Nassau County Group
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Nassau County Group |
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Past Meetings & Events On Wednesday, January 3,2007 the Nassau County Sierra Club presented a film, Affluenza. This is a groundbreaking film that diagnoses a serious social disease - caused by consumerism, commercialism and rampant materialism - that is having a devastating impact on our families, communities, and the environment. We have more stuff, but less time, and our quality of life seems to be deteriorating. By using personal stories, expert commentary, hilarious old film clips, and "uncommercial" breaks to illuminate the nature and extent of the disease.With the help of historians and archival film, Affluenza revealed the forces that have dramatically transformed us from a nation that prized thriftiness - with strong beliefs in "plain living and high thinking" - into the ultimate consumer society. On Wednesday, October 4, 2006, the Nassau County Sierra Club through the Green Team Project from Jacksonville, presented a 55 minute film, The Next Industrial Revolution in the Community Room of the First Coast Community Bank. This is a new 55 minute film, produced by Earthome Productions to communicate the work and vision of architect William McDonough and chemist Dr. Michael Braungart, two leaders in a growing movement to transform the relationship between commerce and nature. McDonough and Braungart work with corporations with over half a trillion dollars in annual sales, companies like Ford and Nike, to redesign buildings, processes, and products to work according to nature's rules. "When we follow nature's rules, growth is good," says Bill McDonough. "The question before us is not growth versus no growth. It is: what would good growth look like? And this is a question of intent, of design. What if we grow health instead of sickness, home ownership instead of indigence, education instead of ignorance?" Using the stories of five projects that represent a revolutionary change in the direction of the human economy, THE NEXT INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION inspires people to: 1) reconsider their current efforts for the environment, 2) reinvent their businesses and institutions to work with nature, and 3) redefine themselves as consumers, producers, and citizens to promote a new sustainable relationship with the Earth. For more information, visit www.thenextindustrialrevolution.org On Wednesday, September 6th at 7pm our guest speaker was Katy Swanson of the Green Team Project of Jacksonville. The Green Team Project is a grass-roots environmental non-profit project of the Tides Center that focuses on environmental education and community outreach. Its mission is to educate and support Americans in taking action to practice more environmentally sustainable lifestyles. They are dedicated to helping individuals gain knowledge and practices that will help them save monthly on utility bills, reduce their consumptive behaviors and generally be more aware of their impact to the environment both on the local and global level. They also work with cities, companies, schools, no-profit organizations, religious groups and government agencies to conserve natural resources and support environmentally friendly activities and products. Visit their website at www.greenteamproject.org On Wednesday, August 2, 2006, the Nassau County Sierra Club through the Green Team Project from Jacksonville, presented an alternately hilarious and disturbing eco-documentary called “BLUE VINYL” in the Community Room of the First Coast Community Bank. With humor, chutzpah and a piece of
blue vinyl siding firmly in hand, Peabody Award-winning filmmaker Judith
Helfand and co-director and award-winning cinematographer Daniel B. Gold
set out in search of the truth about polyvinyl chloride (PVC), America's
most popular plastic. From Long Island to Louisiana to Italy, they
unearth the facts about PVC and its effects on human health and the
environment. On Wednesday, May 3, 2006 Carol Wyatt will discussed her recent trip to Arkansas in search of the Ivory Billed Woodpecker. On Wednesday, April 5, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. Monica Zonie, a research assistant with the New England Aquarium brought us up to date on the 2005-2006 Right Whale calving season. There were 19 mom/calf pairs this year (the average is 12). The teams spend four months from December 1st through March 31st monitoring, by plane, the winter calving area of the Right Whale. Their main goal is to alert shipping to prevent ships from striking the whales. (more) At our general meeting on February 1, 2006, Eric Titcomb brought us up to date on the status of Crane Island. Eric, a longtime resident of Amelia Island, has been actively involved in the Sierra Club's protection efforts since the early '90's. (read more) Nov. 2, 2005, 7 pm: Bruce Dueck of JEA's program on green housing reviewed the latest science for energy efficiency and healthy homes. Although multidirectonal in his approach, key points were:
Mr. Dueck recommended the following
websites for more information:
On Wednesday, September 7, 2005, at 7 PM Walter Hunt of Hunt Fossils, Art, and Artifacts, spoke on "Fossils of Amelia Island". Our beaches are some of the best in Florida for collecting fossils, including sharks' teeth. Walter Hunt brought a collection of fossils and discussed collection and identification on the island beaches. He walked us through the last 25 million years of Florida history. He also identified fossils collected by the audience. Our "show and tell" included horse teeth, the mouth piece of puffer fish, whale vertebrate and, of course, various types of shark teeth. On Wednesday, May 4, 2005, Chip Campbell, Chair of the St Marys River Management Committee, talked about the status of this undervalued gem of a river. Along the border between Florida and Georgia, the St Marys River boasts some of the cleanest water, wildest shoreline, and most interesting history in NE Florida. Chip began his presentation with a video by