The Sierra Club is the nation's oldest and largest grassroots environmental organization, with over 700,000 members nationwide. These individuals are using grassroots activism and community action to protect America's environment, for our families, for our future.
We are part of the Florida Chapter of the National Sierra Club. Our group, the Central Florida Sierra Club, comprises over 2,100 members in Orange, Seminole, Lake and Osceola Counties. Our goal is to explore, enjoy, and protect the wild places of the earth. We now invite you to explore and enjoy our web presence. Thanks for visiting!
~ Maria Bolton-Joubert, Executive Committee Chairman
Senator Lee Constantine will be the keynote speaker.
Frustrated by Governor Scott's budget cuts that potentially gut the Department of Community Affairs with deep cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency to include the downsizing of of Florida's semi-autonomous water management districts, Everglades restoration along with a push by lawmakers to repeal mandatory septic tank inspection, environmental advocates are meeting to counter Governor Scott's budget proposal.
Read more --http://www.pcecweb.org/
Workshop: Secret Life of Pickles
Learn the secrets of fresh, brine pickles: you know them as Dill Pickles, Sauerkraut, Kimchi, Italian Mixed Vegetables, Borscht, and Pickled Peppers. You will discover there is no better source of daily supplements than found in common vegetables, sea salt and water spun into pickles. You will be amazed how easy it has become to make brine pickles. Great grandmaʼs pickles are back with a new-fashioned kitchen gadget! For more info, click here to read the flyer .
February Program: Tracy McCommon
Please join us on February 16th for a presentation by Tracy McCommon, the host of Nature Wise TV, which uses the power of television and video to inspire viewers to help preserve Florida and America’s natural environment.
The enticing shapes, brilliant colors and unique sounds produced by native plants, animals and ecosystems are presented on screen in a way that captures viewer’s attention.
Tracy has always had a strong passion for conservation and the preservation and protection of native wildlife. She believes that since these animals cannot speak for themselves, they need advocates to seek to understand them, preserve them, and stand-up for their protection. Tracy hopes all who see the “Wildlife Matters” TV programs will get involved in helping to preserve our native Florida.
All programs are held at Harry P. Leu Gardens, 1920 N Forest Avenue,
Orlando Florida. For directions to Leu Gardens, visit:
www.centralfloridasierra.org. Door opens at 6:15 PM with light snacks and
socializing. Programs are from 7:00 – 8:45p.m. A brief discussion of
environmental issues preceeds the program. Admission is free, and the
public is invited!
Action alert: Help save the UCF Arboretum
In Fall 2010, the
University of Central Florida Administration requested the conservation
easement status be lifted from the eight acres of UCF's main campus
known as the Arboretum.
As reported in out January/February issue of the Sierran, the Arboretum is an important teaching tool and helps tie UCF's environmental commnuity together. Sierra was involved in previous litigation to force UCF to pay a fine for not restoring this designated conservation land. Now, UCF wants to "swap" out this parcel for an inaccessable piece that's already designated for conservation, and is not accessable to students.
UCF has only held one informational meeting with students, over Thanksgiving week (when most students are visiting family)- they also notified only a small subset of sudents, and only gave them three days' notice. The non-student community was never notified about this proposal.
To learn more about this issue, see our articles in this month's issue of the Sierran. You can also find more out at the Florida School of Holistic Living's site (including a video). Please at least sign this online petition.
You can also email
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
with the St Johns Water Management District and Governor Rick Scott directly. Email them both. Don't forget to forward your concerns to
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
CONTACTS:
Mr. Kirby Green, Executive Director
St. Johns River Water Management District
P.O. Box 1429, Palatka, FL 32178-1429 (386) 329-4500
Governor Rick Scott
400 S. Monroe St. Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001
(850) 488-5394
UCF CONTACTS:
Vice President William Merck -Administration and Finance
Associate Vice President Lee Kernek -Facilities and Safety
4000 Central Florida Blvd., Orlando, Florida, 32816 (407) 823-3812
Thank you for your efforts- whatever you can do about this individually will help Sierra block this destructive action!
January Program: David Cullen, Sierra Club Florida’s lobbyist
David Cullen, Sierra Club Florida’s lobbyist, will update us on what’s happening in Tallahassee and what we can do about it on January 19th at 7 p.m. at Leu Gardens. His program will include a review of the election results (good and bad), with particular focus on the counties associated with the Central Florida Group and an overview of the initial interim committee meetings.
Dave will cover filed bills important to Sierra Club Florida, funding prospects for environmental projects and land acquisition, and explain how the House and Senate are structured – who has power and how it is exercised. He’ll also talk about the importance of grassroots advocacy and how to establish relationships with the members of our county delegations. Dave will fill us in on the new Scott administration and tell us what we can expect in terms of policy and potential executive agency personnel.
Sierra Club is a grassroots organization and the presentation is designed to give you access to tools you may not be aware of and brush up your persuasive skills. The basis of effective advocacy is building relationships and it’s no harder than talking to the folks next to you in line at Publix.
All programs are held at Harry P. Leu Gardens, 1920 N Forest Avenue, Orlando Florida. For directions to Leu Gardens, visit: www.centralfloridasierra.org.Door opens at 6:15 PM with light snacks and socializing. Programs are from 7:00 – 8:45p.m. A brief discussion of environmental issues preceeds the program. Admission is free, and the public is invited!
Our January-February newsletter is now available here .
In this issue:
Sierra gets- and gives- conservation awards
What is the UCF Arboretum?
