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Thanks for a Great Annual Meeting
SOCM's 2014 Annual Meeting was a great success! Held on Saturday, October 18 at Montgomery Bell State Park, the energy and enthusiasm for SOCM's work that the members inspired in one another throughout the meeting was infectious! Thanks to everyone who was able to attend.
The day was full of team building, planning, workshops, and, of course, the tug- of-war contest! You can read a recap of the Annual Meeting (and find out who won tug-of-war) on our website.
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Rutherford County Chapter Hosts Benefit Concert for their Campaign to Save the Flat Rock Nature Preserve
The Rutherford County Chapter of SOCM will be hosting a benefit concert on
Saturday, November 22 at Wall Street in Murfreesboro at 8 p.m. The show will feature four local 'Boro bands, including Carter Routh, Terra Meets Gaia, Inert Ingredients, and The Strumms.
 | | The Forgotten Glade |
The chapter is hosting the benefit to raise awareness about our ongoing 'Flat Rock Campaign'. A local junkyard near the Flat Rock Nature Preserve on the outskirts of Murfreesboro has been leaking hydrocarbons into the ground, creating health risks for dozens of families. The land here hosts intricate cavern systems just beneath surface, linking local water sources. This ecologically unique area is also home to several indigenous plant and animal species. Check out the video above by Raffe Stargel.
SOCM members are working to pressure the state government to purchase the
property in order to both expand the existing nature preserve and ensure local
residents have access to safe drinking water.
For more info on the benefit concert, please contact Evan Wise from the Rutherford County Chapter at archimedes314@gmail.com.
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Social Justice Committee Gets New Committee Chair
After a brief summer hiatus, SOCM's Social Justice (SJ) Committee is revving back up to defend public education in Tennessee. With more budget cuts and attacks on teachers coming down the pipeline, it's more crucial than ever for us to stand up and defend our schools, teachers, and students.
Dylan Ross, a SOCM member based in Nashville, has recently stepped up as the new chair of the SJ Committee. The Committee has a lot of energy right now, but we're always looking for new members! Please join us for our next conference call on Monday, November 3rd at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT. For more information, contact Dylan Ross at mdylanross@gmail.com.
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The following is from Tennesseans for Fair Taxation (TFT). SOCM is a member of TFT and as part of our mission to work for social, economic and environmental justice for all, we oppose a tax structure that disproportionately burdens lower-income residents.
Amendment 3 is "Shrewd manipulation" according to The Tennessean, adding that it's:
"an attempt to shift even more of the overall tax burden off the well-to-do and onto the backs on middle- and lower-income Tennesseans in the form of more regressive taxes, such as sales taxes."
By constitutionally banning a state income tax, Amendment 3 will lead to a double-digit sales tax on food, clothing and other basic needs; property tax hikes; and damaging cuts to education, environmental protection, child services, transportation, and more.
Vote No on 3!
Tennesseans can't afford it!
- Vote on Election Day, November 4!
- Vote for someone in the Governor's race
- Then, Vote NO on Amendment 3
- Help spread the word!
A new poll from MTSU shows this will be a CLOSE vote! We cannot afford to sit this one out!
Community organizations, churches, unions, business leaders and more are uniting to oppose Amendment 3, and preserve the right for future generations to decide for themselves how best to meet the funding challenges they may face 10, 20 or 30 years down the road.
Visit VoteNo3.org to learn more.
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Walkers Raise $1,515 at SOCM's Annual Walk for Justice
Under clear blue skies and a perfect autumn day, nine intrepid walkers raised $1,515 at the annual SOCM walk-a-thon. With a choice of hiking, rocking, or kayaking, we all chose to hike on a brand new, 1.7-mile trail at Meadow Park Lake in Crossville. The lake serves as the reservoir for the city and most of Cumberland County, so there is no lakeshore development and the surrounding watershed is protected to maintain water quality. Although we didn't see any bald eagles that day, there are a resident pair who have been nesting at the lake for several years. We did, however, find some bear scat which tells us that even in little old Crossville there's a piece of precious wilderness. When we got back to the shelter, there was warm apple cider, Jean Cheely's famous white chili and collards, and pumpkin bars. All in all, it was a wonderful day and a great reason to fundraise for SOCM!
Thanks to everyone who attended and a big thanks to our nine hikers: Denise Acquista, Jean Cheely, Linda Desmond, Nicky Fitchko, Brad Fox, Katy Heying, Leith Patton and guests, Franz Raetzer, and June Zettelmeyer. We also want to thank Kathy Nix who made sure we completed any official paperwork, tended lunch, and generally kept the group organized.
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SOCM Members Learn About the Environment and Law at the APIEL Conference
SOCM E3 Committee members were a visible presence at the 5th annual Appalachian Public Interest Environmental Law (APIEL) Conference, participating in workshops and tabling in the lobby at the UT Knoxville's College of Law. APIEL is modeled after the Public Interest Environmental Law Conference (PIELC), established in Eugene, Oregon, where once a year lawyers, law students, activists, scientists, and media gather to be a part of the nation's leading annual environmental law convergence.
Click here to read a full recap of the APIEL Conference written by SOCM member Megan Spooner.
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Remember to Vote on Tuesday, November 4th
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Join SOCM!
Your community needs you. |
Social Justice Committee Call
Monday, Nov. 3
6 - 7 p.m. CT
Maury County Chapter Meeting
Monday, Nov. 10
6:30 - 7:30 p.m. CT
Shoney's, 2225 Carmack Blvd., Columbia
SOCM Board Meeting
Saturday, Nov. 15
9:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m. CT
Lebanon, TN
Rutherford Chapter Meeting
Tuesday, Nov. 18
6:30 - 8 p.m. CT
Unity Church, 130 S. Cannon Ave., Murfreesboro
Benefit Concert for Rutherford SOCM Chapter
Saturday, Nov. 22
8 - 11:55 p.m. CT
Wall Street, 121 N. Maple St., Murfreesboro
Knoxville Chapter Meeting
Monday, Nov. 24
6 - 7:30 p.m. CT
SOCM Office, 2507 Mineral Springs Ave., Knoxville
See our Calendar on www.socm.org for more information about these events.
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"Nobody will ever deprive the American people of their right to vote except the American people themselves and the only way they could do this is by not voting."
Franklin D. Roosevelt
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