nc sierra club 2012 annual report
DESCRIPTION
NC Sierra Club 2012 Annual ReportTRANSCRIPT
Annual Report and BallotAnnual Report and BallotAnnual Report and Ballot
201220122012
North Carolina Sierra ClubNorth Carolina Sierra ClubNorth Carolina Sierra Club
North Carolina Sierra ClubNorth Carolina Sierra ClubNorth Carolina Sierra Club 19 W. Hargett St. | Suite 210 | Raleigh, NC | 27601 | 919.833.846719 W. Hargett St. | Suite 210 | Raleigh, NC | 27601 | 919.833.846719 W. Hargett St. | Suite 210 | Raleigh, NC | 27601 | 919.833.8467
Table of
Contents
Directory
Page 2
Legislative
Review
Page 3 Fracking &
Our State
Page 4
Thanks to
Donors
Page 6
Campaign
Updates
Page 5 Official
Ballot
Page 7 By the
Numbers
Page 8
Photo: Sierrans on a hike through Umstead Park pause to reflect on our state parks’ natural beauty.
For more information on how to get involved in your area, please contact your local group leader. With meetings, outings, and
advocacy opportunities, there are plenty of ways to get involved in your local Sierra Club group!
Blue Ridge— Chris Turner at [email protected]
Cape Fear— Mac Montgomery at [email protected]
Capital—John Shaw at [email protected] or Susan Bowers at
Central Piedmont— Bill Gupton at [email protected]
Cypress— Elizabeth Power Greene at
Foothills— Henry Fansler at [email protected]
Medoc— Kevin DeBruhl at [email protected]
Orange-Chatham—Mae Becker at [email protected]
Piedmont Plateau— Vance Arnold at
Pisgah— Jim Reynolds at [email protected]
South Mountains— Ronno Cooke at [email protected]
Wenoca—Judy Mattox at [email protected]
A color version of this map can be found online at:
nc2.sierraclub.org/groups
Group Directory for the North Carolina Chapter
A Message From An Outgoing Chair
As my tenure as Co-Chair of the NC Sierra Club comes to a close, I have never been more convinced of the
importance of having a strong Sierra Club presence in the state.
Having held leadership positions since 2007, the past six years have been filled with many exciting victories and a
few sad defeats. For me personally, the most exciting victory was the passage of the Renewable Portfolio
Standard in 2007, making NC the only state in the southeast to take such a step. In 2010, the most difficult defeat
was the loss of legislators in the General Assembly who understood the value of environmental protection. These
members were replaced with a new majority that has yet to demonstrate that they understand the importance of
keeping our air and water clean.
What has been disturbing recently is how many elected officials distance
themselves from addressing global warming or any environmental issues. Who
is talking about energy efficiency, renewables and the imperative of addressing
climate change? Not the politicians!
A strong Sierra Club volunteer leadership has never been more important to
the future to the state. That’s why I am proud of my opportunity to serve as a
Chapter leader, and urge you to get involved to make sure we have a bright
future!
- Ginny Kloepfer, Co-Chair of the NC Sierra Club
2
The 2012 “short session” completed the worst legislative
biennium for the environment since the first environmental
lobbyist started at the North Carolina General Assembly nearly
40 years ago. This year’s session was a continuation of the
2011 session, in which the legislative leadership carried out
their agenda of cutting environmental protections, targeting
the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and
focusing solely on dirty energy sources.
For most North Carolinians, the 2012 legislative session will
best be remembered as the year that North Carolina took a
huge step towards legalizing fracking. Senate Bill 820 was
introduced in the opening days of session and sparked an
unprecedented groundswell of public opposition, including a
full court lobbying effort, citizen actions days with hundreds of
participants, and record numbers of emails and phone calls to
legislators and the governor’s office. That effort paid off in a big way when Governor Perdue vetoed the bill, but
unfortunately, her veto was overridden by a controversial late night vote in which a legislator who accidentally voted the
wrong way provided the deciding vote.
