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Trail of Tears Group
Newsletter |
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Trail of Tears Group
Newsletter |
ARE YOU LIKE MOST SIERRA CLUB MEMBERS?
To our surprise we have learned that many Sierra Club members – most of us – do not vote! As you will recall, in the last Presidential election, the difference was fewer than 600 votes in Florida. This time, Missouri could be the critical state. Following revue of candidate records, platforms, and questionnaire responses, and reviewing the issues, the national Sierra Club and the Ozark Chapter have recommendations on candidates and issues.
We urge you to vote as follows:
President: John Kerry
Vice-President: John Edwards.
Attorney General: Jeremiah (Jay) Nixon
Governor: Claire McCaskill
Lieutenant Governor: Bekki Cook
Senator: Nancy Farmer
8th Congressional District: Dean Henderson (see letter below)
Amendment 3: Oppose
Amendment 3 by
Alan Journet
This
proposal, petition signatures gained through funds from the construction
industry, is designed to dedicate funds from motor vehicle purchases to road
construction. Sales taxes normally enter General Revenue to be dispersed
through the state budget by the legislature and Governor. Taxes from specific
items are not generally earmarked for specific purposes yet already half the
motor vehicle taxes ARE dedicated to transportation
By diverting all vehicle taxes from General Revenue to road construction, this Amendment will take funds from social programs such as schools, physical and mental health care, and other critical programs and divert these only to road construction. Social programs have already taken a hit as a result of the state’s crippled financial condition; to divert funds from General Revenue to roads will further reduce these services – or result in the need for a tax hike. Proponents claim there is ‘no net fiscal impact’ but there is no free lunch; there is only no fiscal impact if social programs take the hit to fund road construction.
We urge you to oppose Amendment 3.
Conservation/Political Report: by Alan Journet.
Not surprisingly, this newsletter is largely devoted to elections –
both the general election of November 2nd, and the Trail of Tears
Group Fall Election.
General Election:
For the
General Election, the Sierra Club National and the Ozark Chapter political
committees have been busy evaluating candidates. The state evaluations are
based on the record of elected officials and the responses of candidates to our
questionnaires. Candidates endorsed in this area are listed on the front page.
The Bush-Cheney team was the first in its history awarded by the bi-partisan
League of Conservation Voters (LCV) a failing grade for their environmental
record. Meanwhile, Senator John Kerry has been a consistent defender of the
environment with an LCV rating of 92%. Meanwhile, Senator Kit Bond earned a 0%
LCV rating for 2003 with an average over the last four congressional sessions of
3.75%. Nancy Farmer, meanwhile, shows considerable promise. In the 8th
Congressional District, Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson has a 2003 rating of 0% and
a four session average of 2.75%. Dean Henderson, a Missouri resident and farmer
(from Peace Valley near West Plains) meanwhile, shows tremendous awareness of
environmental issues and sensitivity to our concerns. We cannot recommend these
candidates to you strongly enough. If you would like more information, please
visit their web pages:
John
Kerry:
http://www.johnkerry.com
Nancy
Farmer:
http://www.nancyfarmerforussenate.com/
Claire
McCaskill
http://www.claireonline.com/
Bekki
Cook
http://www.bekkicook.com/
Dean
Henderson:
http://www.hendersonforhouse.com/
From the environmental / conservation standpoint, there is absolutely nothing more important that we can do than cast our ballots. As you will have read above, the surprising fact is that many Sierra Club members do not vote. So please, do not let anything stand in your way on November 2nd. Please exercise your right and undertake your responsibility by taking the few minutes necessary to express you views through the ballot box.
Letter from 8th Congressional District Candidate Dean Henderson:
Dear Trail of Tears Sierra Group members,
The Bush Administration has the worst environmental record in US history. And my opponent in this 8th District Congressional race has done no better. Jo Ann Emerson received a score of 0% from the Sierra Club in 2003.
Henderson for House is a movement of people who are sick and tired of "business as usual". We seek to unite working people into a powerful coalition of labor, small business, small farmers and environmentalists.
If elected, I will push for the signing of the Kyoto Protocol, transform our Department of Energy into a state of the art alternative energy research institute, protect and expand our nation's Wilderness Areas, bolster the Clean Air Act, end corporate welfare on our National Forests, provide incentives for organic farmers, and end GMO crop production.
I have an MS in Environmental Studies from the University of Montana and once lobbied in Washington for the Alliance for the Wild Rockies, which wrote the Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act. While in Missoula, I led the charge in reducing sulfur dioxide emissions from the Stone Container pulp mill and founded the Campus Greens.
Central to my thinking is the idea that we can and must both create jobs AND protect the environment. Giant corporate polluters threaten both workers and environment, with their constant push for higher profits. Both George Bush and Jo Ann Emerson are beholden to these multinationals. Emerson gets PAC money from the likes of WalMart, Boeing, Deere & Co., Archer Daniels Midland, Bank of America, AFLAC and Engineered Support Systems (a big defense contractor). She was an American Insurance Association lobbyist before marrying into Missouri politics.
We do not accept PAC money of any kind and we never will. We want to represent
the people of this 8th District. And we want to protect our fragile
environment. Join our movement to take back America for workers. Spread the
word to friends and neighbors. Together we can change the course of this nation.
