VWC Newsletter - September 2001
ARCTIC ALERT
We have all been shocked and sobered by the events of September 11th. Nevertheless, we cannot allow cynical politicians to use this tragedy as a pretext for the desecration of one of the last great wild places in America, the Arctic coast of Alaska. Our leader, the late Ernie Dickerman, campaigned tirelessly for federal wilderness designation of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (which would have avoided all the present threats), and we must not abandon the fight. Wilderness bills in the Senate (S411) are currently going nowhere, and energy bills abound. Early in his administration, President Bush vowed to open the Arctic to oil drilling (not just exploration), and current events have offered a convenient excuse. It is hard to provide up to the minute information, since events are moving so rapidly, and so we simply ask you to write or call our Senators urging them to vote AGAINST any legislation that authorizes drilling for oil in the Refuge, and FOR any amendments protecting it from drilling. Tell them you are prepared to redouble personal energy conservation efforts to save the Arctic (well, we are, aren’t we?). Ernie himself lived very simply, and used little energy except his own personal kind, and we can do likewise.
Senator John Warner (202-224-2023)
Senator George Allen (202-224-4024)
US Senate, Washington DC 20510
Introducing: DON GIECEK
Thanks to a recent generous grant, VWC now has part time staff help. Don Giecek, whom many of you will already have met while he was working for PEC, Heartwood, and the Wildlands Project, has a wealth of experience in GIS mapping and a longtime interest in wilderness preservation. He is a JMU-educated native Virginian, an avid fisherman, and a bluegrass musician. Don joined us in July to work on wilderness issues in the George Washington. Contact Don ([email protected]) to talk, walk, fish, or have him talk to your group or answer questions.
WORK ON THE JEFFERSON
The third meeting of the “Radford Group”, on September 20th, brought together the dedicated volunteers who are working to prepare a packet of wilderness proposals for the Jefferson National Forest. The group reviewed the efforts of the graphic designers at SELC to bring order and uniformity to our individual materials. Each participant was asked to come up with a description, a map, and some photographs of the area chosen by that person; and most of the results are now in hand. The entire package should be ready in October. Let us know if you would like one. It’s an expensive production for a low budget organization like VWC, but we are confident the material can be put to good use . We have a cordial ongoing dialog with both the Forest Service and Congressman Rick Boucher (who is supportive but not yet enthusiastic) and also with Congressman Bob Goodlatte (who may never be enthusiastic, but will continue the dialog).
SHENANDOAH PROPOSAL
We would like to clear up any confusion that may have arisen from recent press coverage of a proposed 65,000 acre wilderness area on Shenandoah mountain, ostensibly to be called the Ernie Dickerman Wilderness Area. This proposal did NOT come from the VWC. In 1985, under Ernie’s leadership, we did consider a similar proposal, but rejected it as unrealistic. With major road closures involved, it seemed likely to engender extreme opposition from local residents, hunters, and fishermen. Ernie’s correspondence opposing the idea is archived in the JMU library (curated by VWC former Vice-President, Chris Bolgiano). The proposal was never endorsed by The Wilderness Society (the press report was in error). VWC has long supported proposals for two parts of the same area, the Ramseys Draft Addition and Little River (fully backed by Ernie during his lifetime), involving no significant road closures. Well-trained by Ernie, we try to be sensitive to popular sentiment and important questions of local access, and we work carefully and non-confrontationally with local people, the Forest Service, hunters, fishermen, and all forest users whose support is critical for successful wilderness designation.
WALKIN’ JIM CONCERTS
Those of you who remember the stirring performances of Walkin’ Jim Stoltz in Harrisonburg and Highland County will be happy to hear that he is coming back to rally the troops for wilderness. He is appearing in Richmond under the auspices of the Richmond Audubon Society on November 2nd at 7:30 in St. Marks Episcopal Church. Call John Roberts (804-329-0812) for tickets ($10 & $5). Or catch Walkin’ Jim in Lexington on November 4th, appearing for the Rockbridge Area Conservation Council (details from Laura Neale (540-261-1909).
Virginia Wilderness Committee Officers
President: Jim Murray, 1601 Bentivar Farm Rd., Charlottesville, VA 22911 (804-973-6693)
Vice-Pres: John Rice
Treasurer: Juliana Simpson, 11 E. Monmouth, Winchester, VA 22601 (540-662-7043)
Secretary: Mark Miller, 62 Big Hill Rd., Lexington, VA 24450 (540-464-3110)
We have all been shocked and sobered by the events of September 11th. Nevertheless, we cannot allow cynical politicians to use this tragedy as a pretext for the desecration of one of the last great wild places in America, the Arctic coast of Alaska. Our leader, the late Ernie Dickerman, campaigned tirelessly for federal wilderness designation of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (which would have avoided all the present threats), and we must not abandon the fight. Wilderness bills in the Senate (S411) are currently going nowhere, and energy bills abound. Early in his administration, President Bush vowed to open the Arctic to oil drilling (not just exploration), and current events have offered a convenient excuse. It is hard to provide up to the minute information, since events are moving so rapidly, and so we simply ask you to write or call our Senators urging them to vote AGAINST any legislation that authorizes drilling for oil in the Refuge, and FOR any amendments protecting it from drilling. Tell them you are prepared to redouble personal energy conservation efforts to save the Arctic (well, we are, aren’t we?). Ernie himself lived very simply, and used little energy except his own personal kind, and we can do likewise.
Senator John Warner (202-224-2023)
Senator George Allen (202-224-4024)
US Senate, Washington DC 20510
Introducing: DON GIECEK
Thanks to a recent generous grant, VWC now has part time staff help. Don Giecek, whom many of you will already have met while he was working for PEC, Heartwood, and the Wildlands Project, has a wealth of experience in GIS mapping and a longtime interest in wilderness preservation. He is a JMU-educated native Virginian, an avid fisherman, and a bluegrass musician. Don joined us in July to work on wilderness issues in the George Washington. Contact Don ([email protected]) to talk, walk, fish, or have him talk to your group or answer questions.
WORK ON THE JEFFERSON
The third meeting of the “Radford Group”, on September 20th, brought together the dedicated volunteers who are working to prepare a packet of wilderness proposals for the Jefferson National Forest. The group reviewed the efforts of the graphic designers at SELC to bring order and uniformity to our individual materials. Each participant was asked to come up with a description, a map, and some photographs of the area chosen by that person; and most of the results are now in hand. The entire package should be ready in October. Let us know if you would like one. It’s an expensive production for a low budget organization like VWC, but we are confident the material can be put to good use . We have a cordial ongoing dialog with both the Forest Service and Congressman Rick Boucher (who is supportive but not yet enthusiastic) and also with Congressman Bob Goodlatte (who may never be enthusiastic, but will continue the dialog).
SHENANDOAH PROPOSAL
We would like to clear up any confusion that may have arisen from recent press coverage of a proposed 65,000 acre wilderness area on Shenandoah mountain, ostensibly to be called the Ernie Dickerman Wilderness Area. This proposal did NOT come from the VWC. In 1985, under Ernie’s leadership, we did consider a similar proposal, but rejected it as unrealistic. With major road closures involved, it seemed likely to engender extreme opposition from local residents, hunters, and fishermen. Ernie’s correspondence opposing the idea is archived in the JMU library (curated by VWC former Vice-President, Chris Bolgiano). The proposal was never endorsed by The Wilderness Society (the press report was in error). VWC has long supported proposals for two parts of the same area, the Ramseys Draft Addition and Little River (fully backed by Ernie during his lifetime), involving no significant road closures. Well-trained by Ernie, we try to be sensitive to popular sentiment and important questions of local access, and we work carefully and non-confrontationally with local people, the Forest Service, hunters, fishermen, and all forest users whose support is critical for successful wilderness designation.
WALKIN’ JIM CONCERTS
Those of you who remember the stirring performances of Walkin’ Jim Stoltz in Harrisonburg and Highland County will be happy to hear that he is coming back to rally the troops for wilderness. He is appearing in Richmond under the auspices of the Richmond Audubon Society on November 2nd at 7:30 in St. Marks Episcopal Church. Call John Roberts (804-329-0812) for tickets ($10 & $5). Or catch Walkin’ Jim in Lexington on November 4th, appearing for the Rockbridge Area Conservation Council (details from Laura Neale (540-261-1909).
Virginia Wilderness Committee Officers
President: Jim Murray, 1601 Bentivar Farm Rd., Charlottesville, VA 22911 (804-973-6693)
Vice-Pres: John Rice
Treasurer: Juliana Simpson, 11 E. Monmouth, Winchester, VA 22601 (540-662-7043)
Secretary: Mark Miller, 62 Big Hill Rd., Lexington, VA 24450 (540-464-3110)