06 fall

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Explore, enjoy and protect the planet

Sierra Club has endorsed these

candidates in the November 5th generalelection. For more information, see the

articles on pages 4 and 12.

U.S. Senate

Bill Nelson

Florida Senate

Arthenia Joyner, District 18

Ted Deutsch, District 30

Florida House of Representatives

Richard Kriseman, District 53

Deborah Cope, District 57

Harriet Lerman, District 86

Christian Chiari, District 91

The Club also endorsed in the primary

race for Governor:

Jim Davis (Democrat)

Charlie Crist (Republican)

Inside This Issue:

Sierra Victories..Page 3

Political Endorsements..Pages 4, 12Hometown Democracy.Pages 5-6

Conservation Conference.Pages 8-9

Florida Chapter Elections.Pages 13-15

The Babcock Ranch Story:Making the Best Deal Possible

By Betsy Roberts, Chapter Conservation Chair

It was just about a year ago that Syd Kitson began his negotiations to buy about

91,000 acres in Charlotte and Lee Counties; the property is a working cattle ranch

owned by the Babcock family. It is old Florida, with telegraph swamp, hardwood

uplands, lots of alligators, sandhill cranes, Florida black bears and the Florida panther.

It has a beautiful north-south wildlife corridor. The Caloosahatchee River is south of

the property.

Because his deal involved changing two counties' comprehensive plans and "gifting"

density units, among other precedents, Sierra members in this area and others who were

concerned about the Ranch attended all the meetings regarding this sale and asked

many questions. As a result of this and other issues, a new Sierra group was formed --

the Greater Charlotte Harbor Group.

In November 2005, we delivered letters to the Governor and Cabinet. I testified

during the Cabinet meeting, urging them to deny this sale to Kitson and his partners

(continued on page 2

Fall 2006

Vol.38, No.2

Members of the new Greater Charlotte Harbor Group (Ray

Jasica, Don Thomas and Lori Brunderman) get out of the

meeting rooms for Earth Day. Photo by Sue Reske.

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Page 2 The Pelican

The Babcock Ranch Story(Continued from page 1)

because of the proposed, unprecedented transfer of water rightsand development units to him. When Audubon of Florida, theFlorida Wildlife Federation and other members of the FloridaForever Coalition supported Kitsons deal with Governor Jeb

Bush to sell 74,000 acres of the ranch to the state of Florida inexchange for the right to build a new city of 50,000 people onthe remaining 17,000 acres, the Sierra Club strongly objected.We continued to support public acquisition of the full 91,000-acre ranch and opposed the terms of the deal.

The Greater Charlotte Harbor Group, under the leadership ofChair Sue Reske, Vice Chair Gail Giles, Political Chair RuthBromberg and others, continued the fight with the support ofSierras Florida Chapter and Calusa Group, along with otherlocal environmental organizations.

When the Florida Department of Community Affairs (DCA)approved the Charlotte County Comprehensive Plan change inJune, the Sierra Club, Gail Giles and local environmentalistClarke Keller filed a petition with the DCA against CharlotteCounty for noncompliance with its comprehensive planregarding the ranch.

While both support and opposition to the Clubs action camefrom all over the state, it appears that the groups slated to sufferthe greatest impact by being closest to the development weremost supportive. Peace River Audubon, the Responsible GrowthManagement Coalition of Lee County and the EnvironmentalConfederation of Southwest Florida publicly applauded thechallenge. Editorials appeared in newspapers all over the state --pro and con. Many accused Sierra of being willing to lose the74,000 acres of preservation land. This, of course, was not true;we were simply concerned about sprawl, traffic, water, countyprecedents and other impacts.

By early July, it seemed like we were having daily conferencecalls for hours. The group included National Sierrarepresentative Frank Jackalone and volunteers Sue Reske, DanHendrickson, John Hedrick, petitioners Gail Giles and ClarkeKeller, Susie Caplowe, Ellen Peterson of Calusa and me, alongwith our attorneys Martha Collins and Jane West. Several of usdrove to West Palm Beach to meet with Kitson and hisattorneys. Mara Schlackman of our legal committee joined us aswe discussed compromises and methods to make both sideshappy, with density being the biggest stumbling block.

The following week we met at Babcock Ranch with Kitson,his attorneys and his planning staff. The meetings started at9 a.m. and finished about 12 hours later. In the end, Kitson did

not reduce his total number of units, but he did agree tosignificantly decrease the impacts of sprawl with severalconcessions. Most significantly, he agreed to protect pantherhabitat in the northern section by agreeing to eliminate a villageof 1,600 homes; and to place permanent conservation easementson the 2,000 acres where those homes would have been built,thereby creating a large Florida panther corridor. Anotherimportant agreement involved Kitsons support for a no-accessparkway to enable residents to avoid existing two-lane roads inorder to access the nearby interstate.

Kitson also agreed to:

Build at least four underpasses for wildlife within thedevelopment.

Place 250-foot buffers on Routes 31 and 78. Set slower speed limits on all main interior roads at night. Require that all homes surpass energy efficiency

construction standards.

Pay for the construction of a tertiary water treatment plantthat will service the new city.

Provide Sierra Club with a seat on the advisory committeefor the management of both the ranch and the new city.

Additionally, Charlotte County made a special proclamationon the uniqueness of this deal, to avoid setting a precedent forincreased density requests from other developers.

Since we had drawn the difficult Judge Alexander and theGovernor and Cabinet had supported the sale, we decided tosettle the challenge and to accept the concessions we'd gained.

Ideally, none of Babcock Ranch would have been developed,but we did make the deal which "couldn't get any better" betterfor Southwest Florida and the wildlife for which we all care somuch.

The Pelican Vol. 38, No. 3Editor: Kathy Criscola

Published by the Florida Chapter of the Sierra Club, 319 E.Park Avenue, Tallahassee FL. Address all inquiries to PO Box575, Tallahassee FL 32302-0575. The Pelican is mailed threetimes per year to members of Sierra Club in the state of Florida.Annual membership dues include $1.00 for the chapter

newsletter.Masthead by Moose Marx Design of Tampa Bay,

www.moosemarx.com.Send address changes to Sierra Club Member Services, PO

Box 52968, Boulder CO 80322-2968 or [email protected].

Send articles in ASCII text or Word format on disk to PO Box575, Tallahassee FL 32302-0575. Articles and letters may beedited for space and clarity. Next deadline: January 19, 2007.

For an advertising rate sheet, call Ben Ochshorn at 850-894-2869 or e-mail [email protected] (ad inquiries only).

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The Pelican Page 3

Victory Page

Sierra Successfully

Defends Green SwampIt took years for the state to acquire what is now the Osprey

Unit of the Hilochee Wildlife Management Area. At over 6,000

acres, this Green Swamp property was originally a Developmentof Regional Impact (DRI) known as Green Valley. The DRI

floundered, and luckily John and Marian Ryan of the Polk

Group were able to convince the county commission to rescind

the DRI the only time that has ever occurred in Polk County.

