Next Miami Group General Meeting is our Holiday Party on December 14

Join us on Monday, December 14 for our Annual Holiday Party Fundraiser. It starts at 7 p.m. at the Coconut Grove Sailing Club, 2990 S. Bayshore Drive in Coconut Grove. The cost is $10 per person, unless you bring a covered dish, and then we will just ask for $5. What to Bring: Bring a covered dish that will feed 6-8 people. We need all types of food including vegan and vegetarian dishes, salads, and desserts. Bring your own cup, plate and utensils (we need to have as little garbage created as possible.)

We need volunteers to set up, decorate, collect money, greet people, and help place the food. And of course, we need volunteers to help with cleanup. Please let Debbie Matthews where you can help. Food ideas: Caseroles, Pastas, Tortas, Empanadas, Samosas, rice dishes, potato dishes, appetizers, pies, cakes, cobblers.

The Sierra Club Miami holds a general meeting each month for people to come and meet fellow Sierrans, hear a guest speaker on an environmental topic, sign up for outings, and volunteer to help on issues in South Florida.

Meeting night is the second Monday of every month and doors normally open at 7 p.m. We start with snacks and socializing, and the guest speaker/program begins at 8 p.m. The Sailing Club where we now hold our meetings is located at 2990 South Bayshore Drive, Coconut Grove, right next to Peacock Park. For more Miami Group information, sign up for our monthly e-news below.

Sierra Club & Beer Night - November 17

These get-togethers take place on the third Tuesday of every month at 7 PM at the Titanic Brewery, 5813 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Coral Gables (near US1 and South end of Univ. of Miami). Each month's gathering features a different environmental topic with opportunity for discussion and learning. You can meet and socialize with others who share concern for the environment. Plus, you get a free beer just for showing up.

Sierra & Beer is a great way to learn about issues that effect us in South Florida, while having fun meeting people. All are welcome, but only those over 21 will be served alcohol. For more information send an email to Mike Mathews anakanpa@yahoo.com, or call Ken Smith at 305-801-6876.

Sierra Club Social - To Be Announced

Get to Know The Sierra Club. You are cordially invited to a attend a Sierra Club Miami Group social at Whole Foods in Pinecrest. Enjoy a fun and relaxing evening get together with drinks and snacks provided by the market. Discuss environmetal issues that matter most to you, or simply chat and meet new people. Everyone is welcome so bring your friends! Check back here for next scheduled social.

Whole Foods Market in Pinecrest is at 11701 S. Dixie Hwy, Miami, 33156. For more information, please contact Mary-Joe Castells at MCast030@fiu.edu

New Marine Protection Task Force for Miami Group and SC Florida.

Sierra Club Miami is starting a new Marine Protection Task Force dedicated to protecting South Florida’s marine and coastal animals and their habitats. Major issues that need immediate attention are coral reef protection and preservation, opposition to offshore drilling, and discontinuation of harmful sewage outflows. The Marine Protection Taskforce will also schedule monthly beach cleanups, Sea-Turtle information classes, and other fun activities for families and adults. We are looking for serious volunteers who want to make a difference and have a good time helping the environment. If you are interested, please email Shalom Mayberg.

Waste Minimization Committee Seeks New Members.

Sierra Club Miami Group has a great opportunity this year to dramatically influence the way waste is managed in Florida. Legislation passed in 2008 sets a goal of recycling 75% by 2020 and mandates the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to develop recommendations this year on how best to achieve this. Sierra Club Florida adopted waste minimization as one of its priority campaigns for 2009-2010, and its Waste Minimization Team is seeking more members in Miami to advance the Club's impact on next year's legislation by helping to: Recruit other volunteers, Submit letters and editorials to the media, Make comments to DEP by letter and on their website, Meet with legislators in their districts this fall, and Meet with local government officials to get recycling resolutions and ordinances adopted. Please send an email to Debbie Matthews , or, Mary Jo Castells.

Signup for Miami Group e-Newsletter. Now you can get your Sierra news online every month. Type your e-mail address in the box below and click join.

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Notices

Awards

The Sierra Club Miami Group has some great volunteers. Actually, we think everyone who volunteers is great!. For example, Shirley Lowe has volunteered to oversee our Miami Group Conservation Committee. Please be sure and thank Shirley at our general meeting and come and sign-up to assist her. She is currently looking to build an Everglades Awareness Committee, as well as adding people to help us work on growth management issues.

New ExCom member Shalom Mayberg, who works on getting us speakers for our meetings, and, is a meeting speaker himself, is working to re-build our Coastal and Marine Committee. If you are interested, particularly our marine biologists out there, catch up with Shalom at our general meeting.

Our wonderful Chair of Miami Executive Committee, Debbie Matthews, has been chosen to serve on the Florida Sierra Club Group Advisory Council, which was formed to assist Groups with organizational issues. Debbie is also our newsletter editor. She could use some help with the newsletter - talk to her at the next general meeting to see how you can help.

Sometimes, our members are just so outstanding that they get recognition from the entire Florida Chapter of the Sierra Club, and from National Sierra. Some of our recent "famous" people are;

Mark Walters - Received National recognition for his outstanding work for Inner City Outings, is on National Committees for Outings and ICO.

Barbara Lange - Received a Panther Award from the Florida Chapter for outstanding conservation work on the "Lakebelt" mining issue (a nice sounding name for government sanctioned destruction of Everglades). Barbara had worked on this issue since 1999, despite serious pressure from promoters from the mining companies.

Dr. James Gross - Received a Manatee Award from the Florida chapter for his dedication and hard work on the Miami Group Newsletter. Jim was the first Editor and Publisher of the Group newsletter some thirty years ago, and has worked on the newsletter committee ever since.

Betsy Grass - Was honored by the Florida Chapter with its Dolphin Award, given to persons with an outstanding record of consistent. long-term, service to the Chapter, for her work on the Florida Chapter Directory. Betsy also received the Miami Group Medal, for her many years of service to the Group as Newsletter Editor, Group Chair, and other volunteer activities.