SPRING 2008

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

 

 

 

Cedar-Wapsie Group (Cedar Rapids Area)

Cedar Wapsie Group Annual Dinner—March 15

Free CF Light Bulbs for Annual Dinner Attendees

 

Senator Rob Hogg has promised one compact fluorescent light bulb to everyone who attends the Cedar-Wapsie annual dinner on March 15. The event will again take place at the Clark Alumni House at Coe College. A social hour with a cash bar will begin at 5:30 p.m. and the dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. There will be a raffle. 

Guest speaker Jennifer Pratt, development planner for the city of Cedar Rapids, will discuss topics including city development, sensitive area ordinances and smart growth. A question and answer period will follow.

Chicken Marsala will be served with two sides. A vegetarian entrée will be available. Cost is $25 per plate. Reservations for meal choice are required for the Coe staff. Make your reservation by contacting Deb Dunek by phone at 841-8670, email debraonthelake@aol.com or by mail at 1628 Deborah Drive N.E., Solon, IA 52333. 

 

 

Central Iowa Group

 

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Eagle View Group (Quad-Cities Area)

Program meetings are the third Monday of each month except June, July and August. All meetings except the May 19 meeting will be at the Bettendorf Library. Meetings begin at 7 p.m. and you don't need to be a Sierra Club member to come. Contact Jerry for information at (563) 332 5373.

    

Film Festival

March 29:  Eagle View Group will hold its third Annual Environmental Film Festival on March 29 at the Unitarian Church at Eastern and Kimberly Road in Davenport. This year’s event begins at 11:30 a.m. and runs to 6:30 p.m. Some of the films to be shown are: Inconvenient Truth, King Corn, Who Killed the Electric Car and many others. The event is free, however there will be a donation jar to help pay for a chili supper. Questions, call Kris @ (309) 797 4416.

 

Monthly Programs

March 17:  Brad Walker of the Illinois Prairie Rivers Network will lead a discussion of the general condition of the Upper Mississippi River with a bit of history and the latest on the Corps' lock expansion and ecosystem restoration project. 

April 21:  Jim Johansen of Milan, Illinois, who operates a small farm (Johansen Organic Farm) raising fruits and vegetables, will talk about organic farming, Farmers Markets and the benefits of Eat Fresh, Buy Local.   

May 19:  Brian Ritter, Naturalist at Nahant Marsh will talk about the history of Nahant, his duties at the marsh and possibly lead a hike. NOTE, this meeting will not be held at the Bettendorf Library.  Instead it will be at Nahant Marsh in southwest Davenport just off Concord Street.

Outings:

April 6:  Pelican Picnic

Shed the last of the winter doldrums with a fun-filled adventure for the whole family. We’ll begin with an exhilarating hike around Smith’s Island. Identify newly emerging spring wildflowers and plants.   Observe numerous birds and waterfowl.  Learn about the migrating American White Pelicans in the coves and on the Mississippi River.  We’ll cap our adventure with a picnic in one of the shelters where we can discuss the findings and sightings of our hike.  Meet in the parking lot of Lock & Dam 14 at Noon.  Bring your picnic lunch, beverage, binoculars and cameras.  Conditions along the trail could be muddy so wear your “grubbies”, waterproof hiking boots and long pants. Reserve your spot today. Call Sheri Colman at (309) 786-8504 or e-mail skcolman@aol.com.

April 27:  Moline Riverfront One Mile Cleanup

Keeping our Mighty Mississippi Beautiful is the goal of this spring cleanup.  Join fellow Sierrans in trash removal along the Ben Butterworth Parkway, in Moline, Illinois. The view of the river and shoreline in the spring is splendid, geese, ducks, birds, and some spring flowers could be blooming.  We might even see some of the fresh water pelicans migrating.  The weather can be unpredictable this time of year but definitely bring along some waterproof shoes or sandals, gloves, sunscreen, hat and jacket.  After our work project, we will partake in a picnic lunch.   Start time 10am.  Please contact Holly Johnson for meeting place.   Cell:  309-912-8110, or email:  hollajean@yahoo.com

May 25:  Paddle the Rock

Come enjoy the Rock River like the ducks and fish do....paddling along in quiet serenity.  We will view how the wintertime ice flows/jams have changed the riverfront for man and beast. Lunch will follow the paddle, bring along a sack lunch and plenty of water.  This paddle is for advanced beginners.   All paddlers must wear life vests.  Please call in advance if you are interested. Start time:  10am.   Please contact Holly Johnson for more information, location and to make reservations.. Cell:  309--912-8110, email hollajean@yahoo.com.

