As a Sierran, you want to protect our earth and all its species, including Homo sapiens, from pollution, destruction of forests, global warming, and all the rest; but you are disgusted with the greed and hypocrisy prevalent in politics, and you want nothing to do with it.

Like it or not, the laws passed by that corrupt Congress decide not only the fate of the earth but how your own life will be lived. Maybe you should be involved.

Consider this: in the last hundred years that bumbling Congress has given women the right to vote and supported the long slow progress toward giving them real equality. It legalized labor unions to give exploited workers the right to decent pay and working conditions. It passed Social Security to guarantee most senior citizens a decent old age. It passed the Civil Rights Act, giving some protection to minorities and the disenfranchised from crippling discrimination. It passed the Endangered Species Act and set aside some of our most precious natural areas as national parks to be forever free of exploitation (we hope). All this was achieved after years of struggle in spite of all the roadblocks put in the way by those who stood to benefit from the status quo or just didn't like change. However, don't be complacent because those opposed to these rights are still fighting to reverse those laws. Moreover, most of the world's people still do not enjoy these rights.

A few leaders sacrificed their security, family, and yes, often their lives, to make the public aware of what needed to be done. Finally, an educated public realized change was needed; citizens went to the polls and forced Congress to do the right thing in spite of itself.

Don't give up faith in the political process. In the long run the will of the people does prevail.

So- never fail to vote in all elections, especially all your local elections. If you are unhappy with the public schools, don't complain if you didn't vote in the school board election. If you are dismayed to see your neighborhood and your county lose greenspace to urban sprawl and endless roadbuilding, did you vote for supervisors on the town and county boards, and aldermen if you live in the city?

Our Sierra Club publications keep you well informed about national environmental issues. It is more difficult to know what is going on locally. Talk to people; scan the newspapers; once in awhile go to a town or county board meeting. This is not easy in our busy lives; but, if we are not forever watchful, the forces of greed and exploitation inevitably take over.

I urge you to join a political party even if you have no time to be active. The finest, best qualified candidates don't get elected without the hard work and financial support of a political party. A political party's publications will help to keep you informed on local and state as well as national issues.

It's a dirty business, but please get involved. If citizens demand it, in the end a reluctant Congress will pass legislation that will give us clean air, land, and water--small steps toward preserving the health of our planet.

To quote an old Frank Sinatra song, "...now the end is near..." and this will be my last article as Chair of the Southeast Gateway Group. I am sure I have not contributed any new and shocking information to the benefit of the Sierra Club; however, I hope that I have carried out the duties of the Chair with some degree of success. I like to think that through the work of the Sierra Club, the world is a better place than when I started as Vice Chair two years ago. After reading the last The Amicus Journal, a publication of the Natural Resources Defense Council, I am not so sure this is so. The feature article is called "No Act of God" and is about the hog/chicken factory farm disaster caused by Hurricane Floyd. It states that the hog carcasses, after overwhelming the incinerators brought in to burn them, were buried in the flood plain and the chicken carcasses were bulldozed into piles and left to rot. Looks great for the next hurricane to hit this area.

We had, based on what attendees have said, a successful annual meeting at Camp Matawa. I was in charge of registration and met some very nice people I hadn't known before. The Great Waters Group and all those who worked on the meeting are to be commended and thanked along with the individuals in SEGG who gave of their time.

We have had a successful election for the Executive Committee (ExComm) this fall with five new ExComm members standing for election. We are losing a plus for SEGG with long-time member and Treasurer, Melissa Warner, deciding she wants to devote her time to other endeavors.

I plan to keep active in Sierra Club. After having served for three years as Public Relations Chair, three years as Population Chair, one year as Vice Chair and one year as Chair, I hope to contribute in some other way. With the Presidential election next year, I am sure there will be plenty to do politically.

Thanks for working with me through this year and good luck to the new ExComm.

Monthly meetings are held at the Firstar Bank, 101 E. Walworth St., Elkhorn.

The Highway 12 parking lot is approximately five miles east of Whitewater or two and a half miles west of LaGrange.

Additional information may be found on the Ice Age Park & Trail Foundation web site: www.iceagetrail.org

December 9: Executive Committee Meeting, 7:00 p.m. at Messiah Lutheran Church, corner of Durand Ave. (Hwy 11) and Prichard Ave. All members are welcome.

December 16: Enjoy delicious food and convivial companionship. Join us at the December 16 meeting at Messiah Lutheran Church corner of Durand Ave. (Hwy 11) and Prichard Ave.at 6:00 p.m. for a pot-luck supper. Hot dishes, beverages and dessert are provided. Please bring an hors d'oervre, salad, vegetable or side dish to pass. Contact Donna Peterson at 637-3141 for information.

January 8: The Annual Southeast Gateway Group Retreat, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Messiah Lutheran Church, corner of Durand Ave. (Hwy 11) and Prichard Ave. Lunch will be served. This meeting is the premier planning and organizing session for the upcoming year. All members are encouraged to participate. Contact any member of the Executive Committee if you are interested in attending.

January 10: Deadline for the February-March issue of the Southeast Sierran.

January 20th, Thursday:  Hiking the Ice Age Trail

Ellwood H. May, Environmental Park Director David Kuckuk and his dog Yukon recently hiked the 1,000 mile Ice Age Trail.  His six weeks on the trail has given him an exceptional wide range of experiences that he and Yukon will share with us.  The hike was undertaken to offer educational opportunities and for fund raising to build an addition to the Ecology Center.  Donations are encouraged. 
    The program will begin at 7:00 p.m. at the Gateway Technical College Kenosha Campus Conference Center (3520 30th Ave).  Please come early for coffee and conversation.

January 23 Sunday: Hiking and Skiing Tour at Lulu Lake, Walworth County. The fourth Sundays of nearly every month (except November and December) hosts public field tours at The Nature Conservancy's Lulu Lake Preserve from 10:00 a.m. to Noon. Two Conservancy volunteers will be leading the field tours on this day. One tour group will be led on foot while another will be guided on skis (snow permitting of course). Or if you just want to help with the work party, they go on from 9:00 a.m. to Noon. For more background information on Lulu Lake go to www.tnc.org/wisconsin/places.htm and click Lulu Lake/Mukwonago River Watershed.

Directions: From I-94, take Hwy 20 west. Continue past East Troy until you reach County Hwy N north. Keep heading north on N through Troy Center, cross Hwy J, and continue north on Nature Road for about 1.5 miles. The terrain is hilly this last stretch. Turn east at the driveway marker N9564, and follow the signs. Lulu Lake is open only on workdays or for the guided tours. For more information contact Eric