The property changed hands and the new owner was amenable

to state purchase of a majority of the original DRI tract. The

property, located between S.R. 557 and U.S. 27 along Interstate

4, is the largest block of contiguous habitat on the southern end

of the Green Swamp Area of Critical State Concern and will

provide the only opportunity for the installation of two large

wildlife underpasses which are included in the 2025 build-out of

I-4 through Polk County.

It came as quite a surprise when Polk Community College

(PCC) made a request to the Division of State Lands (DSL) totrade other Green Swamp land for 65 acres of the Osprey Unit

near the U.S. 27/ I-4 intersection. The college wanted to build a

new campus there to serve the burgeoning population of the area

where Polk, Lake, Orange and Osceola counties meet.

Approximately 20 acres of the requested site is wetlands and

the remaining 45 acres is improved pasture. Is it pristine habitat?

No. But it is nonetheless a publicly owned undeveloped sand

hill a rare commodity in the Central Florida area and

especially in the Swamp.

Other reasons for opposing the land trade were:

The 65 acres in question provides the only access point tothe Osprey Unit from the east.

If PCC were to locate on the site, the Fish and WildlifeConservation Commissions ability to maintain appropriateprescribed fire management practices would likely be

compromised, thus limiting a necessary component of the

ongoing restoration and management goals.

The proposed trade land was a 75-acre cypress wetlandtract owned by a sand mining company that was not

contiguous to the Osprey Unit nor was it located within the

proposed acquisition boundaries for the Hilochee Wildlife

Management Area. It was a small, isolated, inaccessible,

disjunct parcel that would have severe management

constraints. The donor site would also be hydrologically

altered by future sand mining activities.

We corresponded with the DSL and the Acquisition andRestoration Council (ARC) members, urging them to reject the

proposal. Marian Ryan, Green Swamp Issue Chair and Ben

Fusaro, Protecting Native Habitats Chair, testified before the

ARC in Tallahassee and were gratified when the proposal was

unanimously denied. ARC's vote upheld an important standard

for state land exchanges: any trade of conservation lands must

be a significant net gain for conservation.

John and Marian are currently assisting PCC in finding an

appropriate location for a new campus.

-- Marian Ryan, Green Swamp Issue Chair

Sierrans Force More

Study of Coal PlantThe Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) meeting to

approve Seminole Electrics coal-burning power plant met with

a bit of a bumpy road in June. Nine Sierrans showed up for a

needs determination public hearing for a new plant on the St.

Johns River and convinced the commission to send the proposal

back to its staff for more analysis.

The Sierrans spoke and presented documents about the need

for public health and environmental externalities that should

have been included in Seminoles plan. We testified that the

PSC had not thoroughly reviewed the costs of pollution

emissions, including carbon, mercury, SO2 and NOx, nor had

they adequately factored in possible conservation measures,

energy efficiency, demand side management, alternative energy

sources and global warming in general.

Members of the Sierra Club (pictured above) spoke ascitizens, emphasizing what was NOT in the Seminole plan:

Brian Lupiani, Florida Chapter Energy Vice Chair; Linda

Jamison, Big Bend Chair; Ben Fusaro, Big Bend Program Chair

Gary Lloyd, Big Bend Conservation Chair; Rob Brinkman,

Suwannee-St Johns Chair; Dan Hendrickson, Chapter Legal

Chair; Steve Urse, Big Bend Climate Action Team leader; Susie

Caplowe, Chapter Lobbyist; and Leon Jacob, Jr., past Chairman

of the PSC and Chapter Sierra Club consultant.The outcome was a surprise referral of the issue back to PSC

staff for a response to our testimony (we were the only

witnesses). The PSC and all parties had already stipulated to

the issues in the case, similar to a previous hearing on a

proposed new power plant in Orlando, in which no witnessesappeared and the hearing ended five minutes after it began.

The presumption now is that the needs determination will be

approved in coming weeks. However, our victory requiring the

more thorough examination of these issues has hopefully laid

the groundwork for the next several coal plant proposals. The

Power Plant Siting Act proceeding for the proposed plant on the

St. Johns is scheduled for January in Palatka.

You can read our testimony at www.psc.state.fl.us/

library//FILINGS/06/04984-06/04984-06.PDF-- Susie Caplowe, Chapter Lobbyis

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Page 4 The Pelican

Election 2006: Sierra Club EndorsementsAs of press time for The Pelican, the

Florida Chapter had endorsed the

following candidates for Florida

legislative (House and Senate) races:

Deborah Cope, House ofRepresentatives District 57,

Hillsborough County. The Chapter

also endorsed Cope, former Sierra

Group chair, in the same race two

years ago.

Arthenia Joyner, open Senate seat,District 18, Hillsborough, Pinellas

and Manatee Counties. Joyner has

served in the Florida House as a real

friend to Sierra since 2000.

Richard Kriseman, open seat,House District 53, Pinellas County.

Christian Chiari, House District91, Broward County.

Harriet Lerman, open seat, HouseDistrict 86, Palm Beach County.

Ted Deutsch, open seat, SenateDistrict 30, Broward and Palm

Beach Counties.

Our political committee based its

decisions on voting records, candidate

questionnaires and interviews. The

Sierra Club is currently screening,

interviewing and evaluating hundreds of

local, state and Congressional candidates

and will announce endorsements

throughout the campaign season. TheSierra Club's first endorsement of 2006

was given to U.S. Senator Bill Nelson

for his re-election bid.

For additional endorsements, contact

the Chapter Political Committee (see

article on back page) or your Group

Political Committee.

We encourage Sierra members from

throughout the state to contact their local

Group political chair to volunteer locally

in campaigns of their choice.

Moving?

Dont miss any Clubpublications!

Send your address change to:

Sierra Club, P.O. Box 52968,Boulder CO 80322-2968

OR e-mail:[email protected]

Bill Nelson Endorsed

By Sierra Club Again

Senator Bill Nelson proudly displayed

Sierras endorsement in his election in

2000. Year after year in Congress,

Nelsons League of Conservation Voters

(LCV) scores have ranged from around

80 to 100 percent, often among the top

scores nationally.

Before going to the U.S. Senate,

Nelson served as Floridas Treasurer and

Insurance Commissioner and was a

member of the Florida Cabinet. On the

Cabinets environmental scorecard in

1998, Nelson tied for the top score (80

percent), including votes against

offshore drilling and orimulsion.

In his Senate re-election campaign,

Nelson reaffirmed his commitment to

Everglades funding, including the

polluter pays principle from the 1996

amendments and has led the fight to ban

offshore drilling off Floridas coasts.

The environment has been one reasonhe was targeted by the Presidents

campaign machinery.

Club Endorses

Davis and Crist

In Gov. Primary

The Sierra Club, Florida Chapter,

formally endorsed Congressman Jim

Davis and Attorney General Charlie

Crist for their parties gubernatorial

primary elections September 5. The dual

endorsements of Davis, a Democrat, and

Crist, a Republican, marks the first time

since 1994 that the Sierra Club has

issued endorsements for candidates in

each major party for the gubernatorial

primaries. Due to The Pelican deadlines,

we are unable to report the results of the

primary.

