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Chickasaw Group Calendar

CHICKASAW GROUP FILM NIGHT

Wednesday, April 16, 7:30pm
"Blue Vinyl" at the Power House, 45 G.E. Patterson between Main and Front. When filmmaker Judith Helfand's parents decide to replace the rotting wood siding on their suburban home with cheaper, more durable blue vinyl, Helfand embarks on a quest to find out whether it's possible "to make products that never hurt anyone at any point in their life cycle." Toting a slab of siding, Helfand travels to Lake Charles, Louisiana, the vinyl capital of the United States. What she uncovers there, and in another manufacturing center, Venice, Italy, is enough to convince even her stubborn parents to take the vinyl down. Nominated for two Emmys, the film won the 2002 Messenger of the Year Award from the Environmental Grantmakers Association. Sierra Club film night is hosted by Indie Memphis. Admission is free (with donations accepted) and refreshments will be available. Come early to get a good seat. For more information, contact Tom Lawrence at 901.237.4819 or email.

Wednesday, May 21, 7:30pm
"Future of Food" at the Power House, 45 G.E. Patterson between Main and Front. Is it really safe to eat the food you find in the grocery store? Are we becoming guinea pigs for companies that want to genetically engineer our grocery products for larger production agendas and higher profits? If you have these concerns, come to this Sierra Club film night, see the film "The Future of Food", and judge for yourself. The film offers an in-depth study of the disturbing truth behind much of the unlabeled and genetically engineered food that has been lining the shelves of grocery stores for several years. The Tennessee Chapter Chair Katherine Pendleton will present this must-see program, and it promises to be one of the outstanding topics of the year. Come see this film and get to know your chapter chair. Sierra Club film night is hosted by Indie Memphis. Admission is free (with donations accepted), and refreshments will be available. For more information, contact Tom Lawrence at 901.237.4819 or email.

Wednesday, June 18, 7:30pm
"Overton Park, A Century of Change" at the Power House, 45 G.E. Patterson between Main and Front. Overton Park has been the stage for much of Memphis' history for over 100 years. In its earliest incarnation it was the shining jewel of the Progressive Movement in Memphis, it was the public's backyard and front porch. By the 1960s, efforts by powerful federal and state government agencies nearly spelled its doom with a plan to split the park with an interstate highway. "Overton Park, A Century of Change" is the story of the park's founding, its brush with disaster, and its renaissance. Filmmaker Willy Bearden will be on hand to discuss the film. Old Forest steward and surveyor, Don Richardson, will discuss some of the threats still facing the Park after 100 years. Sierra Club film night is hosted by Indie Memphis. Admission is free (with donations accepted), and refreshments will be available. Come early to get a good seat. For more information, contact Tom Lawrence at 901.237.4819 or email.

MEETINGS & PROGRAMS

First Thursday Monthly Gathering
May 1 & June 5, 5:30-7:00pm at Otherlands, 641 South Cooper, Memphis, Tennessee. Join us for the Chickasaw Group's "First Thursday" monthly gathering where Sierra Club members, activists and friends can meet in a casual setting to talk about issues and interests. Contact Juliet Jones at 901.374.0582 or email for more information.

Lichterman Nature Center EarthFest 2008
Saturday, April 19, 10:00am-2:00pm at Lichterman Nature Center. To volunteer to help staff the Sierra Club table, contact Nancy Ream at 901.759.9416 or email.

Memphis Zoo Earth Day Celebration
Saturday, April 19, at the Memphis Zoo. To volunteer to help staff the Sierra Club table, contact Julian Prewitt at 901.292.1939 or email.

Shelby Farms Down to Earth Celebration
Sunday, April 20, 11:00am-5:00pm at Shelby Farms. To volunteer to help staff the Sierra Club table, contact Nancy Ream at 901.759.9416 or email.

April Program Meeting: "Air Quality Improvement Programs"
Thursday, April 24, 6:30pm at the Benjamin Hooks Central Library, 3030 Poplar, Memphis. Jim Holt of the Memphis & Shelby County Health Department will give a two-part air quality presentation. The first part will define the criteria air pollutants, as established by Congress, and discuss the health effects of each pollutant. The second part will discuss the specific duties of the Memphis & Shelby County Health Department's Pollution Control Section in protecting the health of the citizens of Shelby County by monitoring the air, providing the Air Quality Index, inspecting and permitting industry, conducting education and outreach, implementing pollution reduction projects, etc. For more information, contact Tom Lawrence at 901.237.4819 or email.

May Program Meeting: "Housing's Contribution to Global Warming"
Thursday, May 22, 6:30pm at the Benjamin Hooks Central Library, 3030 Poplar, Memphis. Jack Cowan will talk about the current problems in housing that are making a huge contribution to global warming and more recent housing changes that have made that contribution worse. He will then cover sensible solutions for both existing and new homes, that will help to avoid wasted utilities, save money and reduce negative environmental impact. For more information, contact Tom Lawrence at 901.237.4819 or email.

OUTINGS

"Signs of Spring" Walk
Sunday, March 9, 1pm at Memphis Botanic Garden. Meet at the Memphis Botanic Garden Visitor Center. For more information contact Judith Hammond at 901.276.2819.

TELEVISION

The Nature of Conservation
WYPL - Cable Channel 18, Memphis Area - "The Nature of Conservation" is the Chickasaw Group's TV program on the Library Channel. For a current schedule, please check online. If any groups or individuals in the community have a special problem or concern, or would like to see a program on a special issue or subject, please contact Judith Rutschman at 901.767.5916 or email.