Roanoke Group
of the Virginia Chapter

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

February-March 2006

EARTH FRIENDLY FRIDAY - Annette Souder, the Sierra Club's national Global Population and Environment Program Director, will discuss conservation and world population issues on Friday, February 10. She will highlight strategies for protecting the global environment and preserving natural resources by supporting slower world population growth. A former high school teacher, Souder holds degrees in chemistry and conservation biology. The Sierra Club's program supports voluntary family planning, initiatives that empower women and girls, and lifestyles that preserve the earth's resources. Souder recently returned from Madagascar, where she led Sierra Club activists in a study tour of population and environment projects. She has also been active in Costa Rica, Peru, Ecuador, Kenya, Botswana, South Africa, Turkey and several countries in Southeast Asia. For details on location and time, click MEETINGS & EVENTS CALENDAR link on the right panel.

EXCOM OFFICER AND COMMITTEE CHANGES - At the January Executive Committee meeting, several changes were made to officer and committee assignments. Mark McClain was appointed group Treasurer, replacing Bob Egbert, who has held that post for several years. Our sincere gratitude is extended to Bob for service above and beyond the call of duty in that post. Bob will now be able to devote more time to his new responsibilities as Chapter Membership Chair. He will also be working to revitalize other groups around Virginia and strengthen communications between the chapter and local groups. Grace Terry has accepted appointment as Roanoke Group Membership and Events Chair. In this role, Grace will be responsible for membership recruitment and retention in our group, and she will also coordinate our involvement with local events such as Earth Day and the annual Green Living and Energy Expo. Our Smart Growth Committee will now include transportation issues, and Annie Krochalis will be chair of this expanded committee. Annie also accepted appointment as Alternate Delegate to the Virginia Chapter. Diana Christopulos will assume the post of Liaison to the Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club. This appointment is in recognition that the RATC is the premier hiking organization in our region, and we want to ensure that our members are kept informed of their activities. Additionally, we hope to collaborate with the RATC on conservation issues that are of interest to both our organizations. For a complete listing of group contacts, click the CONTACT US link in the right panel.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES - If you would like to contribute some of your time to our efforts, we have two ways that you can make yourself available:

• If you can only volunteer time occasionally, but want to be in the loop when help is needed, the best way to do that is join the Roanoke-Environmentalists email news group. We'll email the group whenever there is a local event, program, project, outing, or other activity. Visit groups.yahoo.com/group/roanoke-environmentalists/ to find out more about this group and to sign up, or email markmcclain@adelphia.net.
• If you want to contribute your time on a regular basis we'll be delighted to welcome you into one of our working committees or task forces. Click the CONTACT US link in the right panel to find out how to contact our committee leaders directly. Or to discuss specifics of the volunteer opportunities available, call Mark McClain at 387-0930 or email markmcclain@adelphia.net. We have an immediate need for a coordinator for Adopt-a-Highway Program.

GET LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS BY EMAIL
JOIN THIS NEWSGROUP: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/roanoke-environmentalists   *

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON OUR LOCAL EVENTS, CLICK THE "MEETINGS AND EVENTS CALENDAR" LINK IN THE RIGHT HAND COLUMN OF THIS PAGE, OR CLICK "HOME" TO OUR MAIN PAGE