHANNEL 10 on
WEDNESDAY NIGHTS AT 8:30PM.  Galaxie Video does an excellent job of
producing the show. 

EMAIL SENATOR KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON TO EXPRESS YOUR UNFAVORABLE OPINION
ON HER BILL TO DO BEACH RESTORATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENHANCEMENT BY DREDGING PACKERY CHANNEL

                     COASTAL BEND GROUP

• EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

         * Pat Suter                   852-7938              Chairman
            PHSUTER@aol.com

         * Randy Berryhill        883-0586        Vice Chairman

         * Judy Tor                  241-2605                Treasurer

         * Frank Hankins          991-4637               Secretary

•   COMMITTEE CHAIRS
  
  * Henry Berryhill     883-0586            Conservation
  
  * Elaine Giessel       578-5291            Conservation (mid coast)
   
  * Randy Berryhill    883-0586             Membership
  
  * Ken Jobe             993-3737             Recycling
  
  * Bill Alling               289-9090            Air Pollution
  
  * Frank Hankins     991-4637             Coastal
  
  * Cheryl McGrath                                 Web Master
    csmcgrath@earthlink.net