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Home > From the Chair > Chair Tom Larson recalls victories from 2007

Chair Tom Larson recalls victories from 2007

1, 2008

2007 was a good year for the environment in Northeast Florida, thanks to local and state activism and much support by your fellow Sierra Club members.

  • 670 acres of critical wetlands, the Pottsburg-Julington Creeks Headwaters Forest, have been preserved. Freedom Commerce Center expansion will be strictly limited to 30-some acres.
  • Proposals for massive withdrawal of water from the St. Johns River are being widely questioned. The St. Johns River Water Management District and we citizens have a lot to learn before our region proceeds with this.  The Sierra Club is in this debate.
  • Fish Island, on the Matanzas River, has been protected (so far) from threats by a developer’s proposal to build an extensive private dock over submerged lands. We helped local citizens successfully fight this plan.
  • The Florida Hometown Democracy campaign was promoted by dozens of member volunteers petitioning across the community during hundreds of hours. IF we get FHD planted onto the November ballot, we will have the Florida fight of the century on our hands.

All of these victories have one thing in common - they are victories facilitated by your Sierra Club Northeast Florida Group. These victories might not have occurred without our Group. Our Group is you and me and our fellow members -- no one else.

Throughout the years and on into 2008, we have and will:

  • Lead dozens of outings to enjoy and share appreciation for our region’s trails, rivers and beaches.
  • Keep our adopted highway in Duval County, the gateway to the Timucuan, free of litter.
  • Publish our informative monthly newsletter, the Sierra Sentry, keeping you informed.
  • Attend various government agency meetings to advocate the environmental perspective.
  • Lobby city councils, county commissions and state/federal legislators and officials to make your voice heard.
  • Work with JEA and the Florida Energy Commission to promote green power initiatives.
  • Keep this website updated with new information and events - to keep you updated.
  • Support the “Cool Cities” Initiative and combat global climate change.

Learn more about these matters by coming to a Sierra Club meeting in 2008, help run an event or join a conservation issue committee or a single project. Support us with money, share your time, tell a friend about what you learn - be a good steward of the planet in 2008. Come join us for fun and success! Make environmental conservation a part of your everyday life.

Regards,
Tom Larson

  • From the Chair
     
     

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