June 22:  Annual Eagle View Paddle and Potluck

Come paddle the Wapsi and Mississippi Rivers.  We got flooded out last year, so, we're trying for earlier in the paddle season!  Come with us as we discover, paddle, play and learn about the Wapsi and Mississippi Rivers.    This paddle is approx 8 miles downstream.  After which we will have our traditional potluck dinner.  Please bring a dish to pass.  This paddle is for the advanced beginner.  Life vests must be worn by all paddlers.  Start time 11am.  Contact Holly Johnson for more details and to make reservations.   Cell 309--912-8110, or email:  hollajean@yahoo.com. 

 

 

Iowa City Area Group

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Northwest Iowa Group (Sioux City Area)

March 18: Tuesday, at 7 p.m. at Briar Cliff University Meis Recital Hall

John T. Price will be reading from his just-published book Man Killed by Pheasant.  Price is the author of Not Just Any Land: A Personal and Literary Journey Into the American Grasslands. His personal essays  have appeared in Creative Nonfiction, Orion, In Brief, Organization and Environment, North Dakota Quarterly, Echoes, The Florida Review, The Christian Science Monitor, and Best American Spiritual Writing 2000. Price was awarded a 2004-2005 fellowship by the National Endowment for the Arts and was also nominated in 1998 for the Pushcart Prize. He is an associate professor at the University of Nebraska-Omaha teaching English and Creative Writing and currently resides in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Price received a PhD in English and an MFA in Nonfiction Writing from the University of Iowa. Price last appeared at Briar Cliff University during the 2007 Iowa Prairie Conference. This reading is sponsored by the local Sierra Group and the University’s English and Writing Department.

April 17:   Northwest Iowa Group of the Sierra Club Annual Dinner. 

Fred Kirschenmann will speak about Sustainable Local Agriculture: Will it replace Factory Farms?

Dinner at 6:30; speaker at 7:30. For tickets and details, contact Jim Redmond 712-258-8303.

“Frederick L. Kirschenmann, a longtime leader in national and international sustainable agriculture, is Distinguished Fellow for the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University. From July 2000 to November 2005, he served as the Center's second director since its creation in 1987.  Kirschenmann came to the Center from south central North Dakota where he operated his family's 3,500-acre certified organic farm. He continues to oversee management of the farm and has an appointment in the ISU Department of Religion and Philosophy.

"Kirschenmann holds a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Chicago, and has written extensively about ethics and agriculture. He has held national and international appointments, including the USDA's National Organic Standards Board. In 2006, he was appointed to the 19-member National Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production operated by the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and funded by Pew Charitable Trusts to conduct a two-year examination of key aspects in the farm animal industry.”  http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/about/moreaboutfred/fred_bio.htm

 

 

Prairie Lakes Group

(Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, O’Brien, Osceola, Palo Alto and Pocahontas Counties)    

Group ExCom meetings: The second Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at Marcos Restaurant on Grand Avenue in Spencer. Contact Donna at (712) 336-2103 or prairielakessierra@hotmail.com for more details about these events.

 

 

White Pine Group

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ALSO OF INTEREST

 

The following events are not sponsored by the Sierra Club but are listed because they might be of interest to members.  The conduct of these events is the sole responsibility of the other organizations sponsoring them.

 

Iowa Rivers Revival—April 4-6

Iowa Rivers Revival is presenting its 3rd Annual Conference – Rediscovering Our Rivers: Greenbelts, Habitats, Clean Water and Fun.  The conference will be held on the Iowa River, in scenic Iowa Falls April 4 - 6th 2008.
 
Iowa Rivers Revival is an Iowa organization working with Iowans to restore and protect our rivers and greenbelts for health, recreation, tourism and conservation ethics through education and advocacy– promoting a vision of clean, free-flowing rivers – teeming with life, surrounded by diverse landscapes and connecting vibrant communities. 
 
Conference details will be available soon.  Follow this link for more information:  http://www.iowarivers.org/AnnualConference/tabid/59/Default.aspx

To RSVP for the conference, for exhibit space, or for questions, email roz.lehman@mchsi.com

  

LOESS HILLS PRAIRIE SEMINAR

FRIDAY-SUNDAY, MAY 30-JUNE 1:  Gather at the Loess Hills Preserve near Onawa for a weekend of exploring and learning about the Loess Hills and this unique Iowa treasure through a series of expert-led seminars on a wide variety of environmental topics and walks.  This event is sponsored by Western Hills Area Education Agency.  Primitive camping at the seminar site or stay in nearby motels.  Meals provided.  Cost: $25 (motel extra). Check www.aea12.k12.ia.us/services/loesshillsseminar/ or call 712-274-6080 for registration.