Both candidates have displayed a

genuine concern for acting responsibly

on environmental issues throughout their

distinguished careers as public

policymakers, said Curt Levine,

Chapter Political Committee Chair.

After the primary, the Club will make

an updated gubernatorial endorsement

for the November general election.

Sierras endorsement of Rep. Daviswas based upon his significant service in

the Florida Legislature, as well as the

U.S. Congress. He had credible-to-high

Florida League of Conservation Voters

and LCV scores. His attitudes on the

Preservation 2000/Florida Forever

program, growth management, citizen

enforcement and other issues more

closely reflect those of Sierra than the


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The Pelican Page 5

Support Hometown Democracy: Sign the PetitionAre you ready to take back your right

to decide what your community is goingto look like? The goal of the FloridaHometown Democracy petition drive isto get on the 2008 ballot a proposal thatwould force all local governments (cities

and counties) to get the approval of theirlocal electorate BEFORE they couldmake any changes to theircomprehensive zoning plans.

As you know, most of the rampantdevelopment we see around us happensbecause developer dollars sway localgovernments to amend their comp plans,which were drawn up and approvedyears ago in the hopes that sprawl wouldbe prevented. Right now, citizens arepowerless to stop this. Passage of theFlorida Hometown Democracy (FHD)measure would change that.

We in the Sierra Club spend lots ofmoney in court and on the streetsseeking to undo developer-drivenchanges to our comp plans. The FHDmeasure would be a proactive move tostop those changes before they are made,

so we wouldnt be fighting these after-the-fact battles.Though the wording of the proposed

amendment was rejected by the FloridaSupreme Court last year, a rewordedpetition was approved earlier this year.So if you signed a petition prior toJune 21, 2005, you must do so again foryour petition to count. The new petitionis printed on the reverse side of thispage.

For more information and to downloadthe petition and other materials, go towww.floridahometowndemocracy.com

-- Ron Haines, Loxahatchee Group

What Can You Do to Help?

Before you sign the petition, makecopies and get signatures from yourfamily, friends and coworkers.

Become a volunteer petitioncollector and spend some time eachweek getting others to sign.

Donate to our cause. Even a smallamount helps pay for printing morepetitions. For a $25 donation (nottax-deductible), youll receive a30-minute video presentation byorganizer Lesley Blackner. Itexplains it all and silences theopposition.

Ask your local media to providecoverage of this historic effort.

How Many New Wal-Marts

and Energy PlantsCan Sierra Challenge?

Sierras conservation program manages an aggressive legalprogram, in addition to organizing campaigns in each of our 18local groups around the state. Local activists are opposing newcoal plants and other energy boondoggles, as well as a list ofnew Wal-Mart stores in questionable locations. When we needto legally challenge the unwise plans of our opponents, Sierraevaluates whether we have the resources to sue to protect thenatural resources and communities impacted by the proposedpolicy or development. Our victories in the last year include theSt Joe regional general permit in the Panhandle, the Scripps siteat the Mecca Ranch, and the Babcock Ranch comprehensiveplan fight (see article on page 1).

If you know of additional resources to help build our legalteam -- financial or pro bono attorneys -- please contact aChapter officer or any of the attorneys who are volunteermembers of the Legal Committee: Warren Anderson(Jacksonville/Northeast Group), George Cavros (Broward), John

Hedrick (Northwest Florida), David Ludder (LegalEnvironmental Assistance Foundation, Tallahassee), PeterBelmont (St. Petersburg/Suncoast Group), Curt Levine(Orlando), Barbara Curtis (Loxahatchee Group), MaraShlackman (Chapter Legal Vice Chair, Broward), and DanHendrickson (Chapter Legal Chair, Tallahassee/Big BendGroup).

Contact Dan at [email protected] or850-385-6160, or Mara at [email protected] or954-562-4557.

Escape the Florida heat at

Cedar House Inn & Yurts

Eco-Friendly B&B

In the heart of the North Georgia Mountainsand Wine Country

70 miles north of Atlanta

Minutes to Appalachian Trail, waterfalls,canoeing, fishing, horseback riding,

Historic Dahlonega, wineries, and dining

For more information:Call 706-867-9446 or visit

www.georgiamountaininn.com

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pd.pol.adv., Florida Hometown Democracy, Inc.

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PETITION FORM104.185 A person who knowingly signs a petition or petitions for a candidate, minor political party, or an issue

more than one time commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

I am a registered voter of Florida and hereby petition the Secretary of State to place the followingamendment to the Florida Constitution on the ballot in the next general election.

I AM REGISTERED TO VOTE IN __________________COUNTY.

NAME_______________________________STREET ADDRESS_______________________________Please PRINT Name as it appears on Voter I.D. Card PRINT Current Physical Address ( NO PO BOXES)

CITY__________________________ , FL ZIP________ , USA COUNTY____________________(County of residence)

IS THIS A CHANGE OF ADDRESS FOR VOTER REGISTRATION IN SAME COUNTY? Yes___ No___

VOTER REGISTRATION NUMBER_________________ -or- DATE OF BIRTH ____/____/_____Month Day Year

X __________________________________________ DATE_______SIGNATURE AS IT APPEARS ON VOTER I.D. CARD DATE SIGNED

BALLOT TITLE:REFERENDA REQUIRED FOR ADOPTION AND AMENDMENT OF LOCALGOVERNMENT COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLANS.BALLOT SUMMARY: Establishes that before a local government may adopt a new comprehensiveland use plan, or amend a comprehensive land use plan, the proposed plan or amendment shall besubject to vote of the electors of the local government by referendum, following preparation by thelocal planning agency, consideration by the governing body and notice. Provides definitions..

FULL TEXT OF PROPOSED AMENDMENT:

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF FLORIDA THAT:Article II, Section 7. Natural resources and scenic beautyof the Florida Constitution is amended to add thefollowing subsection:

Public participation in local government comprehensive land use planning benefits the conservation and protectionof Floridas natural resources and scenic beauty, and the long-term quality of life of Floridians. Therefore, before a

local government may adopt a new comprehensive land use plan, or amend a comprehensive land use plan, suchproposed plan or plan amendment shall be subject to vote of the electors of the local government by referendum,following preparation by the local planning agency, consideration by the governing body as provided by general law,and notice thereof in a local newspaper of general circulation. Notice and referendum will be as provided by generalaw. This amendment shall become effective immediately upon approval by the electors of Florida.

For purposes of this subsection:

1. Local government means a county or municipality.2. Local government comprehensive land use plan means a plan to guide and control future land development

in an area under the jurisdiction of a local government.3. Local planning agency means the agency of a local government that is responsible for the preparation of a

comprehensive land use plan and plan amendments after public notice and hearings and for makingrecommendations to the governing body of the local government regarding the adoption or amendment of a

comprehensive land use plan.4. Governing body means the board of county commissioners of a county, the commission or council of amunicipality, or the chief elected governing body of a county or municipality, however designated.