Despite the unfortunate outcome of the fracking bill, there are many reasons for environmental advocates to be proud of
their tenacity, determination, and effectiveness in holding the line during this historically hostile legislative session. Final
versions of many bad bills were vastly improved from their original forms. High profile bills on fracking, air toxics, and sea
level rise were among the bills that were greatly improved by the time they became law.
Finally, we succeeded in stopping some of the most troublesome proposals, including a bill that would have eliminated key
members of the state’s Environmental Management Commission and another that would have changed state
infrastructure policy to accommodate a single Durham County developer.
2012 Legislative Review 3
Photo: Sierrans and fracking opponents march to the legislature on June 5.
Sierra Votes
This year the NC Sierra Club launched Sierra Votes, the coordinated political arm of the chapter working in the 2012 election
cycle to ensure that smart, conservation minded, candidates are elected to the state legislature.
Sierra Votes’ goal was to engage and activate its more than 50,000 members and supporters in North Carolina; making sure they
volunteer for, and come out in support of, conservation minded candidates on Election Day. As this annual report goes to press,
final counts are being tallied, but one thing is certain: Sierrans stepped up when asked.
Here are just a few of our accomplishments over the last few weeks leading up to the election:
Handed out 7,000 endorsement cards during early voting and on Election Day in Apex, Cary & the surrounding area.
Knocked on 1,000 doors before early voting in Wake County.
More than 150 volunteers worked the polls on during early voting and Election Day in Buncombe County and
handed out over 30,000 endorsement cards.
Knocked on 850 doors during early voting and Election Day in New Hanover County.
An inferno of money from unknown sources, hidden by a smoke screen of judicially-authorized
“free speech,” swept across our state in this election. The public timber of critical thinking was
dry and the flash of hot flames that followed the smoke was ideologically-driven.
If you are willing to help, contact us and let us begin the process of expanding our membership
and returning the environmental treasures of our state to responsible stewardship.
- Robert Scull , Co-Chair of the North Carolina Sierra Club
No issue energized or galvanized the North Carolina public like fracking did this year. As usual, Sierrans were at the
forefront of the fight to protect the state’s drinking water supplies. This is a campaign that is sure to continue for many more
years. But first, here’s some background on fracking and how we got to where we are today.
Fracking is a process that involves using toxic chemicals mixed with water to extract natural gas from underground shale
deposits. At the year’s beginning, the state’s ban on horizontal drilling underground served as a de facto ban on fracking.
Wells were only allowed to be drilled vertically, but turning and drilling horizontally is a key step for fracking. Sierrans knew
coming into 2012 there would be strong efforts to lift the ban on horizontal drilling and set North Carolina on the path to
fracking, even with our state having only modest deposits of shale.
For the first half of 2012, volunteers and organizers were hard
at work educating the public and recruiting attendees for the
three public hearings DENR had scheduled in Sanford, Chapel
Hill, and Pittsboro. People turned out en masse. Over 1,500
people attended the hearings. Every hearing was standing room
only.
As the legislature convened in May, sights were set quickly on
lifting the fracking ban. Sierrans, with coalition partners,
organized a Citizens Lobby Day on June 5, 2012. Over 200
people attended. The lobby day was held the day that a Senate
committee held a hearing on the fracking bill, Senate Bill 820.
The committee room was packed and over 100 people who
weren’t able to get into the meeting stood outside.
A little over two weeks after the lobby day, Senate Bill 820, having passed both the House and the Senate, was sent to the
Governor’s desk. The fight soon turned back to the legislature after Governor Perdue vetoed the bill on July 1. Both the
House and the Senate overrode the governor’s veto and SB 820 became law close to midnight on July 2.
There was a tremendous amount of controversy after the House overrode the veto. One House member was accused of
trading her vote for another bill and a Charlotte lawmaker accidentally hit the wrong button, casting the deciding vote to
allowing fracking NC.
Now regulations to allow fracking are being put together by the Mining and Energy Commission (MEC). Over the next couple
of years, the MEC will determine the acceptable parameters to allowing fracking to move forward. Needless to say, Sierrans
are going to be a part of this every step of the way.
