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Register Today for SOCM's Annual Meeting and
Walk for Justice
Saturday, October 26th, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. CT
Cumberland Mountain State Park in Crossville, Tenn.
We're just a few weeks away from our Annual Membership Meeting at beautiful Cumberland Mountain State Park. Participation is free, but we ask that you register here so we know how many to expect. Let us know immediately if you need transportation or lodging.
The Annual Meeting is a time when SOCM members come together to elect new officers to the Board, make any needed changes to the by-laws, provide input on SOCM's issue priorities for the upcoming year, and generally have a good time and fellowship with each other. Prior to our normal Annual Meeting business, members of the SOCM Board, Finance Committee, and Personnel Committee will hold a special meeting at 9 a.m. to discuss finances and how best to use our limited resources and capacity and still win big. This could mean changes to the way SOCM has traditionally done things. It's up to you to shape what this looks like. All members are welcome to attend.
Agenda
9:00 am Pre-Priority-Setting/Financial Discussion
11:00 am Official Registration and Buffet Lunch
12 p.m. Walk for Justice (Find a Pledge Form here)
1:30 pm Welcome and Opening of Annual Meeting and Voting
1:45 pm Campaign Updates: Chapters and Committees
3:45 pm Tug-of-War Competition/Group Photo
4:00 pm Board Election and Bylaw Results Announced
4:15 pm Priority Setting Activity and Discussion
5:15 pm Break
5:30 pm Priority-Setting Activity and Discussion Continued
6:30 pm Member and Staff Recognition Dinner
8:00 pm Adjourn
* All Times are Central.
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Each year, members compete in a tug-of-war match at the Annual Meeting. In 2010, something interesting happened. Watch the video to find out what got members rolling on the ground laughing.
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Walk for Justice
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We'll be back at Cumberland Mountain State Park for our Walk for Justice this year. If you're not going to be at the Annual Meeting, you can still participate in the walk!
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Following a special morning session at 9 a.m., we'll be taking a short break to enjoy the beauty of the park and raise money for our social, economic, and environmental justice work. We're hoping for one of our biggest Walks for Justice ever with all of our Annual Meeting attendees participating. Our Walk for Justice brings in several thousand dollars to SOCM every year and is always a good time to enjoy the company of fellow members. It's easy to participate. First, download a pledge form here.
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Attend SOCM's Water Quality Testing Training
Saturday, Oct. 19th, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. CT
Daddy's Creek near Crab Orchard in Cumberland County
On Saturday, Oct. 19th, at 11 a.m. CT, the E3 Committee will convene near Crab Orchard in Cumberland County to host a water quality and Appalachian Citizen Enforcement (ACE) Project training. The training will cover information on contaminates found in the water as a result of mineral extraction (mining, fracking, etc.), how to test and what to test in the water, and how to participate in the ACE project.
The ACE Project is a regional water testing and training project brought to SOCM by the Alliance for Appalachia that will empower residents to learn how to test water in their communities. This data can then be put into a regional database to paint a clear picture of the effect of mineral extraction on water quality throughout Appalachia. Special thanks goes to E3 Committee member Stephanie Langley for coordinating the project for us!
SOCM's training on the 19th will last about four hours and will include a strategy session for how to use this knowledge in the work that we do. If you are interested in attending, contact E3 Organizer Parker Laubach at 865-249-7488 or parker@socm.org.
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Rutherford County Chapter to Host Informational Forum on Affordable Care Act
Saturday, Oct. 12th, 1 - 4 p.m. CT
Patterson Park Community Center, Murfreesboro
In response to the nation's confusion surrounding the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the Rutherford County Chapter will host a free healthcare forum at the Patterson Park Community Center (521 Mercury Blvd., Murfreesboro) on Saturday, Oct. 12th, from 1 to 4 p.m. Donna Seely, a family nurse practitioner, will help attendees understand the details of the ACA and coverage options available to them. Seely works at a clinic for low-income and uninsured residents in Tullahoma where she sees how the ACA can help some of her patients struggling to afford care.
