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Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Share Your Story With Us!

 

Over the next few months, we will be sharing stories from SOCM members who have made simple changes in their energy consumption. We encourage you to look at your daily habits and utility bills and compare them with friends and neighbors. Through this series, we want to open the doors of communication and increase awareness around our energy consumption. If you have a story to tell, email Green Collar Jobs Organizer Katie Greer at [email protected]. We want to hear from you!

 

One of the goals of SOCM's Green Collar Jobs committee is to educate people on how to reduce energy consumption. Doing so will reduce our reliance on dirty energy sources such as coal and nuclear and help build an economy in Tennessee based on energy efficiency and renewable energy. With everyone playing a small role, collectively, we can make a big difference.

 

This month, SOCM organizer Katie Greer is sharing her story about her progress toward a more energy efficient home. See Katie's full story and a copy of her utility bill on the Green Collar Jobs Committee webpage!

 

Katie and her husband bought an older house at the end of 2010. They bought the house "as is" including a roof with a hole and a 20-year-old HVAC unit. They replaced the old shingle roof with an energy star metal one and upgraded the HVAC with the help of a TVA heat pump loan through their utility distributer. They also worked on a few smaller projects such as sealing open spaces along the sides of the garage door, insulating their water pipes and caulking spaces that were leaking air. They also bought four blocks of green power through TVA's Green Power Switch program and signed up for a TVA In-home energy audit

 

Katie has seen her utility bill reduce since the same time last year and expects more utility savings as she invests back into her house.

 

There are other things you can do to reduce your energy consumption. Check out SOCM's Go Green! Energy Efficiency Personal Pledge for easy ways to contribute to a cleaner environment.

SOCM Celebrates Martin Luther King, Jr., Day

 

SOCM members celebrated Martin Luther King, Jr., Day all around the state and we're so pleased with the turnout! Members in Jackson, Columbia, and Knoxville attended annual marches and celebrations with inspirational speakers, while Crossville members attended a prayer service  addressing poverty and spoke about SOCM's history of social and economic justice work. 

 

Check out the Anti-Racism Transformation Team's webpage for a full article and of course we have some great pictures on Flickr!

Knoxville Hosts Fundraiser Ahead of Chapter

 

A crowd of happy hour fans met at Preservation Pub on January 19th to raise funds for SOCM. The Pub donated 10% of the sales of food and drinks during happy hour to SOCM, but most importantly, it was a great time for networking with Knoxville community members. And we got two new members! 

 

Organizer Katie Greer is working to establish a Knoxville chapter in the spring. SOCM has many at-large members in the Knoxville area, so we can't wait! 

 

If you would like to be involved in the formation of the Knoxville chapter, please contact Katie Greer at [email protected].

Noel Johnson Wins January's Every Member Get a Member 

SOCM President Noel Johnson was chosen as this month's "Every Member Get a Member" winner. Not only is Noel SOCM's President of the Board, but he is a very active Bedford County Chapter member. Noel wins a wonderful Seiko desk clock valued at $125. Congratulations Noel!

Beaded Cherokee StarNext month's EMGM prize is a beaded Cherokee star. The Cherokee Star is worn as a ceremonial piece of jewelry. This green star was made by a member of the FarAway Cherokee of Tennessee and was given as a ceremonial gift by Akwiakta, the Tennessee Poet.

We have plenty more wonderful prizes to give away for our top recruiters. If you need membership materials to help you tell SOCM's story, please contact our office manager Kathy Nix at [email protected].
Hundreds Voice Concerns Over Proposed Crab Orchard Landfill  
crab orchard landfill 1.27.12 jean c

 

Several hundred concerned community members attended a public meeting on Friday, January 27th to discuss a proposed landfill in Crab Orchard, Tennessee. Cumberland County Chapter co-chair Jean Cheely and other SOCM members have been working on opposition to this landfill since it was first proposed in 2009. At that time, the City Council voted down with 90% of Crab Orchard residents opposing it.

 

crab orchard hearing 1.27.12 1

The feeling seemed to be the same at Friday's meeting. Crab Orchard residents still oppose the landfill in great numbers. SOCM is working with residents to make sure their voices are heard.

 

Crab Orchard City Council will vote on the issue on February 22nd. If approved, it would go on to the Cumberland County Commission for a vote.

Staffer Ann League and Member Patrick Morales Attend Alliance for Appalachia Conference

  

In December 2006, staff and members from several Appalachian environmental groups, including SOCM, met to discuss the possibility of creating a coalition to work on eliminating mountaintop removal coal mining (MTR) in the Appalachian mountains. After a year of working on goals, structure, leadership, committees and strategy, The Alliance for Appalachia was formed. SOCM is a proud founding member and works with the Alliance very closely

 

SOCM member Patrick Morales and staff member Ann League attended a legislative and enforcement summit hosted by The Alliance at Hungry Mother State Park in Marion, Virginia last week. The summit was held to discuss the potential for a regional citizens' enforcement collaboration and to discuss and implement a plan for advancing and developing strategies and tactics in regard to the coalition's legislative work.
 
Citizen activists working on air and water monitoring throughout the region came together to share information and ideas about their local work. While there, staff and members worked to develop a plan for how The Alliance could support regional work in this area- specifically discussing the potential of a regional citizens' enforcement campaign that compiles and leverages local data, as well as the potential of a monitoring equipment library.
 
For more information on The Alliance, please contact Ann League at [email protected].

USDA Accepting Applications for REAP Energy Grant and Guaranteed Loan Program

 

The USDA is accepting applications for energy efficiency and renewable energy systems for farmers and rural small businesses. The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) can pay up to 25% of total eligible project costs. For more information click here or visit the project website.

In This Issue
We Want to Hear from You!
MLK Day Celebrations
"Cheers to SOCM"
EMGM Winner Noel Johnson
Crab Orchard Fighting Landfill
The Alliance for Appalachia Conference
REAP Energy Grant and Guaranteed Loan Program
  Your Community
Needs You


Join SOCM today!  Click on the link below and designate your donation as membership dues or mail us a check with "new member" in the memo line.

Click HERE to donate!

Mailing List

 

Maury County Chapter Meeting
Wednesday, Feb. 1
Fresh Word Church, 210 N. High St., Columbia
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

 

SOCM Strategic Planning Session
February 4-5
Lebanon, TN

 

Cumberland County Chapter Meeting
Monday, Feb. 13
Art Circle Library, Crossville
3 - 5 p.m.

 

Jackson Chapter Chapter Meeting
Tuesday, Feb. 14
SOCM West Office
5:30 - 7 p.m.
 
Bedford County Chapter Meeting
Monday, Feb. 20
Location TBA
6:30 - 8 p.m.

 

Roaring River Chapter Meeting
Thursday, Feb. 23
Cookeville Unity Church, W. 10th St., Cookeville
7 - 9 p.m. 

 

SOCM Lobby Day
Tuesday, March 6
Nashville

Other Events of Interest 

"The Last Mountain"
Thursday, Feb. 2
Backdoor Playhouse, Cookeville
7 p.m.
The Tennessee Tech Chapter of the Student Environmental Action Coalition (SEAC) presents "The Last Mountain" followed by a discussion on Mountaintop Removal with Tennessee Conservation Voters Board Member Shelby White and Appalachian Voices Director J.W. Randolph.
 
Kentuckians for the Commonwealth's
"I Love Mountains Day"
Tuesday, Feb. 14
Capitol Building, Frankfort, Ky.
See www.kftc.org for more information
 
Good Jobs, Green Jobs Conference
Feb. 23 - 24
Atlanta, Ga.
"Action is the antidote to despair."
- Joan Baez
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