clean air meetups are back in dfw!

Come find out and discuss what's happening on important issues with new federal ozone rules and its impact on our local area to critical Texas environmental agencies coming under legislative review.

On Tue, Feb. 23 from 6:30-8:30, we will be meeting at the Farmers Branch Manske Library at 13613 Webb Chapel Rd., in Farmers Branch, TX 75234. There will be a meet and greet from 6:15 to 6:30.

Tom "Smitty" Smith, executive director of Public Citizen, will be speaking.

Topics on the agenda include:

• New Ozone Rules/Impact on DFW
• Sunset Review of Key Agencies that Affect the Environment (TCEQ, Water Dev. Board,etc.)
• Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in N. Texas
• Past Organizing Successes and Next Steps

Directions: Take the Webb Chapel exit in Dallas from I-635/LBJ freeway and head north. Pass through the light on Valley View Lane continuing north on Webb Chapel. As you start down a hill, you will see the Manske library on your left. Parking is free.

RSVP's would be helpful so we can ensure enough handouts, etc.  For more information, please call Rita Beving at 214-557-2271.

learn how to backpack

Why in the world would anyone want to go backpacking? You have to carry this heavy thing on your back, sleep on the cold ground, eat crud out of a plastic bag, and wear out your feet.

You can drive to some pretty amazing and beautiful places. And from your car, you can dayhike to a bunch more. But if you look at a map, you'll see that roads and dayhiking only get you to a very small percentage of America. If you want to see the rest, you have to backpack.

Once you learn to backpack, a whole world will open up for you. A world of supreme beauty, star encrusted skies, rushing mountain streams, desert solitude, and quiet you won't find here in the Metroplex. You'll also find that that thing on your back (your backpack) does not have to be heavy, sleeping on the ground can be amazingly comfortable, you can have gourmet food, and your feet won't wear out.

So, how do you get started? You're in luck! The Dallas Sierra Club's Beginner Backpacking Class will be Saturday, February 13. If you miss this one, we won't have another until September. So mark your calendars now.

This class is an ideal way to learn about backpacking. Topics covered include wilderness ethics, outdoor clothing, boots, backpacks, tents, sleeping bags, cookware, food, and preparing for a trip. The class it taught by experienced Dallas Sierra Club trip leaders. There will be plenty of time for a hands-on look at all kinds of backpacking equipment and to have all of your questions answered. We'll even break up into male and female groups so you can ask any gender specific questions you may have.

We'll provide lunch. You'll get a chance to sample a variety of backpacking foods. (And, we'll show you how you can get all your food at the grocery store.) We'll also have water and cokes available throughout the day.

Before the class is over, you will have a chance to sign up for one or more beginner backpack trips. These can get you ready for our most spectacular trips, our bus trips to Colorado, New Mexico and, at Thanksgiving, to Big Bend National Park.

The class will be held at REI (Recreational Equipment, Inc.) in the second floor program room. REI is at 4515 LBJ Freeway, north side service road, between Midway and Welch, Mapsco 14Q. The class will start promptly at 10:30 AM and will end at about 5:00 PM. The fee is $20 for Sierra Club members and $30 for non-members (you can sign up to be a Sierra Club member at the class). No reservations are necessary, just show up. Bring a light jacket or sweater, as the room is often cool.

subscribe to the new email version of our newsletter and other email lists

To save money and paper, the Dallas Sierra Club has stopped publication of our printed newsletter, The Compass.  In its place we have a new email newsletter.  Click below to sign up for the new email version of The Compass as well as our other email lists.
Click here to subscribe online to one or more of our email list (meetings, activities, issues, special events, conservation, outings, Inner City Outings, or Sierra Singles).