THE ROADRUNNER

 Straw Bale Construction

Sierra Club Seminar

Tues. Jan 22, 7/9 pm, Beale Libr., 701 Truxtun, Bksf.

Huff & Puff

 But Can you Blow These Straw Bale Walls Down?

     Sponsored by the Buena Vista Group and the Chapter Ex-com, Ken Haggard, a registered architect with the San Luis Sustainability Group, will present a seminar on building with straw bales in the Sierra Club’s series on alternative technologies at the Beale Library, 7-9 pm, January 22, 2002.

     Straw bale construction is an innovative, yet time­less construction technique for building super-insulated homes and offices. Building with bales was popularized with the phenomenal bestseller “The Straw Bale House” by Athena and Bill Steen, pub­lished by Chelsea Green.

     Haggard’s firm specializes in passive solar archi­tecture and sustainable planning and design.

     Greg McMillan, the contractor building Barry Aubrey’s straw bale home near Weldon, will be avail­able to answer questions about on-site details of con­struction.

     For more information, turn to these web sites:

      Haggard: http://www.slosustainability.com.

      Calif. Straw Building Association

       http://www.strawbuilding.org.

CRPE Backed Regional Meeting To Address Environmental Concerns

     The Center on Race, Poverty and the Environment (CRPE) sponsored the Central California Environ­mental Justice Conference held November 17, 2001 in Fresno. This conference brought together activists from the Central Valley who are concerned about air pollution, pesticide use, and water contamination. Chapter member Art Unger was one of about 100 persons attending this conference.

     Speakers at the meeting emphasized the need for working together to correct region-wide environ­men­tal concerns. These speakers spoke from per­sonal experience, as they had been involved in their communities in projects as diverse as opposing pri­son building in rural areas and preventing construc­tion of an incinerator within a city limit.

     A workshop was held for young people, providing basic information on environmental concerns and the need to become activists for support of environ­mental health.

     Art is “almost certain that these people will meet annually and their numbers will grow and include minorities that we do not reach as often as we would like. Many of them will be in contact with each other. They know that economic progress is im­possible without ecological awareness. Members of our chapter should come forward now and help them achieve their goals.”

Water Cost And Availability Topic Of POWER Conference

     Just as gold was central to California’s economy in the nineteenth century and oil was central in the twentieth century, the availability of water will determine California’s prosperity in the twenty-first century. To learn what public officials think as to how California can obtain the quality and quantity of water we would like (while avoiding floods and restoring the environment), Arthur Unger attended this year’s conference of “Public Officials for Water and Environmental Reform” (POWER). This year’s topic was How Much Should Water Cost?

     There was some discussion of the lessons to be learned from the energy crisis. Some said energy deregulation led to energy shortage, and the same could occur if we do not have adequate water regs. Neither the Sierra Club nor the participants know how much of the price of water should be set by freely operating markets and how much by public policy. Loretta Lynch, President of the California Public Utilities Commission, thinks that the price of items for which there are no alternatives should be regulated.

     Senator Sheila Kuehl and others discussed her SB 221. SB 221 requires housing developments of over 500 units to prove that sufficient water is available. Possible loopholes are exemptions for low income housing, for developments that are adjacent to other developments because they could be considered in­fill, and for findings by local jurisdictions that the project’s social and economic benefits outweigh the negative environmental impact of not having proof of sufficient water. Dividing a project into multiple 499-unit developments is the biggest possible loop­hole. To gain support for this bill, Kuehl had to agree not to pursue legislation on this subject for five years.

     Ann Vickers, author of “Handbook of Water Use and Conservation” and keynote speaker of the conference, pointed out that Americans use more water on their lawns than in their homes and use 720,000 gallons of gas per year to mow those lawns. She hopes we will switch to native plants, but notes that those who do use natives do not decrease their water use unless they stop using automatic sprinklers. Much more pesticide per square foot is used on ornamental land than on farm land. It takes ten times as much water to produce an ounce of steak as an ounce of tofu. Amy Vickers says they are nutri­tionally the same; do our physicians and nutritionists agree?