Dean Henderson
The Student Sierra
Coalition
The Sierra Student Coalition (SSC) is
taking Missouri by storm. The arrival of the student run arm of the Sierra Club
marks a turning point for the Missouri environmental movement. The Missouri
Strategy Team, composed of SSC student volunteers, is making Missouri a model
state through campaigns, to improve state networks across the nation. By
sweeping through Missouri's high school and college campuses, the SSC intends to
build a strong network of environmentalists as a base for statewide campaigns.
The SSC and the Sierra Club are determined to work together to make Missouri the
paramount state for environmental activism.
Additionally, later this year there will be a Missouri state environmentalist conference for high school and college students to be trained inspired, and involved. Some of the key players in the SSC's overtaking of Missouri are Karen Oelshlaeger, Charlie Fredrick, Nick Knobbe, and Josh Younkin. If you know of any environmentally minded students or are a student yourself, the SSC would love to hear from you.
Doing a little or doing a lot, we all work on environmental causes together towards a common goal. This is an exciting time to be a student environmentalist in Missouri and most of all we are going to have a blast while changing the world. For more information, go to http://www.ssc.org/states/mo and drop us a line!
Trail of Tears Candidate Paragraphs:
Tom
Draper –
I have a long-time interest in Sierra
Club and what it stands for. I have been serving on the TOT executive committee
and would like to continue. We need environmental activists to continue the
good work of Sierra Club. I would appreciate your vote for membership in the
executive committee.
Frank Dietiker –
I am a life long resident of
Southeast Missouri and have served as a TOT Sierra Club executive committee
member for the last few years and would be happy to continue my service.
Jan
Gieselmann –
I have been a Sierra Club member all
of my adult life. Since moving to Southeast Missouri and getting involved with
the Trail of Tears Group, I’ve been involved with planning various activities
such as our spring and fall float trips. If elected to the group Executive
Committee I will serve with other members. Together we will keep the Trail Tears
Group moving along.
Program Winter 2004-2005:
October 23rd Hike Heron Pond-
Join the Ozark
Society for this hike. Contact Pat Hill
pathhill@yahoo.com for information.
November 2nd
Election Night Pot-Luck Social (let's hope we're celebrating!)-
Home of Kathy
Conway and Alan Journet; 2812 Oakshire Circle, Cape Girardeau (7:00 p.m.).
Please call to let us know you're coming (573) 651 - 4182 or (ajournet@semo.edu)
December 5th
Trail of Tears Hike-
Meet at Trail of
Tears Visitor Center at 10:00 a.m. Contact Bill Mallonee (573) 243-2594.
Saturday December
18th Solstice Social, Pot-luck Dinner and Surprise Birthday Party for
Alan Journet (Psst! Don't tell him)-
2812 Oakshire
Circle Cape Girardeau Mo 63701. Contact Kathy Conway (kconway@semo.edu)
or (573) 651-4182 for information; starts at 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday January
26th 7:00 p.m. (Illustrated PowerPoint) on Kruger National park,
South Africa by Alan Journet & Kathy Conway -
Hirsch Room, Cape
Girardeau Public Library on Clark St.
January 29th Mingo Wildlife Refuge Eagle Days-
Meet at Cape
Public Library at 8:00 a.m. to car-pool. Bring picnic lunch and appropriate
clothing for the weather. Although there are no major hikes - we will be out and
about to spot eagles. For more information, Contact Bob Zeller: (rzeller@semo.edu)
Please vote for two candidates. If you hold a joint membership each member should vote.
Electronic Newsletter
recipients – please download and print a ballot an submit it as directed below.
I/we vote for
1st member 2nd member
( ) ( ) Frank Dietiker
( ) ( ) Tom Draper
( ) ( ) Jan Gieselmann
______________________
By November 15th please send to:
Sierra Club
Election Committee
2444 Glenridge St.
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701
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TRAIL OF TEARS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Chair:
Tom Draper 1730 East Jackson
Blvd, Jackson 243-5476
draper@ldd.net
Vice Chair: Shiela Pardee
336 Lemming Lane, Jackson 243-2594
shielapardee@hotmail.com
Secretary: Robert Zeller
402 N. Frederick, Cape Girardeau 334-9965
rzeller@semo.edu
Treasurer: Frank Dietiker
121 Green Acres Cape Girardeau 334-5798
frank@clas.net
Conservation and Political:
Alan Journet 2812 Oakshire Circle, Cape Girardeau
651-4182
ajournet@semo.edu
COMMITTEE CHAIRS:
Chapter Statewide Delegate
Robert Zeller 402 N. Frederick, Cape Girardeau
334-9965
rzeller@semo.edu
Membership & Education:
Kathy Conway 2812 Oakshire Circle, Cape Girardeau
651-4182
kconway@semo.edu
Outings: Bill Mallonee
336 Lemming Lane, Jackson 243-2594
william_c_mallonee@hotmail.com;
Webmaster: Alan Journet
2812 Oakshire Circle, Cape Girardeau 651-4182
ajournet@semo.edu
Newsletter: Alan Journet
2812 Oakshire Circle, Cape Girardeau 651-4182
ajournet@semo.edu