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WV Citizen Action Group Action Alert |
February 10 2014 Alert Archive |
Are
you a citizen that wants to do something about the water crisis?
Last
Thursday, forty five people met at a Citizen
Action Meeting. This
meeting was a chance for us—citizens that are concerned about our
water—to make plans together!
We
want to invite you to be a part of the next meeting: February
20th 7pm-9pm in
the hall of Asbury United Methodist Church--big
thanks to Pastor Joe for making this possible.
At
the last meeting, we formed 5 groups, based on the actions we wanted to
take. Here are the sort of citizen-led efforts these we came up with. Come
be a part of it!
For
more information about the upcoming meeting itself, contact Katey at lauerkj@gmail.com
· Citizen
Lobbying
This
group decided to work to coordinate legislative rapid response. This
group is also doing on-hands lobbying trainings every Wednesday starting
at 8:30amat
the capitol. All are welcome.
*Contact: Bill for more information billhowley@hughes.net
· Community
Information Meetings and Community Organizing
This
group is figuring out how we can use some of the smart organizing and
information-sharing we’ve done in Charleston as models for folks wanting
to do similar organizing in other counties. They’re going to be making
a simple toolkit for leaders in other areas to use.
*Contact: wvcape@gmail.com with
the subject “Asbury Community Meeting” for more information
· Billing
Issues and the Public Service Commission
This
group is helping as many people as possible to file complaints about
their water and bills to the Public Service Commission. They will be
holding workshops to explain the Public Service Commission process and
answer questions about complaints. SAVE THE DATES: Thursday
February 13 (6-8pm);Tuesday
February 18 (3:30-5:30pm).
A separate email will be coming with more details.
*Contact: Cathy for more information cathykunkel@gmail.com
· Medical
Monitoring and Women’s Health
This
group created a list of resource people and wants to make plans to get
as many people filling out surveys as possible and getting people,
especially women, the health information they need.
*Contact: Maya for more information chemicalsafetyadvocates@gmail.
· Rainwater
Catchment
This
group is going to be setting up rain catchment models in Charleston.
They’re looking into getting a large shipment of barrels into the
area--some will already be at the Re-store in Charleston this week. This
group is also encouraging other to attend the rainwater workshop on the 22nd
of February.
*Connect with them via Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/
--
Katey Lauer
Coordinator
The Alliance for Appalachia
*Please note: Citizen Action Group will be participating in these
events, but is not leading them.
Saturday's "Moral March" protest of
West Virginia American Water was a huge success! Thanks to everyone who
came out and helped deliver the citizens' bill to the company for the
expenses and burdens we incurred as a result of their unusable water.
State regulations require West Virginia American Water to deliver water
that is "pure, wholesome, potable, and in no way injurious to the
health of the consumer." If you feel like you are being billed for
water that is none of those things, there are some steps that you can
take. This handout,
which was passed out on
Saturday, explains how and why to file an informal
or formal complaint at the Public Service Commission, the entity which
regulates West Virginia American Water.
If you want to learn more about the PSC, and how we can use the PSC's
complaint process to demand that WV American Water stop charging for
their unusable water, come to one of the following workshops:
- Thursday,
Feb 13th, 6-8pm (St. Johns Church, 1105 Quarrier
St.)
- Tuesday,
Feb 18th, 3:30-5:30pm, (Unitarian Church, 520
Kanawha Blvd West)
At these workshops, we will explain the PSC process and be available to
answer questions about formal complaints.
Before the workshop, be sure to call West Virginia American Water (1-800-685-8660)
and lodge a complaint with them. Note the time of your call and, if
possible, who you spoke to so that you have a record of attempting to
resolve your complaint with the company.
Having large numbers of people file complaints at the PSC will make a
difference! If you are filing a formal complaint at the PSC and/or have
decided not to pay your water bill, we encourage you to sign up to join
the WV American Water Protest listserv by emailing wv-american-water-
Please note that
filing complaints at the PSC does not ensure that WV American Water will
not try to shut off your service if you decide not to pay your bill.
February 13: Women’s Lobby Day
State Capitol
WV FREE’s legislative agenda includes the Pregnant Workers’ Fairness Act
(HB 4284) and a clean water bill (SB 373). Schedule and registration here.
February 14: Day of Action: Water ~ Love It or Lose it, 10am-3pm
State Capitol, Lower Rotunda
Citizens from all over West Virginia will demand that government heed
the warnings of the big spill and make strong water law and strict
enforcement a reality. Tickets for chartered bus from Morgantown here.
Contact outreach@marcellus-wv.com for more info.
February 15: Water Quality Monitoring Training Program, 10am-3:30pm
South Charleston Public Library, 312 4th
Ave., South Charleston
Learn to conduct water quality monitoring in your area! Contact Jaimie
Holmes at (304) 614-6699 or
jholmes@tu.org
for more information.
February 17: WV Environmental Council Lobby Day, 9am-3pm
State capitol
West Virginia Environmental Council is holding its Annual Environmental
Lobby Day on Monday, February 17th.
Join us at the WV State Capitol from 9am-3pm for our 24th Annual E-Day
and in the evening for our Awards & Benefit Dinner from 6-9pm. If you
would like to reserve a table for display, and have not as yet done so,
contact Karen Yarnell: Karen.yarnell@fairmontstate.edu
If you have brochures, handouts, signs, etc. please feel free to bring
those.
Otherwise, join us between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. for Citizen Lobbying, visit
displays, press conference and rallying together as we advocate for a
better West Virginia and protection of our environment. Go to tables
located by the Robert C. Byrd statue for information and citizen
lobbying. There will be a Press Conference at 12:30 p.m. WVEC encourages
your participation regardless, even if you do not wish to have a
display. See below for information on what our plans are for the day and
evening. We hope to have a huge turnout this year!
The E-Day Benefit Dinner and Awards Ceremony will be held at the Woman’s
Club of Charleston, on the corner of Elizabeth St. and Virginia Ave.
from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Awards will be presented at 7:15 pm
Kevin Smith (posthumously) ~ Mother Jones
Angie Rosser ~ Linda Schnautz Environmental Courage
Evan Hansen ~ Don Gasper Science in the Public Interest
Karen Ireland ~ Laura Forman Grassroots Activist
Entertainment will include live music by Marium Bria and Ammed Solomon
as well as a performance by Jude Binder, accompanied by Andy Park and a
poetry reading by Crystal Good. Donations of $15 per person will be
appreciated at the door and there will be a cash bar. Proceeds go in
support of the WV Environmental Council’s lobbying efforts.
Please visit
www.wvecouncil.org
for more information.
February 22: Rainwater Harvesting and Water Solutions Workshop, 10am-4pm
Rock Lake Community Life Center, South Charleston, WV
A free & full day on the basic ins and outs of Rainwater Harvesting and
other water solutions. In addition to in-person presentations and some
in person hands-on, this will feature students of renowned water
harvesting expert Brad Lancaster live and presenting via Skype and
answering questions. More info here.
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