Protecting New Orleans' Environment:
For Our Families, For Our Future

Hot topic

That's right, City Park is attempting to cover its newly found green spaces with new golf courses. Read about it right here at our new City Park page.

Newly revised Green Building brochure now available

This is the newly revised brochure (PDF 386 KB) about building green created by members of the Gulf Coast Restoration Taskforce.

Jean Lafitte NHP and preserve expanded... finally!

After many years and many false starts, The Barataria Unit of the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park (NHP) and preserve has been expanded. The bill expanding the park was recently signed into law by President Obama.

Nola.com, the Web site of the New Orleans Times Picayune gives all the details in the following article:
http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/frontpage/index.ssf?/base/news-12/1238822638157190.xml&coll=1

See a photo of the park's expansion here:
http://photos.nola.com/tpphotos/2009/04/park_addition.html

Who you lookin' at?

You had better be lookin' at us. Well more specifically, we want you to look at our new Facebook group dedicated to the New Orleans Group of the Sierra Club. Find it at: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=76134098503&ref=nf

Of course we also want you to join our FB group. Membership is open to anyone even if you aren't also a Sierra Club member. Of course you do have to be a Facebook user to join. If you are not already a FB member, what are you waiting for?

Don't forget to drop us a line when you do join our group. You are also welcome to post away on this group. Our only request is that you keep things focused on either the environment or the New Orleans Group or both.

We also want to extend an invitation to all our Yahoo Group members to join our Facebook group.

Welcome to century 21.

Excursion bags still available but going fast

The Excursion Bag is designed in gray with black trim, this waterproof, zippered tote bag is ideal for shopping or camping/beach trips. This is no wimpy bag. It's tough and available for only $10 a piece. That is a great deal so buy yours today. Contact Vance Levesque at H: 529-2089, Office: 837-5105. e-mail: mrkahuna@juno.com to buy yours.

The Louisiana Environmental Briefing Book is now available.

The Louisiana Environmental Briefing Book has just been released. It was produced to educate Louisiana legislators on environmental issues in our state that affect us all. Even if you are not in the Louisiana legislature, it is worth reading because it is chock full of timely information about environmental issues in our state that every concerned citizen needs to be aware of.

The Environmental Briefing Book was produced by:

• Sierra Club, Delta Chapter
• The Gulf Restoration Network (GRN)
• Coalition to Restore Costal Louisiana
• Alliance for Affordable Energy
• The Louisiana Environmental Action Network (LEAN)
• Louisiana Bayoukeeper
• The Atchafalaya Basinkeeper
• The Lower Mississippi Riverkeeper
• The Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation
• The Green Zone Task Force
• The Louisiana Audubon Council (LAC)
• MQVN Community Development Corporation (MQVNCDC)
• The Land Trust for Southeast Louisiana
• Say Yes to Clean Energy and No to Coal and Nuclear Coalition
• Mercy Corps

Read the Louisiana Environmental Briefing Book at the Louisiana Environmental Briefing Book Website: http://labriefingbook.org/ or download the large PDF file (2.89 Mb). It's a huge file but well worth the download time, only a couple of seconds on a broadband connection.

Recent event photos:

See our new events page to see photos that were taken at recent New Orleans Group events and outings.

How can you $ave money and Save the planet?:

Buy recycled Mardi Gras beads for less and do your part in keeping beads out of our landfills!! Join the Arc of Greater New Orleans (a United Way affiliated agency located at 925 S. Labarre Road) and the Sierra Club as we recycle Mardi Gras beads, trinkets and stuffed animals for the 2008 Carnival Season. Our 33” and 48” beads are already sorted and bagged in 30 lb bags and are ready for pick-up.

Place your order now and choose from our best selection. Call Pat, Milton or Vance at 504-837-5105 Mon - Fri 9am to 3pm, or e-mail mrkahuna@juno.com to save $$$ & our planet!!

Sierra Club partners with Hike for KaTREEna

The New Orleans Group of the Sierra Club is proud to partner with an important New Orleans effort to replace and restore New Orleans’ critical urban trees. Hike for Katreena is a non-profit organization founded in January 2006, by Monique Pilie', a lifelong resident of New Orleans who is working to plant one tree in New Orleans for all 2175 miles of the Appalachian Trail that she recently hiked. Monique started hiking on April 9th in Georgia and finished the Trail on October 7th in Maine.

All trees will be planted on public property in Orleans Parish; this includes neutral grounds, existing parks and the green space between sidewalks and streets. The groups will be working together to also plant trees in public/charter schools and get school children involved in these efforts. Hike for Katreena will plant trees that are indigenous to the area and that did well in the storm. The Sierra Club has made a $500 donation to Hike for Katreena to help make these plantings possible and will be partnering for future plantings. For more information visit: http://www.hikeforkatreena.com

Help Raise Money for the New Orleans Group

The New Orleans group is looking for a few good people to help us raise money and keep up the fight for a cleaner and healthier New Orleans. Let us know if you have an idea for a good fundraising event or just help us plan our next one. For more information, contact James Gilbeau at 504-780-1007 or guilbea@attglobal.net or Vance Levesque at mrkahuna@juno.com

Recycling Services available in New Orleans after Katrina:

All the details are on our new Recycling page.

Hey! Before you read any further, join the New Orleans Group's discussion group on Yahoo! It's free and it's easy. All you have to do is follow this link.

Welcome! The New Orleans Group is the home of Sierra Club members throughout much of southeastern Louisiana south of Lake Pontchartrain, ranging from the mouth of the Mississippi River to the River Parishes. We have monthly programs, an active conservation committee, and an outings program.

Programs, Meetings, and Outings

The Sierra Club New Orleans Group meetings are now held at the NEW LOCATION at the Audubon Zoo,
View Larger Map
Dominion Auditorium near the main entrance, 6500 Magazine St. Drive to the front entrance to the Zoo, just off Magazine St. To the right of the Zoo's main public entrance, go through gate and bear right to the Dominion Auditorium (more details here). There will be signs for directions. Doors open at 6:30 pm and the program starts at 7:00 pm. Admission is free and all are welcome.
To get the latest details, call 1-504-836-3062.

Calendar:
If you want information about upcoming Programs, Conservation Committee Meetings, or Executive Committee (ExComm) meetings in our area, go to our calendar or call 1-504-836-3062. General Programs are open to the public; other meetings are open to all members.

Outings:
If you are interested in going on an outing, check out our upcoming outings schedule.

Group action alerts and updates:
If you would like to receive group action alerts and updates for meetings and upcoming events, please go to this site and add your email to the list.