North Carolina Sierra Club

19 W. Hargett St. | Suite 210 | Raleigh, NC | 27601 | 919.833.8467

nc.sierraclub.org

Do you want to get involved in local environmental issues? Would you like to find outdoor opportunities in your

area? Getting involved in your local group is the best way to make a difference right in your community.

Groups of the North Carolina Chapter

A Message From The Chair

2013 was a challenging one for the NC Sierra Club. Never before have we seen so many bills introduced in the state

legislature that were hostile to environmental concerns. The restructuring and revised focus within the Department of

Environment and Natural Resources has been especially painful to watch, but most of the worst legislation either died

in committee or was stopped by narrow vote-margins.

Despite these unprecedented challenges, North Carolina continues to be the only state in the Southeast with a

renewable energy portfolio standard. North Carolina now ranks fifth nationwide in installed solar capacity and the

long-awaited bidding process for offshore wind leases along our coastal shelf has finally begun.

Over the past year our Outings Committee was revived and the total number of outings has increased significantly. The

Political Committee broke all previous records in raising funds for the NC Sierra Club Political Action Committee. The

Conservation Committee has strengthened and the Chapter is now in the process of hiring for the first time a full-time

organizing director to more effectively mobilize our grassroots structure.

When I look at the thousands of names on our mailing list, I often wonder what

hidden talents are out there that could make a difference in our fight to save our state

from the special interests who work the halls of General Assembly. We will never be

able to outspend our opposition and that is why volunteers are so essential. Please

come forward and help us in our struggle. We have hundreds of hard working,

committed volunteers within our thirteen groups around the state, and I am deeply

appreciative for all they contribute. If you are a member who has not yet volunteered,

your help has never been more urgently needed, or welcomed!

- Robert Scull, Chair of the North Carolina Sierra Club

2

Janet Joye Smith is the Chapter

Membership Chair and can help you

connect with your local group. Email

Janet at ncsierracg@gmail.com for

more information.

To receive our monthly newsletter on the key environmental issues and happenings in our state, please visit

https://nc2.sierraclub.org/Signup

A color version of this map can be found at nc2.sierraclub.org/groups

Despite the highly partisan atmosphere in the NC legislature this year, environmental advocates accomplished a number of

notable achievements. The final versions of many bad bills, including legislation on fracking, landfills, Jordan Lake and regulatory

reform, were much improved from their original versions. Further, we succeeded in outright defeating some of the most

troublesome proposals, including an effort to repeal North Carolina’s renewable energy portfolio standard, efforts to lift the

moratorium on fracking and limit disclosure of fracking chemicals, an attempt to nullify the plan to convert the Dorothea Dix

campus into a destination park, and a proposal to allow terminal groins at every coastal inlet.

The 2013 legislative session will be remembered as the first time in over a century that that the GOP enjoyed control of the

House, Senate and Governorship. There was a huge change in the direction of our state which prompted an impressive backlash

of Moral Monday protests. With a veto-proof majority and McCrory in the Governor’s mansion there was not a particular need

for compromise between the parties. There was, however, a clash between House and Senate leadership, with the Senate

introducing hardline bills and the House tempering Senate proposals. Therefore, our focus was on working with House

leadership to improve or stop bad environmental bills and, simultaneously, publicizing problems with unwise proposals.

The overarching themes of this session were continued rollbacks of environmental protections, subverting local governments

and a push to promote dirty energy over clean. For example, a new law requires all water quality and wetlands rules to be

reviewed and re-adopted or eliminated in the coming year. Further, clean up plans for Jordan Lake were delayed for three years,

landfill siting hurdles were eased and limits on groundwater contamination were loosened. Durham was forced by the

legislature to allow a development near Jordan Lake that will add to the lake’s water quality problems. And, localities were

forbidden from enacting environmental rules more stringent than state or

federal rules in the coming year (unless passed unanimously). Finally, the

legislature set the stage for offshore drilling in NC and lawmakers proposed

turning back the clock on energy efficiency standards.

Nonetheless, there are many reasons for Sierrans to be proud of our

effectiveness in holding the line during this tumultuous session. Our strategies

included daily lobbying, letters to the editor, op-eds, action alerts, calls, emails

and personal visits to legislators. As is always the case, our strength came from

our volunteers. Thank you for your interest and action during this difficult

legislative session!

Please contact Chapter lobbyist Cassie Gavin at cassie.gavin@sierraclub.org if

you would like to receive weekly legislative updates.

