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SOCM Parties Across the State!
This summer, we're celebrating SOCM's 40 years of hard work by partying! We've already held one house party this year and we have two coming up in June.
 On Saturday, May 19, middle Tennessee folks were treated to a beautiful piano recital by pacifist, activist and SOCM member Hector Black. The party was hosted by Roaring River Chapter members Brian Paddock and Mary Mastin, and held at the house of Reverend and Mrs. Pat Handlson of the local Presbyterian Church. Thanks to everyone's donations and efforts, SOCM and Tennesseans for Fair Taxation raised nearly $700 each! Thank you to Hector for showcasing his talented skills and everyone who worked so hard to make the first party of the summer a great success.
Coming up...
Knoxville Chapter's Kick-Off Party- Friday, June 1st
Todd Shelton and Polly Murp hy, with help from Rich and Lucy Henighan, will host a kick-off party for the newly formed Knoxville chapter on Friday, June 1st. They'll be showing the movie "Kilowatt Ours: A Plan to Re-Charge America" in their backyard. There will also be music, light snack, prize drawings, and both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. The party starts at 7 p.m., and the movie will begin at sundown. Todd and Polly's house is at3111 Foster Lane in South Knoxville. Contact Jennie Caissie at jennie@socm.org or 865.249.7488 for more information or to R.S.V.P.
East Nashville Family Movie Night - Saturday, June 16th
 Nashville-area members Roz and John Lewis will host a screening of the original 1972 version of Dr. Seuss's "The Lorax," an animated movie about the greed and destruction caused by an industrialist who uses up all the natural resources in a town. The family-friendly event will be held in Roz and John's backyard at 1207 Gartland Avenue, with snacks and both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks available. The party will start at 6:30 p.m. and the movie will begin after sundown. Contact John Lewis at motorstereo@gmail.com for more information or to R.S.V.P.
House parties are a fun way to turn a summer barbeque or backyard party into a fundraiser for SOCM. If you don't feel comfortable hosting a party in your home, house parties can be at your favorite park, a church or community center, or even a business. These parties are a great chance to get to know other members of SOCM and make new friends. If you are interested in hosting a house party, contact Development Director Jennie Caissie at jennie@socm.org.
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Staff Position Open for E3 Organizer
Our beloved Ann League is transitioning out of her role as staff member to pursue other interests. Don't fret! She has assured us that she will continue to be an active and involved member. Ann came on staff as the E3 organizer after being a member for several years. She even served as Vice-President of the Board!
With Ann leaving, we have a position open for an organizer to staff our E3 (Energy, Ecology and Environmental Justice) committee. For the full job description, please click here.
To apply, please send resume, letter of interest, and writing samples with "E3 Organizer" in the subject line and three references to Organizing Director Kazi Wilkins at kazi@socm.org. You can also mail paper copies to our Knoxville office: SOCM, attn: Kazi Wilkins, 2507 Mineral Springs Ave., Suite D, Knoxville, TN 37917. Electronic submissions are preferred.
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Bill Naumann Wins SOCM Gear for Recruitment Efforts!
Cumberland County Chapter member Bill Naumann will receive some fun SOCM gear for his recruitment efforts as part of our "Every Member Get a Member" campaign. Bill serves as the secretary for the chapter and is always a top fundraiser for SOCM's annual Walk-a-Thon. Thanks for all you do for SOCM, Bill. Now you can sport SOCM's name even more!
As "Every Member Get a Member" continues, we're still collecting names of recruiters and giving out monthly prizes. Thanks to all of you for spreading the word about SOCM!
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Staff Visits Highlander Center for Annual Retreat
With such a busy summer schedule and the priority-setting process just around the corner, SOCM staffers took a few days in May to regroup and enjoy some quiet time away from the office. The group had their annual overnight retreat at the Highlander Research and Education Center in East Tennessee. The Highlander Center is world famous for hosting some big names and events throughout its 80-year history, most notably during the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s.
