Welcome to the White River Group: Missouri Chapter

 

Welcome to the White River Group (WRG) of the Sierra Club!  We have more than 900 members in our region of the state, which covers 23 counties in southern Missouri. If you are not yet a member or if you have not yet become active with your local group, there are many reasons--outings, interesting programs, causes, volunteer opportunities--to consider joining us.

But first a "state of the state" message. In 2007, the White River Group “resurfaced” after a decade of no local presence or leadership. Several local Sierrans developed a cadre of half-a-dozen leaders and additional active members. We made a difference.

Here’s how:

• We partnered with other local organizations to form a coalition known as Ozarks Friends of the Environment. OFE organized forums on climate change and sustainable living in 2007 and 2008, respectively.

•  We planted a rain garden in 2007 at Valley Water Mill Park to address a drainage problem on the east side of the lake. The garden is thriving and “doing its job.”

• We published a Kid’s Guide to the Ozarks Outdoors in 2009 and distributed it to schools, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, nature centers in Springfield and Joplin and other organizations to encourage teachers, parents, family and friends to get children out of doors.

• We introduced members and the public to nearby Swan Creek and the need to protect it and other special areas in the state as official wilderness sites.

• We organized an environmental film festival in Springfield to celebrate Earth Day in 2007.

•  We developed programs on a wide variety of topics, including geocaching, the Ozarks Aquifer, clean air, the Master Naturalists program, renewable energy, energy and environmental legislation, nuclear energy, native perennials, black bears, living off the grid, wild edibles, invasive species and landscaping for energy efficiency.

• We developed this website.

• We offered outings: hikes, river trips, opportunities to build trails and visit wilderness areas.

 But the last 18 months have seen a slow erosion of our leadership ranks and participation of members in outings, volunteer activities and programs. Cynthia Andre, Dan Crane and Jennifer Ailor are still at the helm. But we each have family members with major health issues, and we frankly need a helping hand from some of you 900+ members of the White River Group.
Until some of you step forward, Cynthia, Dan and Jennifer are going to pull back a bit. Instead of monthly programs, we’re going to see about reactivating OFE to pull together another forum in the fall of 2012, topic to be announced later. We’ll continue to offer periodic outings or point members to other organizations offering opportunities to get outside. And we may develop some discussion groups and a Facebook page.

In the meantime, we would particularly like to hear from any of you who’d be willing to devote a little time to helping White River Group increase activities and relevance for its members. We encourage you to share your vision of what you would like to see it become. E-mail or call us at the numbers below:

Dan Crane: 417-838-9761, dcrane6538@aol.com     Cynthia Andre:  417-581-8318, bullcreek65721@gmail.com    Jennifer Ailor: 417-581-4018, jailor65721@yahoo.com

Program Plans

Because our leadership has dwindled to three people with limited time, we're taking a hiatus from monthly programs in 2012. Instead, we hope to partner with other environmental groups in the Springfield area and host a public forum in the fall on a topic to be announced. It will likely be at the Springfield Conservation Nature Center at 4600 Chrisman in September or October.