 
July, 2010: In This Issue. . .
General Meeting Program -
July 13, 7:00 pm - Refreshments at 6:30
Habitat for Humanity
Dallas Area Habitat for
Humanity, since its incorporation in 1986, and its
contributors have built over 750 homes and served as a
catalyst for the revitalization of more than 20 communities.
Habitat's mission results in hope, dignity and self worth for
families in Dallas County. Each year Habitat partners with
hardworking families and the community to build 70+ homes,
making Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity the largest nonprofit
homebuilder, the second largest homebuilder overall in the
City of Dallas, and the fourth largest Habitat affiliate in
the United States. Beverly Stibbens, Manager of In Kind
Giving, will present an overview of the organization's work,
its ReStores and how we can become involved.
Urban Forestry and Tree Preservation
As a Sierra
Club member, don't you often feel like only a handful of
people in Dallas care about trees? It seems that most people
don't think about trees except when they see a favorite green
space being clear cut, or their electricity goes out because
of a fallen limb, or they read about the City's struggle to
handle the brush cleanup after a major storm. The public's
perception of trees needs to change! In this presentation,
Robert Curry will review the importance of trees, the many
gifts they give us, and how they positively impact our quality
of life here in Dallas. He will outline the urgent measures
designed to protect and preserve trees that will soon be
coming before the Dallas City Council.
Mr. Curry is a
seasoned veteran of both business and city government.
Currently, he is the Northeast District Manager of Code
Compliance for the City of Dallas. He serves as the Chairman
of the Mayor's Urban Forest Advisory Committee. He is the
president of Save Open Space, an organization which works
fervently to preserve green space, and is on the board of the
Casa View Haven neighborhood association. He is a proponent
and organizer of neighborhood activism in East Dallas. His
other interests include urban design, community gardens, and
historic preservation. He lives in Casa View with his wife,
Jeanette Prasifka, and rescue dog Emily.
Visit our website for complete information
about our General Meeting, including a
map.
Conservation News
Good news!!! Effective immediately, TXI is permanently
shutting down its 4 oldest and worst-polluting wet kilns in
Midlothian. They are also returning their hazardous waste
permit for "wet" kilns to the state. As you know, theses kilns
have created an enormous amount of pollution and illness since
their beginnings. From the
Austin American Statesman: "According to the most recent
EPA statistics, the plants in 2007 emitted about 300 tons of
sulfuric acid, nearly 20 tons of benzene, and smaller amounts
of mercury, chromium, manganese and other chemicals." These
kilns have heavily contributed to Dallas's continual failure
to meet clean air attainment standards set by the EPA.
TXI will continue using the newest kiln, which began operating
in 2001, but it uses a cleaner process. Additionally, Holcim
will continue to operate its 2 dry-process kilns and Ash Grove
Cement will continue to operate 3 wet-process kilns.
This victory marks a 15-year fight for the Dallas Sierra Club.
Downwinders at Risk, and others--and was largely made possible
through the donations of Sierrans and others--donations which
totaled almost a quarter of million dollars. One of the
longest legal permit battles in Texas history has come to a
close.
You can read more of this here at the
Dallas Morning News. Please consider posting a comment
there, as we need to encourage the Dallas Morning News to
report on more issues like this.
Outings
Highlights
Twentieth Annual Bastille Day Canoe Trip, July 17-18
Celebrate this French national holiday marking the beginning
of the French revolution with our annual canoe trip on the Red
River. We'll put-in on Saturday under the Interstate 35 bridge
(north of Gainesville). The rest of the day will be spent
swimming and relaxing as we paddle down to our campsite on a
large sandbar. Sunday we'll canoe on down to the takeout with
a few swim stops on the way. This is a very nice section of
the Red River, with very little development along the banks.
Some canoeing experience is required and you must furnish your
own canoe and camping equipment. Also, you must bring
something French, or you will be guillotined at dawn. Leader:
Arthur Kuehne 214-608-3210(H)
Night
Hike on the Chisolm Trail in Plano, July 20
Meet
at 7:00 PM in front of the Starbucks/Barnes & Noble (north
side of 15th just west of US 75). We will walk 5 miles on a
paved path. Bring water. No reservations, just show up.
