This is the first article, in a planned regular series, about youth volunteer efforts related to the goals and objectives of WaysSouth. We invite readers to submit information for future articles about high school or college-aged groups involved in volunteer activities that support the WaysSouth mission.

Students from North Georgia Technical College and Piedmont College in Habersham County, Ga. are helping document and assess water quality impairments in the Soque River watershed. This area is right in the middle of the route initially proposed for I-3. As in much of the Southeast, rapid population growth in Habersham County puts pressures on aquatic systems and increases demand for water supplies. The student volunteers are performing important field work and evaluating data to prioritize protection efforts and corrective actions. Their goal is to ensure available clean water for current and future residents of Habersham County and its watershed. The field work and laboratory analysis include monitoring for non-point source pollutants (those associated with runoff after rainfall). Excessive bacteria and sediment are the primary concerns in the Soque watershed and across the state of Georgia.

The baseline data collected by these volunteers will help WaysSouth as we advocate for responsible transportation in Appalachia. Environmental degradation of head water streams and vital drinking water supplies frequently occurs when massive highway projects are constructed through an area. Excessive runoff and sedimentation associated with such highway construction was most recently evident in our area with the widening of U.S. 441 between Tallulah Falls and Clayton. By having data to document existing water quality conditions, WaysSouth will be armed with evidence to support transportation solutions that do minimal damage to water supplies and the aquatic life that depends on the region’s rivers and streams.

In the spirit of WaysSouth, these student volunteers work to promote responsible use and protection of our resources. Their willingness to work towards long-term resource protection is refreshing. These efforts support the connection between clean water and better ways of moving goods and ourselves around the Southern Appalachians.

The Towns County Homeowners Association (TCHA) was founded in 2004 by a group of citizens seeking to preserve the character and environment of the county and with an interest in bringing its management and infrastructure into the 21st century. TCHA’s seminal founding activity was the sponsorship of the anti-Interstate 3 gathering at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds in the spring of 2005. More than 650 people turned out to oppose the I-3 idea. From that important effort, THCA went on to become one of the founding organizations of the Stop I-3 Coalition.

TCHA is a county-wide organization dedicated to working with local governments to resolve local issues and providing a forum for its members and guests to help preserve the natural beauty of our mountains while encouraging sensible growth. The organization strongly supports the Hiwassee River Watershed Coalition and, while non-partisan, actively sponsors political debate during the election seasons. TCHA members are active in an array of civic and community affairs. Today, for example, its members hold leadership positions with the Towns County Clean Water Committee, the Commissioner’s Mountain Conservation Council, the Towns

County Board of Elections, the Hiawassee City Council and the WaysSouth board. Most of the dues members pay help support important county and state activities. In the past, TCHA has supported the Stop I-3 Coalition, the Hiwassee River Watershed Coalition, the Towns County Sheriff’s Department, the Food Pantry and the Towns County High School Band, among others. More information about the TCHA and its activities can be found at their website: www.townscounty- homeowners.com

WaysSouth is teeming with activity because of the contributions of time, talent and treasure from folks like you.

During these difficult economic times, WaysSouth is especially appreciative of those who have volunteered their resources. You have let us know that protecting the southern Appalachians is important with your actions.Thank you!

• Sam Williams, our newsletter designer
• Corey Osman, for adding depth to our technical know-how
• Richard St. John, who along with Corey, brings focus to our outreach to the motorcycle community
• Jeff Stevens, for lending his graphic design skills
• Katie Dunn, our editor extraordinaire

If you would like to make a difference, contact Chance Finegan our volunteer coordinator at 706-508-3711, or by email at volunteer@WaysSouth.org, Chance will line up your interests and talents with our most urgent of needs.

1.Taking notes at meetings
2.Corridor K in Tenn. and N.C.—building community support
3.Grant research
4.Assistance with rail information, connections and research
5.Data entry

We need your help to build our Image Archive. WaysSouth is collecting photos, maps, graphs, graphics and other images to build an Image Archive. Images are valuable in illustrating our efforts, recognizing our volunteers, emphasizing our points to decision-makers and the public, and attracting attention to our cause. We need images for presentations, meetings with officials and alliance organizations, for our website and newsletter. Please consider your photos, art, graphics or maps that may be useful in presenting WaysSouth. Richard St. John of our Outreach Committee has volunteered to collect and organize the images. Send your images (or image ideas) to Richard St. John. If you cannot send an image electronically, contact Richard for other mail options.

Six individuals have recently joined the WaysSouth board of directors. They bring their commitment, skills and experience to help the organization achieve its goals as an advocate for responsible transportation solutions in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. New additions to the board include from Georgia: Bill Blumreich of Towns County, Marie Dunkle of Rabun County and Duncan Hughes of Habersham County; from North Carolina: Jim Grode of Jackson County and Don McGowan of Haywood County; and from Tennessee: Axel Ringe of Jefferson County.

Bill Blumreich served on the original steering committee for the Stop I-3 Coalition, Inc. He is one of the founders of the Towns County Homeowners Association, one of our first and most active supporting organizations. He has been involved in a number of local and regional efforts to establish responsible practices with respect to the environment in which we live. He is retired from Exxon/Mobil where he was responsible for the technical/risk/ reward/economic evaluation of exploration projects. His advice, along with his financial expertise, will be invaluable as we work to strengthen the financial underpinnings of our organization and as the study of I-3 begins.

Marie Dunkle is an environmental health and safety consultant. She certifies organizations for international quality and environmental health and safety standards. She has significant knowledge of the chemical and nuclear industries. She is project manager for this newsletter.

Duncan Hughes is the Watershed Coordinator for the Soque Watershed Partnership and is an environmental specialist. As chair of the Volunteer, Supporters, and Affiliates Committee, he continues to help build alliances with a broad spectrum of Supporting Org-anizations and leads efforts to engage more volunteers with WaysSouth, enabling the organization to greatly increase its capacity.

Jim Grode is an environmental lawyer with experience in transportation law and policy. He strongly believes that appropriate and integrated transportation policy is essential to any attempt to achieve land use, air quality and other environmental goals.

Don McGowan is an award-winning nature photographer and creator of acclaimed nature audio/visual slide programs with a major interest in the fields of conservation and environmental photojournalism. You will soon be seeing the results of his work on the WaysSouth Web sites and brochures.

Axel Ringe is a noted environmentalist. He has a deep understanding of the geographic area and political arena that are a part of the I-3 and Corridor K plans. As a retired senior scientific analyst, he has experience in the design, development and implementation of computerized databases.

These six new WaysSouth directors add depth to an already exceptional board of directors working to protect southern Appalachia.