Kern County 2nd District Supervisoral Candidates Appeared In Sierra Club Forum

     On December 4, the Buena Vista Group of the Chapter sponsored a candidate forum for the second supervisor district of Kern County. Since the in­cumbent, Steve Perez, is a candidate for another office, the election is wide open, attracting five candidates. All of the candidates (Don Maben, Linda White, Mary Beth Garrison, Bernita Jenkins, and Louis Litwin) appeared that evening. The audience was mixed, with Sierra Club members, members of the community, and high school students. The questions addressed to each candidate covered the topics of urban sprawl, air quality, wind and dairy farms, transportation, energy use and Tehachapi development issues. Some candidates placed private property rights over community wishes, while others believed that county government should take an active role in directing growth in the county and improving air quality. Even though they disagreed on the role of government in improving and regu­lating environmental issues, they all agreed that Kern county does have serious environmental problems that must be addressed now.

     The audience provided many of the questions asked and enjoyed both the serious comments by the candidates and those of a flippant nature. Many Club members volunteered their time to set up the debate and to man tables with reading materials. The Buena Vista Excom would like to thank them for their services.

     The next time voters in the 2nd district get a chance to listen to the candidates will be in February in Tehachapi. Please try to attend. By listening to the candidates, you will definitely be able to make up your mind for the March election.      By Harry Love

 

 

Did you forget to buy a SC Calendar? A few remain to be sold for just $5. Please call Georgette Theotig, 661-822-4371, to make arrangements for your bar­gain purchase asap!

 

 

 

 

Chapter Budget

     The Sierra Club is a grass‑roots organization and as such is member driven. Every member has a right to attend any Club‑sponsored meeting or event, in­cluding meetings of the chapter or group executive committees, or ExComs, in Club parlance. In fact we encourage members to participate as much as pos­sible. Members are what keep us going.

     Club members also have a right to know how we spend their money. The following summarizes the chapter’s typical sources of annual income and our typical expenses in thousands of dollars.

         Income

     Subvention 15    Conservation         3

     March Appeal 2   Other   1       Total  21

         Expenses

     Groups  2    Conservation     6

     SC deductions   4     Roadrunner   9   Total   21

Accounts on hand    17

     Subvention is a portion of local members’ dues that is returned to the chapter from the national or­anization.

     Conservation is the income from our foundation account for specific, tax‑exempt purposes, such as our lawsuit against EPA.

     March Appeal is the contributions we solicit directly from chapter members. We can do this only in March, thus the name.

     Other is income from the sale of calendars, post­cards, and so on.

     Typically our annual income totals approximately $20,000.

     Groups is our modest distribution to each group. We are weighing an increase in our group subven­tion. There are now five groups in the chapter.

     Conservation accounts for our expenses in non-political activities, such as our legal case against EPA regarding air pollution in the San Joaquin Valley.

     SC deductions are for our share of Sierra Club California expenses.

     Roadrunner is our cost to print and distribute our newsletter, the Roadrunner.

     We try to balance our annual expenses with our annual income. We have $17,000 in deposits at a local bank as a cash reserve for emergencies.

     In addition, we have access to the Mel & Beverly Rubin Environmental Fund, managed by the Sierra Club Foundation. Because this fund is in a founda­tion account, we can only use it for carefully audited purposes, such as reimbursement of a limited portion of our Roadrunner expenses, educational expenses, and costs of litigation.

     Larry Wailes is our chapter treasurer.

 

Who Speaks For The Club?

     The Club and the chapter are involved in a host of controversial actions. As a consequence, members are often asked their opinions on a variety of com­plex environmental issues. While all citizens have a right to speak their mind, speaking on behalf of the Sierra Club requires familiarity with the issue, with the collective opinion of the national Sierra Club, and with the position explicitly endorsed by the chapter and group.

     Our position on certain issues is sometimes del­icately crafted after hours of discussion. Members are welcome to help hammer out our positions—in fact, we always need more help—and by doing so become more familiar with the ramifications of each action. As John Muir said, everything in the universe is hitched to everything else.

