New Energy and Transition News

This powerful interview with a recently laid off miner from Letcher County, KY is something everyone should hear.

It wasn't just another quiet day at the office at the Joe Craft Center at the University of Kentucky on September 13. The early afternoon clicking of keyboards and polite hallway helloes was banished by the bursting of pro-democracy, clean energy chants.

When people stop you at the dentist's office a week later to tell you how wonderful your annual meeting was, you can probably safely label it a success.

A group of KFTC members in Shelby County have been meeting together for several months and plan to petition at the statewide membership meeting in October to officially become a chapter.

In the meantime, 30 people enjoyed food, music and fun at the first Shelby chapter annual meeting September 10. Two of our members, Ann Ellerkamp and Gina Rose, catered the celebration for us at no charge and really outdid themselves with sweet and sour meatballs, meat and veggie wraps, stuffed dates, fresh fruit and veggies with dips and hummus, brie, brownies and cupcakes.

Shelby County poet Gail Chandler read several of her poems, evoking both her Kentucky childhood and her recent experiences helping people in Africa.

On Saturday, Floyd County members Rick Handshoe and Beverly May hosted a group from Church of the Epiphany in Louisville. The group learned about mountaintop removal earlier this year when Father John Rausch spoke at their church and wanted not only to experience it firsthand but to hear stories of people living with the effects every day.