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SOCM Fights Against Poor Water Quality and Landfills in Maury County
The Maury County Chapter held its monthly meeting in the town of Mt. Pleasant to hear the ongoing concerns of local residents about their water supply. Residents expressed outrage that they are unable to afford water/sewer bills of more than $100 per month, when the water isn't even safe to drink!
At the meeting, members pointed to the irresponsible activities of Tennessee Aluminum Processors (TAP) and Smelter Services Corporation, particularly in the two landfills they operate together (Associated Commodities and Hoover Mason Recycling). Both TAP and Smelter have a long and well-documented history of violations of the Clean Water Act resulting from their discharge of toxic materials into local bodies of water - Sugar Creek, Quality Creek, and Arrow Lake. The City of Mt. Pleasant itself has its own record of violating various environmental regulations, and local residents continue to suffer the consequences of a poor sewer and water infrastructure through the form of high utility bills and undrinkable water.
Mt. Pleasant is the poorest town in the county and has the highest percentage of African-American residents. Strong anecdotal accounts of higher cancer rates and other illnesses in Mt. Pleasant, particularly among people of color, also concern SOCM members. These are serious threats to the community's well-being so SOCM will continue to be involved.
Please contact Middle Tennessee Organizer Brad Wright at 615.355.9356 or brad@socm.org for more information or to get involved.
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Help Set the National Platform on Issues and Concerns of America's Families
Join the Online Discussion on Sunday, May 20
The Marguerite Casey Foundation and its grantee organizations will host the first online Equal Voice national convention on Sunday, May 20th at 2 p.m. CDT, 3 p.m. EDT. At the convention, which will be broadcast over the internet, tens of thousands of families will come together to determine their issues and concerns regarding America's families in 2012. You can ask questions and discuss ideas by using social media, including your own Facebook or Twitter accounts. We will then vote- by mobile-phone text messaging or online via Twitter or Poll Everywhere- on issues most important to us. This discussion will set the 2012 Equal Voice for America's Families National Family Platform. Having input from so many families across the country will send a powerful message to the president, decision-makers and the country that families will be heard in 2012.
 | | Trailer for the May 20th - Equal Voice 2012 Event |
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The Hector Black Musicale
Hosted by SOCM's Roaring River Chapter
Saturday, May 19th, 3 - 5 p.m.
315 E. 14th Street, Cookeville
$20 Donation Requested
The Roaring River Chapter is hosting a piano mini-recital featuring local activist, pianist, and SOCM member Hector Black. Rev. Pat Handlson of the local Presbyterian Church has graciously opened his home for the occasion. Come enjoy delicious food, wine, music and company while supporting work for a better Tennessee!
Donations will support the work of SOCM and Tennesseans for Fair Taxation. Please RSVP to Megan Riggs at 412-889-4978 or megan@fairtaxation.org.
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Members Address Threats to Environment and Democracy in Decherd
People living along scenic Greenhaw Road, outside of Decherd in Franklin County, continue to fight against the development of a rock quarry on land recently purchased by Tinsley Asphalt Company. The company has already begun construction on the site, confident of the result of an upcoming referendum to determine whether 181 acres will be annexed by the City of Decherd for the quarry- a referendum in which the only voters will be the Tinsleys themselves!
In 2010, people from the surrounding area joined Greenhaw Road residents and SOCM members in Middle Tennessee to form the Keep Greenhaw Green Coalition. The coalition has been campaigning to stop the destruction of the landscape and disturbance of the ecosystem of this beautiful area that would surely come with the operation of a quarry there.
In addition to environmental and health concerns, the exclusion of other Decherd citizens from voting on the matter in the upcoming referendum is unacceptable at any level of government in a democracy. SOCM believes Tennesseans have the right to determine their own future, and decisions that effect a community should not be made by a small, biased minority.
Please contact Middle Tennessee Organizer Brad Wright for more information or to get involved - 615.355.9356, brad@socm.org.
