Sharing your time and talents
with the Stop I-3 Coalition

The Coalition has ongoing, short-term, and one-time needs that our volunteers ably step up and fill, enabling the organization to be even more effective in its work.  We would like to know about your interests and talents so we may contact you as the need for them arises.  Positions include monitoring news sources for transportation related articles, coordinating events, and networking with elected and government officials.  Go to http://www.stopi-3.org/volunteer.html to review the complete list of options and to let us know what you are interested in. 

AN INVITATION !

Stop I-3 Coalition supporter:

You are invited to witness first-hand where the 4-laning of Corridor K in North Carolina overlaps with one of the possible routes of Interstate 3. And enjoy a breathtaking hike, spiked with information about local culture, history, and plants. Wildflowers look to be abounding! See the full announcement below for details.

Many thanks to Stop I-3 Coalition’s supporting organization, Southern Appalachian Forest Coalition, for organizing this hike. For information about them and more of the hikes they are offering this summer, go to http://www.safc.org/resources/events.php.

Interpretive Hike with Wildcrafter & Naturalist Ila Hatter!

When: May 17, 2008
Where: Stecoah Gap
Time: 8:00 am, meet to carpool, 10:00 am hike begins
Length/Difficulty: 2 miles/Easy

Space is limited!
Please call 828.252.9223, or email Nicole@safc.org to register for this hike.

Ila Hatter, a descendant of Pocahontas, Wildcrafter and Naturalist, will lead us on a hike overlooking Stecoah Valley. She will talk about the history of the Valley and how the people who live there have used the plants and trees throughout history. We will also talk about the changes coming to the area, with the new proposed road, Corridor K. Our hike will end with a look at some wildflowers and a taste of one of Ila's wild food creations!

Learn more about Ila Hatter at www.wildcrafting.com

ACTION ALERT:
Protect the integrity of southern Appalachians and Piedmont

Dear Stop I-3 Coalition supporter:

As you read in the recent newsletter, our outgoing Chair, Lucy Bartlett asked all of those who have not given yet this year to consider sending in at least $10.

To date, we have heard from many of you. But there are many more of you who can help. Donate now at:
http://www.stopi3.org/donate.html

Time is of the essence as the Coalition gears up to fight the legislated study of Interstate 3 and the Environmental Impact Statement of its forerunner (Corridor K). Both would do serious damage to our beloved Appalachian Mountains and Piedmont – roads that are neither needed nor justified by economic or environmental standards.

As many of you receive your tax rebates, consider sending some of those funds to help the Stop I-3 Coalition continue its work.

Please make your donation today. Send your check to the Stop I-3 Coalition, 1074 Arbor Dr, Lakemont, GA 30552 or give online at: http://www.stopi3.org/donate.html

Join us in protecting our beautiful southern Appalachian environment and communities now!

Ted Doll, Chair
Holly Demuth, Executive Director

ACTION ALERT!
Opportunity knocks: let's kill I-3 once and for all!

In a close vote Dr. Paul Broun, who strongly opposes I-3, has been elected and sworn-in as the U.S. Representative from District 10 in Georgia. He replaces the late Charlie Norwood. Dr. Broun has promised to sponsor legislation to rescind the study of the I-3 corridor. (Visit our 2007 news archive to learn more about Broun's position.)

We in Georgia now need to convince the Georgia senators that the study money should be rescinded. ALL of us need to renew pressure on all of our legislators to vote for a rescission and ask them to work with the Georgia delegation in rescinding the study.

ACTIONS

1. Georgia District 10 supporters of Stop I-3 please e-mail Dr. Broun at paul@paulbroun.com and congratulate him on his election and on his promise to sponsor legislation to rescind I-3.

2. If you are from Georgia, e-mail or fax both Senator Chambliss and Senator Isakson. Ask them to "Please sponsor legislation in the Senate to rescind the study money for I-3, The Third Infantry Division Highway, contained in SAFETEA-LU, the transportation act of 2005, Sections 1702 (2737, 3358, 3956) and 1927. Not only is the new District 10 Representative, Dr. Paul Broun, strongly opposed to the interstate, but this road is unwanted, unneeded, fiscally irresponsible, and environmentally disastrous."

3. If you are NOT from Georgia, write your senators and congressmen informing them of Representative Broun's opposition to the study and ask for their help in rescinding the study. As always, refer them to www.stopi3.org for further information.

To fax, call, or email your Senators and Representatives go to www.congress.org.

PLEASE NOTE: Dr. Broun's correct office phone numbers are 202-225-4101 (Washington) and 706-886-1008 (Toccoa). The Augusta phone number listed for Dr. Broun on www.congress.org isnot in service at this time.