Optional ice cream afterwards. Leader: Judy Cato
972-238-5738(H)
Becoming a Sierra Club Outings Leader, August 11
Have you ever thought about becoming an outings leader for the
Sierra Club? Come to this introductory seminar and we'll tell
you how to get started. We'll go over the types of outings the
Club does, what we expect from our leaders, what training is
required, and what services the Club provides. We'll look at
the schedule of additional training for those of you who want
to start leading outings. The seminar will be held at REI
(Cross Timbers Room), 4515 LBJ Freeway, Farmers Branch, TX
75244 (north side of LBJ between Midway and Welch) from 7:00 -
8:30 PM. You don't need to sign up, just show up. Organizer:
Arthur Kuehne 214-902-9260(H)
 Labor
Day Bus Trip to the Weminuche Wilderness, September 2-7
Would you like to cap your summer with a backpacking trip in
one of the most spectacular Wilderness areas in the United
States? We have the perfect opportunity. Spend the Labor Day
holiday in the Weminuche Wilderness in Southwest Colorado. Our
chartered sleeper bus departs Dallas on September 2 for four
days of unforgettable hiking. You won't find a better way to
end your summer.
Complete trip details and reservation information, along with
pictures of the area, are posted at www.dallassierraclub.org/outings.
For a complete list of our
outings,
visit our outings page.
The The Outings
Corner
Sip or
Gulp, Bag or Bottle – Which Water Containers are Best for You?
by Liz Wheelan
You would think choosing how to carry your water during a hike
would be simple. It used to be you just filled the old canteen
and hung it from your external pack. Now you have several
other options. A recent comment by someone in a beginning
backpack class highlighted the need for a refresher article on
the important issues you should consider when deciding how to
haul your most precious outdoor equipment – your water.
Let's begin by saying which container to use is a matter of
personal preference. You should use whichever one is going to
work best for you to drink as much water as needed while on
trail. Generally, the lighter the container the better as long
as it's reliable enough to do it's job. Product names referred
to in this article are for comparison or informational
purposes. If you're on an outing with the Dallas Sierra Club
we do not require, disallow or endorse any particular type or
brand of container. We just require that you have a sufficient
supply of water appropriate for the activity. There
are generally four types of water containers most popular for
hiking:
- Collapsible – made of soft, bendable BPA free
plastic by Nalgene, Platypus and others
-
Hard Plastic –
such as Nalgene which are BPA free, dependable and leak proof,
also Gatorade bottles.
-
Reservoir – such as a Camelbak.
For many outdoor enthusiasts this is the easiest way to access
water while on trail. Just be aware of potential need for
replacement/extra parts such as the bite valve, how best to
keep it clean, water treatment and if needed, prepare for
effects of outdoor temperatures on the hose.
-
Stainless
Steel (food-grade) – for those not wanting anything plastic
these are durable, lightweight and leak proof (if not a flip
top), made by REI, Kleen Kanteen and many others.
So,
with those choices in mind, here is a condensed version of
thoughts offered by many of your outings leaders after years
of trial and error:
A few TIPS about carrying water:
-
Use whichever container is easiest for you – then you'll
be likely to drink more.
-
Hydrate well beginning a few
days before your hike.
-
Start simple – it's perfectly OK
to save money by using a few Gatorade or similar type bottles
(hard plastic/secure lid). Then as you hike more often you'll
get a better idea of any other containers you may want to
purchase.
-
Always take more water than you think you'll
need, especially on hot days and if you're unsure if there
will be any places to get more along the way.
-
Different
containers work better for different activities (day hiking,
backpacking, paddling, etc).
-
A combination of different
types of containers often works best for multi-day trips.
-
Take at least one extra container (unbreakable and leak
proof is best) so you always have a backup (of container and
of water).
-
Multiple smaller containers are usually better
than one large one, both for ease of use, in case of a leak
and also for weight distribution in a backpack. Don't rely on
all your water in one container!
-
When possible confirm if
and where there may be water sources available during your
hike, and know whether or not that water is potable.
-
Always be aware of the amount and frequency of your water
consumption and that of anyone you're responsible for while on
trail. You can do this visually if using a bottle, or if using
a reservoir we suggest adding a liter or other set amount at
planned intervals so you have a way to monitor the consumption
and supply).