the Northeast Florida office of The Nature Conservancy which documented attempts to preserve the river. He gave a brief history of the St Marys River conservation efforts. His details of dealing with two state agencies, four county governments and agencies, as well as local governments gave us an appreciation of the difficulties of preserving a river which runs along a border of two states. Chip told of the extraordinary alliances between timber growers and conservations groups to preserve the river. He asked concern citizens to get involved by attending agency meetings to support the St Marys River Management Committee conservation efforts. Visit the committee's website at www.stmarysriver.org. On April 6, 2005 Trey Dennard of Dreamscapes Landscaping was our speaker. Trey brought a truck load of plants and his considerable knowledge of horticulture and discussed landscaping in Northeast Florida. Trey also has experience working with the City Tree Ordinance and answered questions about this very current topic. In March 2005, Ron Sapp talked about Crane Island, the city's tree ordinance the city's comp plan, LDR changes and other issues of local concern. Ron has lived in Fernandina Beach for fifty-five years. A teacher at Fernandina Beach High School, he served twenty-one years on the city commission, including six terms Mayor, and four as Vice-Mayor. He sponsored legislation that opened approximately 50 beach accesses, built North Beach and Seaside Parks, revitalized Main Beach, and the Peck Center. He authored and sponsored the land preservation bond issue and created the Greenway. He also sponsored legislation creating the tree ordinance, the coastal uplands protection zone, and the beach overlay district. February’s speaker, Mary Lou Tucker, provided more than maps of historic roads in Nassau County. She provided a blueprint for controlling the onslaught of disconnected, thoughtless development currently sawing its way across the county. The problem: how to reconcile fair future land use in an area where, until a few years ago, the handshake and tacit approval often took the place of plats and quit claims. Mary Lou and other members of the Yulee Historic Council are crafting their solution. First, research the historic documents, talk to local historians, older citizens, examine photographs. History crops up in interesting places: one of the major historic roads, Kings Highway, was actually retraced by a boy scout troop in the 1970’s. Then, find a 4-wheel drive and get out and tour the county roads and abandoned rail beds, many of which are currently used as dirt logging roads. Offer tours to show as many groups as possible what is still there, and what could exist in the way of trails, off-road bike trails, wildlife corridors, electric vehicle byways, etc. January 5, 2005: Night at the Movies. Our first meeting of the new year was a movie night. We featured "Oil on Ice" about drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. "Oil on Ice" is a vivid, compelling and comprehensive documentary connecting the fate of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to decisions America makes about energy policy, transportation choices, and other seemingly unrelated matters. Caught in the balance are the culture and livelihood of the Gwich’in people and the migratory wildlife in this fragile ecosystem. James Clauson, director of Amelia Island Mosquito Control (AIMC), updated intrepid Sierra members looking for post election diversion on Wednesday, November 3, 2004. Quickly squaring away the nuts and bolts, Clauson pointed out that Mosquito Control is an entity which does not answer to the County Commission. Ad valorem taxes provide the agency with its $500,000 annual budget (down from $800,000 in previous years). Mosquito Control is under the auspices of the Department of Agriculture. In previous years, the agency overemphasized aerial spraying. Clauson comes to us from California, which has strict regulations regarding chemical use. He has steered Nassau County more toward larviciding and prevention. BTI, a bacteria specific to mosquitoes, when applied to bodies of water, kills larvae before they become airborne adults, especially when combined with oils. AIMC also checks mosquito traps placed around the island daily, and will not spray unless the count and the species of mosquito warrant it. Florida has an abundance of mosquito species, but not all of them bite humans. The agency still uses Permanone, which is more toxic than Clauson indicated. Fortunately, under Clauson, there has been less spraying this summer. Clauson also pointed out that his agency will provide mosquito fish for homeowners’ ponds and trapped water. One Sierra member attested to this: during the recent hurricane season, the family canoes were stabilized with water, which proved a great mosquito breeding ground until the fish were introduced. The minnow-sized fish completely cleared the mosquito population within 24 hours, and proceeded to breed happily in the canoes until removed to a nearby stream after the hurricane season ended. Clauson stressed that Amelia Islanders with any questions about mosquitoes, the agency, or wanting AIMC to tour their property with an eye to removing mosquito habitat, could call him at 261-5283. On Wednesday, September 1, 2004, Mavynee Betsch discussed "Butterflies and their Habitat". Butterflies are Mavynee's favorite topic and she has always been willing to share her extensive knowledge with us. The Audubon Society's book on Butterfly Watching, written by Michael Pyle was dedicated to Mavynee. She had Trey Dennard, a landscape designer from Dreamscapes, with her to help explain butterfly plants. On Wednesday, August 4, 2004, bird enthusiast, Patrick Leary, presented an interesting and thorough discussion of the Piping Plover. Patrick has an extensive knowledge of all the shore birds in this area and spends many of his free moments studying and photographing them in their native habitat. Birding has played a large part in his life since childhood. He and his siblings grew up on this island in a total