From 2011 and well into the future, Sierrans will be pushing to make sure that families’ drinking water isn’t put at risk. We
have the opportunity to learn from the many other states that have experienced the adverse impact of fracking on
communities. And just like the fights of the past, you’d have a hard time keeping Sierrans from standing for our air, water,
and communities.
Fracking 4
Sierran Marvin Woll asks attendees of a public hearing in Pittsboro to raise
their hands if they oppose fracking. Photo Credit: Todd Tinkham
Asheville Beyond Coal
The Asheville Beyond Coal coalition launched an effort in May to
galvanize public support for retiring the coal plant in Asheville
and building a clean energy future for Western North Carolina.
The campaign this year has generated media attention, engaged
hundreds of citizens and community leaders, and launched a
legal effort to stop the pollution from leaking coal ash lagoons. In
October, nearly 100 people battled wind and rain to create this
amazing visual statement, and participants took further action by
gathering signatures on a petition to Duke Energy, owners of the
plant and the nation’s largest public utility.
The flotilla created on Lake Julian on October 14 sends a compelling message that
North Carolina needs to move beyond using dirty coal.
In the fourth year of a fight to stop Titan Cement from building a coal-fired cement manufacturing plant on the
banks of the Cape Fear River in Castle Hayne, Sierra Club members and our coalition partners continued
organizing and educating the public about the effects burning coal has on our economy, environment, and health.
In 2012, the Sierra Club helped organize a highly
successful “Picnic in the Park.” Community members were
invited to come out for food, music, boat rides, and the
opportunity to speak with people from across the country
who have lived and worked in “cement towns.” An estimated
300 people attended. There’s a lot at stake in 2013 for our
neighbors who live on the Cape Fear River. Sierrans are
heavily involved in community action meetings aimed at
building support for upcoming hearings on the Special Use
Permit - the next step in the effort to build the plant. With
partner group Cape Fear River Watch, organizer Zak Keith
has conducted three informational sessions on Titan and environmental issues to African American churches in
Wilmington, coordinated with local Pastor Bishop Williams.
The continued efforts for this campaign would not be possible without our strong volunteer team. Team members
include: Earla Jean & Mike Pope, Shirley Matthews, Marvin Woll, Priss Endo, Ed Beck, Sherry O’Daniell, and Hedi
Perotto.
Stop Titan
Offshore Wind
Because of the great work by our Offshore Wind volunteer team leaders, North Carolinians far and wide are
learning that NC has the best offshore wind resources on the East Coast. Forums in Raleigh and Morehead City
brought more than 350 people together to join the conversation of how we move our state forward by promoting
offshore wind development.
Aside from the forums, the NC Chapter was a key component in organizing the Southeastern Coastal Wind
Conference that was held in Charlotte in March. For Earth Day, team members got nearly 400 petition signatures
in support of our “Windmills Not Oil Drills” campaign at events in Wilmington, Atlantic Beach, Nags Head, Durham,
Raleigh, and Winston-Salem.
Additional forums held in Charlotte and Winston-Salem, as well as presentations with local Sierra Club groups and
a joint program at Jeanette’s Pier, have enabled the Club to be leaders in the push to make offshore wind a reality
for North Carolina.
In 2013, volunteers and staff will be pushing for the
renewal of the Offshore Wind Tax Credit, which is critical
to the future of the industry on the East Coast. Thanks to
the volunteer leadership team for offshore wind, our
state is still poised to be a leader in the nation in tapping
this clean energy resource.
Many thanks to our offshore wind volunteer leadership
team members: Mac Montgomery, Penny Hooper, Steve
Benbow, Ralph Merrill, Robert Scull, Adam James, Sarah
King, Grace Walter, Chris Lasinski, Gus Preschle, Jim
Reynolds, and Jim Glock.
Photo: Organizer Zak Keith rallies a crowd of offshore wind supporters at a
seismic testing hearing in Wilmington.
Photo: Sierrans and community members take a boat tour of the Cape
Fear River.
