Cherokee Forest Voices Annual Meeting Minutes
Feb. 9,02
Welcome, introductions and agenda:
The meeting started at 9:00. Those signing in attendance were Catherine Murray, Tom Davenport, T. J. Tolnas, Dean Whitworth, Kirk Johnson, Liz Dixon, Barbara Allen, Amanda Allen, Larry Dunn, Ray Payne, Gary Bowers, Jennifer McCabe, Marcy Reed, Sandra Goss, David Reister, Amy Belanger, Roger Jenkins, Will Skelton, Tracy Davids, Pricilla Watts, Perrin de Jong, Axel Ringe, and Doris Gove for a total of approx 30 at the meeting.
Treasurers report: On file
3. (Decision) Set dates of next annual meeting and our 3 board conference calls:
Our 2003 annual meeting will be Feb 8,03 and most likely at the same location (Tennessee Valley Unitarian Church, 2931 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, Tennessee). Our 3 board calls will be June 18, Sept 17, Dec. 17, and we will keep our third Tuesday at 8:00 schedule.
Introduction of the Tennessee Special Areas Protection Campaign Organizers:
We named the committee, (Tennessee Wild) and the organizers hired by SAFC are Marcy Reed and Sandra Goss.
(Decision) CFV hosting organizers:
We discussed the options of hosting (handling salary, benefits, insurance etc.) for the organizers. After discussion, the decision was made, that CFV is not set up to handle this arrangement. Amy Belanger from SAFC said they would handle this from their office.
Updates and announcements: Copies of information were available at the meeting and are on file at CFV office.
(decision) - Smoky Mountains - Ray Payne gave the following reports, also comments from the group.
Ravenford land swap information is at: .
The Eastern band of the Cherokee Indians are proposing a land swap and are asking for 128 acres of the Smoky Mountain National Park in exchange for some private land they own along the Blue Ridge Parkway. After discussion, the decision was CFV would comment against the land swap. Roger Jenkins made the motion, 2nd by Ray Payne. Motion passed. Ray Payne will help write the letter. Ravenford land swap- hearing dates - Feb 12,02- Cherokee Elementary, Hwy 441 N., Cherokee NC; Feb 13,02- Ellington Hall, Univ. of Tenn Agriculture campus, 2431 Center Drive, Knoxville, TN.; Feb 14,02 - Blue Ridge Parkway Folk Arts Center, Milepost 382, Asheville, NC.
Save our Smokies meeting
The name is changed to the Greater Smoky Mountain Coalition: The meeting will be March 2,02 at the Terrace at Lake Junaluska, NC (snow date Mar. 16,02 at Haywood Library in Waynesboro NC)
North Shore Road- Sixteen million has been approved for the process, study, design and EIS. Charles Taylor, congressman from N.C. is pushing the issue. Sierra Club and National Parks Ass. In Washington are watching for a rider on a bill to approve more funds for the project. .
Hwy 321- The highway project is proceeding. The project will take less than 1 acre of Smoky Mountain National Park.
b. (Decision) - Green Power endorsement: Information at .
and or 1866-522-SACE.
(Decision) - TVA proposed Wind Farm on Stone Mt or Buffalo Mt: Information at TVA web site , or 865-632-1451.
Items 6- (b) and (c) were discussed together. The decision was, any individual may comment but more research is needed before CFV endorses Green Power. The group seemed in general agreement that green power of wind, solar, are positive steps but the question of land-fill gases and bio-mass need more research. The same decision, for the Wind Farm issue, any individual may comment but CFV will not.
Letter to Conservation groups: Catherine Murray reported, letters to approx half of the 78list of local, regional and national conservation groups have been sent and the others will be soon. CFV is seeking endorsement of our CFV citizen's conservation plan for the Cherokee Nat. Forest. Included in the package are, the introduction letter, a survey (seeking groups interested in working with CFV), a copy of our proposal and either a copy of Tennessee Mountain Treasurers and/or address where to get one.
Cerulean Warbler: Catherine Murray reported a coalition of 29, regional and local conservation organizations notified the U. S. Fish and Wildlife ( FWS) on January 31,02 that the agency has violated the Endangered Species Act by failing to respond appropriately to the coalitions's petition to list the Cerulean Warbler as a threatened species. The petition was filed in October 2000. The Act requires that before filing a lawsuit, citizens must give the agency 60 days notice. For more information on the Cerulean see , under Forests.
