Welcome New Members in Walworth County
 by Lila and John Berge

     The Southeast Gateway Group has just grown by about one hundred new members in Walworth County. With this newsletter we officially welcome these former members of the Rock Valley Group and urge them to become active with the Group in whatever way they can, despite the distances involved.  And we urge the Sierrans in Racine and Kenosha Counties to welcome them with open arms.

     Due to a variety of reasons, the Rock Valley Group voted itself out of existence last February, electing to merge with the Four Lakes Group.  But the Executive Committee of the Four Lakes Group did not feel they could properly serve all of those new members and asked the Southeast Gateway Group if they could help. The John Muir Chapter Executive Committee approved the suggestion from the SEGG ExCom that all the Sierra Club members in Walworth County outside of Whitewater be added to our membership while those in Rock, Green and Lafayette Counties and those in Whitewater would join the Four Lakes Group. At this time there is negotiation between Four Lakes and Great Waters Groups over the members in Jefferson County.

     The SEGG ExCom has already planned for one outing in Walworth County this fall and hope to arrange for others as the 2001 calendar is finalized. Please read the calendar in each issue of the Southeast Sierran to find out where and when events of interest to you take place.

     It is also that time of year when the process for nomination and election of the Group ExCom starts. The SEGG has prided itself on keeping a balance of Racine and Kenosha County members on the ExCom. Now we must do our best to bring balance from all three counties, but we don’t know most of the people in Walworth County. Therefore, we need your help in locating people who are willing to serve in this important capacity. No experience is necessary; on the job training is available!

     What is needed is the willingness to attend meetings, concern about conservation issues and other activities of the Club, eagerness to learn, and willingness to get off of our duff and do something. Do you fit that description? Do you have a friend  that does? If so, contact Lila Berge (262) 633-8455 or bergejw@wi.net), Melissa Warner (262) 639-0918 or quality@awoke.com) or Dian Sorenson (262) 633-6974 as soon as possible.

YOUR LEGISLATIVE WATCHDOG
by Jean McGraw

The Shape of Things to Come?

Texas Ranks:

• 1st in children without health insurance (U.S. Census)
• 5th in highest teen birthrate (U.S. Dept of Health & Human Services)
• 3rd in highest number of children living in poverty (Census)
• 1st in toxic air releases (EPA and Texas Natural Resources Commission)     
• 1st in poorest counties (Census)
• 3rd in hunger(Children’s Rights Council)
• 45th in mothers receiving prenatal care) (Children’s Rights Council)
• 46th in high school completion rate (U.S. Dept of Education)     
• 46th in water resources protection (EPA)
• 48th in literacy (Texas Workforce Commission)
• 47th in spending for parks and recreation (Texas Observer)
•49th in spending for the environment (Texas Observer)
• 1st in gun related child injuries and deaths
• 1st in number of prisoners executed since l976

Only one accredited child-care center exists for every 2,637 children.

I like the slogan I recently saw on a T shirt: Democracy is not a spectator sport—Vote! (and don’t waste your vote on a non-electable candidate.)

Please Support Our Fund-Raising Efforts
by Lila Berge

     As noted elsewhere in this issue, the Southeast Gateway Group has grown from about five hundred members to over six hundred by agreeing to welcome the Walworth County members of the Sierra Club into our Group.

     Six times a year, we mail our newsletter to all of our members. Last year that cost us $1661. We are proud of our effort to give you information about environmental issues and legislation, which often are not covered well by newspapers and other media. The vast majority of our members are not able to, or choose not to, attend our eight informative monthly meetings, so the newsletter is our next best way to provide this service.

     When you pay your dues, they go to the “national” Sierra Club. Most of these dues pay for the Sierra magazine, for national and regional staff, for the costs of campaigns on issues chosen by the members of the Club, lobbying, administration grants and bequests, and other services. A portion is remitted to each Chapter to pay for their staff, chapter newsletter and programs. The John Muir Chapter (JMC) also has to raise money in its March Appeal to meet their budgetary needs. Every year the JMC ExCom adopts a budget which includes some money for the local groups. Currently this is just eighty cents per membership. There are also such assistance as: grants for that part of the newsletter that qualify for 501(c)(3) funds (not political or legislative lobbying or strictly membership information), matching grants for some of the group fund raising activities, and the Hanat Grant with which we purchased and planted almost $600 worth of native shrubs, sedges and forbs along the Root River in Horlick Park. Our environmental education programs in the schools have been supported by some funds which derived from awards given to two members of the SEGG.

