Welcome to the Dallas Group of the Sierra Club
Dallas Sierra Club Outreach Speakers Program - Speakers for Your Group
The Dallas Sierra Club has started a program is to provide outdoor/environmental education in the form of entertaining and informative presentations by Dallas Sierra Club members with expertise in the topics offered. These presentations range in length from 30 minutes to one hour and cover a variety of topics in the general categories of outdoor adventure, environmental education, and general ecology. These talks are appropriate for a wide range of audiences including youth groups, school classes, civic and social groups, nature and gardening clubs, church groups, etc. Any group interested in an available topic is welcome to contact us. To see available topics and to schedule your speaker, click here.
General Meeting Program - August 14, 7:00 pm - Refreshments at 6:30
Animals - Live!
The wide variety of live animals in this family friendly presentation will be engaging, educational entertainment for children and adults alike. See and learn about unusual structural and behavioral adaptations that make it possible for some of our more interesting critters to survive. Relevant information on a wide variety of conservation and natural history topics will be highlighted. All attendees will have the opportunity to touch/interact with the last animal if they choose to, and will receive a GO WILD for Reading Bookmark at the end of the presentation. For more information about the presentation by Wildlife on the Move, click here.
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.
General Meeting Program - Tuesday, September 11, 7:00 pm - Refreshments at 6:30
The Story of An Environmental Turnaround
Texas Nameplate Company (TNC) manufactures metal and plastic labels and nameplates for many companies worldwide. For many years, TNC was on the environmental "bad guy" list. They were cited repeatedly by the City of Dallas for violations related to polluted water discharge. At one point, eight citations were issued, and the City threatened to turn off TNC's water. That's when TNC began changing their practices. In 1988, TNC won a "Dallas Blue Thumb" award for water quality, and they never looked back.
TNC now is a two-time time winner of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award which recognizes U.S. organizations for performance excellence. Texas Nameplate Company is the smallest company in America to ever receive this honor.
TNC is aiming to set an industry standard for environmental responsibility, and is challenging other firms to do likewise. They initiated an acid rejuvenation process, have gone paper-less, reclaim solvent, and invented equipment to reduce its impact on the environment in several ways. TNC has calculated that its annual environmental efforts save approximately 1,200 gallons of solvent waste, 450,000 gallons of water, 12 tons of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), 30 trees, and 25,000 rags each year.
Dale Crownover will talk about TNC's remarkable turnaround. Dale is CEO and President of Texas Nameplate Company and has worked at Texas Nameplate most of his life. He began by sweeping floors at age of 8 for his father, who was the founder of TNC. Dale became CEO and President of TNC in 1986, and is responsible for instituting the numerous environmental improvements within their firm. TNC is a family-owned business employing more than 40 people.
2018 Elections
Hear a short summary about the Sierra Club's campaign to help elect political leaders friendly to the environment.
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.
North Texas Giving Day - Give to the Dallas Sierra Club
Mark your calendar to donate to the Dallas Sierra Club on September 20, 2018 as part of North Texas Giving Day.
Contributions will be matched at a rate of approximately 6% plus the Club will be eligible for special bonuses from North Texas Giving Day. For more information, see https://www.northtexasgivingday.org/sierra-club-foundation-fiscal-sponsor-for-dallas-sierra-club. You can submit a donation prior to September 20 to be automatically charged on the 20th.
Backpacking 101 Class - Saturday, September 15
Want to be adventuresome and explore amazing backcountry areas? Come to this popular, interactive class designed for never-ever backpackers and people who want to refresh backpacking knowledge and skills. Dallas Sierra Club trip leaders with decades of backpacking experiences will present a comprehensive overview of backpacking topics, including packs, boots, tents, sleeping bags, food and cooking, clothes, wilderness ethics, sanitation and more. We'll include tips we wish someone had told us sooner to make backpacking more comfortable and less expensive.
Place: Whole Foods Market, southeast quadrant of Preston Road and Forest Lane, Dallas, upstairs meeting room.
