Message from the Chair

    As another summer comes to an end and we race towards the end of a year, it is again time for the Trail of Tears Group to host the statewide Ozark Chapter Executive and Conservation Committee meetings on September 14th and 15^th (for more detailed information see schedule of events).  Along with this meeting we are having a potluck dinner at Kathy Conway’s and Alan Journet's house in Cape Girardeau, which I would strongly encourage you to attend. This is not only a fun event but a wonderful opportunity to meet individuals from around the state with similar views on the environment and environmental issues.  I hope to see many of you there.

Upcoming Events:

September 14-15: The Ozark Chapter Conservation and Executive Committees are meeting at Southeast Missouri State University, in Rhodes Hall, Room 223.  All members are welcome to attend the meetings.  A pot-luck dinner/social is also planned for Saturday evening  at 6:00 PM at Alan’s and Kathy’s residence, 2812 Oakshire Circle, Cape Girardeau. Contact Alan Journet at his office (573-651-2366) or his home (573-651-4182) for information and/or directions. Please plan to join us.

September 21: Canadian farmer Percy Schmeiser, who is in a legal battle with Monsanto, will be giving a presentation at the Great Wall Chinese Restaurant from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. (3254 William, Cape Girardeau at the junction of I 55 and Route K). The trip is hosted by the Missouri State Green Party. For more information concerning this issue see the Conservation Report below.

October 6: Join the Sierra Club on its annual canoe/float to Jack’s Fork. Departure time is set for 7:30 AM from the Cape Public Library rear parking lot. Overnight campers could travel to Alley Springs Friday and meet the rest of the group Saturday morning.  Call Alan Journet at his office (573-651-2366) or at his house (573-651-4182) if interested so canoes can be arranged.

October 25: Two events are scheduled for tonight!  The first speakers, two coalition members who are biking to Washington, DC to advocate leaving the Alaskan Artic Wildlife Refuge pristine, will give a slideshow presentation.  For more information concerning this issue see the Conservation Report below. Afterwards Carla Klein, Ozark Chapter Program Director and State Lobbyist, will discuss state and federal election issues and state legislative issues.  The presentations will commence at 7:00 PM in the Department of Conservation Regional Headquarters, which is located in the Cape County Park (north).

November 7: Kathy Conway and Alan Journet’s greatly anticipated slideshow on their Spring 2002 Hawaii trip is finally here!  Meet at 7:00 PM at the Department of Conservation Regional Headquarters, in North Cape County Park.

December 13: Holiday shindig! The location is still undetermined.

January 23: The Executive Committee will meet to discuss organization and to develop the 2003 program.  All members are cordially invited to attend. Meet at Bob Zeller's residence (402 N Frederick) at 6:30 PM.

February 1: Eagle Days. Visit Mingo and Duck Creek to view fascinating Bald Eagles. Meet Cape Library 8:00 A.M.

March/April: Hike planned.

*For current information on outings go to Programs.

Treasurer’s Report: Brian Alworth

    The group account currently has a balance of $1,341. Given the absence of an income from Fair St. Louis this year, members are encouraged to purchase 2003 Sierra Calendars and Sierra Planners this Holiday Season. 

Conservation Report: Alan Journet

Monsanto versus Farmers
   Monsanto may not be the evil empire, but the company certainly tries at times to appear so. Percy Schmeiser lives in the Canadian Province of Saskatchewan where he grows rape on his farm (Canola oil is the product that comes from rape seed). Among Schmeiser's neighbors are growers of Round-Up Ready crops.
   Without permission, agents of Monsanto entered Schmeiser's property to collect plant samples. When these plants showed evidence of genetically modified DNA typical of the Round-Up Ready crops, Monsanto filed suite against him for patent violation.
    Although Schmeiser's complaint was that this DNA was a contaminant that had blown into his fields in the form of wind-born pollen from the neighbor, incredibly the law suite filed by Monsanto was upheld.

   Schmeiser's story poses the following problems:
  First: It seems unreasonable that a farmer should be penalized because pollen from a neighbor using the genetically modified crops blows onto his property.
   Second: Should a farmer wish to grow organic produce uncontaminated by genetically modified tissue, the presence in the region of GM crops clearly poses a serious economic threat since any contamination of organic produce by GM tissue will render the crop unmarketable. In such cases, it seems only reasonable that the GM farmer, and maybe Monsanto itself, should be held accountable for contaminating the area.
   Percy Schmeiser will be in Cape Girardeau to tell his story on Saturday September 21st. His presentation will be at the Great Wall Restaurant (3254 William = Route K and I55 Intersection) from 11:00 A.M. until 1:00 P.M.