     Every year we need to raise between $1500 and $2000 to meet our group budget. This year for our fund raisers we will hold a rummage sale in Racine on August 19 and another one in Kenosha at a date to be announced. Here you can recycle surplus clothing, household items and recreational equipment. Starting in September we will have the beautiful Sierra Calendars for sale. We also have Sierra caps, duffel bags and knapsacks. Contact Barb Meyocks (262)654-2208 or Lila Berge (262)633-8455 for those latter items or Dian Sorenson (262) 633-6974) for calendars.

     Of course there is another way to help if you choose not to participate in any of our fund raising projects. Make a donation to the SEGG of anywhere from five to five hundred dollars…whatever you can spare. Send your checks to our Treasurer, Dana Huck at 1105 Augusta Street, Racine, WI  53402-4344 made out to SE Gateway Sierra Group.  Remember, donations to any entity of the Sierra Club are not tax deductible. But donations for the SEGG environmental education fund in the Sierra Club Foundation are tax deductible. Checks for this program should be made out to the Sierra Club Foundation—Southeast Gateway Group and mailed to John Berge, 1529 Crabapple Drive, Racine WI 53405-1705. We will thank you very much for any and all ways you may choose to support your Sierra Club group.

WETLANDS PROGRAM

September 18 4:00 p.m.: Randy Stowe from Natural Ecosystems, Inc., will speak on wetland plantings, riverbank stabilization, and waterfront enhancement, specifically along the Root River. This program will be of interest to all those interested in natural landscaping, Racine’s River path project, or the future of the Root River ecosystem. Location    TBA;contact Melissa Warner at 639-0918

New Members:

The Southeast Gateway Group welcomes the following new members:

Bristol: Judith Christopher

Burlington: D. Krueger, Ann Navera, Lynn Stowell, A. Torhorst 

Camp Lake: Kathryn Wolfarth

East Troy: James Midgett

Kansasville: Herbert Clausen

Kenosha: Edwin Burman, Ms. Diane Prell, Richard Primuth, Patricia Shumaker

Pleasant Prairie: Mrs. Julie Friedman, Jim Hart, James Miller

Racine: Preston Fawcett, Nancy Gorenc, Susan Greenfield, Lori Henkes, Kristine Jungbluth, Cory and Roseann Mason, James Olson,   Marguerite Otto, Tammy Ruggaber, Arthur Shattuck, Denise Sierra, Bronna Wollman

Waterford: Susan Freeman                                                                                                                  

Happy Anniversary, Bob & Betty!

     Our dear friends and longtime Sierra members, Bob and Betty Gericke, will be celebrating their golden wedding anniversary this month. Many, many of us have Bob and Betty to thank for wondrous wilderness adventures we could never have experienced if Bob and Betty had not generously given of their wilderness know-how and organizational skills to us canoeists, rafters, and blackberry pickers. They led great trips to Boundary Waters, Sylvania, and of course the fabled Salmon River.

     The Sierra Club was founded with two goals: to save the wilderness from those who continuously strive to despoil and destroy it, and to rejoice and find renewal in this refuge from the relentless campaigns of the money chasers. Bob and Betty have been our leaders and teachers in the wilderness. Their guidance services alone which they so generously donated would have cost all of us thousands of dollars if we had hired commercial guides. The love, good fellowship, and joy they shared with us are of course priceless.

     Thank you, good friends, for these precious gifts. If there were a million couples like Bob and Betty in the United States I would  have no fear for our country. But we are so lucky to have even one. 

     Also how many times have they opened their home for us trash collectors along our designated strip of highway and then hosted delightful luncheons as a reward.

     Thank you, Bob and Betty, from the heart; and may you enjoy long life and many more happy anniversaries.

 …Jean McGraw

From the Rockin’ Chair
by Lila Berge

     Reflections on Earth Day from Mother Earth—(material adapted from Donella Meadows, director Sustainability Institute, Hartland VT)

     Mother Earth is not impressed by her children’s fancy speeches or good intentions. Planets measure only physical things. On that first Earth Day in 1970 there were 3.7 billion of you humans on earth. Now there are over 6 billion! In 1970, humans extracted 46 million barrels of oil every day, now you draw 78 billion and are asking for more. In spite of promises, your carbon emissions have increased from 3.9 million metric tons to an estimated 6.4 million this year. Broken promises have consequences. Global warming may be only one degree, but it is not spread evenly. The poles have warmed more than the equator, the winters more than the summers, the nights more than the days. Temperature differences are what make winds blow, rains fall, and ocean currents flow. My creatures are noticing weather weirdness and many cannot adapt.

     You are taking from my oceans twice as many fish now; many are caught before they are mature enough to reproduce. You coax from my soil, with your chemicals and genetically altered seeds, twice as much wheat, corn and rice, and four times as many soybeans as you grew thirty years ago. You feed much of your grain to livestock, to satisfy your hunger for meat.