2013 Legislative Review 3

Solar Campaign

This spring, more than 2,000 Sierrans and supporters signed a petition asking Gov. McCrory to

declare June as Solar Month. Asking for this proclamation made sense seeing as how North

Carolina ranked 5th in the country in 2012 in installed solar capacity, bringing enough clean

energy online to power more than 22,000 homes!

The Governor heard the call and June was declared Solar Energy Month in our state. All

month long, Sierrans joined the First in Solar campaign, and from Waynesville to Wilmington

spread the message that North Carolina can be a national leader in clean energy.

During the campaign, we engaged with millions of North Carolinians through our social media

efforts. We have built a broad base of supporters that will work over the next few years to

create solutions that would allow for more residential rooftop installations in our

communities. North Carolina will become First in Solar when solar energy is obtainable by

any and all who want to responsibly meet their energy needs. And the NC Sierra Club and its

volunteers are leading the effort. Visit FirstinSolar.org to find out how you can join other

Sierrans and be part of the clean energy movement in our state! Jessica Gray of the Cape Fear Group

offers her photo petition to Gov.

McCrory. She holds a sign expressing

why she supports solar energy.

Sierrans gather in May on the Dorothea Dix campus in

Raleigh. Sierrans helped beat back efforts in the legislature

to renege on a contract between the state and city that

would allow Dix to become a destination park.

Since 2010, Sierrans have made the push to develop

our offshore wind resources; the greatest on the

East Coast. This year volunteers and staff

continued to educate and call for action.

Mac Montgomery, former chair of the Cape Fear

Group, spoke at press conference as part of the

Act on Climate bus tour in Wilmington;

Organizer Zak Keith and volunteers gave four

public presentations this year, with more than

150 people attending; and,

Over 50 people attended the Bureau of Ocean

Energy Management’s announcement on

potential lease sale blocks, many submitting

positive comments.

It is no longer a question of if we will have offshore

wind, but a question of when. We have a dedicated

group of volunteers who will not rest until our state

assumes its proper role as the offshore wind energy

leader of the East Coast. Many thanks to Renee

Reese, Gus Preschle, Robert Scull, Jim Reynolds, and

Penny Hooper for their continued leadership!

Sometimes we need to remind ourselves about the beauty of some of the special places we are fighting for. That’s why chapter

organizer Zak Keith and local Riverkeeper Kemp Burdette led educational and advocacy boat trips up the winding Cape Fear

River to the proposed Titan Cement site. It’s here, on the banks of the Cape Fear River, that Titan Cement proposes to build one

of the largest coal-fired cement manufacturing plants in the country.

2013 marked the fifth year that Sierra Club and allies have worked to keep New Hanover County a Titan-free community.

Around 250 people participated in a Stop-Titan rally demonstrating that the community continues to stand strong after a half

decade of opposition to the proposed plant.

This year, the company showed its true colors by requesting a revision to their air permit to add more pollution. Sierrans and

coalition partners helped mobilize an estimated crowd of 400 to attend the permit hearing and generated nearly 1,000

comments against changing the permit. And when DENR issued the air permit, the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC)

and the Sierra Club took the agency to court for not properly enforcing the Clean Air Act.

While heading into the sixth year of fighting Titan, Sierrans aren't slowing down. With the continual hard work of the Sierra

Club and our allies we hope that the next anniversary be marked by a victory celebration.

This great work is led by a dedicated team of volunteers. We thank the following members for their continued leadership: Priss

Endo, Jessica Gray, Sherry O’Daniell, Tom McGraw and all other members who have contributed to the campaign this past year.

Offshore Wind 4

Sierrans and allies celebrate five years of standing strong against one Titan of a polluter.

Stop Titan

Asheville Beyond Coal

Besides aiming to move our state towards a clean energy, the

Beyond Coal campaign focuses on phasing out Duke Energy's

Asheville coal plant, and stopping coal ash pollution.

The Sierra Club and several ally organizations teamed up this year

to challenge Duke's coal ash pollution seeping into groundwater

and the French Broad and Cape Fear Rivers.

In October, the Beyond Coal team was successful in persuading the

City of Asheville to pass a resolution calling on Duke Energy to

reduce its reliance on coal and expand its investment in clean

energy. Asheville is asking for clean energy, because Sierrans

demanded it!