Serial Number 05-18 Date Approved June 21, 2005

Return to:Florida Hometown Democracy, Inc.,P.O. Box 636New Smyrna Beach, FL 32170-0636

http://www.FloridaHometownDemocracy.com

ph/fax:: 386-424-0860email:[email protected]

PLEASE HELP US! Contributions should be madepayable to Florida Hometown Democracy, Inc.

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The Pelican Page 7

Skyway Crucial to Everglades Restoration

When last we left the Everglades Skyway campaign, a

decision had yet to be made, and the sky(way) was the limit.(See The Road That Can Save the Everglades in the Summer

2005 issue ofThe Pelican at www.florida.sierraclub.org).

Unfortunately, this past January, the Army Corps of Engineers

issued their record of decision and chose the 2-1 split. This

solution involves building up to one mile of bridge to the east

and up to two miles of bridge to the west, separated by eight

miles of asphalt fill two feet high!

This development does not mean the end of the Skyway

campaign, however. In fact, its just the opposite the Miami

office is kicking into high gear to make the Skyway a reality for

Tamiami Trail and the Everglades.

In recent months, presentations have been made and more

groups have endorsed the campaign, including the DadeHeritage Trust, the Miami-Dade Green Party, the Urban

Environment League and the Greater Miami Convention and

Visitors Bureau, bringing our list of supporters up to 21. The

complete list can be found below.

Upcoming in September is a large meeting at the Biltmore

Hotel in Coral Gables, where we will bring together everyone

who has an interest in the Skyway. We are inviting members of

the environmental community, the construction and engineering

industry, tourism interests and any other supporters. This

meeting is meant to be a positive one we want to get all

interested parties in one room to discuss how we can work

together to get the Skyway built.

The Skyway is necessary for Everglades restoration. Without

it, there will be a permanent wall built across the heart of theEverglades -- Shark River Slough. This slough is historically

how the majority of water reaches Everglades National Park,

Florida Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Our vision of an 11-mile

elevated roadway allows for natural flows of water from the

north into Everglades National Park and beyond. This structure

would be invulnerable to flooding and may provide an

additional hurricane evacuation route. The local economy will

benefit from this large construction project and from the

increased draw for tourists to visit a restored Everglades.

The time to build the Skyway is now. To get updates, send

your contact information to [email protected]. I

look forward to hearing from you.

-- Kristina Trotta, National Sierra Staff, Miami Offic

Skyway Supporters Audubon of Florida City of Coral Gables

City of Miami Beach Dade Heritage Trust

Environmental and Land Use Law Center

Everglades Foundation

Florida Biodiversity Project

Florida Keys Fishing Guides Association

Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

Friends of the Everglades

Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau

Izaak Walton League

Miami-Dade Citizens Transportation Advisory Committee

Miami-Dade Green Party Monroe County

National Parks Conservation Association

Natural Resources Defense Council Science Coordination Team of the SFER Working Group

Sierra Club

Urban Environment League World Wildlife Fund

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Page 8 The Pelican

Dont miss the Florida Chapter Sierra Club

Conservation Conference, November 10-12Meeting the Challenges for Floridas Future

We face a lot of environmental challenges in Florida today. Heres a chance

to enjoy a weekend getaway while learning about ways we can preserve ourthreatened Florida ecology.

Newsmakers and experts will share their information about issues such as

Energy Everglades Manatees Red Tide Global WarmingWant to improve your activist skills? The program will also feature concurrent trainingsessions on grassroots lobbying, political action, and outings. Excellent buffet-style meals willbe served up in the retreats cafeteria, or cook up your own culinary delights in your lodgingskitchen or tent camp grill. Recharge your green batteries by meeting other like-minded folks.

Enjoy the beautiful outdoor setting with trails, swimming, canoeing, volleyball, mini-golf,playground, and much more. Relax after dinner on Saturday with our conservation awards

presentation and fascinating talk by Jack Davis, author of Paradise Lost? The EnvironmentalHistory of Florida and a recent book about Marjory Stoneman Douglas, The Wide Brim.Special treat: a Sierra Club outing on Sunday. Fun for the whole family! Bring the kids orsome friends. They do not have to be members to attend.

New location this yearThis year we will meet at the Pine Lake Retreat, with its more convenient location and excellentfacilities. Its located in central Florida, about 30 miles south of Ocala and 40 miles west ofOrlando. Its just south of Leesburg and the Florida Turnpike (address: 21725 County Road 33,Groveland, FL). Directions from turnpike:

If coming from the east:Turnpike to exit 296. Turn right onto C.R. 470 and go for approx. 2 miles to traffic light. Turnright onto C.R. 33 and go for 6- 6 miles to Pine Lake Retreat on the right.

If coming from the west:I-75 south to Turnpike exit 296. Coming off exit, turn left on C.R. 470 and go for approx. 2miles to traffic light, which is C.R. 33. Turn right and go 6- 6 miles to Pine Lake on right.

More directions and other information on the facilities and lodging layouts can be found at theretreats website: www.pinelakeretreat.com.

To attend, please fill out the registration form. Send it in earlyto get the best accommodations, which in my opinion are thechalets and the Bambi lodge. Please note that in addition to

your food and lodging, there is a $15 registration fee to cover

our costs such as rental of the two meeting rooms and otherexpenses.

Any questions? Feel free to e-mail or call me. Telephone941-729-9248; email: [email protected]

Rosalie ShafferConference Coordinator

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The Pelican Page 9

Conference Registration FormInclude the names of all the people you are registering. PLEASE print clearly. (Attach extra sheet withadditional names.)Note: In addition to meals and lodging, there is a conference fee of $15 per person.Deadline to order meals and lodging is November 1. No refunds after November 1.

Name(s): ______________________ _______________________ _______________________

Address: _____________________________________City ___________________Zip__________

Phone (incl. area code) _________________ E-mail: _____________________________________

Meals: Please reserve; we have to book at least 25 dinners in order to make a meal

Fri11/10

Sat11/11

Sun11/12

No. of mealsvegetarian

No. of mealscarnivore

Price permeal

Total

Breakfast X $7.00

Lunch X $8.00Dinner X $9.00

Total meal $ $

Overnight options; Friday and Saturday nights, Nov. 10-11. All lodgings have kitchens and linens.Chalets: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, sleeper sofa, living room, porch.Lodges A and B: Lodge A has 3 br. (bunks), 2 ba.; Lodge B has 2 br. (bunks), 1 ba.; shared porch, lr., fp.North Shore and Bambi Lodges: 2 br., bunk rms., 2 ba., sleep sofas, lr.White House A: 1 br., 2 bunk rooms, 2 ba., lr., porch; B: 4 bunk beds, 1 ba., lr.South Hall: 2 br.,10 bunk rooms, (2/rm), 2 ba., k, porch.