     The gross world product has doubled from 16 to 39 trillion dollars, but poverty and hunger have not disappeared. Third world debt was one-eighth what it is today. You measure progress in strange ways, counting cell phones, video players, internet and world trade as ‘progress’. You also have AIDS. Mother Earth sees that her species are vanishing at a rate never seen in 65 million years; that forty percent of agricultural soils are being degraded, half the forests have vanished and half the wetlands have been filled or drained. These trends are accelerating along with your population growth and sprawl.

     Earth Day is much like Mother’s Day…a day to celebrate the one who gave you life and who was expected to clean up after you 365 days a year. Remember, this mother has a breaking point when children refuse to obey her rules.

Roadless Area Conservation
By John Berge

     The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for Roadless Area Conservation has been published by the US Forest Service, as of May 11, and a number of Sierrans have testified about it at hearings around the state and the nation. Carl Zichella of the Midwest Sierra Club office and I, among many others, testified at the hearing in Milwaukee on June 21.

     The purpose of the roadless initiative taken by President Clinton last October is, according to the DEIS, “1) to immediately stop activities that have the greatest likelihood of degrading desirable characteristics of inventoried roadless areas, 2) to ensure that ecological and social characteristics of inventoried roadless and other unroaded areas are identified and considered through local forest planning efforts, and 3) to consider the unique social and economic situation of the Tongass National Forest.”

     Four alternatives are proposed in the DEIS: 

Alt. 1—No Action; No Prohibitions, Alt. 2—Prohibit Road Construction and Reconstruction Within Unroaded Portions of Inventoried Roadless Areas, Alt. 3—Prohibit Road Construction, Reconstruction and Timber Harvest Except for Stewardship Purposes within Unroaded Portions of Inventoried Roadless Areas, and Alt. 4—Prohibit Road Construction, Reconstruction and AllTimber Harvest within Unroaded Portions of Inventoried Roadless Areas.

     The Sierra Club and most of the speakers outside of the timber and motorized recreational vehicle industries support Alternative 4. Since roadless areas comprise such a small portion of the National Forests, especially in Wisconsin, we think it only fair that this small portion of wilderness be preserved for future generations from logging, mining, drilling and noisy, noisome pollution from recreational vehicles. As others pointed out, Wisconsin has a tremendous network of snowmobile and other trails outside of the roadless areas. Of the several procedural alternatives, we picked “Project-by-Project Analysis as Transition toForest Planning Process at Next Plan Revision”. We also asked that the Tongass and Chugash National Forests be included now, not later.

     If you want a copy or summary of this DEIS, check the website, www.roadless.fs.fed.us , or call toll-free (888) 608-5976, or write USDA Forest Service RMRS Publications Distribution, 240 Prospect Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80526-2098.

GROUP CALENDAR

August 10-13: Canoe trip on the Flambeau River with camping at Mary Ann & Harry’s cabin and hikes into the Chequamegon Forest. Join this trip to learn more about this important river and flowage and what is happening in our National & State Forests. Call Mary Ann Ortmayer/Harry Knipp for more information and maps at (262) 554-5058.

August 16: United Environmental Council Picnic at Petrifying Springs County Park, Kenosha from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Here is a chance to meet with other environmental groups in Racine and Kenosha Counties and learn what they are doing. Contact Allison Warner (639-0930) for additional information.

August 17: SEGG Executive Committee Meeting, 7:00 p.m., at Messiah Lutheran Church, corner of Durand Ave. (Hwy. 11) and Pritchard Ave. in Racine. Note: This is one week later than usual because of the canoe outing (and there are five Thursdays in this month, anyway.) The agenda will include the nominating report, election and program plans for the fall. All members are welcome.

August 19: SEGG Rummage Sale at the Berge’s, 1529 Crabapple Drive in Racine. Rummage can be dropped off at the Berges’ garage on or about August 16.

September 1:   Deadline for the next issue of The Southeast Sierran.

September 14: SEGG Executive Committee Meeting, 7:00 p.m. at Messiah Lutheran Church, corner of Durand Avenue (Hwy. 11) and Pritchard Avenue in Racine. All members are welcome.

September 16:   John Muir Chapter Executive Committee Meeting in Baraboo starting at 10:00 a.m. Call our Chapter Delegate, Lila Berge, at 633-8455 if you have information or business for this meeting.

September 21:   Our first general membership meeting of the fall will be a Candidates Forum to which all candidates for the State Legislature from our area have been invited to discuss environmental issues facing the state of Wisconsin and our area in particular.  This meeting will start at 7:00 p.m. in Room 104 of the Student Union Building at the University of Wisconsin–Parkside. The public is welcome.

