Adopt-A-Mile

BWC members met to clean the club's Adopt-A-Mile on Murray Lane in Brentwood, Saturday November 7th. Enjoying a beautiful morning, members joined forces to make sure that the mile was free of debris. It is a pleasure to make a contribution to our community. All items needed to clean our mile have been provided by Keep Williamson Beautiful.

Pictured from left to right: Liz Martin, Connie Campbell, Mary Marble, Betty Walton & Kathy Casey

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MARK YOUR CALENDARS - BWC ENCOURAGES ALL TO BENEFIT FROM THE FOLLOWING
VOLUNTEERS WELCOME

March 30th - May 4th
Environmental Leader In-Training Classes offered by Keep Williamson Beautiful. KWB is sponsoring a six-week program on how you too can be an Environmental Leader. The goal of the class is "To increase awareness of the beauty of Williamson County and Tennessee and to promote keeping that beauty intact by stopping litter and encouraging recycling and to get more people involved". Classes include education and awareness about individual responsibility regarding proper waste and handling practices and the minimization of waste, recycling, reuse, litter and graffiti prevention, beautification and community improvement, and saving natural resources. Classes start March 30th and are held every Tuesday evening from 6:30 - 8:30 for six weeks.

April 9th - April 11th
Bloom in Garden Show - A 3 day event held at the Williamson County Ag Expo Park sponsored by the Williamson County Master Gardeners. Our volunteers give away tree seedlings with our Keep Williamson Beautiful brochure and up-coming Great American Cleanup and Household Hazardous Waste Collection event information.

April 24th
Shred Days offers Williamson Country residents a chance to practice waste reduction by recycling and minimize their risk of identity theft. This free service held in the spring in celebration Tennessee Arbor Day or April for Earth Day. Also in the fall around America Recycles Day. The event location is 420 Century Court in Franklin from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm. Volunteers unload bags or boxes of papers from participants' vehicles, pass out information and direct traffice.

May 8th
Household Hazardous Waste Day Collection Day provides a great opportunity for residents to rid their garage, under the sink, in the basement or shed of unwanted and/or unusable household chemicals. Old computers, TVs, and cell phones are collected at this event also. The event held bi-annually at Williamson County Administrative Complex located at 1320 West Main Street in Franklin, from 8:30 am to 2:00 pm. Volunteers pass out information and direct traffic.

Anyone interested in information on composting ... check out this website: www.eartheasy.com/grow_compost.html

CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT OFFERS INSPIRATION

Two programs in GFWC's Conservation Department are designed to inspire club women to establish and implement environmental awareness programs in their communities.

City of Brentwood Environmental Quality Coordinating Committee:

The purpose of this committee is to investigate ideas to benefit and improve the city. The committee has three core subgroups: natural resources, recycling, and energy. After investigations and research, possibly by as soon as the end of this year, the commission will begin making proposals to the city for adoption.

A member of this committee has requested our assistance. Ideas and suggestions are wanted. These need not be formally presented, but only clearly presented in an e-mail. Cost considerations should not restrict your imagination. It is requested that if you have nay thoughts on any ways to improve or embellish this city, from parks, recycling programs, air quality, or anything that you can imagine that would affect the quality of life or enhance enjoyment of your town.

Please don't ignore this plea. It takes only a few moments to send an idea or two. You may end up truly making a difference. E-mails should be sent to Lynn Tucker at lynn@bentwoodcoolsprings.org. Mary Marble would appreciate a being copied on these mmmarble@aol.com.

BWC PROUD TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING:

Owl's Hill - Owl's Hill Nature Sanctuary is a 160 acre, protected green space in northwest Williamson County, south of Murray Lane and east of Hillsboro Road. It is an independent nonprofit organization (formerly under the Cheekwood administrative umbrella).

Mary Marble presents a "bouquet" of 19 carrots to Kate Elliott, the Elephant Sanctuary manager. One carrot for each of the elephants currently living at the Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, TN. The sanctuary began in 1995 by cofounders Carol Buckley and Scott Blais to provide a natural habitat home for elephants which have retired from either zoos or circuses. Many of these animals have been badly abused or mistreated and are now receiving compassionate care and medical attention to finish out their years peacefully.

A terrific opportunity exists to become involved in the Elephant Sanctuary. Sponsorships of an individual elephant can be had for as little as $30.00. One can also "feed an elephant" for at least that amount. The funds go to purchase produce and food for a specific elephant. Visit the Elephant Sanctuary web site for biographies and information on the 19 elephants available for sponsorship. What a great way to interest children in learning about these giant and gentle beasts, and to educate them about this wonderful facility right here in Middle Tennessee!

Sissy at the Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, TN

Mary Marble presented Kate with a check to finalize the Club's sponsorship of an elephant named Sissy, providing her with food and produce. The Brentwood Woman's Club chose Sissy for her spirit. In the record flood of 1981, Sissy was swept from her zoo enclosure. She was presumed dead but when the waters started to recede, she was spotted. Actually it was her trunk that was spotted, wrapped around a tree limb, sticking just above the water line. Her later mistreatment at the El Paso Zoo was so cruel that, after they saw the video, the El Paso City Council voted to find her a better home, sending her to the Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, TN.

Looking for a place to take a recyclable? Check out http://www.TennesseeGreen.com on the Internet.

Spring Beautification Project: For our beautification project and in recognition of Arbor Day, we will be planting a tree in memory of Linda Schultz. We met with Brentwood Park's personnel and selected a place behind the library on a hill that is in good view from the outdoor reading area and the periodical room. The tree was dedicated to Linda in May 2009 on grounds of the Brentwood Library.

Collection of old cell phones: We are seeking old cell phones or any unneeded cell phones you or your families may have. Please bring phones to donate to our next general meeting.

Law enforcement agencies and non-profits across the United States collect and redistribute used cell phones to any community member who needs a 911 phone in the event of an emergency. Secure the Call Foundation takes the phones, inspects them, cleans them, charges their batteries, and then reprograms them to be used as free 911 emergency phones. Any phone that can be turned on can access 911 services even without a carrier service plan. The phones are then distributed to domestic violence shelters, senior centers, neighborhood watch groups, school crossing guards and other agencies with an immediate need for "911" access.
Collection of mercury thermometers: The thermometers will be discarded in the county hazardous waste collection in May.

Note: Compact fluorescent bulbs also contain mercury and should be disposed of as hazardous waste. For information on what to do if a compact fluorescent bulb or mercury thermometer breaks visit http://www.epa.gov/mercury/spills/index.htm#florescent .

Kind News: Elementary school principals were surveyed as to their interest in continuing to receive the Kind News subscription for next school year. We will continue to provide a subscription to 5 of the 6 Brentwood elementary schools. We will also be providing a subscription to a kindergarten classroom at Smyrna elementary who particularly requested our help. They will receive the subscription that Edmondson Elementary chose not to renew.

Mercury Thermometers should be properly discarded. Bring any to the next meeting for discarding. We will discard at the next Williamson Toxic Waste collection.

Environmental Leader Classes offered by Keep Williamson Beautiful: Being green has become a national pastime- everyone talks about it. Now Keep Williamson Beautiful is asking that you do more than just talk - they're asking you to take action. Join the efforts to teach Williamson County residents how to do more. It's as simple as reducing, reusing and recycling.