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Trek
   The U.S. Senate voted against drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge; however, corporations wishing to profit from the oil at the expense of the sensitive environment are combining with politicians sympathetic to their aims in further attempts to promote ANWR drilling. Members of the Arctic Coalition have organized self-propelled treks to Washington to underline the plight of ANWR. They will be passing through Cape Girardeau en route to Washington DC on Friday October 25th, when we will be hosting a presentation on the issue. The illustrated talk will be at 7.00 P. M. in the newly remodeled Department of Conservation HQ, Cape County Park North.

Welty Wetlands
    We are still trying to assist Cape Girardeau resident R.B. Welty in resolving problems relating to the draining of wetlands on his farm along the bank of the Whitewater River.

Environmental Current Events and Action Network:

    If you are interested in keeping current with environmental issues, and would be prepared on occasion to send comments to private or elected public officials regarding current issues, please let me know by sending an e-mail to ajournet@biology.semo.edu. I will add you to my circulation list. I receive frequent news alerts form environmental organizations. These usually also provide links to web sites from which it is possible to send (with modifications if desired) prepared letters.  A few times a week I will forward you alerts that I receive. These will provide you with an opportunity to submit comments. You are invited to respond to those that interest or concern you most.

2003 Group Elections:

    The Trail of Tears Sierra Group Executive Committee is composed of four elected positions: Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer, and Secretary.  To this cadre is added a group of volunteers who “chair” specific activities. The term of elected officials is two years, with two members up for re-election each year.  We don’t elect individuals for specific roles; therefore, when a new Executive Committee is formed, its members decide who will fill each role.  The following are candidates:

-         Tom Draper

   As a member of Sierra Club I feel that the organization fills an important first line defense against those who are either uncaring or indifferent to environmental issues. I write politicians on a regular basis expressing my views on issues concerning the natural world. I have served on the board of Audubon in Nebraska and am currently the VP of SEMO Trout Unlimited which is dedicated to maintaining cold water habitats. I am currently finishing my last semester as a visiting professor at SEMO. So I should have the time necessary to devote to the Sierra Club.

-        Gloria Kiehne

    A devoted and proud Sierra Club member, Gloria feels that given the current world situation, it’s more important than ever for conservationists to stand up for what they believe in.

-         Bill Mallonee

    After 36+ years as a chemical engineer, I've recently retired from a major global chemical company. Most of my career was in polymer manufacturing; the last two in waste water treatment. Over my career I've seen a full range of negative to positive environmental activities by the chemical industry. I strongly support enforcement of EPA and other environmental regulations that "encourage" industry to do the "right thing". I'm an avid hiker and walker and support the Club's efforts to keep the National Forests free of logging.

-     Frank Dietiker

    Frank is a long-time Cape Girardeau resident and graduate of both Cape Central High School and Southeast Missouri State University.  He has been an active Sierran and the Trail of Tears Group Chair for several years.

To vote: (see ballot below)

  1) Vote for up to 2 people; you may write in a name.

  2) If yours is a joint membership, two members may vote.

  3) Cut out the ballot and place in and envelope.  Address to:
       Sierra Club Election Committee
       2812 Oakshire Circle
       Cape Girardeau, MO 63701

  4) Affix a 37¢ stamp and mail by October 1, 2002

Save Newsletter Paper and Mailing Costs:
    You can  save us paper and mailing costs by allowing us to send you an e-mail advising that the newsletter has been posted on the web site, rather than having us send a snail-mail version via the Postal Service. If you would like to do this; please contact kristinsmith312@hotmail.com

Recent Outings:

May 11^th

May 31^st/June 1^st

This outing took us to Hawn State Park. It was led by Bob Zeller, seen here in the distance.  A small but stellar group made the outing involving an overnight camping stay at Hawn and a Saturday hike.

I vote for

            1^st member                  2^nd member

            (           )                       (           )           Frank Dietiker

            (           )                       (           )           Tom Draper

            (           )                       (           )           Gloria Kiehne

            (           )                       (           )           Bill Mallonee

            (           )                       (           )           ____________________________________

            Send To:
            Sierra Club Election Committee
            2812 Oakshire Circle
            Cape Girardeau, MO 63701 

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 CURRENT TRAIL OF TEARS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:
 

Committee Chairs: