Earth Share
of
Georgia
Green at Work Online
Welcome
to the December issue of Green at Work Online. This is your monthly newsletter
of environmental volunteer opportunities, special eco-events, and news from
Earth Share of Georgia, the nonprofit federation of 64 local, national and
international environmental groups. In this issue:
·
Events
·
Eco-News
·
Holiday Shopping to Benefit the Environment
·
End of the Year Contributions
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Artist Reception - The Altamaha River Bioreserve staff will host an artist reception on December 4 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. to honor Lydia Thompson, a St. Simons Island nature artist. Ms. Thompson recently illustrated a scene of several shorebirds that inhabit the Altamaha River Sound exclusively for The Nature Conservancy. The design will be featured on T-shirts available through the Altamaha office. T-shirts will be available beginning December 1 and will sell for $15 for short-sleeve shirts and $20 for long-sleeve shirts. To RSVP for the reception, please e-mail Christine Griffiths, Outreach Coordinator for the Altamaha River Bioreserve, or call 912-437-2161.
Open House - Everyone is invited to attend The Nature Conservancy's Open House/Volunteer Appreciation event on January 24, 2002 from 5pm to 7pm. There will be information regarding our current projects, and special awards for our volunteers. Snacks and beverages will be provided. For directions, please email Beth Bays, or call 404-873-7979, extension 224.
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Fly Tying - Learn and share information about fly tying by e-mailing Steve Beck, or calling 770-992-5677.
Hooch Double Header – Between now and the end of December, you can go to the upper river at daylight, perhaps Jones Bridge or Island Ford, and spin fish for a couple of hours. Then go get some breakfast. Afterward, head down to the DH section with your fly rod to finish a perfect day.
"If people concentrated on the really important things,
there'd be a shortage of fishing rods."
~Doug
Larson~
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Holiday Festivities - Blast off for the Riverkeeper's annual X-mas Party on Friday, December 7 at the Tabernacle from 8:00pm - 1:00am. UCR is launching an intergalactic journey to the galaxy's premier holiday extravaganza to benefit children and the environment. Out of this world entertainment by B-52's and Mother's Finest. Wear your holiday finery. For more information call or e-mail Sandy Layton at 404.352.9828 ext. 12 or or visit: www.xmasparty.org.
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Baby 6 Gap Training Ride has its challenges on December 2 at 10 a.m. This is rolling ride sprinkled with six short but steep ascents that will demand the best of your climbing legs. It starts at the REI in Perimeter Center, near the new Sandy Springs MARTA station, on the north line. For more information go to Atlanta Bicycle Campaign website.
Peachtree/Lee Street Bike Lane Ride on December 8 at 10 a.m. This ride is along the route that ABC is working for bike lanes on Peachtree/Lee Streets. The ride is approx. 22 miles and is at a moderate pace. Meet at Centennial Olympic Park at the corner of Centennial Olympic Park Drive (formerly known as Techwood Drive) and Baker Street. HELMETS REQUIRED. Contact Tommy at 404-315-0938
Fun Ride on December 16 at
10:30 a.m. An easy, in-town ride for
fun and a little education. A 10 to 15 mile ride, touring a different part of
Atlanta each time. Expect a few stops along the way to observe bike hazards or
bike-friendly facilities. Meet in Little Five Points (corner of Euclid and
Moreland Ave.) by theVillage Coffee Shop. HELMETS REQUIRED. No ride if raining.
E-mail Pam or call 770-319-8888.
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Holiday Party - Join TGC for its Holiday Party with food and drink on December 4 from 6–8 p.m. at the Convservancy's office, 1776 Peachtree Street, Suite 400 South. Children's activities and "gifts for nature" crafts to take home. Meet and talk with the Conservancy staff. Please RSVP Bonnie Jackson, 404-876-900 ext. 18.
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Yule Log Celebration - Join us December 14 for an evening of music, refreshments, and fun as we follow a candlelight path through the woods to a bonfire for storytelling and a search for the fabled Yule log. No pre-registration required. 770-603-4188
Holiday Open House-
Celebrate
the season at the Garden on Sunday, December 2,
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm in the Visitor Center & Conservatory. Wind your way through the enchanted forest
to Father Christmas' hidden dwelling, enjoy holiday storytelling, and listed to
musical entertainment by the Classic City Band, Montessori School Choir, and
the Solstice Sisters. Please contact
Kathie Robinson at 706-542-6014 for more information.
Greenery Wreaths- Brighten the door of your home with a live wreath that you make in these workshop sessions - Session1: Thursday, December 6, 6:30 – 8:30 pm and Session II: Friday, December 7, 9:00 – 11:00 am. Wreaths are made on wire frames with greenery collected from the Garden. Materials are harvested just prior to the class to ensure that they will last throughout the holiday season. Bring your own pruning shears. Contact Jeannette Coplin, Director of Horticulture and Grounds, 706-542-6152. Members $18; non-members $20.
HerbFest Display - The
Garden is pleased to display the work of several University of Georgia
undergraduates who completed the fall semester course "Herbs, Spices, and
Medicinal Plants" under the instruction of Dr. Jim Affolter, Director of
Research, State Botanical Garden, and Dr. David Giannasi, Associate Professor,
Department of Botany, UGA. The students' projects, chosen by Drs. Affolter and
Giannasi, are components of a class HerbFest. Past years' projects have ranged from
preparing herbal first aid kits to cooking with herbs. This year's projects
will be on display from December 9- 13 in
the Visitor Center/Conservatory. Be sure to view this display when you visit
the Garden in December.
Holiday Music Recital - Musical melodies will fill the walls of the Day Chapel on December 16 from 3-4 p.m. as Flutist Ronald Waln and Pianist Margaret Stahl combine for a spectacular perfomance of holiday music by composers such as Gershwin, Mouquet, Griffes, DeBussy and Joplin. Get in the holiday spirit with this fun festivity. Free and open to the public. E-mail Ginger or call 706-542-6152.
Garden Story Hour - The
Garden's Education staff invites you and your little ones to listen to delightful,
interactive stories at our Garden Story Hour December 12
and 19, January 9 and 16 from 10-11 a.m. Story themes will revolve around plants and
other aspects of nature and will be followed by brief walks and activities in
different parts of the Garden. Appropriate for children ages 2-5 and parent
helpers. Program is free but space is limited, so please pre-register by
calling 706-542-1244
Winter Celebration - Children will delight in this holiday craft class on December 18 from 4-6 p.m. as they create scented, gel-filled candles for holiday gifts! Candles will be decorated with natural materials such as dried flowers, small pinecones, and other plant surprises. Children, ages 7-12, will make at least three candles to take home. Danielle Roney, an Atlanta sculptor, teaches the class. Fees are $8 for members, $10 non-members and include all supplies and materials. Call 706-542-1244 to register.
Make Your Own Holiday Centerpiece
- Bring your favorite container and pruning shears to construct your own
holiday centerpiece on Thursday, December 20 from
9 a.m. to noon. Greenery harvested at the Garden provides a wide range of
materials to suit your taste and design. Each participant will create one
arrangement. Members $15; non-members $17
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Earth Day Planning Committee - Meeting of the 5th Annual Down to Earth Day Planning Committee on December 10 at 6 p.m. We will have a preliminary discussion of the event and possible subcommittee areas. If you are interested in silent auctions, event planning or general fundraising, we'd love to have your participation. Please respond to Blake Eno by Wednesday, December 5th.
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Tree Plantings - Many opportunities to help plant trees around in-town neighborhoods this month. E-mail Greg Levine or call 404-522-4097 for more details:
December 1 – Midtown
December 8 – Virginia Highlands
December 15 – Adair Park/Sylvan Hills
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"A nature lover is a person
who, when treed by a bear, enjoys the view."
~Anonymous~
More details are available on the Earth Share calendar and will be included in future Green at Work Online editions:
January More tree plantings with Trees Atlanta
February Greenprints 2002 – Sustainable Communities by Design
March Environmental Education Alliance 2002 Annual Conference
April Down To Earth Day events
Youth Environmental Symposium
May Bike There 2002
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Earth Share is leading an effort to plant thousands of trees to create a living memorial honoring the victims of the September 11 attacks on America, and as a tribute to those who serve our country at home and abroad. The "Tribute Trees" initiative is planned for Earth Day, April 22, 2002.
Earth Share will donate enough trees to honor each of the victims of September 11. The trees will be planted in a memorial site designated by American Forests, an Earth Share founding member that has protected trees and forests since 1875. The program will coincide with a national campaign to devote Earth Day to promote the planting of trees around homes and neighborhoods as a way to save energy, clean the air and water, and protect wildlife. The memorial site will be chosen, in part, on the basis of where the trees are most needed for environmental restoration. Employees at participating workplaces will also be able to contribute a portion of their donation to the "Tribute Trees" program. To particpate, visit the Earth Share website.
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Now you can help Earth Share and the environment by doing something you may already do – investing. With Calvert Giving Fund, you may set up a philanthropic account that operates like a 'personal foundation.' Then, on your own timetable, you can recommend Earth Share to receive funds from the account. You will get an immediate tax deduction for the amount of your gift. Meanwhile, money in the Giving Fund is invested in an array of socially responsible mutual fund and community development investment pools (which may appreciate in value), allowing donors to potentially give more and to make a further social impact through investing in jobs, homes and lives!
Earth Share is also included in Calvert's special philanthropic opportunities, or you may make a direct donation to us here. To have more information about Calvert Giving Fund sent to you, please visit their site. However you choose to help, Earth Share thanks you for your support!
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The November 2nd Metro section of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution featured The Nature Conservancy's continued protection at Broxton Rocks Preserve. TNC is currently fundraising to double the existing preserve and create a protective buffer around this fragile sandstone and longleaf pine habitat. The organization is working closely with the nearby community of Douglas, Georgia and with supporters throughout the state to save this unique area. If you would like a copy of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution article or are interested in making a tax-deductible donation toward this special project, please e-mail Tami Willadsen or call, 404-873-7979, ext. 235.
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Atlanta is rated the worst big city in North America in which to ride a bike, according to Bicycling Magazine. In their November 2001 issue, the magazine unveiled a major assessment of the best and the worst. Atlanta shared "worst" honors with Houston, Texas.
The magazine ratings were based on comparing bicycle facilities and accommodations between cities. When comparing Metro Atlanta with less than 50 miles of bicycle accommodations to highly rated cities like Portland, Oregon, which boasts over 200 miles of bike lanes, bike boulevards and paths, or Seattle, WA which commits millions of dollars an each year to bicycle facilities, it is easy to understand why Atlanta was chosen last.
"Atlanta has the right ingredients for good cycling conditions: warm weather and a healthy group of cyclists and advocates. And with lousy air quality, it would make sense for the city to get people onto bikes. But no: There are paltry few bike lanes in the whole city, none where they're really needed. A shame: 120 bike racks ($40,000+ worth, procured for the 1996 Olympics) have been sitting in a warehouse for the last five years. [This] sums up Atlanta's commitment to bikes - plenty of resources, zero effort."
Other cities rated poorly in past years have taken the ranking as a challenge. In response, they have increased funding for bicycle projects, hired new bicycle coordinators, and worked directly with grass roots groups of cycling advocates.
"We see this as an opportunity to focus on long-overdue bicycle facilities in the city and the entire metro area," said Dennis Hoffarth, Executive Director of the Atlanta Bicycle Campaign. "We hope to be back in Bicycling Magazine soon, listed as a city which turned it around!"
Bicycling Magazine is the world's
largest consumer cycling publication with over 1.8 million readers.
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Alice Rolls, Executive Director of Earth
Share of Georgia, was named a 2001 Outstanding Atlantan in a ceremony led by
Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell in November. The award is granted to only 10
individuals each year, based on community leadership and contributions through
volunteerism to make the city a better place to live. Past recipients have gone
on to high-profile careers in politics, literature, the arts, and media. Rolls
has devoted her entire career to environmental non-profit work, previously
through The Nature Conservancy, and now with Earth Share of Georgia.
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If you're planning on buying any appliances this holiday season, look for the green EnergyStar label and add value to your gift by adding savings on operating costs. What some consumers might not realize is that even though an electronic product is turned off, it's still plugged in and is consuming electricity. Certain models of Energy Star products consume up to 70 percent less electricity than older product models when they are turned off. Visit the website for more information.
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Whether you celebrate Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, or Ramadan, give
gifts that improve the planet.
If you're looking for books for the holidays, support The Georgia Conservancy and Sierra Club with gifts of trail
guides, other books, and calendars. The Upper Chattahoochee
Riverkeeper site includes River Song,
the magnificent coffee table adventure book by Joe and Monica Cook, and a CD
collection of songs to benefit the organization.
Send a beautiful e-card
this season, save trees and postage, and support the World Wildlife Fund. Or
you can adopt an acre of rainforest, rescue the endangered coral reefs, or save
prairie land by adopting a bison, all at The
Nature Conservancy site. If you
just must send printed holiday cards, check out the selection at the National Wildlife
Federation. You can also plant trees through American Forests' Global ReLeaf Program.
For the outdoors enthusiast, check out REI
and Patagonia.
For general gifts, and a donation to the organization of your choice,
visit GreaterGood.com, MyCause.com, or Charity Mall, where you can click to
save a rainforest with a fair-trade, shade-grown coffee purchase, feed the
hungry with a handmade wreath, or donate to breast cancer research with a
canvas tote bag.
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Remember, all contributions to Earth Share of Georgia and its member groups are tax-deductible. If you would like to give a special, year-end gift, now is the time and this is the place. This may be one of the very best times to consider a gift of cash, real estate, life income gifts and especially stock. Giving long-term appreciated stock offers you a two-fold tax saving. First, you avoid paying any capital gains tax on the increase in value in your stock. In addition, you receive a tax deduction for the full fair market value of the stock on the date of the gift.
These are truly gifts that keep on giving! For more information on year-end giving, contact Alice Rolls, 404-873-3173.
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May you find the nature of
Peace in the peace of Nature.
Happy Holidays to all.
1447 Peachtree Street, Suite 214
Atlanta GA
30309
404.873.3173
To be added or removed from our Green
at Work Online e-mail list, contact Elicia Fritsch.