John J Zeugner, AICP
November 2009
This will be a short column, as we begin the slow transition from the richness of late summer into the ripening and fading of Fall.
You will find, towards the back of this newsletter issue, a section pertaining to the election of new and returning FoJG Executive Committee (Ex Comm) members. Please take a couple of minutes, to review the candidates, vote, and send back your ballots. I won’t tell you how many we usually receive, but it’s a good indication of who’s paying attention out there.
As 2009 draws slowly to a close, I want to thank and commend each and every member of YOUR current Ex Comm: Adele, Karie, Tamera, Scott, Bill, Larry, Barbara, and Diana Parker, (who isn’t on Ex Comm but always comes, as our Treasurer, newsletter and website master, and indefatigable watchdog-activist !) They, we, have worked hard this year, and deserve many thanks! Let me provide a partial listing....
We have kept on top of the region’s environmental issues, such as the Shockoe Bottom Stadium, the JRPS Conservation Easement, the Downtown Plan Amendment hearings, and the City’s Stormwater Utility hearings. We vigilantly scrutinize the activities of VCU and UofR, various City Departments, the surrounding counties, the transportation realm, and private development. We set up tables and booths at most of the public events in town; have supported the Buy Fresh, Buy Local program and related Farmers’ Markets in the area, supported and volunteered for the Greenways and Rails to Trails projects, and have supported the Partnership for Smarter Growth local and regional initiatives. We get dirty at clean-ups, follow all the political activity in the area, and participate in almost all the state Sierra Club Chapter activities.
Additionally, we made strong showings at the state level too - pressuring the zoning decision for the Old Dominion Power Co-Op in Surry County, making statements and providing testimonies at state Air and Water Board meetings, DEQ and DCR hearings, and most significantly, finally defeated the King William Reservoir project, after more than 10 years of organizing, activities, studies, legal battles, and struggle. Bravo to all those who joined, helped, persisted and persevered ! Thanks, all, for such hard work and dedication !
Our grand Holiday Celebration / Fundraiser is in early December, and I hope many of you will plan to attend. Not only do we have a lot of fun, sharing food and drink and celebrating the holidays, but we honor local environmental activists with our Green Giant Award, and receive insightful and inspiring speeches from a major speakers. In previous years, we’ve had several national Sierra Club Presidents attend, such as Robbie Cox in 2007 and Allison Chin in 2008. This year, our speaker is Richard Conti, the relatively new Director/CEO of the Science Museum of Virginia, who is transforming its role in providing for education and technology needs in the Commonwealth. We promise a provocative evening!
There is one final point I must make about the evening - it IS a fundraiser ! Our group has two major fundraising activities each year: our Big Yard Sale with U of R in May, and our Holiday Celebration. I realize that the economy is constricted, and funds are tighter than usual, but we do need you to support us because one source of our funds has been eliminated. In previous years, the national Sierras Club would send us $1 for each new member in our FoJG service region (coming from the $35 membership fee). This year, our colleagues in San Francisco are dealing with drastic budget cuts, and our Group allocation was needed there. I think we can make up the $1,650 deficiency, by having YOU come to our Holiday event and supporting us generously. We’ll have great silent and voice auctions items available, green goods and services available, and lots of Sierra Club goodies for sale: shirts, caps, calendars and more. You can do most of your Holiday shopping there, in a single evening, and help fund the Group’s environmental activities. What could be better? What would be more fun? ! Make your reservations early ! Happy Holidays!