Hundreds gathered in downtown Asheville in August for a Beyond Coal rally.

Contributors

5

The Executive Committee, staff

and volunteers of the NC Sierra

Club wish to thank each and every

individual who has contributed to

the Guardians of the Future giving

program.

Your contributions have

supported and made possible our

work to protect North Carolina’s

natural heritage for future

generations. Thank you for being a

Guardian of the Future!

Aleen Steinberg

Alvin Sudduth, III

Ann & Vince Bellis

Ann Kann

Anne M. Rozycki

Barbara & Tracy Wilkerson

Barbara Hiestand

Ben Barnes

Ben Floyd

Bernadette Pelissier & Van

Bennett

Betty Parker

Bill & Ginny Kloepfer

Bill Gupton

Bill Holman & Stephanie Bass

Bill & Peggy Markham

Bill Mashburn

Bob & Caroline Cowan

Brad Niven

Brandon Tise

Brian and Caron Smith

Carol Jean Fladd

Caryl Graham

Charles G Humble

Chris & Amanda Buchanan

Chuck & Jean McGrady

Clare Winslow

Courtland White

Daniel Gordon

David & Ann Umbach

David & Dorothea Ames

David Gantt

David Stewart

Debi Chaudhuri

Dewey Locklin

Donna Durfee

Dr. & Mrs. C. Vernon Marlin

Dr. Jim Reynolds

Dr. Richard Clark & Martha Brimm

Dr. Sterling & Nancy Hutcheson

Kathy & Dave Pounds

Kathy Rigsbee

Kelly & Seth Collings-Hawkins

Ken Brame & Judy Mattox

Ken Winter

Kevin Concannon

Kimberly Poindexter

Laura Phail

Leah Karpen

Lee Beatty

Linda & Anthony Abruzzini

Linda McCorkindale

Linda Mckeown

Loren Hintz & Margaret

Vimmerstedt

Lucille & Peter Chaveas

Lynn & Jeff Trenning

Margaret Averyt

Maribeth Weinman

Marta Chase & Kicab Mendez

Mary Elizabeth Schlegel

Mary Hontz

Mary Stephenson

Maureen Darcey

Melinda & Jim Crawford

Michael & Carla McKinney

Michael Dawson

Michael Lowry

Michelle C Reeder

Michelle Covi

Mr. & Mrs. Peter Weigl

Nancy Bray

Nancy Bryant

Nick Walther

Pam & Bruce Hemminger

Patricia Stockhoff

Philip & Amy Blumenthal

Phillips Cutright

Priss & Shun Endo

Raine Lee & Wes Wallace

Randal & Judith Seago

Raymond Collins & Donell Kerns

Renee Beccue

Rich Wasch

Dr. Steven Tracy

Dr. Richard Kark

Drs. John & Jane Young

Earl Trevathan

Ed Ablard & Alix Dorr

Ed Clayton

Edward & Hilah Dorsey

Eileen Friars

Eleanor & Peter Mockridge

Elizabeth Axtell

Elizabeth Fenwick

Elyse & Pete Jung

Frank Lorch

Fred & Alice Stanback

Gary Washburn

Grace Curry

Gregory Dozier

Gus Preschle

Hart Shriber, Ph. D.

Harvey Wood

Heather & Burton Craige

Heidi Fields

Henry Fansler, Jr

Hope Mcdonald

Ilona Sena

Jacqueline B Sices

James & Barbara Beckford

James & Frances Cooper

Jane Church

Jane Kendall & Ran Coble

Jane Whilden

Janet Sparrow

Jeff & Barbara Lawyer

Jeff Sawyers

Jerry R. Eatman, Jr.

Jerry Varner & Jan Van Dyke

Joan & James Hemby

Joel & Frances Wooten

John Calhoun

John Crosland, III

John McQuaid

John Northey

John Spruill

John Sterling

John Stewman, II

John Stratton

Joscelyn Hill

K. McGinnis & J. Brandt

Karen & Charles Goss

Karen Bearden

Karen Gwen Hales

Karen Morgan

Richard & Jan Torrey

Richard Smolowe

Richard Thomas

Robbie Cox

Robert & Cama Merritt

Robert & Peggy

McCormick

Robert & Rebecca

Schwartz

Robert & Susan Crenshaw

Robert Dalsemer

Robert Hellwig

Robert Scull

Robert Wolpert

Ross Andrews

Roy O Rodwell

Rufus Dalton, Jr.