-
Be aware of any foods you're taking that
are higher in sodium. They may make you thirstier and wanting
to drink more water than usual.
A few considerations
when deciding which containers are right for you:
Accessibility – the easier your water is to reach, the more
often you'll take time to drink. Many newer packs are designed
for use with reservoir systems which are very easy but the
outside pockets can be hard to reach and may need the help of
a trail buddy to use. If available, side pouch attachments
made to hold water bottles can work well.
Durability –
any bag/pouch type container (soft sided) is more vulnerable
to leaking. If using pouch style, be sure to bring duct tape
or Platypus band aid (yes, they make them for these
"critters"). We'd recommend always taking at least one durable
plastic bottle.
Ease of use – while drinking on trail,
for cooking in camp, to filter and if needed, in various first
aid situations.
Expense – bottles and pouches are a
lesser, one time cost compared to a reservoir system that
costs more upfront and has parts that need to be maintained
and/or replaced.
Length of trip – how much water do
you need to haul, weight distribution in pack
Mouth of
container – do you need a certain mouth size (of container,
not yours!) for compatibility w/ water filter if needed.
Sanitation – BPA free bottles can be washed on trail or go
in a dishwasher. Soft sided and reservoir style containers
(and their parts) are a bit harder to wash because there are
more parts and they are harder to dry. Be sure to read and
follow the instructions for care and use of reservoir and its
parts so it is sure to be completely clean and free of
deposits.
Timing - do you prefer brief trail stops and
drinking more at a time from a bottle, or would you rather sip
more frequently less at a time but more frequently from a
hose? So next time you're enjoying the outdoors, watch
what water containers others use and ask them what they think.
There are always new, better, lighter options popping up on
the market. Or you may just decide to pull that Gatorade
bottle from your recycling after all. However you carry it –
just remember to drink!!!
Recycling Round-Up
by Rita Raccoon
Recent Recycling News -
July 2010
As we head into the furnace days
of summer, Neil Sperry has some comments about grass clippings
and water usage.
Utilization of grass clippings.
We used to bag grass clippings and send them to the landfill.
By Saturday evening, after everyone had finished mowing their
lawns, bags lined the streets and alleys. In the mid-'90s,
however, cities began to refuse to pick up the clippings.
(And, people began to hire mowing services.) Now, clippings
are composted, either in traditional piles with other organic
debris or in large commercial recycling facilities. The
nutrients we used to send to the landfill are being returned
to the soil. (Rita comments that when she had a house with
a lovely St. Augustine lawn, she left the clippings on the
lawn as nutritious mulch.)
Watering
restrictions.
Over the past 15 years, we've encountered droughts lasting two
to three years, and that has brought many cities to enforce
mandatory watering restrictions during midday hours. However,
this is much more than a rules-and-regulations issue. We need
to be good stewards of our water reserves. If you have a
sprinkler system, run it responsibly. Be sure that all of its
parts are functioning properly. Don't abuse our natural
resource. Account for every drop that you use.
Smart
controllers. This is the natural next step in water
management. These irrigation controllers monitor weather
conditions and factor in existing soil conditions,
temperatures and even the plants growing within the various
stations served. Computer systems determine when and for how
long the water should run. They can save as much as half of
the water you might have used, which saves you money.
Austin Company Receives TxDOT Approval for Recycled
e-Waste Plastic Signs
On May 19th, Austin e-waste recycling and
recycling products manufacturer, Image Microsystems, announced
they had received approval from the Texas Department of
Transportation for a product made from their proprietary
MicroStrate material.
MicroStrate (patent pending), made from
100% post-consumer e-waste plastic, received approval as a
"Type C" traffic delineator. Type C signs are those you see on
concrete barriers with yellow or white reflectors. Approval
for fine substrate traffic delineators (most other traffic
signs) is pending.
Image Microsystems' manufacturing process
combines "dirty" plastic found in spent printer cartridges and
computer or printer housings and converts it into resilient,
cost-effective, and eco-friendly products. Dirty plastic is
generally considered valueless in the recycling supply chain
and as a result frequently ends up in landfills. Notably, the
new signs are completely recyclable (unlike another aluminum
sign alternative, fiberglass) and are less theft-prone than
aluminum.