Staffers were excited about getting to know each other better over shared meals and a late night bonfire, as well as having some uninterrupted work sessions. This meeting time was especially useful for the five new staffers who have come on board since September!
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| Patrick Morales and Ann League Spend a Week Fighting Mountaintop Removal
SOCM has worked on halting all forms of strip mining including mountaintop removal (MTR) in Tennessee for the past 40 years, longer than almost any other organization in the state. However, over the years it became apparent that we needed to work in coalitions and with organizations on the Federal level to be most effective. Therefore, members and staff often need to travel to places like Washington DC, and work with federal agencies and elected officials on regulations and laws, and the enforcement of them. SOCM representatives also travel to other states in the region impacted by these deadly coal mining practices to share information and coordinate our efforts with allied groups.
One such trip began on Monday, May 7th, when Board member Patrick Morales and Ann League, SOCM's outgoing organizer for the Campbell/Anderson Chapter and the E3 committee, traveled to Charleston, W.V., where they participated as SOCM's representatives on the Alliance for Appalachia Steering Committee. SOCM helped form The Alliance for Appalachia in 2007 and members are still actively involved in its efforts. It is currently made up of over a dozen member groups, most of which are from states being pillaged by this incredibly destructive form of strip mining.
Patrick and Ann worked on internal Alliance business for a couple of days then attended the United Nations Central Appalachian Women's Tribunal on Climate Justice, also in Charleston. The purpose of the Tribunal was to allow for women from around the world to share personal stories on the effects that mining of various types have had on them and their immediate environment, with MTR in Appalachia being the focus of this meeting. Ann was asked to present on the loss of her drinking water and home on Zeb Mountain in Campbell County and she did a fine job.
Following the Tribunal, the two joined some new friends and allies for a meeting with several representatives from the DC headquarters of OSMRE (Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Enforcement) to discuss the use of coal ash as mine fill. Using coal ash in this way is a very dangerous and disturbing practice that has little or no regulatory oversight in Tennessee, or any other state for that matter. This meeting in Morgantown, W.Va., had been suggested by Alliance members during a DC visit earlier this year to the Office of the Director of the OSM, Joe Pizarchik. It was nice to have our concerns heard by Mr. Pizachik, yet much work remains.
The week began with responsibility and gratitude and ended with more of each. When Ann steps off staff, she and Patrick will continue to work with the Alliance to give a strong, regional voice to the people of Central Appalachia who have been devastated by mountain-top removal.
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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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Knoxville Chapter Kick-Off House Party Hosted by Todd Shelton and Polly Murphy
Friday, June 1
3111 Foster Lane, Knoxville
7 - 10 p.m.
Maury County Chapter Meeting
Saturday, June 2
St. James UPB Church, Mt. Pleasant
11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Jackson Monthly Meeting
Tuesday, June 12
SOCM West Office, Jackson
6 - 7:30 p.m.
Bedford County Chapter Meeting
Tuesday, June 12
The Fly Arts Center, Shelbyville
6:30 - 8 p.m.
Public Hearing on Crab Orchard Permit
Tuesday, June 12
Cumberland County Courthouse
6 - 8 p.m.
Anti-Racism Training
Saturday, June 16
SOCM West Office, Jackson
2 - 4:30 p.m.
Knoxville Chapter Meeting
Monday, June 18
TBD
6 - 7:30 p.m.
Alliance for Appalachia Week in Washington
June 2 - 6
Washington, DC
The Alliance for Appalachia is hosting its annual Week in Washington and several SOCM members were selected to attend! The week includes a day of lobby training, two full days of appointments with legislators and Federal agencies, and a day of action. Go to www.ilovemountains.org for more information. Good luck to all the SOCM members attending!
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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"The present is the ever moving shadow that divides yesterday from tomorrow. In that lies hope."
- Frank Lloyd Wright
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