APRIL NEWS2005

 

  Important Upcoming Events

OUR NEXT SIERRA CLUB MEETING May 20, 2005
Time: 5-7pm
Place: Blucher Nature Center (across from Blucher Park)
              205 N. Carrizo, Corpus Christi

New January 2005 Kemp's Ridley Update by Mina Williams & Venice Scheurich

Coastal Bend Sierra Club April 2005 Meeting Minutes

The Coastal Bend Sierra Club met at the Blucher Nature Center on
April 19 at 11:30 am for the regular monthly meeting.

Chairperson Pat Suter welcomed new members and gave a brief financial
report. Recent expenses included $110 for each of two (March and April)
newsletter mail outs. New member Marco Figueroa was introduced.

Edith Cosgrove, member of the Citizen’s Advisory Committee on Long Term
Health Matters, reported that city-wide monitoring of air for about 60 substances
is now underway and that the raw data is available within 15 minutes of readings
through the TCEQ website. It is hoped that the data will soon be made more user
friendly. It appears that air quality along "refinery row" is better now than in years past.

Pat Suter reported for Kenn Jobe on recycling. The city’s Solid Waste Department will
distribute information on the value and availability of recycling at a booth on
Earth Day/Bay Day. Pat also reported that the Coastal Bend Sierra Club’s booth will have
literature on the issues of water in Texas and Padre Island drilling. Also, tattoos will be
available for the children who visit the booth.

Kathy Griffith received and forwarded the Audubon Action Alert re contacting members of
the US House to request their opposition to drilling in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge.
Pat Suter circulated the alert and appointed Marco Figueroa to contact the office of
Representative Solomon Ortiz with a request that he vote against drilling in the Refuge.
Members are urged to call Rep. Ortiz’s office at 361-883-5868 to request that he oppose
the drilling.

Teresa Carrillo circulated a schedule of events for Earth Day/Bay Day, which will occur in
Cole Park on Saturday April 23. Booths are to be set up by 9:00 am and activities will begin
by 10:00 am with the opening ceremony. Volunteers are needed to work between 10:00 and
4:00 pm. Sierra’s booth is number 130 in tent 6.

Pat Suter reminded the group of Lone Star Sierra’s crab boil at Padre Island National Seashore
on April 23 and of the group’s overnight campout on the beach south of Malaquite Visitors’ Center.

Hal Suter, member of the State Executive Committee, reported on the April 9 meeting in Austin.
Statewide LNG plans were discussed. There are special concerns about facilities planned for the
Houston Ship Channel area. A law suit has been filed in a district court against Shell Oil because of
their plans to use an open loop process in their off shore operations.

The State Executive Committee also discussed and approved the S.T.O.P. application for an
Environmental Justice grant for $3000 to pay for an expert witness in hydrology to testify at the
TCEQ contested case hearing re uranium mining in the Kingsville area. (See the March Meeting
Minutes for more information.)

Hal also announced that the July meeting of the Executive Committee will be in the Rockport area
with Rusty Middleton in charge of arrangements. Regarding elections for national Sierra positions,
Hal reminded members that they can vote on line. Ballots must reach national headquarters by
noon on April 25. Therefore, if using t
raditional mail, they should be mailed by April 22.

Members agreed to have a party from 5 to 7 pm at the Blucher Nature Center on Friday,
May 20 instead of the regular monthly business meeting. All are welcome. Bring your
favorite snack food.

The meeting adjourned at 1:15 pm.

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See The Observer on-line

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. 

 

                     COASTAL BEND GROUP

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

         *Pat Suter                 852-7938             Chairman
           phsuter@stx.rr.com

         *Mina WIlliams        882-1179             Vice Chairman

         * Judy Tor             361 -672-4703        Treasurer

         * Venice Scheurich     241-4289          Secretary

         * Hal Suter                 852-7938            Delegate to State

COMMITTEE CHAIRS * Venice Scheurich                              Conservation *Bill Alling                                              Air Quality *Kathy Griffith       578-5291              Membership & Publicity * Ken Jobe             993-3737             Recycling *Hal Suter & Mina Williams                 Political    852-7938    * Hal Suter          852-7938                   Walks * Hal Suter           852-7938                Rep. to Lone Star Chapter             * Kathy Griffith    578-5291                 Field Trips    Teresa Carrillo      882-3439              Field Trips                   Cheryl McGrath                                 Webmaster   csmcgrath@earthlink.net

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Texas State Legislature Online

ELECTED OFFICIALS ADDRESSES

Hon. Solomon Ortiz                          State Rep. ____ House Office Bldg.                            P.O. Box 2910   Washington, D.C. 20515-4315       Austin, TX 78768-2910                                                                 32 Gene Seaman                                                                 33 Vilma Luna                                                                  34 Jaime Capelo Hon. Kay Bailey Hutchison            Sen. John Cornyn  Senate Office Building                     Senate Office Building  Washington, D.C. 20510                 Washington, D.C. 20510

As a grassroots-based organization, we rely on individuals for our resources, talent, and energy.  Our members are our most important assets.