Image Microsystems is also known for developing programs to
employ deaf and special needs workers. Through the company's
ongoing partnership with the Texas School for the Deaf, Image
Microsystems offers paid internships to their students. Upon
graduation, the students apply for full time employment. As a
result of this effort, over 40% of Image Microsystems'
workforce is comprised of deaf and other special needs
employees.
For more information, visit the company's Web site at
www.imagemicro.com.
Calendar
Here is our calendar for the next two months. For complete listings, visit us at
www.dallassierraclub.org.
.
 JUL
10 (SAT) SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK Outdoors at the
Samuell-Grand Ampitheatre we will watch Cymbeline, an
excellent Shakespeare play that will be highly entertaining.
The address is 1500 Tenison Parkway, Dallas, TX. We will meet
at the front ticket office at 7:30 PM, and grab some choice
lawn spots. The play starts at 8:15 PM. Bring a chair if you
like, or a blanket to sit on. Bring your coldest Beer or Wine
or other Beverage, (just no hard stuff) cause its gonna be
hot! It will be a great evening of entertainment all around.
The tickets are $10, and if we get 10 people to come out, then
the tickets will be only $8. Call me if you want to meet me at
the front, or you want to carpool. Otherwise, just show up,
and look for Ginger in her Green Bandana. Hope to see you all
there! Organizer:
Ginger Bradley 469-223-7902(C)
 JUL
10 (SAT) WHITE ROCK LAKE CLEANUP. Walk and talk while
helping to pick up trash and recyclables at the Sierra Club's
adopted section of White Rock Lake Park. Meet at 8:15 AM at
the Love of the Lake office on the Northeast corner of Garland
Rd. and Buckner Blvd. Look for a crowd of people drinking free
juice and coffee. Gloves, trash bags, etc. provided. Our area
includes one of the wonderful prairie restoration areas, so
there are always birds and wildflowers to enjoy. The lake and
your karma will thank you. Brunch afterwards. Leader:
Carol Nash 214-824-0244(H)
JUL
12 (MON) SIERRA SINGLES MONTHLY DINNER AT CAFE BRAZIL
Greetings all you wonderful people! Are you hot enough yet?
Just want to invite you out to the Cafe Brazil in Richardson
on July 12th. Its not the 5th, like it normally would've been,
cause some folks will be out of town still. So yah, the
address is 2071 N Central Expressway, Richardson, TX 75080.
Join us at 6:30 PM for some cold drinks and great
conversations. Dinner is at about 7 PM. Their phone number is
972 783-9011 if you need directions. Check out their website
at CafeBrazil.com in Richardson TX. See you there! Leaders:
Ginger Bradley 469-223-7902(C) and
Brian C Shade 972-467-7049(H)
 JUL
13 (TUE) DALLAS SIERRA CLUB GENERAL MEETING Everyone
is invited to the General Meeting of the Dallas Sierra Club.
See above for details.
 JUL
17-18 (SAT-SUN) TWENTIETH ANNUAL BASTILLE DAY CANOE TRIP.
Celebrate this French national holiday marking the beginning
of the French revolution with our annual canoe trip on the Red
River. We'll put-in on Saturday under the Interstate 35 bridge
(north of Gainesville). The rest of the day will be spent
swimming and relaxing as we paddle down to our campsite on a
large sandbar. Sunday we'll canoe on down to the takeout with
a few swim stops on the way. This is a very nice section of
the Red River, with very little development along the banks.
Some canoeing experience is required and you must furnish your
own canoe and camping equipment. Also, you must bring
something French, or you will be guillotined at dawn. Leader:
Arthur Kuehne 214-608-3210(H)
 JUL
20 (TUE) NIGHT HIKE ON THE CHISHOLM TRAIL IN PLANO Meet at
7:00PM in front of the Starbucks/Barnes & Noble (north side of
15th just west of US 75). We will walk 5 miles on a paved
path. Bring water. No reservations, just show up. Optional ice
cream afterwards. Leader: Judy Cato 972-238-5738(H)
 JUL
21 (WED) OUTINGS COMMITTEE MEETING. Meet in the upstairs
program room at REI (on north side of LBJ between Midway and
Welch), at 6:30 PM. Bring your ideas for the Dallas Sierra
Club Outings program. We will be planning local outings and
bus trips. All outings leaders, future outings leaders, and
interested Sierrans welcome. Ask Bill to be placed on the
email list for an agenda. Contact:
Bill Greer 972-247-0446(H)
JUL
24 (SAT) ANSEL ADAMS EXHIBIT AT THE AMON CARTER, NOON Join
the Fort Worth Group of Sierra Club for a tour of the exhibit
"Ansel Adams: Eloquent Light". Adams was a prominent
member of the Sierra Club as well as being one of the greatest
photographers of all time. We will meet in the photography
galleries. RSVP's are appreciated, but not required. RSVP or
contact Leader:
Dewayne Quertermous
JUL
27 (TUE) NIGHT HIKE ON THE WHITE ROCK CREEK TRAIL Meet at
7:00PM at Moss Park on the SE corner of Greenville and Royal.
