Program meetings are held the 2nd Thursday of the month, January - June and September - November. Membership to the Sierra Club is not required to attend our program meetings, and all programs, outings, and activities are free. Our program meetings include guest speakers who give educational presentations on a wide assortment of environmental topics.

FUTURE PROGRAMS

October 8, 2026 Program: Opening Vade Mecum Historic Hotel at Hanging Rock State Park
 

Date: Thursday, October 8th - Time  6:30-8:00pm
Location: Parkway United Church of Christ
1465 Irving St., Winston-Salem, NC 27103
Social time at 6:30, announcements at 7:00, followed by our program.

Claire Greene, Marketing, Customer Service, Programs & Events, will share the story of the Vade Mecum property, including its historical significance and evolution over time, while providing an update on the ongoing restoration and construction of the historic hotel.
The presentation will also explore the vision for the future of the property, including planned amenities, educational opportunities, community programming, and ways the hotel and surrounding grounds can serve as a place where history, conservation, recreation, and hospitality come together.

Claire has been with Hanging Rock State Park since the spring of 2024. She began her career at the park as an Environmental Educator/Naturalist before transitioning into her current role in the fall of 2025, where she focuses on marketing, customer service, programs, and events.
With a background in recreation, marketing, and event programming, Claire brings a strong passion for connecting people with the history, natural resources, and cultural heritage of the places they visit. She is particularly passionate about land preservation, habitat conservation, environmental education, and creating meaningful experiences that encourage people to appreciate and care for the natural world around them.
In her current role with the Vade Mecum Historic Hotel, Claire is excited to be part of bringing new life to this historic property while honoring its history and connection to the surrounding landscape. She looks forward to developing educational programs, community events, and visitor experiences that connect guests and the local community with Vade Mecum’s unique history, natural resources, and future.

PAST PROGRAMS

Foothills Potluck and September Program: The Risks and Benefits of Permitting Reform

September 10, 2026

6:00pm - Potluck dinner & fellowship, 7:00pm – Announcements, 7:30pm – Program Speaker: Matthew Mayers

Location: Parkway United Church of Christ

1465 Irving St, Winston-Salem, NC 27103

Let’s kick off the fall season together! Join us for a fun evening of good food, conversation, and an informative program. Bring a dish to share and your appetite! To help keep our potluck eco-friendly, guests are encouraged to bring their own plate and utensils.

Our speaker, Matthew Mayers, is the co-leader of the Winston-Salem chapter of Citizens' Climate Lobby, and the CCL liaison to Representative Harrigan's office. He spearheaded the green building initiative for Habitat Forsyth nearly 20 years ago and was the founding manager of the Cobblestone Farmers Market. More recently, Mayers participated in the leadership of the Solarize the Triad and Electrify the Triad campaigns. You can find his frequent letters to the editor on environmental topics in the Winston-Salem Journal and see him speak each month in favor of sustainability measures during public comment periods at City Council meetings.

We have invited our endorsed candidates to join us, and you can meet them before the program begins.

June 11, 2026 Program Meeting

The North Carolina Sierra Club Foothills Group welcomed the No Data Centers folks at our June monthly meeting in celebration of the Planning Board recommendation to deny the rezoning request for a Data center in Rural Hall.  Now on to the Board of Commissioners!

 Our June 11th program meeting began as a gathering outside the Winston-Salem City Hall at 3:30 PM.  At 4:30 PM, we attended the planning board meeting to speak out about a request to build a data center in Rural Hall. 

Immediately following the Planning Board decision, there was a gathering for reflection and celebration of our efforts!
Location: Parkway United Church of Christ
1465 Irving Street
Winston-Salem, 27103

Thursday, May 14, 2026 Program Meeting: Health Concerns of One Dalit Community in Nepal

Join us for a presentation by Steve Folmar discussing the health concerns of one Dalit community in Nepal, and his role in addressing those concerns.
📍Location: Parkway United Church of Christ
1465 Irving Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27103
Social time & refreshments at 6:30, announcements at 7:00, followed by our program.

Steve Folmar is Associate Professor and former Chair of the Department of Anthropology at Wake Forest University. He earned his PhD from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1985. He began conducting research in Nepal in 1979 and continues to this day. Since 2001, he has committed his research to issues affecting Dalit people, those who are the most severely marginalized. Over the past decade and a half, he has increasingly used his research to serve Dalit communities directly. Relevant publications include Identity Politics among Dalits in Nepal (Himalaya 2009), Being, Becoming, Belonging: The Paradox of Identity and Mental Suffering among Nepal’s Dalits (CNS 2019), and Addressing Dalit Wellbeing through Counter Ritual in Handbook of the Himalayas: Environments, Developments, and Wellbeings, Ben Campbell, Mary Cameron, and Tanka Subha, eds. Routledge

Thursday, April 9, 2026 - Long Creek Park: A Healing Landscape in the Muddy Creek Watershed

Our speaker for our April program meeting will be Ryan Goodman, Conservation Chair of Forsyth Audubon. Ryan is currently organizing and leading the implementation of Forsyth Audubon's Natural Resource Management Plan for Long Creek Park. He will discuss the natural and cultural history of Long Creek Park, why this floodplain is ecologically important, and the details of Forsyth Audubon's collaboration with the City to restore native meadow and wetland habitat in the park. 

In addition to serving as Conservation Chair of Forsyth Audubon, Ryan is a Northwest Piedmont Master Naturalist and Visiting Assistant Professor of Spanish at Wake Forest University. Born in South Florida, he has been involved in coastal estuary and marine conservation efforts throughout his life, volunteering with the International Game Fish Association, Nova Southeastern University, the College of William & Mary’s Virginia Institute of Marine Science, and both the Florida and Virginia State Fish and Wildlife Commissions. His current research studies the interplay of ecology and historical memory in Spain. Every fall, Ryan looks forward to tracking migrating raptors at Pilot Mountain’s Hawk Watch.

Ryan Goodman

Photos From Previous Program Meetings

              April 2026 Program Meeting 

 A Healing Landscape in the Muddy Creek Watershed

                                                                          Foothills Planning Meeting - February 2026

             November 2025 Program Meeting

Building and Maintaining the Mountains-to-Sea Trail

Foothills Monthly Executive Committee Online Meetings are usually held the third Thursday of the month.  Membership in the Sierra Club is not required to attend our executive committee meetings. All are welcome to attend. 

Sample Basic Agenda:

1. Welcome and Call to order / proxies needed  
2. Review of Agenda
3. Review of Minutes 
4. Programs Update
5. Political Committee Update
6. Water Committee Update
7. Conservation Update 
8. Outings Update
9. Membership Update 
10. Adjourn 

Follow this link if you are interested in Sierra Club membership: Join Today. Become a champion.

Foothills Conservation Dinner / Discussion

Thursday, October 29, 2026 · 6:30pm

Location: Cha-Da Thai

420 Jonestown Road, Winston Salem, NC 27104

Our area has become a focal point for both the buildout of fossil fuel infrastructure by Duke Power and the rapid attempts to build out hyperscale data centers. Both carry substantial environmental impacts, so we need to educate ourselves on their consequences and how we can make our voices heard. Join us as we discuss current conservation issues, while enjoying delicious Thai cuisine.

All are welcome! For more information, contact johnccalhoun@bellsouth.net

      Conservation Dinner - October 30, 2025