     Unless a member is acknowledged by the exec­utive committee of either the chapter or group as the lead activist on an issue, he or she should refrain from speaking “on behalf of,” “for,” or even “as a member of” the Sierra Club. Please say what you want to say, but do so as a citizen, or a member of the community. We need more people speaking up for the environment, for clean air, for clean water, and for protection of our wild places.   By Paul Gipe

Pointers For Pressing Points With The Press Persuasively

     The following article was prepared by Arthur Unger, a well known local Sierra Club activist who has had a great deal of experience dealing effec­tively with the local media. He has prepared the following suggestions for utilizing the opportunities the media offers for publicizing Sierra Club posi­tions as an aid to give you expertise—and courage to speak up.

     Our talking to the voters, more than lobbying the office holders, lessened the harm the 104th Congress did, and it can help us with the present congress.  All of us must continue to reach the voters. First we must talk to as many of the people we come face to face with as we dare.

     Then we must use the media. With persistence, one can occasionally be on radio, TV and in local news­papers such as the Californian; I have proven that this does not take talent. For those with too little time, letters to the editor and talk radio are the ways to go.

     Follow the issues that interest you in the general media and in environmental publications like the Roadrunner. Call the listed chapter officers to find other sources.

     Gene Tacket, former talk show host, advises that talk radio shows that originate locally usually receive less than twenty calls an hour. When you call, you will first be screened. Usually they only want to know that the topic of your call relates to the subject being discussed on the show. Although you will have only 15 to 30 seconds for your opening question, take the time to tell the host you enjoy the show. Then slip in your question.

      When dealing with the far right, who see environ­mentalism as government interference, our Dolph Amster recommends addressing matters of fact rather than opinion. Expect a harsh reply and evenly reply with a supporting fact. That will probably set the host off, and you may not get another word in. Bear in mind that it would cost the club about $50 a minute to put out the information you just almost did. If you are interviewed, your oral comments should consist of one or two short sentences, with images if possible, structured so that they cannot be changed. To prevent changing my replies in a telephone interview, I sometimes fax my answers, rather than give them over the phone.

Arthur is more than happy to speak with anyone who would like to discuss further the topic above. You can reach him in the following manner: 661. 323.5569 or alunger@juno.com 

Manter Appeal—Story of A Step In The Right Direction

     The Manter Appeal refers to an area in Sequoia National Forest that was given the go-ahead for a timber sale, justified by the Forest Service in terms of cutting trees in an area that had been run over by fire. The alert watchers of timber sales in that National Forest made an appeal to the Forest Service, questioning their judgment that the trees to be cut were truly dead.

     The appeal was rejected, but a meeting was requested with the District Ranger. In the meeting it was discovered that the District Ranger had uni­laterally changed the marking guidelines (the Protocol) for determining which trees were dead and which were not. Even though the Environmental Assessment (EA) used a more permissive, less protective protocol for the project analysis, the Forest Service said they would adhere to the more restrictive protocol (See below). Had we not appealed, the likelihood that the more restrictive protocol would be used was small.

     The most restrictive protocol to be followed states that a tree cannot be considered “dead” unless

     at least 95% of the crown is scorched brown, for pines trees,

     at least 90% of the crown is scorched brown, for fir trees.

     For trees that had less than 50% live crown before the fire,

     pines cannot be considered dead unless at least 90% of the crown is scorched brown;

     firs cannot be considered dead unless at least 85% of the crown is scorched brown.

     How did those persons who worked on the appeal persuade the Forest Service to change their position on this timber sale? It took people who have really involved themselves in the concern of protecting the Sequoia forests to 1. get proof that the original protocol had not been followed by going out to the site in question and taking videos illustrating that the trees design­ated as dead were truly not dead ac­cording to the Forest Service protocol; 2. meet with Forest Service personnel to discuss findings; 3. get expert testimony stating that the cutting would be harmful to the habitat for the fisher, an endangered carnivore species; 4. be prepared to continue to monitor the “marking” of trees, according to the Forest Service protocol agreed upon.

     What was the result of the agreements that came out of these negotiations?