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New Member Susan Ince wins SOCM Gear
New member Susan Ince, from Kapaau, Hawaii, will receive some SOCM swag for becoming a new member this spring. Welcome Susan! Susan joined SOCM with a gift in memory of longtime member Kathleen Rogers who passed away in February. Kathleen was a well-loved active member of the Roaring River chapter and graciously asked that donations be made to SOCM after her passing. Don't forget that from now until the end of June, we're "Springing into SOCM." Each new member will receive a magnet in their welcome packet and their name will be put into a drawing for a prize each month. It's a great time to become a SOCM member! |
Cumberland County SOCM Members Teach Recycling Tips to Kids
The Cumberland County Chapter participated in the County's Sustainability Fair on May 10th. All fifth-graders in Cumberland County came to the Fair Grounds where they were educated by local community members on ways to be more eco- and environmentally-friendly. SOCM members Jean Cheely and Linda Desmond were on hand to teach the kids about recycling and show them how to sort their recyclables. Thanks to Jean, Linda and their friends for taking the time to educate their community.
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Knoxville Chapter Kicks Off with Great First Meeting
The first meeting of the Knoxville Chapter was held on Monday, May 14th at the Burlington Branch Library in East Knoxville. It was great to see a mix of familiar and new faces. Through introductions, we learned the new group has varied but harmonized interests. Some issues they would like to work on are community gardening/food supplies for lower income areas, green jobs, energy efficiency and renewables, localized economies, fair wage jobs, public education, and immigrant rights.
We also brainstormed leaders in Knoxville that we should build relationships with. We'll use this list at our next meeting when we do a one-on-one training. The next meeting is set for June 18 at 6pm, location to be determined. For more information contact the Knoxville Organizer Katie Greer at katie@socm.org or 865.249.7488.
Knoxville Chapter Kick-Off House Party
Hosted by Todd Shelton and Polly Murphy
Friday, June 1st, 7-10 p.m.
3111 Foster Lane, Knoxville
$20 suggested minimum donation
Members and friends are invited to kick-off the Knoxville Chapter with a house party at the home of longtime members Toddy Shelton and Polly Murphy. We will be showing the movie Kilowatt Ours: A Plan to Re-Energize America by Jeff Barrie in their backyard (weather permitting). We will also have live music, giveaways, and food. All donations will benefit SOCM. For more information contact Jennie Caissie at jennie@socm.org.
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Join SOCM!
Your community needs you. Click on the link above to pay membership dues or click below to donate to SOCM and designate your donation as membership dues.
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Block Party at Youth Villages
Thursday, May 17
24 Weatherford Square, Jackson
2 - 4 p.m.
Tabling at the Jackson Generals Game
Friday, May 18
Jackson, Tenn.
5 - 9 p.m.
SOCM Board Meeting
Saturday, May 19
Lebanon, Tenn.
9:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Roaring River Chapter Presents the Hector Black Musicale
Saturday, May 19
315 E. 14th St., Cookeville
3 - 5 p.m.
Anti-Racism Transformation Team Meeting
Saturday, May 26
Lebanon, Tenn.
10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Knoxville Chapter Kick-Off House Party Hosted by Todd Shelton and Polly Murphy
Friday, June 1
3111 Foster Lane, Knoxville
7 - 10 p.m.
Artists for Appalachia
Thursday, June 21st
Charlottesville, Va.
Appalachian Voices is gearing up for a special annual membership meeting and 15th anniversary celebration that will celebrate Appalachia's natural and cultural heritage. Special guests include Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Kathy Mattea, Michael Johnathon, and a host of singers and songwriters. Receive a ticket by becoming a member of Appalachian Voices or renewing your membership. For more information, go to www.appvoices.org.
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"No one can be perfectly free till all are free; no one can be perfectly moral till all are moral; no one can be perfectly happy till all are happy."
- Herbert Spencer
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