Sierra Club, Atlantic Chapter, Niagara Group
Minutes of Monthly Meeting of the Executive Committee
July 27, 2004

Location, United Methodist Church Community Room, Main Street, Williamsville.
Art Klein, Vice Chair, presiding.

Attendees
Art Klein*
Liz Kaszubski*
Mike Stroh*
Charles Lamb*
Ginger Ursitti*
Jim Hufnagel*
Richard Lippes*
Gail Seamans
Bob Ciesielski
Marty Grunzweig
Mark Sturniolo
Steve Burns
Lauren Grunzweig
Joe Gardella*

*Member of Executive Committee
First meeting for Member

Business Reports

1. Treasurer Report - S. Burns:
$1320.29 cash on hand as of July 27, 2004.

2. Newsletter Report - Charles Lamb
Needs bios for newletter from ExCom candidates.

3. Introduction of new members (see attendance list).

Committee Reports

4. Political Endorsements - Jim Hufnagel

Jim moved to endorse John Maggiori and Michele Marto for the State Democratic Committee. Steve second. Passed unanimously.

5. Engaging Our Membership - Jim Hufnagel

Discussion on availability of $100 Club money to spend on an event to recruit active members (existing or new). College students at UB are a likely target. Also mentioned Canisius, Buff State, etc. Joe (professor at UB) indicated that student clubs at UB are financed very well through activity fees, so engaging students for Sierra could be done through the UB Environmental Network using their own readily available funds. Joe also suggested having an informal gathering in the dorms on North Campus rather than South in order to get the largest possible number of students.

Ginger moved to use $100 Engage Our Members fund (supplied by the Club) to help sponsor the speaker event that Walter Simpson is planning at UB. We can help publicize it, have a presence at the event, and recruit and involve Sierra Club members. Bob second. Passed unanimously.

The outreach to the UB student group was further discussed, and the sense of the committee was to approve such outreach. Committee formed to Engage Student Sierra group. Volunteers are: Richard Lippes, Joe Gardello, and Art Klein.

6. Niagara Power Project Relicensing Update - Jim Hufnagel and Ginger Ursitti

Group voted last month to sign onto a memorandum of agreement with Friends of the Buffalo and Niagara Rivers (FBNR) for FBNR to represent our interests at the negotiations with the Power Project. It was noted that Audubon may not sign on. Jim expressed concern that they are not covering most of Niagara County due to using only the Niagara River watershed to define the impact area. He will lobby to have that changed. Will update next month.

7. Theodore Roosevelt Lecture Series Update – Ginger Ursitti

Reported on meeting with TR Site and Buffalo Museum of Science. They want us to publicize the Char Miller lecture October 17th at the Science Museum. We can have a table with items for sale, and Ginger volunteered the Group to provide refreshments, subject to approval by the ExCom. Volunteers to table at the lecture: Bob Ciesielski, Jim Hufnagel, and Art Klein. Ginger will also be there to host.

Richard moved to provide $100 for refreshments. Bob second. Passed unanimously.

8. WNY Earth Day

Group ok'd participation in the August 15th Earth Day at the Buffalo Zoo. Steve will man the table and bring sale items.

9. Toxic Waste - Charles Lamb

Residents for Responsible Government meets the fourth Wednesday and second Saturday of the month for those interested in attending.

CWM update.

10. Wetlands - Liz Kaszubski

Lewiston Golf Course. Liz briefed us on public meeting where the town and the developer presented the plan. Lots of wetlands on site. Plan calls for lots of water hazards 11 feet deep.

Bruno is holding up NYS Wetland Protection Bill in Senate committee. Already passed Assembly, and has support to pass in Senate. A coalition of groups is working to pressure him to let it out to the floor.

Administrative

11. Executive Committee opening - Richard Lippes

Joe Gardella was appointed mid-term to a vacant seat on the Niagara Group ExCom. Unanimous vote of ExCom quorum at start of tonight's meeting to confirm the appointment.

12. Strategic Planning Retreat - Jane Jontz

Proposed weekend of November 11-13, 2004. Discussed locations; to be decided.

13. Meeting Minutes - Ginger Ursitti

Submitted minutes from June meeting, requesting corrections and comments. Also emailed today to the officer's list.

Meeting adjourned at 9:00 pm.

Respectfully submitted,
Ginger Ursitti
874-6769