Monthly Program - Sierra Club of Tennessee

WHEN: Second Thursday of the month at 7:00 p.m. Program topics below.

WHERE: Radnor Lake Visitor Center,1160 Otter Creek Road, Nashville. Note - you must enter from Granny White Pike.

April Program Meeting, Thursday, April 11th, 7:00 p.m. at Radnor Lake Visitor Center.

Moving Beyond Coal

Coal is our country’s dirtiest energy source, from mining to burning to disposing of coal waste, and the Gallatin Steam Plant is the third largest point source of carbon dioxide emissions in Tennessee.

The Sierra Club, at the national, chapter, and local levels, has initiated a grassroots campaign to move America beyond coal, which is an outdated, 19th-century technology. Coal burning is responsible for one third of US carbon emissions, contributing greatly to climate change and illness. The Beyond Coal campaign’s main objective is to replace dirty coal with clean energy such as wind, solar, and geothermal; and to foster energy efficiency.

The Middle Tennessee Group of the Sierra Club has been working hard to forestall a proposed $1.2 billion in renovations to the Gallatin Steam Plant. A study commissioned by the Sierra Club suggests that emission-control and energy savings are achievable by a 1.2 % annual energy efficiency savings rate, thus saving health, environmental and customer costs.

On April 11, the Middle Tennessee Group program will examine this issue, including an update, progress in moving TVA on energy efficiency and closing down coal, and other emerging issues. Please join us for this important program, which is free and open to the public.

May Program Meeting, Thursday, May 9th, 7:00 p.m. at Radnor Lake Visitor Center.

White Nose Syndrome in Tennessee

We are excited to welcome Cory Holliday, cave and karst program director for the Tennessee Nature Conservancy. He will talk about bats, the white nose syndrome that has caused catastrophic die-offs in our nation’s cave bat populations, and his work on the construction of an artificial cave next to an existing natural bat cave. Unfortunately, white nose syndrome in gray bats was found at the natural cave this past winter, and the disease could bring 90 percent mortality in three years.

The artificial cave, the first for cave-hibernating bats, can be disinfected of the fungus that causes white nose syndrome, creating a healthier haven for bats. Holliday notes that we have lost more than 5 million bats in 19 states; there is still no way to address this problem, which could have serious consequences for people. One million bats can eat 694 tons of insects per year, with a value to Tennessee agriculture at over $313 million annually!

Tennessee has the highest number of known caves in the United States. The Nature Conservancy directs the leading cave protection program in Tennessee, which works to protect other species as well as bats because about 95% of the species are listed by The Nature Conservancy as vulnerable or imperiled.

The public is invited to this free presentation. We hope to see you there!

June Program Meeting, Thursday, June 13th, 7:00 p.m. at Radnor Lake Visitor Center.

Capturing Memories to Last a Lifetime

Tips on travel photography techniques and gear, including underwater and lightweight, to help you capture those moments you want to remember from your travels across the street to across the globe.

Michael Hughes leads hiking and adventure travels from Radnor Lake to Yosemite to Costa Rica to Ireland. Along the way he captures images that help bring to life the experience of his travels. Michael shares his stories on the making of these images in hopes of helping other travelers improve their travel photography.

The presentation includes sharing of images and the gear used for traveling from simple day hikes to multi-day sea-kayaking adventures.

The public is invited to this free presentation. We hope to see you there!

STRATEGY MEETINGS: May 14th and June 11th - 6:30 p.m.
The MaD PLaTTeR Restaurant.

Everyone is welcome at local issues & business meetings.

Meetings are usually held at the Mad Platter Restaurant, 1239 Sixth Ave. North, Nashville 37208. (near the Nashville Farmer's Market), but there may be times we meet elsewhere. If you are not a regular attendee, please contact Betsy at 668-1977 or garberb@hotmail.com.

Come a bit early because we start the meeting at 6:30, and please contact Betsy at 668-1977 to let her know you're coming.

The Mad Platter is not open on Tuesday evenings, so be sure to eat before you come or bring something with you.

We look forward to seeing you!