RV and tent camping: Bath houses available;RV sites include full hookups; bring your own linens.

Check in after 3:00 pm Friday; Check out by 11:00 am SundaySee website for layout of lodgings: www.pinelakeretreat.com.Children: discounts vary; check with coordinator

Number ofpersons

No. of nights Price/night/person

Total

Chalets X X $21.00

Lodge A & B X X $18.00

North Shore, SouthHall & Bambi

X X $14.00

White House A & B X $12.00

RV sites n/a X $18.50

Tent sites n/a X $9.00Total lodging $

Meals $ _______ + Lodging $ _______ + $15 fee per person $ _______ = Grand Total $___________

MAIL this form and check payable to Florida Chapter of Sierra Club to:Rosalie Shaffer, 11264 28th St. Cir. E., Parrish, FL 34219

For more information e-mail: [email protected] or call 941-729-9248Register early. We will drop lodgings that are not being reserved.

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Page 10 The Pelican

Rustle The Leaf Comics characters courtesy of Go Naturl Studios, LLC, 2006. The Rustle The Leaf comics properties

copyright and trademark of Go Naturl Studios, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Website: www.rustletheleaf.com

Consumer Corner

Conserving GasThe price of gas has caused us all to

rethink our needless driving. Combining

trips is one of the most obvious ways to

keep our fuel costs down, but besides

moving closer to work and buying a more

fuel efficient auto, there are a number of

things you can do to save energy and

impact global climate change in a positive

way. Here are a few things to think about:

Lighten your load. Two hundredpounds of extra junk in your car can

add as much as one mile per gallon in

fuel consumption. Empty your trunk

for the environment.

Accelerate gently and advance through your gears as quickly as your gears allow tosave fuel. Sudden stops and starts cost fuel.

Put your luggage inside your vehicle. Luggage bins on top of your car cause winddrag and consume more fuel.

Maintain proper tire pressure. Under-inflated tires cut fuel efficiency by twopercent per pound. The correct tire pressure is written on the side of your tires. If

your tires have 27 psi and they are supposed to have 32 psi, you are wasting 10

percent of your fuel.

Change your air filter. A dirty air filter can waste as much as 10 percent of yourfuel. It is easy to change yourself.

Drive slower. The faster you drive, the more fuel you waste. Avoid traffic jams. Driving too slow also wastes gas. Drive when others dont

drive.

Use public transportation. Have you ever tried it? Maybe you could get rid of oneof your cars.

Eliminate short car trips. Ride your bike or walk; youll also reap health benefitsfrom the extra exercise.

-- from the National Sustainable Consumption Committee

Facts About the

Florida Chapter

The Florida Chapter of the Sierra Club

was formed in 1972. We now have

approximately 33,000 members. The

Chapter is managed and run by

volunteers without paid staff. Over the

years, the Chapter has organized andformed the 18 local Sierra Club groups

that now are active in Florida. By joining

Sierra Club, you become a member of

National Sierra Club, the Florida

Chapter, and the local group nearest you

To keep you informed of Sierras

positions and actions, the Club sends

each member the bimonthly Sierramagazine, Chapter newsletter The

Pelican and his/her local group

newsletter.

The Florida Chapter uses Sierra Club

funds and contributions from ourmembers to:

Provide quarterly financial supportto Florida Sierra Club groups.

Pay for the Sierra Club lobbyist inTallahassee, Susie Caplowe.

Fund (collaboratively with ourgroups) the Chapters legal action

program, which brings numerous

Sierra Club cases throughout Florida

each year. (See page 5).

Support volunteer Sierra Clubconservation advocacy and

education throughout Florida. Publish The Pelican.

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The Pelican Page 11

Tom Larson, Janet Larson and Linda Bremer(back) deep in discussion. Photo by Alice Platt.

NE Fla. Group Participates

In Leadership Program

In June, five members of the Northeast Florida Group joined

several other Florida Sierra groups for the first session of the

Leadership Development Program in St. Petersburg. Led by a

research team organized by National Sierra, the year-long

program is intended to teach Club members leadership "basedon relationship, motivation, strategy and action," according to

Greg Casini, administrative vice-president of the Sierra Club.

Group Chair Tom Larson; executive committee members

Alice Platt and Ed Schlessinger; and committee chairs Janet

Larson, Karen Kempf, and Linda Bremer participated in the first

session at Eckerd College. The first evening set the stage for the

leadership training program, which plans to meet again on at

least four more occasions during the next 12 months.

The best part of the opening weekend of the training,

according to Larson, was "getting to know better other members

of our group's delegation." The sessions were developed with

several breakout sessions for the individual groups, inevitably

creating bonding sessions as well as strategy sessions.

Members of the NE Group found there is plenty to learn aboutbeing a good leader. "The knowledge we have gained during our

years of being an expert must be left behind for others to find

and use on their own," Conservation Chair Linda Bremer said.

-- Alice Platt, Northeast Florida Group

Editors Note: Florida was one of only four chapters selected

(along with Washington state, New Mexico, and Californias

Loma Prieta Chapter). The second workshop, Relationships

and Motivation was held in August. Contact any chapter or

group officer for more on this exciting new opportunity.

Letter to the Editor

Biofuels Article Perpetrates

Ethanol Myths

Having recently returned from the World Bioenergy

Conference in Sweden (www.worldbioenergy.se), I was

appalled to read Karen Orrs virulent attack on ethanol in my

own states paramount environmental groups newsletter. I

have witnessed an entire nations total commitment to reaching

and surpassing the Kyoto Protocol, all through biomass and

biogas energy, and ethanol, and all linked to sustainable

agricultural, forestry, and industrial practices. Instead of

advocating and advancing sustainable practices here in Florida,

the state Sierra Club energy group seems more intent on

perpetrating rhetoric and myths regarding ethanol, myths that

conflict with the national Club and most other environmental

groups position regarding biofuels.

Myth #1: It takes more energy to produce ethanol than

ethanol produces. Orrs central anti-ethanol source, a well-

known UC Berkeley employee, has been widely distributing histheories while being a highly paid consultant for the Big Oil

companies. His own university colleagues have been so

disturbed by his ethics and erroneous ideas that they have

recently published an exhaustive statistical rebuttal (Science

Mag, Jan. 27, 2006.) See

www.journeytoforever.org/ethanol_energy.html.Myth #2: Energy crops land use will lead to food

shortages. Simply proven untrue by numerous studies. See

www.journeytoforever.org/biofuel_food.html.Myth #3: Ethanol production is necessarily highly polluting

and cannot be linked to sustainable agricultural practice.

Brazilian sugarcane-to-ethanol production (8x more efficient

than corn-to-ethanol, and very possible in Florida) is presentlyimplementing far-reaching sustainable agricultural practice. The

U.S.s first major cellulosic ethanol plant (a many times more

efficient and more sustainable source of ethanol), to be built in

Georgia, is already beginning to engage in sustainable practice

by reusing an old pharmaceutical plant site (www.climate.org).