Time: Saturday, September 15. The class begins at 10:00 AM and lasts until about 4:30 PM, with a break for lunch. Please arrive early to sign in and get settled. Buy lunch at the deli downstairs or bring your own and eat in the classroom.
Price: $35 for Sierra Club members, $40 for non-members. Online pre-registration using a credit card is encouraged and appreciated (click here) or you can just show up pay by cash or check at the door (you don't need to pre-register).
If you already have some gear and questions about using, packing or replacing it, bring it with you and we'll do our best to resolve your questions.
Wilderness Navigation Two Night Class - September 26 and 27 (Wednesday and Thursday)
Some walks in the woods are pretty easy, but journeys of all lengths can turn from amazing to catastrophic if you can't find your way. Learn the fundamentals of navigating your way in the wilderness in this fun and comprehensive two-night class. Among the subjects covered are: looking for and purchasing different type maps, how to read maps, how not to get lost, map use if you do get lost, different kinds of compasses and how to use your compass. There will be some discussion about GPS, but our main focus is learning how to use a map and compass so you're not trusting your navigation (and life) to something that takes batteries. If you have a compass, bring it. If not, we'll have extras you can use and will show you what to look for when you purchase your own. The class will be held in the upstairs meeting room at Whole Foods Market, southeast quadrant of Preston Road and Forest Lane in Dallas. This two-night class will begin at 6:30 PM and finish about 9:00 PM. The class fee is $35 for members and $40 for non-members. Cost covers both nights and handout materials. We encourage online signups by Tuesday before the class (click here) or you can pay with cash or check at the door. A half-day hike the following Saturday or Sunday with the class instructors Arthur Kuehne and Bill Greer will be offered to class participants who want to practice their new skills.
Sierra Club Picnic, Saturday, Sept. 29, Chuchilll Park, Dallas
Bring your friends, families, dogs, cats and whomever else you love to hang out at our twice-annual picnic at Churchill Park, 7025 Churchill Way, Dallas, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. New, recent and prospective members are especially invited. This time the picnic is pot luck. Come even if you have no pot or no luck. Here is a Google map to guide you.
- This picnic will be a Pot Luck of sorts, so please bring whatever you think will go over in a big way, like salads, hamburgers, hot dogs, veggie dogs, veggie burgers and other side dishes, think vegetable related. But it's all good, and bring yourselves and a little sumpin for everyone.
- Our fearless chef from past picnics has moved on to the badlands of New Mexico to break some hearts up that way, and he won't be back in time for our fall picnic, but wish him well, and he will be sourly missed.
- The picnic will still have some awesome giveaways, some gift cards, goodies, random camping gear, and of course Sierra Club Schwag!
- There will be drinks and ice and chips and dips provided, and fun and games and good people all over the place. Also, the water balloon WILL be used this time, at various intervals.
General Meeting Program - Tuesday, October 9, 7:00 pm - Refreshments at 6:30
Fall Elections
Hear about the Sierra Club's 2018 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.
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.
General Meeting Program - Tuesday, November 13, 7:00 pm - Refreshments at 6:30
Ben Sandifer will tell us about the Great Trinity Forest. Full details will be provided soon.
Liveable Arlington
The citizens group Liveable Arlington advocates for and organizes toward a healthy, environmentally conscious, sustainable city. The group won the 2017 GreenSourceDFW Sustainable Leadership Award for Small Nonprofit. They led a successful grassroots effort to stop a disposal well from being installed next to Lake Arlington, a drinking water source for a half-million people. The victory was hailed as a regional milestone. Liveable Arlington's founder, Ranjana Bhandari, will talk about past successes and future projects.
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.
Videos of Our General Meetings
We have started posting videos of selected General Meetings on YouTube. Visit our General Meeting Page to find links.
More Outings
For a complete list of scheduled outings and outdoor service events, click here.
Subscribe to Our Email Newsletter and Other Email Lists
Click here to subscribe online to our monthly email newsletter and to one or more of our more specific email lists (Conservation, Outings, Inner City Outings, Sierra Singles or our National email newsletters).
Share Your Ride
We are making car pooling and using public transportation a little easier for our regular events. See our new Share Your Ride page.
