A Publication for Members and Friends
of the Roanoke Group of the Sierra Club

December 2006 - January 2007

Contents (quick links):

Acoustic Appalachian Holiday - Earth Friendly Friday December 8
"The Next Industrial Revolution" Earth Friendly Friday January 10
Executive Committee Election: Candidates' Statements
Support RIDE Solutions
ExCom Election Ballot
Earth Friendly Friday Details and Location
Calendar of Events

Acoustic Appalachian Holiday - Earth Friendly Friday - 6:30 PM, December 8, 2006

Enjoy live acoustic music with local songwriters and recording artists who have authored award-winning tunes:

Greg Trafidlo www.gregtrafidlo.com   Grand Prize, Louisville Songwriters Cooperative Competition; holiday favorite,"Don't Take Your Gut to Town"

David Simpkins www.davidsimpkins.com   Winner, '02 Floyd World Music Festival

Frank Dieter www.frankdieter.com

Marian & Dan McConnell www.cdbaby.com/cd/mdmcconnell. Marian is greatly admired by local Sierrans as the composer of a ballad about our own Bob Egbert, whom she saw walking over the mountain on his daily commute to work. Visit our web site for more pictures of our artists!

The backdrop will be a revolving array of stunning photos from the American Southwest, Nova Scotia and the Appalachian Trail. Please bring a food dish to share - snacks, finger food, desserts, fruits, whatever goodies you'd like to contribute to our feast! Some beverages will be provided; please feel free to BYO wine/beer. Location: Unitarian Universalist Church of Roanoke on Grandin Road at Brandon. For THIS MONTH ONLY, we are asking a $5 donation so that our musicians can receive some compensation for their talent and efforts.

For time and location details, see "Earth Friendly Friday" below.

"The Next Industrial Revolution"
Earth Friendly Friday - January 12, 2007

You can look long and hard around our southwest Virginia and not find anyone more committed to the principles of a sustainable society than Virginia Tech's Green Engineering Program director, Sean McGinnis. Riding the Smart Way bus from Roanoke to Blacksburg and using his bicycle for local transportation are just two of the many ways that he practices what he preaches.

He will present "The Next Industrial Revolution", a 55 minute film which highlights the work and vision of architect William McDonough and chemist Dr. Michael Braungart, two leaders in the movement to transform the relationship between commerce and nature.

McDonough and Braungart redesign buildings, processes, and products to work according to nature's rules. They are the authors of Cradle-to-Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things which considers a new design paradigm for a future of sustaining prosperity, offering practical steps on how to innovate within today's economic environment.

"The Next Industrial Revolution" brings together ecology and human design, and has been hailed as one of the most informative, brilliant and hopeful films about the transformation of industrial and economic activities. In contrast to most of the current news and media coverage of the environmental issues facing society, the film is optimistic and offers feasible solutions for sustainability.

Sean McGinnis has degrees in Chemical Engineering and Materials Science from the University of Minnesota and a Ph.D. from Stanford University. He worked in R&D for seven years at the Spectacle Lens Group of J&J Vision Care in Roanoke. He joined the Virginia Tech College of Engineering in 2005 where he directs the Green Engineering program and does research on sustainable materials and process design.

We are honored to have Sean McGinnis share his expertise on this vital topic. Mark your calendar now, and don't miss it!

For time and location details see "Earth Friendly Friday" below.

Executive Committee Elections - Candidates' Statements

Each year, we choose our Executive Committee members who serve two year terms. This year four positions will be filled. We have four candidates for those positions, including three incumbents and one new candidate (Ed Kyle). Thus, unlike most elections, we will not have winners and losers, only winners. Please take a moment to read the candidates' statements - you will find the election ballot on page 4. This year will mark the end of Bob Egbert's long tenure as a member of our ExCom, as he chose not to be a candidate (but promises to stay involved, which Is greatly appreciated). Continuing members of ExCom who are not up for election this year are Bill Modica, Grace Terry, and Sherman Bamford.

DIANA CHRISTOPULOS

For me, the Roanoke group's most important priorities are strengthening our local environmental community and taking local action on global climate change. At present I coordinate the monthly Earth-Friendly Friday programs and the Cool Cities (global climate change) campaign. I have been active in the Sierra Club since 1987, holding a variety of local, state and national leadership positions. During the 1990s I received awards from the Lone Star (Texas) Chapter of the Sierra Club for leadership in outings and river conservation; as well as the Trust for Public Land's Texas Open Space Leadership Award and a leadership award from the Sportsmen Conservationists of Texas.

ANNIE KROCHALIS

As a rural resident, I have become increasingly concerned about sprawl, water quality, and other environmental issues. I have worked as President and as a Board Member my Civic League, attended the County of Roanoke Citizen's Planning Academy, and recently completed a fellowship with the VA Natural Resources Leadership Institute. I continue to be involved in other environmental groups such as VA Forest Watch and Rail Solution, working to bring awareness of long term environmental impact to community planning decisions. I am convinced of the positive influence of grassroots organizations and citizen voices, and want to work toward bipartisan participation in environmental planning.

ED KYLE

I have been a Sierra Club member continuously since 2000 and was a member off and on for a number of years before that. Our family also supports several other organizations that work to preserve wildlife, wild places, and a healthy world in which to live. For the past year I have gradually become more active in our local Sierra Club group and have found a niche in which I can offer a physical presence and contribute to good local decisions regarding our environment. Recent materialistic trends in our culture have been disturbing, but I know that many people are willing to do the right thing if they know what that is. We have been very surprised at how many people are not even familiar with the Sierra Club, and I would like to help change that. I will appreciate your support.

MARK MCCLAIN

This is the most exciting time of my 20+ years in the Sierra Club! Our local "cool cities" coalition has been joined by 30 other organizations and community leaders in just three months. We have earned a place at the table with local government leaders, and we are making a difference! Our membership has increased 8% in the last year, significantly better than comparable numbers for the Virginia Chapter and Sierra Club as a whole. I appreciate the opportunity to serve as your Group Chair, and I thank you for your continuing support.

EARTH FRIENDLY FRIDAY - Roanoke's monthly environmental gathering

Earth Friendly Friday is a monthly program series to celebrate the natural wonders of the earth and to mobilize our community for needed action to protect our environment. This series is sponsored by the Roanoke Sierra Club and the Environmental Concerns Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Roanoke.

LOCATION: 2015 Grandin Rd., Roanoke (at Brandon Ave., across from Patrick Henry High School).

DATE/TIME: Second Friday of each month. Doors open at 6:30 PM, program starts promptly at 7:00. Everyone is invited to bring a snack dish for sharing , and to enjoy socializing, music and refreshments before and after the program.

For December only there is a suggested donation of $5 for the musicians. Otherwise, Earth Friendly Friday is always FREE and open to the public! For details of programs for the coming months, see articles on pg. 1. Contact: Diana Christopulos 387-0930

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