Staff members from Murfreesboro's Primary Care and Hope Clinic will also be on hand helping people apply for coverage and answering questions.
Attendance is free, but space is limited. To RSVP, please contact Chloe Cerutti at ccerutti@comcast.net or 615-962-7598. You can also contact Brad Wright at brad@socm.org or 615-355-9356.
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Knoxville Hosts Successful Bike Tour with over 50 Participants
On Sunday, Sept. 29th, over 50 cyclists followed City of Knoxville's Urban Forrester Kasey Krouse around four historic neighborhoods to observe some of Knoxville's most historic and notable trees. This is the second Tree Tour (first on bicycles) that the chapter has hosted as part of its campaign to bring attention to Knoxville's tree canopy.
"The last tour featured a huge, very healthy 130-year old oak on Luttrell Street that was cut down just days later," said member Jackie Negrete. "We need to raise more awareness in Knoxville about the importance of these trees and how to properly care for them."
For more pictures from the tour, see our flickr page.
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SOCM Says Goodbye to Green Collar Jobs Organizer Katie Greer and E3 Organizer Parker Laubach
We're sad to say that we'll be saying goodbye to two staff members this month - Organizers Katie Greer and Parker Laubach.
Katie joined the team as SOCM's GCJ Organizer in fall 2011 and later took over staffing the new Knoxville Chapter. Katie's last day is October 18th. We'll miss you, Katie!
Parker came on board as the organizer for our E3 (Energy, Ecology, and Environmental Justice) Committee in September 2012. He also helped out in East Tennessee and with SOCM chapters on the plateau. He will be leaving on October 31st. Good luck, Parker!
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Maury County Chapter Members Host Fundraising Concert
Saturday, October 19th, 2013
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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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Bedford County Chapter Meeting
Tuesday, Oct. 8
6 - 8 p.m. CT
Chamber of Commerce, Shelbyville
Informational Forum on Affordable Healthcare Act
Saturday, Oct. 12
1 - 4 p.m. CT
Patterson Park Community Center, Murfreesboro
Maury County Chapter Meeting
Monday, Oct. 14
6:30 - 8 p.m. CT
New Hope Baptist Church, Mt. Pleasant
Cumberland County Chapter Meeting
Monday, Oct. 14
4 - 5 p.m. CT
Art Circle Library, Crossville
Rutherford County Chapter Meeting
Tuesday, Oct. 15
6:30 - 8 p.m. CT
Unity Church of Life, Murfreesboro
Roaring River Chapter Meeting
Tuesday, Oct. 15
7:15 - 8:45 p.m. CT
Unitarian Church, Cookeville
Water Quality Testing/ACE Project Training
Saturday, Oct. 19
11 a.m. - 3 p.m. CT
Daddy's Creek, Cumberland County
Annual Meeting and Walk for Justice
Saturday, Oct. 26
9 a.m. - 8 p.m. CT
Cumberland Mountain State Park, Crossville
*Annual Meeting Activities will start after lunch, but members are welcome to attend a special 9 a.m. session hosted by SOCM's Board, Finance Committee, and Personnel Committee.
Knoxville Chapter Meeting Monday, Oct. 28 6-7:30 p.m. ET Lawson McGhee Library, Knoxville SOCM Board Meeting Saturday, Nov. 9 9:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m. CT Lebanon, Tenn.
Appalachian Public Interest Environmental Law Conference
Oct. 11 - 13
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
For more information or to register, go to www.apiel.org.
Community Shares' Brewers Jam
Saturday, Oct. 12
1 - 7 p.m. ET
World's Fair Park, Knoxville
Go to knoxvillebrewersjam.com for tickets and more information.
Sustainable Tennessee Summitt
Tuesday, Oct. 29
8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. ET
University of Tennessee- Chattanooga, Chattanooga
Contact katie Greer at katie@socm.org if you are interested in attending. SOCM has scholarships to cover registration for a few people willing to be active on sustainability through the Green Collar Jobs Committee.
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"Few things can help an individual more than to place responsibility on him, and to let him know that you trust him."
- Booker T. Washington
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