We will walk 5 miles on a paved path. Bring water and bug
repellant. No reservations, just show up. Optional ice cream
afterwards Leader: Judy Cato 972-238-5738(H)
AUG
3 (TUE) NIGHT HIKE AT ARBOR HILLS NATURE PRESERVE Meet at
7:00PM near the pavilions. Arbor Hills is located at 6701 W.
Parker Rd. in Plano just west of Midway Rd. We will walk 5
miles mainly on a paved path. No reservations, just show up.
Optional frozen yogurt afterwards. Leader: Judy Cato
972-238-5738(H)
 AUG
11 (WED) INTRO TO BECOMING A SIERRA CLUB OUTINGS LEADER.
Want a rewarding way to help the club, meet great people and
also have fun? Have you ever thought about becoming an outings
leader for the Sierra Club? Come to this introductory seminar
and we'll tell you how to get started. We'll go over the types
of outings the Club does, what we expect from our leaders,
what training is required, and what services the Club
provides. We'll look at the schedule of additional training
for those of you who want to start leading outings. The
seminar will be held at REI (Cross Timbers Room), 4515 LBJ
Freeway, Farmers Branch, TX 75244 (north side of LBJ between
Midway and Welch) from 7:00 - 8:30 PM. Organizer:
Arthur Kuehne 1-972-635-9774(H)
AUG
12 (THU) ANSEL ADAMS EXHIBIT AT THE AMON CARTER, 6:30PM
Join the Fort Worth Group of Sierra Club for an evening tour
of the exhibit
"Ansel Adams: Eloquent Light". Adams was a prominent
member of the Sierra Club as well as being one of the greatest
photographers of all time. We will meet in the photography
galleries. RSVP's are appreciated, but not required. RSVP or
contact Leader:
Dewayne Quertermous
AUG
14 (SAT) WHITE ROCK LAKE CLEANUP. Walk and talk while
helping to pick up trash and recyclables at the Sierra Club's
adopted section of White Rock Lake Park. Meet at 8:15 AM at
the Love of the Lake office on the Northeast corner of Garland
Rd. and Buckner Blvd. Look for a crowd of people drinking free
juice and coffee. Gloves, trash bags, etc. provided. Our area
includes one of the wonderful prairie restoration areas, so
there are always birds and wildflowers to enjoy. The lake and
your karma will thank you. Brunch afterwards. Leader:
Carol Nash 214-824-0244(H)
AUG
18 (WED) OUTINGS COMMITTEE MEETING. Meet in the upstairs
program room at REI (on north side of LBJ between Midway and
Welch), at 6:30 PM. Bring your ideas for the Dallas Sierra
Club Outings program. We will be planning local outings and
bus trips. All outings leaders, future outings leaders, and
interested Sierrans welcome. Ask Bill to be placed on the
email list for an agenda. Contact:
Bill Greer 972-247-0446(H)
AUG
24 (TUE) INNER CITY OUTINGS MEETING Snacks and social
starts at 6:45 pm, meeting starts at 7:00 pm. Inner City
Outings ("ICO") is an outreach program of the Sierra Club
comprised of volunteers who provide wilderness experiences
such as day hikes and camping for disadvantaged youth. ICO
meets on the fourth Tuesdays at REI, 4515 LBJ Freeway, Farmers
Branch, TX 75244 (north side of LBJ between Midway and Welch).
All volunteers and those considering becoming an ICO volunteer
are welcome. Contact the
ICO Chair for more information. To receive future
announcements and meeting information you may sign up for our
email list.
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