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Is there light at the end of the tunnel?

28, 2006

Not yet, by any means! There are so many wonderful places in our midst, yet growth is driving fast; we must stay determined and keep trying to help our friends and neighbors! But there is so much to address. What do we do? Well, the Executive Committee of the Sierra Club Northeast Florida met one cool day in February on Big Talbot Island to think on this. What a great bunch of people these are.

I thank all, volunteers and lovers of our special places, for sharing time and resources. We talked of our successes in the past year (we stopped relocation of the Cruise Terminal!), our position of honesty and moral authority in the community (what we do is right and good—and fun too; come on an outing with us one day soon!) and our needs for improved communication and more consistent education in the community came clear as our dialogue was wrapping up.

Our top five priorities for 2006 were set:

• Outings, outings, outings—we want to do more, touch more people and enjoy.
• Public relations—use the strengths of the club and get our words out to more people.
• Protect the Preservation Project—support our community’s development of love for these very special places.
• Wetlands—we live among them and need them and need to better appreciate them, these nurseries of life, protectors from flood and filters of runoff.
• Growth—is it good? Can we channel it? Can we retain our community values under the pressures of change in the name of money?

We are few – more and many can do more. If you can and will, please come join in the fun and the fray. Our committees have room for people that can support one event, or research one situation, or will help monthly or as one’s work schedule permits. If you have some skills, or time, or ideas, please write or call or come to a meeting. We’ll have fun and do good work. See you soon, I hope.