The City of Knoxville's Sustainability Program with Patience Melnick
When: Tuesday, May 12, 2026, 7:00-8:30 PM
Where: Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church 2931 Kingston Pike, Knoxville TN.
Join the City of Knoxville’s Sustainability Director to learn about the City’s approach to climate action through municipal operations and community initiatives. This presentation will explore Knoxville’s progress toward its greenhouse gas reduction goals, from energy‑efficient city operations and solar investments to community‑wide initiatives like EV infrastructure and the BREATHE Climate Action Plan. Learn how sustainability projects are selected, how challenges are navigated, and the role of environmental equity in a rapidly growing community.
Solar panels on top of the Knoxville Convention Center generate power to reduce energy use, utility costs, and emissions
About Patience Melnik: She was appointed Director of the Office of Sustainability for the City of Knoxville in February 2025. She brings local expertise, having previously served as Knoxville's Waste and Resources Manager (2017–2022), where she oversaw services for 60,000 households and launched the city's first public food scrap composting program. Between those roles, she ran a grant consulting practice, securing over $4 million for nonprofits and municipalities.
Her broader career spans leadership in the nonprofit sector, including Executive Director of Keep Knoxville Beautiful and Director of Environmental Health Programs for the Tennessee Clean Water Network. Melnik holds a Bachelor of Liberal Arts from St. John's College in Santa Fe, NM.
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Tennessee's Office of Outdoor Recreation by Justine Cucchiara
When: Tuesday, June 9, 2026, 7:00-8:30 PM
Where: Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church 2931 Kingston Pike, Knoxville TN.
Join Tennessee’s Director of the Office of Outdoor Recreation for an overview of how the state is leveraging its natural assets to expand access, strengthen conservation, and grow a vibrant outdoor recreation economy. This presentation will highlight Tennessee’s vision to become the premier outdoor recreation destination east of the Rockies, with a focus on improving access to waterways, building high-quality trail and greenway systems, and supporting rural communities. Attendees will gain insight into how partnerships, strategic investments, and coordinated planning are driving efforts to enhance quality of life and position Tennessee as a national leader in outdoor recreation.
About Justine Cucchiara. She serves as Director of the Tennessee Office of Outdoor Recreation, where she works with state agencies, local communities, and nonprofit partners to expand access to outdoor spaces and advance conservation across the state. She brings more than a decade of experience developing and managing Seven Islands State Birding Park, helping establish it as a leading example of conservation-based recreation.
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July 2026 Non-Program
What: Not a Program - Let's Get Outside on Third Creek Greenway
When: Tuesday, July 14, 2024, 6:30-8:30 PM
Where: Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church 2931 Kingston Pike, Knoxville TN
Evenings on long summer days should not spent indoors undergoing death by powerpoint so let's talk a walk on Knoxville's first greenway and do a bit of cleanup. Gloves and litter grabbers will be provided but if you have your own please bring them. We'll start with a little food and drinks at TVUUC (note the earlier time - 6:30) before heading down to the greenway just a short distance away.
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Owl Ridge Raptor Center with Lisa Thomison
When: Tuesday, August 11, 2024, 7:000-8:30 PM
Where: Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church 2931 Kingston Pike, Knoxville TN
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Annual HBG Picnic
When: Tuesday, September 8, 2025, 6:00-8:30 PM
Where: TBD
Our annual picnic is a chance to get together for a few hours with good food and good friends. It's very informal, and even if you're not an active Sierra Club member or even a member, we welcome you to this event. It's a good chance to chat with other members to catch up on what we're doing and find out if you'd like to get involved in outings, program meetings, or environmental and political action.
The picnic is semi-pot luck. HBG will be grilling hamburgers, veggie burgers, and hotdogs and there will be buns and condiments. Participants are urged to bring a salad, hot dish, cold dish, fruit or dessert to share. There will be disposable tableware, but we encourage people to bring their own washable plates, cups, and cutlery and take it home to wash.
To make sure we have enough hamburgers, hot dogs, and vegetarian equivalents available please try and RSVP by September 8 to Mac Post at mpost3116@gmail.com.
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Help Us Make Great Programs
Mac Post, our Program Chair, would like to hear from you if you know of an interesting program idea. Maybe it's someone you know, someone you have heard at another event, or one of our previous speakers that you would like to hear again. Maybe it's just an idea that we should consider.
Tell Mac.
He will make the necessary contacts and set up the program. Then come and enjoy the program with us.
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Past Programs:
February 2025 Program
What: Impacts of TVA's Energy Policies and How You Can Help Guide TVA Toward a Clean Energy Future For All, by Bonnie Swinford, Sierra Club Beyond Coal Campaign Organizing Strategist, and members of the Clean Up TVA Coalition
When: Tuesday, February 11, 2025, 7:00-8:30 PM
Where: Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church 2931 Kingston Pike, Knoxville TN.