     Quoting from a letter written by Chad Hansen, member of National Board of Directors of Sierra Club: “We may be victims of our own success here. Due to the pressure that all of the folks working on this have brought to bear on the Forest Service, the scope and scale of the project has been reduced by probably over 80%. Ironically, this hinders our ability to sue them.”

     Are folks satisfied with this result of the Manter Appeal compromise? Ara Marderosian wrote, “I would prefer that the dead and live trees remain in place because all branches and needles, live or dead, collectively add up to the canopy which provides protection from predators above, shade from early snow melt, resistance to winds blowing through the forest and drying the forest, as well as the increase in soil compaction and sediment in the streams, and damage to the naturally occurring sprouts that would replace the burned trees.”

      Here is another example of effort, expertise and perseverance helping to protect our natural environ­ment. Can you see in this report an opportunity that fits your ability to help? Contact Ara Marderosian for further information: 760.376.4434. or 866.533. 7873. Web site is www.sequoiaforestkeeper.org

MIDGEBUZZINGS

     The summer I turned thirteen my family built a home in a beautiful place five miles or so outside the little town of Chico. Across the street behind a density of foliage Chico Creek rushed icy cold to fill the reservoir at Five Mile Dam; and at the back of our land, beyond a low rise, was a full horizon of butte mountains.

     The transition from childhood to adolescence can be swift and immense. In my case it was made even more poignant by separation from old friends, and by the coincidence of this landscape, so gorgeous as to be almost painful. In a corner of the back fence I built a board seat where I often spent time just looking, watching the changes of light, memorizing the contours of the land. What I was doing was witnessing, with a mind completely innocent of any notion of change and therefore not apprehensive of it. To me it was perfect beauty, seen in perfect air, by perfect light. I did not know that it was being trans­lated through the eyes into the heart where it would remain, awaiting expression.

      I have often observed this witnessing in others. Before me in a little album is a photograph of a jagged outcrop of rock, black in profile against the pale last light of day. At first glance there appear to be three spires, but a closer look identifies the third as a person, a friend who had climbed the rock last summer to witness a sunset in the White Mountains. Below is another picture, this one of the land whose shades and contours the watcher is absorbing. The scene is deeply shadowed around long streaks of momentary light. The same process of translation is occurring, but now in a mind only too well aware of the accidental and transitory character of natural beauty, and conscious of its importance to the heart.

     In maturity every witness understands that a scene in nature is characterized as much by unpredictable variables as it is by its physical composition. Light is capricious, its quality dependent upon any number of situations. Time of day is ordered, but weather is not, nor, in these days, is the condition of the air. Nor do we know what wild creatures might be there, or whether they will be moving or stationary, or if stationary, how long. Furthermore, sound, or the absence of it, is profoundly involved in total ex­perience, as are all the senses and our receptiveness to them. So it is only accidentally that we enter those moments in nature which are of such exquisite quality that they become fixed in memory, to recur through a lifetime by deliberate referral, or by surprise when we are thinking of something else.

     Such a beautiful confluence of circumstances occurred for me one afternoon last October at the rim of a vast canyon in Bryce National Park as I waited, hoping, for more than ordinary light. It came while I was reading, and when I looked up and out I saw it, not falling upon those haunted shapes to illuminate them as one would expect, but seeming to radiate from them as if generated outwards from the center of a mystery too intense even for approach. Nevertheless, I raised my camera and opened the shutter, an act that seemed almost a sacrilege. And film, being neutral, records.

     A picture does not express experience so much as it attests to it. But that testament is witness, too, and thus a spring to memory and an invitation to return.

                                                  By Ann Williams

 

 

KernKaweah GROUP NEWS

 

 

 

 

January

Sat 12 Red Rock Canyon - see Condor Group

Sat 19 Malpais Mesa Hike - see Owens Peak Gp

Sat 19 Chapt. Excom. Beale Library, Bksf. Noon.

