Welcome to the Dallas Group of the Sierra Club
Earth, Wind, and Fire Energy Summit
Sign UP NOW before Registration Increases for the Earth, Wind, & Fire Summit II
Event to Focus on All Forms of Energy October 22-23
Register now before the price increases or it sells out. The Earth, Wind & Fire Energy Summit II will be held on October 22-23 at the Addison Conference Centre. Back by popular demand, this 2-day event will focus on all forms of energy, including both traditional and renewable forms of energy as well as the environmental and human impacts these energy sources have on communities and the environment.
Registration is now open for this exciting event at earthwindfiresummit.org.
Discussion and speaker highlights include:
- Energy/Climate Change by Katherine Hayhoe – International climate scientist, one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people
- Earthquakes and Deep Injection Wells by SMU’s Dr. Bryan Stump – Studied the earthquakes in the DFW area
- First Texas City to Become 100% Renewable by Chris Foster – City of Georgetown
- Battery Storage for Renewable Energy by Jack Farley of APEX
There are more than 12 others speakers to talk wind, geothermal, nuclear, coal, and other sources of energy. Check out the fabulous credentials of the speakers who are coming.
The 2014 events sold out 10 days ahead of time. Early registration is $55 through Oct. 1 and $75 thereafter. The event is hosted by the Dallas Sierra Club, DCCCD, and a number of other groups. For more information or to learn about exhibitor opportunities, contact Rita Beving at rita.beving@gmail.com.
Sierra Club Volunteers Nominated for Green Source DFW Award
The Dallas Sierra Club is proud to announce that Chris and Dick Guldi have been nominated for a Green Source DFW Sustainable Leadership Award.
Chris and Dick Guldi are dedicated volunteers who work tirelessly to improve our environment. Their myriad efforts on many fronts in conjunction with the Dallas Sierra Club, Citizens Change Lobby, Public Citizen, North Texas Regional Energy Group, Downwinders At Risk, and Environmental Defense Fund, and individual efforts are exemplary. Dick and Chris Guldi truly "walk the walk" trying to improve the environment.
Please support the Guldis by voting for them. Click here to log on to the Green Source DFW website.
You must be a registered user to vote.
At the website, scroll down past the picture and click LOG IN OR REGISTER HERE.
After logging in or registering, scroll down to the bottom of the nominees and click on VOTE HERE!!
You can vote every day, so vote early and vote often!
If you are not familiar with Green Source D/FW, its goal is to advance the environmental movement in the Dallas-Fort Worth area by promoting: green living, sustainable practices, nonprofit environmental organizations, eco-friendly green businesses, environmental education, scientific information, public policy discussions, and socially responsible investing.
Click here to go to their website where you can read about events, projects, and other environmental projects. Sign up for their weekly e-newsletter by providing your name and e-mail address (in the upper right corner of their home page).
General Meeting Program - Tuesday, October 11, 7:00 pm - Refreshments at 6:30
Fall Elections
Hear about the Sierra Club's 2016 Electoral Campaign to help elect political leaders friendly to the environment and learn how you can make a difference. Competitive races will be analyzed, our endorsed candidates will be introduced, and volunteer political opportunities will be discussed. David Griggs, Dallas Group Political Chair and Chair, Sierra Club Political Committee of Texas, will make the presentation.
Carbon Tax?
Why put a price on carbon and other greenhouse gases? Carbon-emitting fuels are the main source of energy in the human economy of the world; when we produce energy -- heat or electricity -- we tend to use fuels that are burned and which then emit carbon-based molecules into the atmosphere. We pay the retail price for access to this energy, but we don’t pay for the underlying chemistry, the distortionary impact of pollution costs, or the destabilization of our climate system -- at least not at retail. Those costs are incurred indirectly; in other words, they are paid for outside of the producer's business model, not priced into the retail product or service, and remain generally "hidden" from view.
The idea of "putting a price on carbon" is simple: we add to the cost of doing business in those resources because we want to reveal the hidden costs that no one is taking responsibility for. Getting that price right means making the market tell the truth, and that means ordinary people -- consumers, small businesses, taxpayers -- will recover the market leverage they are supposed to have to determine whether we do something that is too costly or not.
