Notes from the Meeting

There was a meeting held on Thursday December 5th that had 50 or so in attendance.  (I'm not good with estimating a large group of people, could of been more or less)  Anyway a few of us had wanted to get together to plan and organize a little better than we could if hundreds showed up.  This is why it wasn't "published" here or on Facebook.  Where we need and want hundreds is this coming Thursday (more on that meeting later).

Mr. Furman Cantrell spoke first and stated he had been in touch with environmental experts and attorneys who provided him a list of 10 important and strategic items we must consider.

1. Spokesperson - We need someone who can speak for the majority.
2. Organization Name - We need a name to represent who we are.
3. Letterhead - All correspondence needs to come from the organization and letterhead will achieve that.
4. Notify - Our first step should be to officially notify the land-owners and Vulcan opposing the project based on fact.
5. Involvement - ANY meetings (like the simple one on Tuesday) we must "pack the room".
6. Agenda - Respect any rules or agendas in meetings, prepare beforehand, know what is expected.
7. Support - Enlist support from any and all environmental groups that already have resources such as Sierra Club and the SC Nature Conservancy.
8. Recorder - Hire (or recruit for our cause) a professional recorder/reported who can accurately record all meetings, etc.
9. Specialist - Hire an Environmental Specialist to represent our interests.
10. Attorney - Hire an Environmental Attorney to represent our interests now and in court (this is going to court I hope we all realize).

So as you see, our work (and the dreaded word money) is cut out for us.  Some of this will be easy.  Some of it hard and costly.  Very costly.  One thing I'd point out is that if we are in, then we need to be all in and prepared to fight this when it gets expensive and when it gets long.  I have more to say about this later.

Mr. Cantrell also mentioned how Avery County NC was able to successfully fend off Vulcan from their community and save a scenic mountainside viewable from the Appalachian Trail.  A book was written about it called "Stand Up That Mountain: The Battle to Save One Small Community in the Wilderness Along the Appalachian Trail".  I've attached the link to Amazon where copies are still available really cheap.
Here is a link to another article about it.

After discussion from the floor addressing our major concerns, Dean sent a list around for people to sign up for Special Interest Focus Groups (just sounds better than committee).  This list includes things like Air Quality, Water, Quality of Life, Agriculture, etc.  His goal is for each group to focus and learn all they can about these specific issues in regards to aggregate mining.  These lists will be available this Thursday as well for those who want to serve in that capacity.

One final big topic that was discussed was our plan of attack.  I think (correct me if I am wrong) the general consensus was that we need to continue to pressure Lexington County, DHEC and our State and Federal Politicians.  You never know who or what could potentially stop this planned project; maybe a protected woodpecker, maybe Federal concern over the watershed, maybe an ordinance change by county council, maybe pressure on DHEC to deny permits by politicians.

Anything is possible so we must attack and fight on all fronts in one united voice!