February 2005 Dallas Sierra Club The Compass www.dallassierraclub.org February’s Program: Texas Fishing on page 1 Portrait of a Passionate Environmentalist: An Interview With Margie Haley on page 1 Walking the Ouachita: On page 6 February 2005 The Compass A monthly publication of the Dallas Sierra Club F E B R U A R Y ’ S P R O G R A M Paul Huston holding his 'catch-of-the-day' on a Sierra Club fishing out- ing in Minnesota in September 2004." f you're like me and you grew up here in Texas, chances are pretty good you spent a lot of time fishing on one of our many area lakes. Some of my fond- Iest memories are the times I spent with my grandfather out on Lake Whitney - either helping him bait the trot line, checking the trot line, fishing for hours on our floating barge, or fishing right off the boat on one of the many alcoves out by White Bluff. Whatever the occasion, I learned to love fishing at an early age. My grandfather and I would bring home a whole basket full of crappie and channel Portrait of a Passionate Environmentalist catfish (after he cleaned them of course - my grandmother wouldn't let them in the house until they had been cleaned and filleted) and then my grandmother An Interview With Margie Haley would fry them up for supper. The fish might have been filled with mercury, her- bicides and other toxic chemicals 35 - 40 years ago, but at least we didn't know By Laurie Orloff and The Audubon Society, Margie has just recently been elected Trustee of the Dallas about it then and they tasted great. argie Haley was enjoying herself by Historic Tree Coalition. She has won After I grew up and had my own boys, we too spent time fishing on Texas' lakes the fireplace on one of the coldest awards such as the Individual and creeks, but our fishing has always been on the catch and release program. Mdays of the year when she was Environmental Excellence Award; the Granted part of it was simply because I always hated having to kill and clean the interrupted by the doorbell. She got up to let Citizens' Award for the Hazardous Waste fish. But also, one of the downsides of being an informed environmentalist is me in, greeted me, and invited me to join Task Force of Dallas County; the summed up by a phrase in Bob Seger's song "Against The Wind" which states, her at the hearth. She immediately began Conservation Medal from the Daughter's of "I wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then." But with knowledge comes to explain that the fire was heating the the American Revolution; the Keep Dallas power; now that we are fully aware of the causes of mercury and chemical con- entire room and how she and her husband Beautiful Public Education Award and the tamination of our creeks, rivers and lakes, we can take proactive steps to help efficiently used sky and fluorescent lighting, High Country Citizen's Alliance Volunteer of reduce or eliminate the contamination hazards. double pane glass insulated windows, fans, the Year Award to name just a few. She is This month we have an exciting panel of speakers that will talk to us about and ingenuity to keep their cozy, but spa- Co-chair of Sustainable Dallas, a non-profit some of the most beautiful watersheds in the country right here in our own back- cious home on White Rock Lake comfort- organization, which among many things, yard, and some of the challenges they are facing from mercury contamination to able for all seasons. brings in speakers to educate businesses invasive aquatic vegetation to habitat degradation. White Rock Lake is where Margie's great on becoming more environmentally sus- Ed Parten with Texas Black Bass Unlimited (T.B.B.U.) and Sensible grandfather, A.A. Jackson purchased land tainable. She holds this position along with Management of Aquatic Resources Together (SMART) will talk to us about some and settled many years ago (the sailors of architect, Gary Olp, who builds sustainable of the challenges and success stories TBBU and SMART are experiencing. the Corinthian Sailing Club at White Rock buildings, and small business owner, Tom TBBU is a non-profit organization comprised of anglers, environmentalists, con- Lake know exactly where Jackson Point is). Kemper, who sells environmentally sensi- servationists, public health advocates and industry leaders to improve and pro- A.A. Jackson also started the very first tive office products. In addition to putting on tect our fisheries, environment and habitat of Texas. SMART is a coalition of over downtown farmers market in Dallas. yearly conferences, Sustainable Dallas 300,000 members that have come together to create a healthier system of Respect for the gifts of the land has a recently provided the funding for Jill Jordan, aquatic vegetation management. The coalition was formed