MIS Appeal: Catherine Murray reported on Feb. 4,02 CFV filed our Management Indicator Species appeal to the Forest Service. Doug Ruley of SELC is the attorney.
Forest Plan Revisions: Tom Davenport gave a report that the Cherokee plan revision is continuing and the(hope) is Spring '02 we will have public meetings, and a draft plan out Fall '02. CFV continues to be represented at Cherokee ID team meetings, and Southern Planner meetings for region 8.
Compartment assignments: Catherine Murray displayed maps of the forest and asked for volunteers to monitor our Tennessee mountain treasurers. CFV will supply training.
i. Dates to remember:
Headwaters to the Sea 2002, Appalachian Regional Conservation Gathering March 22-24 Camp Thunderbird on Lake Wylie, South Carolina
Tour-de-Cut - May 18,02 and Sept 28,02 details later.
Lunch
Scouting Meeting: Amy Belanger, Director of Southern Appalachian Forest Coalition will host our Scouting meeting.
Scouting Meeting Agenda
SAFC introduction- Amy Belanger
(Handouts were given to the group and are also on file at CFV office or check out SAFC web site, , or call 888-836-7378.
Amy Belanger discussed Southern Appalachian Forest Coalition's vision, mission and campaign goals. (handout-SAFC, Vision, Mission, and Campaign Goals)
2. Conservation Vision: Amy reported the CV has 158 endorsers. (handout- SAFC's Conservation endorsement list). The list includes state, regional and national groups, endorsing writers, Scientists, and Pres. Jimmy Carter. The public media launch will be April 9,02 in Atlanta Ga., Summit in Asheville, NC on April 12-13' 02. Each state is planning an event. Tennessee plans are underway.
Great Forest Campaign
Tools Coordinator - Amy Belanger (handout- Great Forest Campaign Resources)
Field Program- Amy
Amy discussed the resources that SAFC will provide to help the states in the Great Forest Campaign.
Virginia Wild report- Blaine Philips
Wild Georgia report- Jennifer McCabe
N. C. Wild report- Tracy Davids
Amy, Blaine, Jennifer, and Tracy each gave reports on Wilderness committee activities in their states. Some of the ideas were: Build local support, support of Board of Supervisors and County commissioners; have people adopt an area; maps, descriptions of areas and boundary; Political support of Rep. and Senators, slideshows.
(handout- SAFC's Wilderness Proposals by State).
Break
Tennessee Campaign:
a. Summary/update: We discussed the package of information: Cherokee Forest Voices Strategic plan and its parts, Forest Watch and Litigation Program, Forest Plan Revisions Work, and Special Areas Protection Campaign; CFV's citizens conservation proposal; and information sheets on each proposed wilderness area (on file at CFV office). We discussed the people and organizations to be represented at future state meetings (convening meetings). The key decisions made were: we need top strengthen action plan, names of who will do the action, meetings with Forest Service and Politicians and community leaders.
Special Areas priority: We have highest, high and lower priority ratings on the areas but not a 1, 2 3…etc.
Boundary questions: Several CFV members gave suggestions and information about the areas and checked our maps to make sure boundaries were correct.
Short/ long-term goals: Short-term goal may be the wilderness recommendation made by the Forest Service. Long term goal, work until all 17 areas are designated wilderness.
Political assessment: CFV has a lot of work to gain endorsement.
District vs. State bills: Undecided. We will discuss this more at a future meeting.
g. Name of committee: The group decided on Tennessee Wild Committee
Next steps: A smaller meeting with key people to strengthen our action plan.
Next meeting: March 9,02 with the smaller group.
The meeting adjourned at 5:00
For your information:
The goals of our scouting meeting are to determine:
The current political intelligence;
The people and organizations to be represented at our state convening meetings;
The special areas already identified;
To set a date for our first Tenn. Convening meeting;
To assess what our group needs from SAFC to implement an effective campaign.
“ State Convening objectives are:
Identify the priority areas and gather basic factual information on the areas.
Profile the targets and their political landscape.
Determine status of support from members of Congress, local governments, and area citizens.
Identify key media in the district and assess relationships with press.
To develop a media plan, including core messages, aided by polling and focus groups.
Prepare outlines of near and mid-term bills or bill (state-by-state and/or regional concepts).
Develop message pieces/brochures.
Identify acquisition priorities to add to public ownership.