5
Contributors: Guardians of the Future
The Guardians of the Future
program was created to raise
awareness, inspire and give a
sense of urgency to the
importance of direct advocacy for
the long-term protection of North
Carolina’s natural heritage.
With great appreciation, we
would like to recognize the
following members and
supporters for their contributions
to the Chapter in 2012. Investing
in the work of the Sierra Club is a
critically important way members
can support our work as we
explore, enjoy, and protect the
planet – right here in NC.
Amy Tsui
Ann & Vince Bellis
Ann Bauer
Anne Hummel
Anne M. Rozycki
Art Jones
B. Beerman & T. Rasco
B. Pelissier & V. Bennett
Barbara & Tracy Wilkerson
Barbara Hiestand
Ben Barnes
Betty Parker
Bill & Ginny Kloepfer
Bill E. Keenan
Bill Gupton & Nancy Yudell
Bill Holman & Stephanie Bass
Bill Mashburn
Bob & Caroline Cowan
Brad Niven
Carol & Mac Montgomery
Charles G Humble
Charlotte A. McMillan
Chatham & Janice Olive
Chris & Amanda Buchanan
Chris Turner
Clara Jo Goode
Claudia Milian
D. Koeberl & L. McCracken
Dana Folley
David & Ann Umbach
David & Susan Keesee
Ken Brame & Judy Mattox
Ken Rose & Beth Silverman
Kimberly Poindexter
Laura Phail
Dr. & Mrs. Lawrence Frank
Linda McCorkindale
Lindley S. & T. Butler
Lisa & Paul Cox
Loren Hintz & M. Vimmerstedt
Louis Hovis
Lucille & Peter Chaveas
Lynn & Jeff Trenning
Malcolm Brown
Margaret Sowerwine
Maribeth Weinman
Marie Peine
Marjory E. Holder
Mark Miller
Marta Chase & Kicab Mendez
Mary & Ulrich Alsentzer
Mary A. Ross
Mary Bolstad
Mary Stephenson
Melinda & Jim Crawford
Michael Almeida
Michael McKinney
Michelle Covi
Ms. Nancy Bryant
Nancy Howe
Neal Oldham
Pam & Brad Hemminger
Patricia Stockhoff
Mr. & Mrs. Peter Weigl
Philip Blumenthal
Phillips Cutright
Priss & Tom Endo
Raine Lee & Wes Wallace
Dr. R. Clark & Ms. M Brimm
Renee & Dave Reese
Dr. Richard Kark
Richard Smolowe
Richard Udry - In Memoriam
Robbie Cox
Robert & Peggy McCormick
Robert Dalsemer
Robert Scull
Rod & Connie Hunter
Ron & Nancy Bryant
Ron Morris
Ronald & Christian Greene
Ronald Kilburn
David D Reid & Jane
Carroll
David Henderson & Nancy
Scott
David Schwartz
David Stewart
Debbie Fixsen
Dewey Locklin
Dorothea Ames
Earl Trevathan
Ed Clayton
Edward & Hilah Dorsey
Elizabeth Axtell
Elizabeth Fenwick
Elizabeth Holsten
Elizabeth Ijames
Eloise E. Clark
Elyse & Peter Jung
Fred & Alice Stanback
Gary Washburn
George & Tere Finch
Gregory Dozier
Gus Preschle
Harriet Hart
Hart Shriber, Ph. D.
Heather & Con Ward
Helen Yamada & Norm Ray
Henry Fansler, Jr
Holly H. Adkisson
James & Barbara Beckford
James & Frances Cooper
James Carroll
Jane Kendall & Ran Coble
Janet Sparrow
Jeanie & Thomas Cottingham
Jeff Sawyers
Ms. Jeri Gray
Jerry Eatman
Jim & Margie Haaga
Dr. Jim Reynolds
Joan & James Hemby
John Calhoun
John Crosland, III
John McQuaid
Drs. John & Jane Young
Joscelyn Hill
Judith Bliss
Karen & Charles Goss
Karen Bearden
Kathryn Coulter & A. Billin
Kathy & David Pounds
Kathy Rigsbee
Rufus Dalton, Jr.