As we flood the e-mail boxes of our senators and representative, please remember that individual letters, even if similar, count as separate letters; copies of a pre-written letter count as one letter; therefore, we are asking for individual letters. You may cut and paste from the above with minor changes and add your own personal experience.

I have called each Georgia Senator to ask for an appointment when they are in Georgia for the summer break in August. If any of you know either senator personally, please contact me at hlbartlett@windstream.net. An introduction from a personal acquaintance always helps when trying to speak to a legislator personally.

Thank you for your help. We have a real opportunity to stop this highway, and I know I can count on you.

Lucy E. Bartlett
Chair, Stop I-3 Coalition Board of Directors

See our latest Newsletter

Join Us!
Sign Up and Help Stop I-3
Before It Gets Started

Stay informed and help in any way you can. Please use the form below to join our mailing list and to volunteer your skills in the mounting effort to stop Interstate 3.

*required

Donate to the Stop I-3 Coalition Thank you for choosing to make a donation to the Stop I-3 Coalition. Simply Click the "Donate" button below. If you prefer to send a check, please make payable to the Stop I-3 Coalition and send to: Stop I-3 Coalition c/o Ginny Heckel 1074 Arbor Drive Lakemont, GA 30552 Thanks again!

What else . . .

• Monitor the Federal Highway Administration website for the I-3/I-14 studies as they progress:
  http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/sec1927corridors.htm
  
  
• Find your legislators' addresses at: www.congress.org . Type in your zip code and all the info's there!
  Personal letters or phone calls are most effective (rather than e-mail).
  
  
• Buy a bumper sticker/ window sticker for $1.00. Call Kathy Williams at 706-878-3349.
  
  
• Get a group of folks together in your county to ask your Commissioners to oppose I-3.

Write your Congressmen now!

Here's an easy way to find the emails, postal addresses, and phone numbers of the federal and state legislators for your area in three easy steps:

1. First, look up your 9-digit zip code, by going to http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/welcome.jsp

2. Then go to http://votesmart.org/index.htm, enter your zip code on the side bar, and click "go" to find the legislators for your federal and state districts. You'll get a web page listing the names of your US and State legislators. For example, if you enter 30571-2710 (for Sautee Nacoochee), you get:

CURRENT OFFICIALS

U.S. Senate
Senator C. Saxby Chambliss Senior Seat - (Republican)
Senator John H. 'Johnny' Isakson Junior Seat - (Republican)

U.S. House
Representative Nathan Deal District 9 - (Republican)

United States Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals
Court Information
Eleventh Circuit Judges

Federal District Courts in Georgia
Court Information
District Court Judges

Georgia Senate
Senator Chip Pearson District 51 - (Republican)

Georgia House of Representatives
Representative Charles Jenkins District 8 - (Democrat)

3. Now, just click on one of the representatives' names to get mailing address, email, and websites. Click on their email address and let them know how you feel about current issues related to I-3. Thanks for your participation!!

Letters should be snail mailed, faxed or emailed. Stress that that I-3 from Savannah to Knoxville through North Georgia is not needed, will cause major environmental damage, and will be very expensive to build ($25 million per mile plus land acquisition).

Be sure to address the legislators as The Honorable ________ and the second line of the address should include the committee. For all Senators, the city line is Washington, DC 20510. All House members: Washington, DC 20515.

GA Congressmen

The Honorable Johnny Isakson, 120 Russell Senate Office Building, fax # 202-224-3643
The Honorable Saxby Chambliss, 416 Russell Senate Office Building, fax # 202-224-3521
The Honorable Charlie Norwood, 2452 Rayburn House Office Building, fax # 202-225-4104
The Honorable John Barrow, 226 Cannon House Office Building, fax # 202-225-2823

NC Congressmen

The Honorable Heath Shuler, 339 Cannon Office Building , fax # 202-226-6422
The Honorable Elizabeth Dole, 555 Dirksen Senate Office Building, fax # 202-224-1100
The Honorable Richard Burr , 217 Russell Senate Office Building, fax # 202-228-2981

Key members of the House Committee on Transportation

Senators' addresses: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Representatives' addresses: http://www.house.gov/writerep/

REQUEST INFORMATION OFF-LINE:

SPREAD THE WORD! STOP I-3 now has a box for exchanging post mail information
and a volunteer to handle this process!

Please tell any friends who need access to our research information or other documents on paper to write to:

STOP I-3
P.O. Box 216
Sautee-Nacoochee, GA 30571

Please mark information requests "Attention: Cora Kelly."
Thanks to Cora for handling this part of our research and public education!