Sierra Club logo   Georgia Chapter
Greater Gwinnett Group
explore, enjoy, and 
protect the planet
guy on hill
 

Welcome!

The Greater Gwinnett Group is part of the Georgia Chapter of the Sierra Club. The group serves residents in Gwinnett County and surrounding areas.

Want to join? Click join or give in the menu to the left. Not sure? Check us out at our next meeting!

Our meetings are held on the third Thursday of the month at Berkmar High School (405 Pleasant Hill Rd, Lilburn, GA 30047) in the Media Center. Doors open at 7pm with light refreshments, and the meeting begins at 7:30pm. Click here for directions. If you have any questions, contact Dan Friedman at dan3688@aol.com or call 404-610-5770.

Adopt-A-Stream Monthly Suwanee Creek Monitoring events will be on the Saturday immediately following each meeting. In the event of rain, the event will be postponed to Sunday. For more information and to attend, contact Michael Hallen at 678-200-0455 or michael_hallen@hotmail.com or Lynn or Michael Beach at 770-985-5135 or lynnmichaelbeach@gmail.com.

News

Today is the last day to speak out the project list for the proposed T-SPLOST penny sales tax!

The Regional Roundtable finalizes the project list for the proposed T-SPLOST penny sales tax today.  Over the last week, members have proposed a series of troubling amendments, which have taken the list from needs improvement into seriously problematic territory. For the most part, these amendments  slash much-needed transit funding in favor of more road projects, crippling Atlanta's next step as a transit leader. See the last issue of Footnotes for more details about the T-SPLOST.  See the Regional Roundtable for more details about the amendments. Please send a letter to the Regional Roundtable, stating your support for Amendment #7, and disapproval for the other amendments.

Oct group meeting - Thursday, October 20, 7 pm Plant Vogtle's new nuclear plants: how they came to be approved and the impact on Georgia Power's customers  

Bobbie Paul and Courtney Hanson, who are with Wand, will be discussing Plant Vogtle's two new nuclear generating plants -- how they came to be approved and the impact on all of Georgia Power's customers. Georgia WAND, which works with the communities living within the 20-40 mile radius of Plant Vogtle, is concerned with NRC's "business as usual" approach to nuclear reactor licensing after the catastrophic events at Fukushima.

The Greater Gwinnett Group of the Sierra Club meets at Berkmar High School. Socializing begins at 7pm and the program starts at 7:30pm. If you have questions about the meeting contact Dan Friedman at dan3688@aol.com.

Saturday, Oct 22, 11am - Monthly Suwannee Creek Adopt-A-Stream Program

The monthly Suwanee Creek monitoring will be held on the Saturday immediately following each meeting -- depending on weather -- at 11:00 am. This is a great opportunity for families to learn about the importance of maintaining the health of our local streams. For more information and to attend, contact Michael Hallen at 678-200-0455 michael_hallen@hotmail.com.

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GA Outings & Events

Friday, October 14 - Say NO to Keystone XL Pipeline! Tar Sands Action Outside CNN Center
Folks are having a peaceful protest outside the CNN building in Atlanta, corner of Marietta St and Centennial Olympic Park Blvd at the southern end of Centennial Park. Make your sign, get ready to chant and sing, and come join us. Ask Obama to say no to Tar Sands and no to the Keystone XL Pipeline. Click here for more info.
 
Thursday, October 13-16 - Backpacking the Georgia Bartram trail exploratory  
We will hike the Georgia portion of the Bartram trail. It is 36.5 miles long. This is a shuttle hike so we will spend a good portion of the first and last day driving and setting up the shuttle. We will cross Rabun bald the second highest peak in Georgia with an awesome 360 degree view. Then we will decend into the Chattooga river basin. This is a 4 day 3 night trip with no bail out option. Limit 6. Contact Sammy at sammy.padgett@covingtonford.net or 404-775-7660.

October 13 - December 4 - John Muir Exhibit at Atlanta History Center Exhibit   
Atlanta History Center will host the traveling exhibition Nature's Beloved Son: Rediscovering John Muir's Botanical Legacy traces his travels to Canada, Indiana, the American southeast, California, and Alaska, and presents vivid images and specimens of the actual plants that Muir held in his hands, carried in his pockets, and preserved for all time.

Saturday, October 15 - National Wildlife Federation "Hike & Seek"
National Wildlife Federation's popular Hike & Seek Adventure is coming to Piedmont Park in Atlanta on Saturday, October 15. Hike & Seek is a fundraising event that inspires children's sense of adventure by combining a nature hike and scavenger hunt. It brings children and adults together in the great outdoors for some fresh fall air and fun. The 1.8 mile hike has interactive "Stop & Study" nature stations with live animals, naturalists and engaging learning activities. The event is appropriate for children of all ages, especially toddlers to age 12.

Saturday, October 22 - Blood Mountain hike from Lake Winfield Scott   
10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Lee Graham - 404-202-9065  lga@mindspring.com Moderate. From Lake Winfield Scott, we'll hike to Jarrard Gap and intersect with the Appalachian Trail, then take the AT up to Blood Mtn to the historic CCC shelter where we'll have lunch. We'll return via the Slaughter Creek Trail. This Blood Mountain Wilderness hike is a moderate loop plus a steep 0.7 mile climb up Blood Mountain. At 4458 feet, Blood Mountain is the highest peak on the Appalachian Trail in Georgia and has excellent views in several directions. This is an excellent Appalachain Trail introductory hike: there are full restrooms at the Lake Winfield Scott Trailhead, and a solar toilet on top of Blood Mountain. 8 miles / 2 to 3 mph (moderate) / 1568 ft elevation gain. Approximate hiking + lunch: 4-5 hrs. Limit of 10 hikers.

Saturday, November 12 -Arkaquah Trail from Track Rock Gap to Brasstown Bald and back
9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Lee Graham - 404-202-9065 lga@mindspring.com Strenuous. We'll take a moderate pace on the long climb from Track Rock Gap, then follow one of the highest ridges in Georgia, with views in both directions, to the top of Brasstown Bald, the highest mountain in Georgia. We'll eat lunch at the top of Brasstown Bald, and then return to Track Rock Gap. This is a strenuous hike. 12 miles round-trip. Elevation Gain: 3252 ft. Approximate hiking time with lunch - 7.5 hrs.