The Florida Sierra Club would serve us far better by more

thoroughly doing their homework regarding the differing forms

of ethanol production, by promoting sustainable agricultural

practice (see the pro-biofuel www.eco-farm.org), and by

concentrating their opposition more precisely to some of the

poor practices of the corn-to-ethanol industry. Otherwise, you

are only adding more fuel to the Big Oil and offshore oil-drilling

lobby that profit from these anti-ethanol myths.

-- Stephen Breslow, Ph.D., LEEDap

Tampa Bay Sierra Club Membe

Editors Note: Florida Sierra Club has formally petitioned

National Sierra Club to revise its energy policy to oppose the

growing, harvesting and processing of crops for biofuels.

8/9/2019 06 Fall

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Page 12 The Pelican

Sierra Endorsements(Continued from page 4)

attitudes of his opponent. Rep. Davis pledged that, if electedGovernor, he will create a responsible growth task force,charged with coordinating state spending decisions impactingeconomic development, transportation, water availability andother infrastructure. Rep. Davis voiced his concerns that state

government must facilitate regional planning in growthmanagement, which usually cannot be left to local officials.As Governor, Davis would encourage state agencies to use

alternative fuels. He pledged to put teeth in the states regulatoryagencies by prioritizing the environment. His focus on qualityof life issues recognizes the value of the publics interest inplanning, growth and environmental issues.

In Congress, Rep. Davis has been a strong supporter ofbanning oil and gas drilling in the Gulf. He has also voicedstrong opposition to recent efforts to limit citizen participationin development issues. Rep. Davis consistently scores in the topquarter of rankings in LCV scorecards. In 2005, his score of 89percent tied for fourth place among our 25 Florida congressionalrepresentatives. In the 108th Congress (2003-2004), his scorewas a near-impossible 100 percent.

Charlie Crists past, as wellas commitments to the future,made the endorsement aneasy one. In 2005, FloridaAttorney General Cristopposed legislation, dubbedland grab bills, that wouldhave given away thousands ofacres of state lands to largeprivate landowners. Theywere defeated with his help.In 2003, Crist asked Gov. Jeb

Bush to veto legislation thatwould have obstructedOcklawaha River restoration

efforts. The Governor eventually vetoed it.Crist built upon the leadership of former Atty. Gen. Bob

Butterworth in the legal battle against Coastal Petroleum, toprotect Floridas territorial waters from oil and gas drilling.Crist also joined environmentalists in protecting WakullaSprings by challenging Tallahassees proposed permit for fivemore years of spraying sewage effluent and expanding capacityby 50 percent. Crist also extended an invitation to discuss theneed for whistleblower protections; increased citizenparticipation; and clean money, clean elections ideas.

Atty. Gen. Crists stated priorities on the environment are: Ensuring that Floridas water resources remain public and

their quality and quantity are protected.

Protect Floridas coast from oil and gas drilling. Advance state efforts to restore the Everglades and Lake

Okeechobee and improve the water quality of the St. Lucieand Caloosahatchee Rivers.

Continue Floridas public land acquisition process. Initiate a program to achieve more public access to beaches,

rivers and lakes.-- Dan Hendrickson and Curt Levine, Political Committee

Conservation ReportBy Betsy Roberts, Conservation Chair

The Conservation Committee has been very busy anddedicated to a long list of environmental issues; we have 20issue chairs/committees. I report to the Florida ChapterExecutive Committee (FLEXCOM) at every meeting.

We have a new structure for the Conservation Committee and

it is working well. It is modeled after the National ConservationInitiative Committees: Smart Energy Solutions, America's WildLegacy (ours is Floridas/America's Wild Legacy), and Safe andHealthy Communities. We also added a fourth committee,Democracy and the Environment and included the Political andLegal Chairs and the Legislative Liaison. This new structure hasinvolved more people in making decisions and sharing thealways-growing workload. Other chapters around the countryhave begun copying our structure.

For years, the Chapters Conservation Chair has beenresponsible for supervising the organizations contractemployees. I am very pleased to report that FLEXCOMrenewed our contract with Lobbyist Susie Caplowe for 2007,because she continues to do a stellar job for us and gets betterand better each year. We are so lucky to have her. She assists usall year-round on a more than part-time basis, organizingtraining sessions for the Chapter and groups to make usstronger. She helps us refine our political and lobbying skills,assists in leadership development, travels all over the state tospeak at group meetings and raises funds (she has raised$15,200 for the Chapter this year already). She does all of thisand more, and she pays her own taxes and benefits.

I also want to thank Helen Spivey as Legislative Liaison,Rosalie Shaffer for her input on legislation and conference callsand Karen Orr for trips to Tallahassee and her research. Lots ofyou have lobbied at home and in Tallahassee, made lots of callsand worked really hard. Without you, we would be nowhere.

Thanks and kudos to you all.We volunteers continue working to preserve Floridas wild

lands, educate the public about red tide, stop the loss of lands tophosphate mining, and challenge poor land use and destructivewetlands permitting decisions. We continue to network withother concerned groups to make our efforts stronger. Thank youfor your membership and continued support.

Everything is hitched toeverything else

Make a commitment to the next generation byremembering the Sierra Club in your will. Your supportwill help others to preserve the intricate balance ofnature. Bequests have played a key role in the SierraClubs environmental successes over the years.

There are many gift options available. We can evenhelp you plan a gift for your local Chapter.

For more information and confidential assistance,contact: John Calaway, Director of Gift Planning,85 Second Street, 2

ndFloor, San Francisco CA 94105,

415-977-5639 or [email protected]

8/9/2019 06 Fall

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The Pelican Page 13

Membership:Ensure You Are Assigned to Correct Group

Since National Sierra assigns new and transferred memberships to local groups byfive-digit ZIP code -- instead of county of residence -- many memberships wind up in

incorrect groups. This shows up in virtually every new report downloaded from MUIR(Membership Update & Information Resource), the database management tool providedfor the use of Group and Chapter activists.

If youre in a group other than the one to which your county is assigned by the FloridaChapter (see map above or consult http://florida.sierraclub.org/groupmap.asp), or theone in which you want to be, you can change to the group of your choice. Simply sendyour complete information, including 8-digit membership ID number, to:[email protected] or mail to Sierra Club, P.O. Box 52968, Boulder CO80322-2968, telling them the Florida group to which you want be moved.

-- John S. Glenn, Chapter Membership Chair

Thank You!Chapter Fund Appeal a Smashing Success

Thanks to you, our members, the Chapters annual fund appeal netted an all-time highof $44,422. Of this amount, $33,361 went to our general fund to support our effectiveadvocacy and lobbying efforts and $8,061 went to our political fund to support ourpolitical activities.

A total of 1,078 donations were made by 973 members (some donated to both funds).The average donation was $41.21.

A special thanks goes to Don Lieb, who has superbly handled the appeal monies forthe past 10 years.