Ricky Bradley will explain a carbon tax; he is the Dallas chapter leader of Citizens' Climate Lobby, an organization laser focused on passing federal legislation to price carbon in a revenue neutral way.
Everyone is welcome. FREE! You don't have to be a Sierra Club member. Just show up. We'd love to meet you.
Our General Meeting starts at 7:00 pm, but come at 6:30 for snacks, information and fellowship. Click over to our General Meeting page for more information and a map.
Fall Outing at Beavers Bend State Park Oct 14 - 16
Celebrate fall and join us for this relaxing event in the beautiful mountainous region of southeast Oklahoma. The weekend is perfect for outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and stages. Families, couples, singles, all are welcome. We have the group compound all to ourselves, complete with your choice of rustic cabin or tent camping, dining hall with kitchen, optional catered dinner and (drum roll please)... yes, even a bathhouse with hot showers and flush toilets! On Saturday we'll offer various levels of hikes or you can be on your own to enjoy many fun activities offered by the park. Plan an active weekend or hang out on the porch, whichever you would enjoy. Cabin requests are on a first come basis so make your plans now! Click here for more information and required registration forms. Don't wait to sign up. This camp out sells out fast.
Float the Buffalo River by Land
Have you ever hiked a river? The Buffalo River in the Ozark Mountains of northern Arkansas, protected and managed by the National Park Service since 1974, is a magnet for canoes, kayaks and tubes in the spring. By late summer and fall, the river level falls, exposing more than twenty fords where the shallow, rock-bottomed river can be crossed, usually without removing boots. Parallel trails that crisscross the river or ascend its soaring bluffs make this a great destination for extensive hiking.
Choose from four trip itinerary options, with average daily distances of four to ten miles. There are three options for backpacking and an option to base camp at Steel Creek Campground and day hike to multiple destinations. This is a sleeper bus trip, leaving Dallas on a Thursday night, October 27, hiking Friday, Saturday and until late afternoon Sunday, arriving home before sunrise on Monday, Oct. 31, Halloween. Late October is usually an ideal weekend for fall color in the Buffalo valley. For trip details and information on how to register, click this PDF link. Don’t delay. Recent bus trips have filled weeks before departure.
General Meeting Program - Tuesday, November 8, 7:00 pm - Refreshments at 6:30
Hilites from Iceland, Patagonia, and Storm Chasing
Dan Leffel, photographer extraordinaire, will cover 3 of his latest photography trips: to Iceland in winter, Patagonia in their fall, and storm chasing on the high plains this past spring. From the Iceland trip Dan will share unique images of the northern lights, which he photographed on 6 different occasions during 11 days in the country. His Patagonia images will include treks made in both Fitz Roy and Torres del Paine. His storm chasing images will include stories of the 12 tornadoes he photographed over a span of just 4 days - a very active weather period this past May. He was able to capture an image with 3 tornadoes on the ground at the same time, a rare occurrence. There will be ample time to ask questions regarding any of the other places Dan has travelled, or about his presentation.
Dan has photographed all seven continents; rafted the Grand Canyon twice; spent a great deal of time in the four corners area of the US, as well as Alaska and New England; hiked the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu; safaried to Namibia and Zimbabwe; photographed Iceland, Cuba, India, Japan, Patagonia, Nepal, Bhutan, Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands, Greece, Thailand, Burma, Cambodia, Australia and New Zealand; and traveled throughout North and South America. His images have won a number of awards, including selection to multiple North America Nature Photographer Association (NANPA) Showcases and Sierra Club competitions. He spends his summers in the Oregon Cascade mountains, and is committed to helping preserve and share the beauty of nature and indigenous cultures through his photographs.
Everyone is welcome. FREE! You don't have to be a Sierra Club member. Just show up. We'd love to meet you.
Our General Meeting starts at 7:00 pm, but come at 6:30 for snacks, information and fellowship. Click over to our General Meeting page for more information and a map.
More Outings
For a complete list of scheduled outings and outdoor service events, click here.
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