Russ & Jean Ann Wheelock
Sallie & Jim Clotfelter
Shirl & Bill Thomas
Soong Lee
Dr. Sterling & Nancy
Hutcheson
Steve Copulsky
Steven & Patricia Dowling
Dr. Steven Tracy
Susan Burns
Suzanne and Gary Krill
Terry Powell & Brad Herr
Terry Van Duyn
Thelma Nelson
Thomas Ruckdeschel
Tim & Tammi Mengel
Ulla Geratz
W. Wallace Finlator, Jr.
Wain White
Will Truslow
William & Peggy Markham
William Peebles
“My husband Pete and I have
supported the great
volunteers and staff of the
NC Chapter of the Sierra Club
for many years. Pete and I
do all that we can in our own
community. But it’s
important to us to know that
someone is watching the
legislature and Governor's
office when we aren't!
And by supporting the NC
Chapter, we know that our
collective voice will be much
stronger than our
individual voices.”
- Elyse Jung Winston-Salem, NC
6
Official 2012 Executive Committee Ballot
The North Carolina Chapter of the Sierra Club
You may vote for up to three (3) 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, 2011, 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
⎕ Bill Gupton
⎕ Ken Brame
⎕ Gus Preschle
Member (Joint): ___________________________
Member Number
⎕ Bill Gupton
⎕ Ken Brame
⎕ Gus Preschle
Instead of mailing your ballot, you can vote online at: nc2.sierraclub.org/2012Ballot
2012 Nominees for the Executive Committee
Gus Preschle has been a member of the Sierra Club since 1980, which he says, is his favorite of the many
environmental organizations he supports. He currently serves on the State Chapter Steering Committee and as
our alternate delegate to the National Council of Club Leaders. He is also an active participant on the Chapter’s
Offshore Wind Power team and the Adopt-A-Legislator program. Gus was recently Chair of the Foothills Group
where he helped lobby successfully for tree preservation, storm water controls, and green construction
incentives in the Triad. Gus led a team to design and build an environmentally sustainable house for Habitat for
Humanity of Forsyth County. He is also on the Board of the Piedmont Environmental Alliance, and has helped
with their Earth Day Fair for 6 years. He also coordinated a program at his church to earn Green Sanctuary
accreditation from their national office. Gus enjoys biking, hiking and kayaking and he and his wife Linda are
avid adventure travelers.
Ken Brame served as group political chair of the Central Piedmont Group from 1989 to 1993 and was NC
Chapter Political Chair and on the Chapter EXCOM from 1990 to 1994. He served as Vice-Chair of the NC
Chapter in 2003 and 2004. During that period he received the NC Chapter's highest award, the LeConte
Award. In 2008 he co-chaired the Sierra Club's successful efforts to elect President Obama. He currently
serves as Co-Chair of the National Sierra Club Political Committee and the NC Political Steering Committee
and has been political chair of the WENOCA group's political committee for the past 4 years. He has
worked to revitalize the WENOCA Group since moving back to NC in 2008 to Asheville. In 2007, he was
recognized by the NC Chapter during its 40th Anniversary for his contributions to the chapter and also was
honored by the national Sierra Club in 2011 by receiving its Distinguished Service Award for his leadership
with the national Sierra Club's Political Program.
A Sierra Club member since 1998, Bill Gupton is currently the Central Piedmont Group Chair and has previously
served as the group Conservation Chair. At the state level, he’s served on the Chapter Steering Committee since
2010 (Chapter Vice-Chair for 2012), the Chapter Conservation Committee, and served as the coal ash and
incineration issue chair. He’s also a Sierra Club Outings Leader, leading a monthly outing as part of adopting
the RibbonWalk Nature Preserve in Mecklenburg County.
He spent most of his professional career in pharmaceutical marketing in NY and PA before returning to NC. Bill
is the Outreach Director and lobbyist with NC WARN, representing a coalition of consumer, social justice, and
environmental organizations, Consumers Against Rate Hikes.
7
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