Sierra Club

Fla. Chapter

Election

For 2007The Florida Chapter Executive

Committee (FLEXCOM) consists of nine(9) members-at-large elected by theChapters membership plus one or morerepresentatives from each of the Chapterslocal groups, depending on the groupssize. The purpose of this election is toselect five (5) members-at-large; each willserve a two-year term.. Four currentmembers-at-large (Barbara Curtis, Pedro

Monteiro, Rosalie Shaffer and BobSullivan) have terms that will expire atthe end of 2007.

The ballot includes nine (9) candidates.Four were selected by the ChapterNominating Committee, chaired byBarbara Curtis. Five additionalcandidates qualified by petitions signedby at least 50 eligible Chapter members.You can vote for up to five (5) candidates

Following the election, FLEXCOM willelect from among the nine members-at-large the following: Chair, Conservation

Chair, Administrative Chair, Treasurer,Recording Secretary, Council Delegate,Alternate Council Delegate, Gulf CoastRegional Conservation CommitteeRepresentative (GCRCC) and AlternateGCRCC Representative.

The next two pages (14 and 15) containthe candidates statements, the ballot andinstructions for completing andsubmitting the ballot. Please take care tofollow the instructions. Invalid ballotswill not be counted.

Curtis NamedNew Chair

In July, FLEXCOM selected BarbaraCurtis as Chair of the Florida Chapter,replacing Bob Sullivan. She previouslyserved as Administrative Vice Chair.Curtis will serve as Chair untilNovember. Officers for 2007 will bechosen after the Chapter election.

8/9/2019 06 Fall

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Page 14 The Pelican

Chapter Elections for 2007 (continued from page 13)Each candidate has provided a statement.

Dwight Adams, Suwannee-St. JohnsGroup (Petition Candidate) -- Sierra

Club member since 1982; activities

include: Group chair 1985-86, SSJ

excom since 1985, frequently as politicalchair; Chapter solid waste issue chair

1986-2005, lobbied for recycling

legislation, first Chapter legislative

liaison 1988, charter member National

Solid Waste Committee, wrote National

solid waste policy; landuse at state and

local level, lobbied Tom Pelham (DCA)

to stop huge RV park along Suwannee

River, Florida and National Wildlife

Foundation Land Conservationists

Award in 1990; Emeritus professor of

physics, UF. Im interested in helping

to end FLEXCOM divisiveness so

Chapter, through its many activists, can

be effective in protecting environment.

But dont vote for me, vote for the other

candidates who share this objective.

Ben Fusaro, Big Bend Group(Nominating Committee Candidate) --

I am a retired professor and am now a

fulltime activist. I remember the real

Florida of the 60's and am witness to the

paving over of our wildlands. I am the

Chapter's Protecting Native Habitats

Issue Chair and speak before the

Governor and Cabinet and agencies;local group program chair; participant in

the Chapter's energy platform; legislative

volunteer. I create educational power

point presentations to present to our

elected officials to fight off the wal-

marts and developers attempts to pave

over our creeks and streams for roads. I

am a certified Master of Wildlife

Conservation Specialist and my energies

are directed for Nature, wildlife in

particular and Environmental

Mathematics. I would appreciate your

vote. Thank you.

John Glenn, Nassau Group(Nominating Comm. Candidate) --

Nassau Group member, since 1991. I'm

no stranger to public service, having

once served as a City Commissioner.

Organizational roles, such as elected

representative of firefighters, had already

taught me how to organize members and

work with public officials. Those

experiences prepared me for the tasks

I've taken up during years of expanding

involvement with Sierra. Roles included:

Political and Membership Chair,

Flexcom Delegate; Chapter

appointments to Membership Chair,

Bylaws & Standing Rules Committee,Parliamentarian, Training Coordinator,

Safe Drinking Water Chair, Flexcom

Officer and Council of Club Leaders

Delegate; National Sierra Water

Committee and SDW Task Force. Your

vote will allow me to continue with my

enduring commitment to restoring and

protecting the threatened natural places

and resources for our families, for our

future.

Cathy Harrelson, Suncoast Group(Petition Candidate) -- Cathy has

served as the Suncoast Group Chair

since 2005. She has represented the

group at various forums throughout

Pinellas County, including print, radio

and television media, and has testified

before the St. Petersburg City Council,

Pinellas County BCC, Coastal Forum

and various neighborhood associations.

She created and serves as Chair of the

Tampa Bay Coastal Task Force. As

canvass and phonebank captain, Cathy

was active in GetOutTheVote in 2004,

and other community campaigns. She

served in the coalition that defeated thewetland Wal-Mart in St. Petersburg, and

is fighting the Wal-Mart on the Anclote

River. As Co-Chair of the Building

Environmental Communities Steering

Committee, she was instrumental in St.

Petersburgs resolution to become a

Green City, and creation of the Pinellas

Living Green Expo.

Dan Hendrickson, Big Bend Group(Nominating Comm. Candidate) --

Tallahassee, Big Bend Group secretary;

volunteer positions since '88: chapter,regional, & national levels, conservation

& political campaigns, organization-

building (Co-ordinated Florida in

Sierra's Summit & the Leadership

Development Pilot Project- Largest

delegation nationwide in both), Chairing

Florida's expanded Legal

Committee(dozens of cases),volunteer

lobbyist 17 years, Citizen

Enforcement/Toxics, vice chair of our

Clean Elections Committee. As lifelong

organizer & community journalist, spent

many years building coalitions to

multiply Sierra's impact on policy

making. If re-elected, I look forward to

building on our contacts within the

"Council of Club Leaders" who last yearelected me as one of 5 Excom members.

Nationally, we advocate more funding

for group & chapter activists, where

grass roots strength should be. Thank

you for your vote.

Pat Kiesylis, Suncoast Group (PetitionCandidate) -- .As a long time Sierra

Club activist (95') I would be honored to

accept a leadership position on

FLEXCOM. I am familiar with the

conservation, political and regional

issues of Florida. I will work

cooperatively with activists and promote

visionary solutions to problems and

opportunities and I am willing to think

outside of the box. I will seek to limit

issues that divide us and promote a

healthy and united front to our members

and friends. Currently, I am enrolled in

the Leadership Development workshop

sponsored by Sierra Club and Harvard

Kennedy School. Group Chair, Chapter

Secretary, Group Rep to FLEXCOM,

One Club Committee, Conservation

Chair, Building Environmental

Communities Committee, CoastalProtection Task Force. I am currently

working for Defenders of Wildlife as

program coordinator.

Michael G. Miller, Suncoast Group(Petition Candidate) -- I have led and

assisted successful conservation

campaigns. BS degree in environmental

science. Suncoast Group experience -

Excom Chair and Vice Chair. I have

chaired the political, awards, election

and fundraising committees. Chapter

experience: two years as Flexcomdelegate and served on the Flexcom

emergency committee. None of these

details qualify me to serve as an at-large

delegate. Leadership is about bringing

out the best qualities in the people

around you. Service is about bringing

out the best qualities of the club. We

need delegates who are truthful,

personable, energetic, cooperative,


8/9/2019 06 Fall

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The Pelican Page 15

Ballot for 2007 FLEXCOM ElectionVoting Instructions - Indicate your choices by checking the boxes next to the names of the candidates. Each member may cast one

ballot, voting for no more than five (5) persons. A second column on the ballot is provided for joint memberships. Use the second

column only if you have a joint membership. Write a 1 or 2 in the box provided to record the number of persons voting. The ballots will

be checked to see if the membership is entitled to two votes. If an individual member votes in both columns, only the votes in the first

column will be counted. For more information on this election, see pages 13 and 14.