because of their long history in Margie's heritage. "My father Dallas Assistant City Manager, one of her strong common belief that herbicides used in fresh water drinking systems and would take me on hunting and fishing trips staff members, and two SMU professors to the destruction of aquatic habitat through the use of these chemicals is destroy- and always taught me to leave the land in attend a week-long course called "Beyond ing our natural heritage and the health of our citizens. better condition than when I found it, " Sustainability" at the Darden Business Tim Cook with the Bass Anglers Sportsmen Society will also be here to talk to Margie fondly recalled. College at the University of Virginia. us about "Natural Allies" - how sports fishermen and environmentalists are work- Margie is a fascinating woman- a pas- Sustainable Dallas will be meeting with ing together to help create healthier aquatic habitats. sionate environmentalist who doesn't just them this month to discuss what they can Lastly, Karen Hadden with the Sustainable Energy and Economic walk her talk - she "sprints" it. Her unbound do to help SMU move towards a goal of Development (S.E.E.D.) Coalition will be here to talk to us about some of the energy and enthusiasm for healing Gaia is becoming more environmentally sustain- mercury risks and advisory warnings concerning the consumption of fish in parts admirable. She and her husband, John, set able. Politically, Margie has brought a lot of of our Texas area lakes. up the "Planetary Trust" fund which pro- attention to Sustainable Dallas. "We need Come find out how you too can get involved to help clean up Texas' waterways vides financial aid to causes they feel are people of power and influence to let other and fisheries, to return them to their pristine and natural states, and to help most effective in helping the environment. people of power and influence know about ensure that future generations can enjoy them just like we have. Margie emphasized, "How can you not be the conferences that Sustainable Dallas involved? This is our nest and we're mess- puts on. That is how we can effect change. Bryan Carpenter ing it up. There is a lot we can do individu- People at the top can effect change, and we Program Chair ally to help improve our environment." have seen it happen." "The whole family is involved," she Margie guided me out the front door into explained. "Our daughter, Kimberly, has her yard, and, without missing a step, she started a non-profit organization called segued from explaining what Sustainable The Dallas Sierra Club’s general meet- Hornet 'Globe Aware,' in which her son Greg also Dallas was about to showing me what a ings are held the second Wednesday of participates." Globe Aware is an organiza- sustainable yard is all about. First, she Greenhill School each month. Meetings are open to all tion that offers participants opportunities to pointed towards the "Galvalume" roof on Spring Valley vacation in distant lands, living among the their home and mentioned that it is so interested persons. The meetings are indigenous people, while helping to durable; it can last up to 400 years. It also held at Greenhill School located at empower the host communities in creating saved them a good chunk on homeowners the corner of Midway and Spring Valley. Please enter from Hornet renewable, sustainable programs (see insurance. She explained that the rain that Midway Tollway www.globeaware.org). 'Sustainability' is quite falls on this "Galvalume" metal roof goes Drive. Check www.dallasseirraclub.org for the buzzword in the Haley home. from the gutters into three 3,000-gallon directions. (Mapsco 14F) In addition to being a member of The rainwater catchment tanks, which are LBJ Freeway League of Women Voters, The Sierra Club, The Dallas County Corporate Recycling See Margie Haley on Council, The Recycling Coalition of Texas Page 3 The Compass February 2005 1 The Compass GENERAL February 2005 Letter from Chair Volume 100, Issue 0205 CALENDAR The Compass is the monthly publication of the Dallas Regional Group of the Sierra Club. Members of the Dallas Group support The 2/2 • 3/2 First Wednesday. Executive Thank You Compass and receive the publication as part of Committee Meeting 6:30PM at REI 2nd It is with deep gratitude that I say Thank You to all of you who contributed to our their membership benefits. floor meeting room (I-635 between Welch Campaign 2004 donation appeal. The generous response of our members and friends Road & Midway Road, MAPSCO 14Q), to Opt Out: You can download and view The affirmed my belief that our volunteers' time and energy is best used in work that discuss Club projects, policy and advances the mission of the Sierra Club rather than in fundraising events.