Russ & Jean Ann

Wheelock

Ryan Laytham

Sallie & Jim Clotfelter

Sara Sprinkle

Sara & Brad Curtis

Shirl & Bill Thomas

Soong Lee

Steve Copulsky

Steven Tracey

Susan Welsh

Suzanne & Gary Krill

Terry Powell & Brad Herr

Thomas Howard

Troy Simpson

Ulrich Alsentzer

Virginia M. Matthews

W & Mary Garrison

Wade & Carolyn Penny

Wain White

Walter Dietrich

Wayne & Ann Brells

Wendy Westlund

Will Carroll

William Daniels

William Zelman

"As an active volunteer with the NC Chapter for

more than 20 years, I've seen how my donation is

used to protect the environment in our state. My

donation makes a real difference and so will yours."

Steve Copulsky

Charlotte, NC

Priss Endo—Wilmington, NC

I am a retired teacher who returned to Wilmington two years ago to be close to the salt water estuaries I grew to love as a

child. I have been a member of the Sierra Club since 1968 when I joined to be eligible for Sierra outings. Several years after

joining, I helped organize the Cape Fear group. My career and marriage took me to teaching positions in first through

eleventh grades in NC, Tokyo, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Ohio. In Ohio, I headed up a Peace Action chapter in Lancaster and

later volunteered with BREAD, an interfaith organization in Columbus, which had great success advocating for social

justice issues in the city.

Since relocating to Wilmington, I have been serving on the Ex Com as program chair. I am working with STAN (Stop Titan

Action Network) and campaigned for candidates our group endorsed locally in the 2012 elections. If elected, I will

continue to focus on coastal water issues: Titan, terminal groins, and offshore wind energy. Spending as much time as I do

on the water, it is hard to accept continued dependence on fossil fuels when wind and solar resources in eastern North

Carolina are so plentiful and could be a game changer for the environment and the economy.

Jim Reynolds—Brevard, NC

I received my Bachelor’s (Earth Science, 1975) and Master’s (Volcanology, 1977) degrees from Dartmouth College

and worked in industry, government and academia before returning to Dartmouth for my Ph.D. (Andean tectonics,

1987). My research focuses on Andean uplift in Argentina, Chile, and Bolivia and aspects of Caribbean Plate

geology. I taught at Norwich University and Western Carolina University before moving to Brevard College, in

1999, where I teach Geology courses and some Introductory Environmental Science. I advocate for outdoor

educational experiences for everyone, leading classes on local and international field trips, most recently to the

Gala pagos Islands.

I was awarded two Fulbright Scholarships (1989, 2007) to teach at Argentine universities, and was inducted into

the Geological Society of America Fellowship in 2007. A Sierra Club member since 2006, I was elected to the NC

Chapter Steering Committee in 2009 and Pisgah Group Chair in 2010. I serve on the Offshore Wind Task Force and

am passionate about supporting the Power Shift to a world based on carbon-free and nuclear-free energy. I

currently lead the fossil fuel divestment campaign at Brevard College. Other passions include developing a

sustainable, healthy food supply free of GMO’s and providing opportunities for young people to experience the natural world.

Ken Rose — Durham, NC

I am a proud life-long member of the Sierra Club. I have advocated for environmental issues at the state and national levels and in Durham

with the “Watts-busters,” a neighborhood group that focuses on conservation education. I grew up in New Orleans,

attended college at the United States Military Academy in West Point, Washington University in St. Louis and law school at

Boston University. I have practiced law for 32 years in Mississippi, Georgia and for the past 24 years in North Carolina.

For ten years, I served as director of the N.C. Center for Death Penalty Litigation. I have helped educate the public and

advocated for criminal justice reforms in the state legislature. Early in my career, I represented protesters at the

Savannah River nuclear bomb plant who objected to the leaking radiation from the plant.

There are difficult challenges ahead that require the Club to redouble its efforts to educate and organize the public in

response to changed circumstances in the state legislature. This will require increasing grass-roots and public education

efforts, as well as pushing to close coal-burning power plants that are not subject to stringent carbon emissions

regulations. The Sierra Club must engage young people to become a critical part of this effort. I would also like to see the

Durham Sierra Club Headwaters group reinvigorated.