Tennessee Valley Authority is still relying too much on fossil fuels to serve its 10 million customers. We’re gathering experts and activists to turn up the heat on them, and we’d like you to join us.
Photos by Binh/ Nguyen/Canary Media
As the country's largest public utility, Tennessee Valley Authority's energy decisions affect global climate and millions of lives in the Valley. Last year TVA released its long-range energy plan that outlines dozens of scenarios for how it will meet electric demand. The TVA board will decide later this year whether to invest in clean energy solutions or keep relying on dirty fossil fuels for decades to come.
Join advocates from across the state to hear how TVA’s energy plans impact communities and how to make your voice heard! We will hear stories from community members followed by social time, information stations, and an opportunity to write a letter or prepare a comment to the TVA board.
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March 2025 Program
What: Knox County Parks and Recreation BLOOM Initiative by Joseph Mack, Senior Director, Knox County Parks and Recreation
When: Tuesday, March 11, 2025, 7:00-8:30 PM
Where: Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church 2931 Kingston Pike, Knoxville TN.
At Knox County Parks and Rec, we have created a new initiative to reduce our Carbon Footprint and make even more beautiful and functional spaces for our community. This new initiative is called BLOOM - which stands for Beautifying Local Outdoor Spaces withOut Mowing. This program will reduce mowing by 25%, which cuts carbon emissions, builds organic soil matter, and even enhances pollinating habitats for bees. We will eliminate invasive species, restoring the balance of nature, and eradicating plants that damage our native ecosystem. By planting greenery that is native to our local geographical area, we increase air quality and give the plants an environment to thrive.
For additional information see:
https://www.knoxcounty.org/parks/bloom.php
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April 2025 Program
What: Community Defence of East Tennessee by Imani Mfalme
When: Tuesday, April 8, 2025, 7:00-8:30 PM
Where: Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church 2931 Kingston Pike, Knoxville TN.
Community Defense of East Tennessee is a grassroots, community-based organization dedicated to ending mass incarceration. Together with families, we are committed to fostering education, liberation, support, and empowerment, while actively confronting injustices and advocating for equity, social change, and restoration. Our central goal is to dismantle the prison pipeline and shift our communities away from punitive models that prioritize punishment, towards more compassionate approaches that prioritize healing individuals and communities alike. We strive to create systems that facilitate restoration, healing, and transformation. Through comprehensive education, support, and community training in various facets of social justice, we believe we can break the perpetual cycle of harm within our community.
Community Defense of East Tennessee is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and can also be found on X and Facebook.
Contact: communitydefenseet@gmail.com
About Imani Mfalme
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May 2025 Program
What: Bats - Understanding Their Important Role in Our Ecosystems by Susie Kaplar, Bat Rehabilitation of Grangier County
When: Tuesday, May 13, 2025, 7:00-8:30 PM
Where: Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church 2931 Kingston Pike, Knoxville TN.
(Photos by S. Kaplar)
Bats play a big role in our food production. They also help protect us from pesky mosquitoes that transmit diseases. Unfortunately for too long people have thought of bats as "flying mice" or "little Dracula's". Nothing is farther from the truth. This presentation will present facts about the plight bats are facing. It is extremely important that we protect all bats because if we don't, it will impact us all. Our presenter, Susie Kaplar, began working with bats when she lived in Northern California. Susie is one of a handful of fully licensed and permitted bat rehabbers in the state of Tennessee. Susie has decided it is her mission to inform people about the importance of bats and says, " We are losing so many bats presently, we need to save as many as we can. Between rehabilitation and getting the word out through education programs, it is my life goal to ensure the existence of our bats."
About Susie Kaplar: Susie worked with a wildlife rehabilitator in Northern California, and her interests and abilities have grown over the years. She is able to work with all rabies vector species, and she is one of a small group of rehabilitators allowed by the state of Tennessee to work with bats. She is now a fully licensed and permitted bat rehabilitator. Her organization, Bat Education & Rehabilitation of Grainger County, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and can be found on Facebook. Contact: susiekaplar@gmail.com
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June 2025 Program
What: Guardians of the Giants: The National Tree Program by Jaq Payne, Director of the National Champion Tree Program
When: Tuesday, June 10, 2025, 7:00-8:30 PM
Where: Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church 2931 Kingston Pike, Knoxville TN.
