Welcome to the Winter 2007 Newsletter
Season’s Greetings! We hope this end of year update from Coal River Mountain Watch finds you and your family well and in good cheer. In this issue you’ll find a “Holiday Sampler” of what’s been happening in 2007. The whole story would take too much room, but we urge you to keep updated by visiting the website at www.crmw.net and by providing us your email address for periodic email updates and action alerts, if we don’t already have it. With our new staff, volunteers (big thanks to Mark Smith for compiling and formatting this newsletter!), and extra effort and planning, we hope to get our newsletters out quarterly again. Please send us your inputs (letters, articles, recipes, poems, “Remember When…” etc.) by either regular mail or email by Feb. 14 to be included in the next newsletter. If you’d like to get newsletters by mail, please consider becoming a member.While there is great reason for optimism (court victories, national awareness, new allies, etc) in the fight against mountaintop removal, the fight remains just as tough as it ever has been. We still need more letters to editors, letters to legislative representatives, and donations (financial and otherwise). But mostly we need YOU. Membership in CRMW amplifies your voice, connects you to friends, and gives us all solid standing in the ever-important legal cases. We always need folks who are willing to tell their stories—we are in constant demand to host visiting groups and to travel far and wide telling people about MTR, our culture and history, and our struggles to save our communities. And we love volunteers; if you have some time you can spare, let us know, no matter what your talents, skills, or interests are. There’s always more to do than the staff can keep up with. Come in and watch some of our informational videos on a TV powered by the sun not coal. If you’re interested in starting a sustainable business or just fixing up your home or garden to be more sustainable, you may wish to get involved in our Appalachian Community Economics effort. There’s something for everyone, so please stay in touch.
Have a happy holiday season and a joyous New Year! We hope to see your smiling face soon!
The Staff at Coal River Mountain Watch