September 23: Hike at Illinois State Beach State Park - Southern Unit
3:00 P.M. – 4:30 P.M. We'll hike at Illinois State Beach State Park Nature Area as a follow up on the informative program given by Don Wilson at the May Annual Dinner in Racine.   Arrive earlier and visit the Nature Center which is only open until 3:00 pm. 
     Stretching leisurely for six and a half miles along the sandy shore of Lake Michigan in northern Illinois, Illinois Beach State Park encompasses the only remaining beach ridge shoreline left in the state of Illinois.  Created by the titanic forces of glacial advance and retreat and the steady winds that swept in from across Lake Michigan, the park has dunes and swales with sprawling marshes, forests of oak and vast arrays of animal life and vegetation.
     The 4,160-acre park, consisting of the Northern and Southern Units, hosts more than 650 species of plants which have been recorded in the dunes area alone.    Large expanses of wet prairie and marsh in the swales support dense stands of cattail, bluejoint grass, prairie cordgrass, big bluestem and sedges.  The drier sandy ridges are crowned by black oak forests with an open, savanna-like appearance where prickly pear cactus thrives in large colonies. The southern part of the park features 5 miles of trails, including a 2.2-mile loop trail with a graveled surface.
     To reach the southern unit of the park take highway 32 (Sheridan Road) south of the state line just over 4 miles to Wadsworth Road and turn east.  Follow the signs to the Nature Area and parking area near the Interpretive Center.

October 12: Group Executive Committee Meeting at 7:00 p.m at Messiah Lutheran Church, corner of Durand Avenue and Pritchard Drive in Racine. All members are welcome.

October 13-15:  John Muir Chapter’s Annual Meeting at Camp Y-KODA near Sheboygan Falls. Speakers will include Kathleen Falk, Dane County Executive and former Public Intervenor; David Orr of the Campaign to Drain Lake Powell; Fred Krueger of the Religious Campaign for Forest Conservation; and Representative Spencer Black. See the September-October issue of The Muir View for agenda, directions and registration form.

ICE AGE TRAIL ACTIVITY

Notes: All work activities will begin at 9:00 a.m. unless otherwise noted. The highway 12 parking lot is approximately 5 miles east of Whitewater, or 2.5 miles west of LaGrange. Trail maintenance work may include grubbing to remove stumps, trimming back growth, painting blazes, installing erosion control, clearing new trail, litter control, etc. For trail work bring water, lunch, work gloves and work tools such as loppers or bow saws. Wear long pants and long sleeve shirt to protect from poison ivy, prickly bushes, etc., suitable footwear and a hat. Depending on the location and conditions, insect repellent, sunscreen or rain gear may also be useful. Contact Kangaroo to volunteer for community service or special projects at times other than those listed below.

Contact Persons: Bill (Kangaroo) Knickrehm, (608)883-2825;  Barb or Jerry Converse, (262) 473-7304; Sue Clymer, (262) 632-6968; Gary Klatt, (262) 473-4973; Gerry Emmerich, (262) 642-5641; Dolly McNulty, (262) 728-8351; Ingrid Larson, (262) 728-6661; Sally Ward, (262) 495-8362; Vince Lazzaroni, (262) 248-824; June Wheeler, (262) 889-4240.

August 5, Saturday, 8:30 a.m.; Hike, Bike & Paddle Rally! Fun, non-competitive event. Hike 5 miles, bike 6 miles, paddle ? miles. Must make reservations and/or provide own equipment. Meet at Rice Lake Nature trail parking lot at Whitewater Lake Recreation Area. Call for details. State park sticker required.

August 12, Saturday, 10:00 a.m.; Family Hike. Natureland County Park. Territorial Road; east of Hwy 89 and west of Cty P. From 1-5, easy to moderately difficult miles.

August 17, Thursday, 7:00 p.m.; Regular Meeting, FirStar Bank in Elkhorn.

August 19, Saturday; (Sue) Maintenance. Meet at Highway 12.

August 20, Sunday; (Kangaroo) New Trail Work. Meet at Highway 12.

August 29, Tuesday at 6:00 p.m.; (Dolly) Biathlon and Fall Hike mailing. Call for details.

September/October; (Gerry) Prairie seed collection; dates set at September 19 meeting. Call for schedule.

September 9 & 10, Saturday & Sunday; Camp and hike at Starved Rock Illinois State Park. RSVP by August 31 to Nancy, (262) 248-8247. Call for details.

September 21, Thursday, 7:00 p.m.; Regular Meeting, FirStar Bank in Elkhorn.

September 23, Saturday; (Gary) Maintenance; Meet at Highway 12.

September 24, Sunday; (Kangaroo) Maintenance. Meet at Highway 12.

October 1, Sunday; (Gary) Whitewater Biathlon Meet at UW-Whitewater Stadium Parking Lot between 8 & 9 a.m.