Mon 21 BLM’s Cox: Trona mineral production - see     Owens Peak Gp

Tues 22 Straw Bale Construction - see p. 1

Every Thursday. Condition Hike. 4-5 miles.  Bksf. 7 pm. Corner of 178 & 184. Details?  661.872.2432

February

Sat 2 Nordic Ski Patrol program - see Condor Group

Thurs 7 Meal at Keo Thip Thai - see Min. King Gp

Sat 9 Tide Pool - see Condor Gp

Mon 18 Bird program - see Owens Peak Gp

Sat 23 Banquet - see Buena Vista Group

Sat 23 Mayan Peak - see Owens Peak Group

 

 

JANUARY

Sun 13 Southern Regional Conservation Comm. Mtg - LA (9am) 3435 Wilshire 213.387.4287

1. Mon 14 USFS Gas and Oil Los Padres hearing. Chuchupate Rg. Station. 6-8:30 pm. 2. Tues 15 BLM in Bksf. 3-5 pm. Pres­entation, public input.

Sat 19 Workday at Wind Wolves.661.858.1115

Thurs 31 USFS workshop on 4 Forest Plan. Frazier Park Comm. Center. 6-9 pm.

FEBRUARY

Ski Trips  

1-3 (fri-sun) Cross Counry Ski Tour   

16-18 (sat-mon) Ski Backpack

Both in Sequoia Monu­ment. Limit 8. Call Gary/ Paulette Landers for details/reservations 714.529. 8154

Fri-Sun 15-17 - Duck Days. Sacramento area. Peak bird migration time. Tours, hikes +. 800 425-5001

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CALIFORNIA/NEVADA REGIONAL CONSERVATION COMMITTEE Mtg. LA

     Discussion will include ballot issues and candidate endorsements coming up in March.  This  group  has a vital part in making decisions concerning policy of Sierra Club California. Mtg time: 9 am 3435 Wil­shire 213.387.4287. Other related mtgs:  State Mtg. Mar. 9-10  Convention June 8th-9th. Both at San Luis Obispo. All Club members welcome.

MINERAL KING GROUP INVOLVED IN PROTESTING PROPOSED SAND AND GRAVEL OPERATION

     The company Pacific Materials has filed an appli­cation for a 137-acre pit mine to excavate sand and gravel to a depth of 40 feet from a 496-acre site about 1 mile north of Lemoncove.  The site is adja­cent to the Kaweah River and is presently pasture used for livestock grazing.  Groundwater occurs just three feet below the ground surface.

     The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service submitted a letter outlining concerns including the endangered kit fox. The DEIR states that it is improbable that the kit fox are present in the area, but the Service has information of several kit fox sightings within a small radius of the project site. In addition to potential habitat loss of kit fox,  the possible effects of noise and lighting on the fox are of concern. The Planning Commission will decide at its meeting on January 16 whether to reject the DEIR and/or the project or to direct that a final EIR be prepared for certification. Mineral King is watching this proposal carefully.

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BUENA VISTA GRP  NEW  EX-COM ELECTED

Congratulations to all the persons elected to this Ex-Com.  Serving on the board will be Mary Helen Barro, Shannon Kelly, Karen Page, Alison Sheehey, Glenn Shellcross, Karen Smith, Kevin Smith, Shelley Stone, and Elaine White. This new Ex-Com is the group that will be responsible for making decisions as to program, etc. for group. 

 

TABLING (manning a  booth at a public affair) is a grand way to inform the general public about the Sierra Club. This fall found Shelly Stone, Larry Wailes and son, Monte Harper, Diane Rezavy and Art and Lorraine Unger doing just that at the Neigh­borhood Festival at Martin Luther King Park and the Combined Federal Campaign Fun Day in Yokuts Park. A good way to help spread the word!

 

 

Start the New Year off in grand style

Volunteer.

     You have read many times in the past issues of the Roadrunner about the effective work of Sierra Club members whose passion for protecting the natural environment drives them to devote much time to study, writing, making public appearances and  de­veloping occasions for educating and alerting the general public and officials as to proposed actions that would be detrimental and expressing our oppo­sition accompanied by constructive criticism.