Mailing Instructions Fold the ballot so that your membership number appears on the outside. Place the ballot in an envelope and mailto: Sierra Election Committee, C/O Mary Sheppard, 4220 32nd

Court East, Bradenton FL 34208-7351. Ballots may not be submitted at the

last meeting of the calendar year. Ballots must be received by midnight November 3, 2006. Votes will be counted starting at 7 p.m.

November 10, at the Chapter Conservation Conference. See page 8 for location/directions. Winners will be announced at the conference.

If a member does not receive a Pelican, the member may submit a ballot with his/her membership information (name, expiration date and

membership number) on the opposite side of the ballot.

FOLD ALONG THIS LINE.

Be sure to write a 1 or 2 in this box to record Mail to: SIERRA ELECTION COMMITTEEthe number of people in your household voting. C/O MARY SHEPPARD

4220 32ND

COURT EAST

BRADENTON FL 34208-7351

Use this column for single memberships or the 1st

voter

in joint membership households.

*Vote for up to 5 candidates*Dwight Adams o

Ben Fusaro oJohn Glenn o

Cathy Harrelson o

Dan Hendrickson o

Pat Kiesylis oMichael Miller o

Betsy Robertso

Fred Zimmerman o

Use this column only for 2nd

voter in joint membership

households.

*Vote for up to 5 candidates*Dwight Adams o

Ben Fusaro oJohn Glenn o

Cathy Harrelson o

Dan Hendrickson o

Pat Kiesylis oMichael Miller o

Betsy Robertso

Fred Zimmerman oFOLD ALONG THIS LINE. DONT CUT!

More Candidate Statements (Continued from page 14)(Michael Miller statement continued)

inclusive, analytical, rigorous, and

determined. We need delegates who will

protect the reputation of the club and who

are steadfast to operating within the

Chapter Bylaws. Select wisely.

Betsy Roberts, Manatee-Sarasota

Group (Nominating Comm. Candidate)-- I am running again for Flexcom as

there is still a lot of work to do. Ive been

a member of Sierra since 1992 am active

in the Manatee/Sarasota group was Group

chair and am political chair. Im currently

on the Chapter Political Committee and

the last 2 years served as Chapter

Conservation Chair. Weve been busy and

productive, with new issue chairs and

conservation leaders weve slowed

growth in many areas. One big

accomplishment was modeling our

committee after nationals, allowing moreinput. Working as a team is vital as we all

have talents that compliment each other. I

believe I have the capabilities to continue

our work in progress so WE can help

make Florida a better place. I ask for your

vote for Flexcom. Thanks, Betsy.

Fred Zimmerman, Suncoast Group(Petition Candidate) -- I am running for

FLEXCOM because I want to see it

become an organization that appreciates

the worth of all Sierra Club volunteers. I

value and appreciate the contribution to

the environment made by long-time

activists, but feel that the time has come

for the organization to be run on a moreinclusive basis. I have been a member of

Sierra Club since 1991 and am now a life

member. I have served on the Suncoast

Group Executive Committee as Treasurer

and FLEXCOM representative for the last

two years. I also have served on a

number of other not-for-profit boards,

including a community mental health

organization and a non-profit low income

housing board.

8/9/2019 06 Fall

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Political Committee

Needs Your SupportThe Sierra Clubs Political Committee is active at various

levels of the Club: local (group), state (Florida Chapter) andnational. The Florida Chapter has one Political Action

Committee (PAC) which accepts donations for distribution toour non-federal endorsed candidates. At the federal level, ourNational Political Committee has the final say on endorsementapprovals, as well as monetary contributions to our candidates.We strongly urge you to help out however you can -- whetherits by writing a check to our PAC and/or to our individualendorsed candidates. (See articles on pages 1, 4 and 12.)

Perhaps equally important, if you are able, is to volunteer tohelp our political committee at the local or state level and/orwork towards the election of our many fine endorsedcandidates. The challenges that lie ahead appear great, butthey are not insurmountable. So, if youd like to meet people,have some fun, hone your campaign skills, be trained or help

train others, deal with the many legal requirements that mustbe strictly followed, etc., wed love to hear from you. Pleasecheck your local group newsletter to contact your politicalchair or any EXCOM member to see how you can getinvolved. To make a donation (not tax-deductible), pleasemake your check out to the Florida Sierra Political Committeeand mail to: Geraldine Swormstedt, 1100 Imperial Dr. #204,Sarasota FL 34236.

Be sure to include your complete name, address, ZIP andphone number. (We request complete contact information incase we need to verify any information, etc.) All donorscontributing over $100 are required by law to also includetheir occupation (i.e. lawyer, retired teacher, homemaker, etc.)

Include your group name if you want it to go to your groupspolitical fund.

Florida Sierra Political CommitteeCurt Levine (Chair), [email protected] Orr, [email protected] Hendrickson, [email protected] Roberts, [email protected] Koch, [email protected]

Fall Sierra OutingsOctober 14: Noble Hammock Canoe. Paddle aninteresting canoe loop trail in Everglades National Park.Join us in this adventure, observing lots of wildlife andgators as we go. Moderate. Fee charged. Contact: JimGross, 305-665-2401 or [email protected]

October 15: Gopher Tortoise Interpretive Hike. Join usfor a hike through Boyd Hill Park's uplands led by a fieldbiologist. For more information, call the park at 727-893-

7326. Free with admission and family-oriented. Limit 20;call to register. Contact Pat Kiesylis at 727-528-7220.

October 15: Little Econ River Cleanup in Central Florida.ECO-Action will provide 10 one-person canoes. Call KenBowman at 407-435-2021 or 407-482-1837.

October 21-22: Jonathan Dickinson State Park Campingnear Jupiter. Join us for car camping, hiking, canoeingand BBQ. Leisure. Fee charged. Contact Ed Zaret at305-586-3564.

October 28: Sunset Boat Tour of the Rainbow andWithlacoochee. Float on a pontoon boat that specializes ineducational tours. Bring a bottle of wine for happy hour.Fee charged. Contact Mary-Slater Linn at 407-481-4398.

October 29: Afternoon Hike at Split Oak Forest. Thisnearly 2,000-acre area is located in Central Florida. Wellvisit the forests namesake, a spectacular 200-year-oldlive oak tree that was split down the middle and survived.Contact Mary-Slater Linn at 407-481-4398.

FLORIDA CHAPTER SIERRA CLUB NONPROFIT ORG.

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