pristine natural environment and he has acquired an admirable knowledge of the many wild things that were once abundant here. Patrick is a true naturalist and his effort to share the beauty he has seen is always worthwhile and entertaining. In 1986 a survey found fewer than 300 piping plovers in Alberta, mostly near Provost, Hanna, and Medicine Hat. Since 1985, this species has been considered endangered by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. They winter in the southern and southeastern US, Mexico, and a few Caribbean island. The piping plover is a small, stocky shorebird, extremely well camouflaged on sand or pebble beaches. On Wednesday, June 2, 2004, Jeff Peterson, aquaculturist and seafood producer, discussed "Seafood Issues and Choices". Seafood supply and safety issues have lately been attracting the attention of the mainstream press and consumers are discovering that many of the familiar products on display in their local seafood counters may raise economic, environmental and social concerns. Shrimp Antidumping Lawsuits, PCB's, Aquaculture, Mangrove Destruction; What's a seafood lover to do? With the increased attention on the safety of all food products, seafood has come under additional scrutiny since over 80% of the seafood consumed in the US comes from foreign suppliers. Aquaculture - once thought of a viable alternative to the over fishing of the world's lakes and oceans has it's own set of environmental and social problems. Traditional sea-floor trawling is now viewed by many as unsustainable. Are there any sound choices? Web resources:
On Wednesday, April 7, 2004, Roger Clark, of Kingsley Plantation, discussed the culture and natural history of the Fort George ecosystem. For more information on the National Park System's Timucuan Preserve go to www.nps.gov/timu On Wednesday, March 3, 2004. Monica Zonie, and Lindsey Hall, research assistants with the New England Aquarium updated us on the 2003-2004 Right Whale calving season. The teams spend four months from December 1st through March 31st monitoring, by plane, the winter calving area of the Right Whale. Their main goal is to alert ships to prevent ship from striking the whales. So far this year they have identified twelve pairs mothers and calves (compared to nineteen last year). Other "strange" events that they reported were two whales in the St. Johns River, one live stranding of a newborn calf on Amelia Island, a mother/calf pair sighted off Miami Beach, and a ship strike victim (a pregnant mother) off of Virginia Beach. (more on the Right Whale) At the Sierra Club meeting on February 4, 2004 we were host to a group of students from Fernandina Beach High School. Paula Staples, coordinator of the WAV Program for Nassau County, gave a summary of WAV projects plus a demonstration of "macro invertebrates and their importance in indicating water quality". WAV is the Watershed Action Volunteer program of the St. Johns River Water Management District. "The WAV program is an effort by the District to enlist volunteers to help monitor and protect the St. Johns River and to help maintain all of northeast and east-central Florida's vital water resources." These volunteers take water quality tests to supply baseline data. They take storm water samples, mark storm drains and take rain gauge readings to determine storm drain needs. Volunteers are also trained to prepare and give educational presentations to school groups, civic associations, clubs, and other organizations. Paula Staples also explained benthic (bottom-dwelling) macro-invertebrate sampling. Macro-invertebrates are visible animals without backbones that can be an excellent indicator of water quality. She showed us samples of live aquatic worms, waterpenny, water scorpion, and the larvae of dragonfly, blackfly, and mayfly. Since these animals cannot move around much and are long lived, they are excellent indicators of whatever is happening to the water quality in local retention ponds. To learn more about water sampling and the need for
volunteers look on the internet at the
St. Johns River Water Management District site. Dan Burden, of Walkable Communities, Inc, provided an inspirational first meeting of the year of the Nassau County Sierra Club on Wednesday, January 7, 2004. His insightful PowerPoint presentation illustrated the interaction of people and cars. "While we say we must design our communities for the people, every time we make a decision it is for the cars." Interestingly enough, Burden shows that development zoned "low density" actually increases traffic. He believes - and illustrates that - village style development is healthier on every level, including economic. He stresses the design, placement, and construction of benches, sidewalks, and bike paths toward the creation of multi-generational community space. "The key is place-making" in the design of a walkable community. More than fifty people from Hilliard, Callahan, Yulee, Fernandina Beach and other sections of the county were present to hear Dan Burden. Other topics: the importance of making children feel that they are an accepted and valuable part of the community; maintaining the walkable independence of older citizens; and obesity trends in America. Before the meeting, Dan and his wife shared that a trip to Australia had been an epiphany. "Same space, same resources, but a different outcome. Americans have too much money to spend and rely too much on automobiles. We have lost our focus in the last 60 years on what makes a community." Dan Burden is a nationally recognized authority on bicycle and pedestrian facilities and programs. He has had 25 years of experience in developing, promoting and evaluating alternative transportation facilities, traffic calming practices and sustainable community design. He presently works as Executive Director of Walkable Communities, Inc., a non-profit corporation helping North America develop walkable communities. For more information, check out: http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/1015/p13s02-lihc.html.
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