     Please  join them.  Uncertain how to start? What to do?  See pg 3 of this issue.  Check past Roadrunners. Check Sierra Club  online.  Clip out "Take Action" box and keep it handy for use when needed. Talk to other members.

     You will soon relish the learning opportunities, the satisfaction and comradeship of others who share the similar views.  Enjoy!

EX-COM CANDIDATES FOR 2002

Paul Gipe has served on the ExCom, is currently Chapter Chair, and has worked on energy-related environmental issues for almost three decades.

Mary Ann Lockhart has served as Condor Group Chair and on KK Chapter Ex-com; presently is Editor of Roadrunner.

Art Unger  Arthur Unger has held chapter offices and received awards. He thanks you for donating your time to our chapter and thus to the earth. Contact any chapter officer or Art at  alunger@juno.com or 661 323-5569 to help you

become more active.

Glenn Shellcross    Served as Chair of the KK Chapter, now Vice-Chair.  Chair of  Buena  Vista Group.

 

BALLOT FOR KERN-KAWEAH CHAPTER EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. 2002

 

All Sierra Club Members in this Chapter are eligible to vote. 

Voter 1

VOTE FOR FOUR

___Paul Gipe____Mary Ann Lockhart ___Glenn Shellcross____Art Unger

____Write in______________________________

Voter 2

VOTE FOR FOUR

___Paul Gipe____Mary Ann Lockhart____Glenn Shellcross____Art Unger

____Write in______________________________

 

Place voter(s) signature(s) on outside of envelope. Send to Kern Kaweah Chapter.  Att: Ballot, PO 3357.   Ballots must be received by January 31, 2002.

 

 

Please cut out list below and keep handy

 

BALLOT FOR CONDOR GROUP 

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, 2002

All Sierra Club Members in the area of Pine Mountain Club, Frazier Park, Lebec and Gorman are eligible to vote.

VOTER 1                                  VOTER 2

____          Ches Arthur                 ____

____          Fay Benbrook              ____

____          Marta Bigler                 ____

____          Dale Chitwood             ____

____          Bernard Cordes            ____

____          Erica Cordes                ____             

                  Dave Grant                  ____

____          Barbara Kelley             ____

____          Katherine King            ____

____          Harry Nelson               ____

____          Gita Nelson                  ____

____          Candy Posson              ____     

____          Jean Rustvold               ____

____          Rusty Rustvold             ____

____          Dayne Yancy           ____

____          Tom Yancy                   ____

___________Write In       ___________

 

Place voter(s) signature(s) on outside of envelope. Send to   Lockhart, Att. BALLOT. PO GG, Frazier Park, CA, 93222 or bring to Feb 2nd mtg. where results will be announced. 

 

 

 

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Cut up the Roadrunner?

Never heard of this before?

Why should you do it?

   so you can...

 

Vote (p. 7)

 

Volunteer (pp. 3/7)

 

Take advantage of the

new  "quick look" sheet

to find out easily who is doing what, when and where! (pp. 5&6)

 

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http://kernkaweah.sierraclub.org

Web questions? harold.wood@sierraclub.org

 

     Want to contact Roadrunner?

         email:  jmal@frazmtn.com

         reg mail: Editor, Roadrunner,

         PO GG, Frazier Park, CA 93222.

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

Congratulations:  The National Sierra Club Board of Directors’ minutes of Nov. 16-18, 2001 show Joe Fontaine as one of the new honorary Vice Presidents of the Club.  What an honor for our “home boy.”

 

Great News: 1,540 acres of private land known as the Dillonwood Grove and filled with second-growth sequoias has now become part of Sequoia National Park. Combining these trees with those in the adjoin­ing Park we come up with this Grove becoming one of the five largest in the world!  How did it happen? The family owning the land did not sell into other private hands and Save-The-Redwoods League and Silicon Valley Foundations provided the $$$ to make it possible. Wow!

 

Mineral King Folks:  If you live in Tulare or King Counties you are invited to submit your e-mail address for updates of activities that have not ap­peared in the Roadrunner. Please include your name, street address and telephone number to harold.wood @sierraclub.com.