Robert Scull—New Bern, NC

Over the past two years I’ve served as Co-Chair and then Chair of the NC Chapter. I work hard and try to

run fair, efficient meetings in which we get the job done on time. During the four years in which I have

served on the Steering Committee, I have constantly sought talent from around the state to improve our

committee structure and have played a supportive role in the revival of the Cape Fear and Capital Groups

as well as the Outings and Conservation Committees. One of my goals in 2014 will be to work with the

three of our groups that need to be energized and help them to broaden their outreach.

Now that we have a Chapter Outings Committee again, we should be able to make some headway in

membership growth. I will be able to do more next year because I am retiring in January after 24 years of

teaching. Another goal in 2014 will be to find a new chair to replace me in 2015.

After that, I will continue to volunteer wherever I can be most helpful. I also want to spend more time running barefoot on the beach at low

tide, swimming, contra dancing, kayaking, hiking, and working on a chronicle of ancient and medieval history.

2013 Nominees for the Executive Committee 6

Official 2013 Executive Committee Ballot

The North Carolina Chapter of the Sierra Club

You may vote for up to three (4) candidates. For those who have joint memberships, the ballot provides space for two people to

vote. When voting, please include your member number(s) found above your name on the mailing label.

All ballots must be postmarked or entered online by December 15, 2013, to be counted.

*Votes lacking a member number will not be counted. Example: Member # 12345678

Jane Sierran

PO Box 1234

Anytown, NC 37112

If mailing your ballot, please send it to: NC Sierra Club

c/o Chapter Elections

19 W. Hargett St. Suite 210

Raleigh, NC 27601

Member (Single): ___________________________

Member Number

Member (Joint): ___________________________

Member Number

Instead of mailing your ballot, you can vote online at: nc2.sierraclub.org/2013Ballot

Outings

7

□ Robert Scull

□ Ken Rose

□ Jim Reynolds

□ Priss Endo

□ Robert Scull

□ Ken Rose

□ Jim Reynolds

□ Priss Endo

If you haven’t been on a Sierra Club Outing in a while, we have some great news for you! There’s a whole new crop of Outings

Leaders gearing up to lead outings all across North Carolina. This October, thirty-nine aspiring and current Sierra Club Outings

Leaders came together in Chapel Hill for a full day of outdoor leadership and first aid training. In the coming months, look for our

Chapter Outings calendar to be filling up as our new leaders start posting their outings!

Over the last few months, our Outings Leaders have taken groups out hiking the Tanawaha Trail on Grandfather Mountain, paddle

boarding at Wrightsville Beach Sound, backpacking in the Uwharrie National Forest, “hunting” for Venus flytraps and the

endangered red-cockaded woodpecker in the Green Swamp Preserve of Brunswick County, and day hiking along the trails of Eno

River State Parks in Durham and Orange Counties. A few of our Outings Leaders even take their treks across state lines. Ken Hilton

took a group hiking, biking, and camping at Mount Rogers in southwestern Virginia back in May, and Jerry Weston led a group on a

three-day kayak and camping trip on the Lynches River south of Florence, SC in early October!

Hopefully all of this talk about getting outdoors has sparked your interest. I urge you to check with your local Group and/or our

State Chapter Outings Calendar and make a plan to get outside soon. Even better, bring a friend!

I want to thank all of our NC Sierra Club Outings Leaders for their continued efforts to promote conservation via their commitment

to taking people outside to explore and enjoy our local natural areas. We are

especially grateful to our Group Outings Chairs: Chris Turner, Tim Slape, Tom

Williams, Henry Fansler, Kevin DeBruhl, Maureen Hayes, Vance Arnold, and Lisa

McWherter. Last but not least, I would like to extend a special thank you to our

new State Chapter Outings Committee members: Nancy Card (Vice-Chair), Bill

Gupton, Ginny Kloepfer, and Debra Rezeli.

If you are interested in becoming a Sierra Club Outings Leader, we would love

to have you join our team! Contact Kelly (kellymieszkalski@yahoo.com) or

Nancy (nostalgicnan@gmail.com). Also contact us for more information about

our upcoming advanced outdoor leadership training (Sierra Club’s OLT 201)

that will take place in the Charlotte area in early Spring 2014.

See you in the woods!

Kelly Mieszkalski, Outings Chair for the NC Sierra Club

Participants from October 2013’s Outings Leaders training in

Chapel Hill gather for a photo.

Nonprofit Org.

US Postage

PAID

Raleigh, NC

Permit No. 1910

Capital Group

P.O. Box 6076

Raleigh, NC 27268