Sierra works to protect UCF Arboretum
Solar energy developments; Orange Co.’s Green PLACE Program
A Sierra member’s service trip report
Upcoming Outings; Wildlife festivals coming up!
*Please note: our January & February Program information wasn't available at the time we compiled the newsletter, so stay tuned to our website for details!
Upcoming February and March Outings
February 26th: Hike at Triple N Ranch, near Holopaw in Osceola Co.
Meet at 10:00am at this new 7-mile loop hiking trail, constructed by the Florida Trail association. Called the Triple N Loop, it passes through pine flatwoods, oak scrub and scenic hammocks along Crabgrass Creek. Triple N Ranch contains some pristine natural plant communities. Noteworthy are high-quality dry prairie and hydric hammocks and floodplain swamps along Crabgrass Creek. Species such as quail and wild turkey and a host of dry prairie adapted species including the Crested caracara, Bachman’s sparrow, Florida sandhill crane live here. The area is 17 miles east of St. Cloud. The entrance off of 192 is approximately 3 miles east of the junction of U.S. Highway 192 and U.S. Highway 441. RSVP: Rodney (321) 436-2349 or
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
(FL Trail Outing)
March 5th: Backpack to Potts Preserve
Just northeast of the town of Inverness on the western shore of the Withlacoochee River is the 8,500 acre Potts Preserve, managed by the Water Management District. This is an important part of Florida’s aquifer recharge areas, and supplies much of the state’s western half of our underground water supply. An 8-mile backpack trail goes through cypress, meadows and prairies, pine forests and ancient middens. There are sites with picnic tables, campfire rings and grills, but no potable water source or toilets. We’ll carpool from Orlando and have Sunday lunch in Inverness. RSVP for details: Rodney (321) 436-2349 or
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
(FL Trail Outing)
Non-members are welcome! FOR OUTINGS: YOU MUST RSVP BY CONTACTING THE TRIP LEADER.
Participants on Sierra Club outings are required to sign a standard liability waiver. To read the waiver prior to the outing, contact the Outings Department at 415-977-5528 or visit us online at www. sierraclub.org/outings/chapter/forms/.
Sierra Club is a Florida Seller of Travel Ref. No. ST37115. CA Seller of Travel CST 2087766-40. Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the State of California.
January Outings: biking and hiking
We have two Outings this month- come and join us!
January 8th: Wekiva Springs SP Hike
Hike this 12 mile loop trail to work off those Holiday goodies. Meet at 9:00 a.m. at the Sand Lake Parking area in Wekiva Springs State Park. Entrance fee required. Bring lunch and plenty of water. No bugs out this time of year! RSVP: Rodney (321) 436-2349 or
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
(FL Trail Outing)
January 30th: Bike ride to Oakland Nature Preserve
Meet in downtown Winter Gardens in front of the fountain at 10am. We’ll ride 5 miles to Oakland Nature Preserve, home to restored plants and wildlife. With a 3000 foot boardwalk winding through wetlands, this park offers scenic hiking trails. The boardwalk ends at Lake Apopka. Bring lunch for a stop at the pavilion on the lake. If you don’t want to ride your bike, meet us at 10:30am at the preserve. Free event. RSVP: Mary-Slater (407) 481-4398 or
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Non-members are welcome! FOR OUTINGS: YOU MUST RSVP BY CONTACTING THE TRIP LEADER.
Participants on Sierra Club outings are required to sign a standard liability waiver. To read the waiver prior to the outing, contact the Outings Department at 415-977-5528 or visit us online at www. sierraclub.org/outings/chapter/forms/.
Sierra Club is a Florida Seller of Travel Ref. No. ST37115. CA Seller of Travel CST 2087766-40. Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the State of California.
Wildlife festival time!
Winter in Florida is the time for all sorts of wildlife festivals! Sierra Club will have a booth at these festivals, so come to enjoy the day and stop by to say hi to our volunteers! If you’re intersted in volunteering at one of our booths, contact Mary-Slater at (407) 481-4398 or
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
January 22: Blue Spring Manatee Festival: Valentine Park, West French Avenue, Orange City
The Blue Spring Manatee Festival offers live entertainment, arts and crafts, children’s play area and an environmental conservation displays (Sierra Club will have a booth). The highlight of the day is a free bus ride from the festival to nearby Blue Spring State Park to watch endangered manatees in their natural habitat. Orange City is located in Volusia County just north of Orlando. Take Exit 54 off of I-4 East and follow signs to Blue Spring State Park. Admission is charged.
February 19th: 11th Annual Orlando Wetlands Park Festival
Come and enjoy the Orlando Wetlands Park Festival at the Fort Christmas Historical Park from 9am-3pm. The Wetlands is a 1,650 acre world-renowned example of wetlands engineering providing an oasis for fauna and flora, that polishes excess nutrients from Orlando’s reclaimed wastewater before it is discharged to the St Johns River. Event co-sponsor the Orange Audubon Society will lead guided birdwatching excursions and expert-guided nature photo shoots. The Florida Native Plant Society will lead native plant identification hikes. Wilderness hikes will also be available by the Florida Trail Association.
December 2010 Awards
NEW RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 17, 2010
CONTACT: Mary-Slater Linn 407-481-4398
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Orlando, FL: Sierra Club of Central Florida will honor 3 Central Florida
leaders at the annual holiday party on December 15th. Honored for their
commitment to improving our land, water, air and wildlife are Kariena
Veaudry, Executive Director of the Florida Native Plant Society, Tracy
McCommon from the non-profit Nature Wise and Jackie Blake, Aide to
Orange County Commissioner Linda Steward.