The National Champion Tree Program has kept the records of the largest trees in the United States since the 1940s. In 2023, the program moved from American Forests to the University of Tennessee Knoxville where it's being revamped to focus on public engagement and education, scientific inquiry, and active conservation. This presentation will cover a brief history of the program, how a tree becomes a National Champion, the importance of preserving large trees, and how we can work to protect our trees and natural landscapes.
About Jaq Payne:
July 2025 Program
What: Not a Program - Let's Get Outside on Third Creek Greenway
When: Tuesday, July 8, 2024, 6:30-8:30 PM
Where: Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church 2931 Kingston Pike, Knoxville TN
Evenings on long summer days should not spent indoors undergoing death by powerpoint so let's talk a walk on Knoxville's first greenway and do a bit of cleanup. Gloves and litter grabbers will be provided but if you have your own please bring them. We'll start with a little food and drinks at TVUUC (note the earlier time - 6:30) before heading down to the greenway just a short distance away.
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August 2025 Program
What: Nuclear Energy Future - Molten Salt Reactor? by Dr. Ondrej Chvala, Nuclear Engineering Professor, University of Tennessee
When: Tuesday, August 12, 2025, 7:00-8:30 PM
Where: Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church 2931 Kingston Pike, Knoxville TN.
Energy use defines our civilization, and presents both blessings and dangers. Nuclear power has not materialized its early promise in the US, and we will consider how early history of nuclear power developments crafted our current predicaments. Molten salt reactors exemplify a resurrection of an old technology from East Tennessee, which is not gaining traction worldwide. The Molten Salt Research Reactor is a project that attempts to regain US leadership in this technology, currently under construction in Texas, which the author works on. Similar but distinct advanced reactor demonstrators by Kairos Power, under construction in east TN Technology Park, will be also mentioned.
Dr. Ondrej Chvala got his Ph.D. from the Institute of Particle and Nuclear Physics at Charles University in Prague in the Czech Republic, where he worked on the NA49 experiment at CERN, investigating the soft heart of the strong interaction. After his graduation he moved to Long Island, New York, for a University of California at Riverside funded post-doctoral position on the Phenix experiment at the Brookhaven National Laboratory, where he worked on detector R&D and analysis of hard nuclear scattering. In 2012, Dr. Chvala became a Research Assistant Professor of Nuclear Engineering at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He taught Nuclear Reactor Theory, Numerical Methods and Fortran, he instigated and taught a study abroad Experimental Reactor Physics Laboratory in Prague and Vienna. In 2022, he became a Senior Research Fellow at the Nuclear Engineering Teaching Laboratory at the University of Texas, Austin, where he works on design and licensing of the Molten Salt Research Reactor. Dr. Chvala is an author or co-author of over 400 scholarly works, including 211 journal articles.
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September 9, 2025 Program
What: Annual HBG Picnic
When: Tuesday, September 9, 2025, 6:00-8:30 PM
Where: Vince & Maureen Cianciolo's Home, west Knox County
Our annual picnic is a chance to get together for a few hours with good food and good friends. It's very informal, and even if you're not an active Sierra Club member or even a member, we welcome you to this event. It's a good chance to chat with other members to catch up on what we're doing and find out if you'd like to get involved in outings, program meetings, or environmental and political action.
The picnic is semi-pot luck. HBG will be grilling hamburgers, veggie burgers, and hotdogs and there will be buns and condiments. Participants are urged to bring a salad, hot dish, cold dish, fruit or dessert to share. There will be disposable tableware, but we encourage people to bring their own washable plates, cups, and cutlery and take it home to wash.
Vince and Maureen's home is in a rural setting with views of gardens surrounded by forest. When you RSVP you will be given their address and some directions.
To make sure we have enough hamburgers, hot dogs, and vegetarian equivalents available please try and RSVP by September 8 to Mac Post at mpost3116@gmail.com.
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October 14, 2025 Program
What: Engaging Disaffected Voters in East Tennessee by Corbin Trent
When: Tuesday, October 14, 2025, 7:00-8:30 PM
Where: Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church 2931 Kingston Pike, Knoxville TN.
After the first “Hands Off” demonstration by Indivisible back in April, I saw an online interview with Corbin Trent. I noticed the fountain behind him and realized he was being interviewed directly from Market Square, minutes away from the demonstration that was likely still going on. He talked about how this massive display of rebellious East Tennessee energy might be mobilized to elect some rebellious East Tennesseans to Congress. I immediately set about finding his email address and sent him a message saying “Let’s talk.” He responded, and we met up at the “Ugly Mug” coffee house in Lenoir City where he lives.
Our conversation rambled around the areas where the Democratic party seems on a course of self-destruction by alienating key sources of strength, like youth, working class people and communities of color. Why are the Dems losing the allegiance of those groups it should be championing? Might it have something to do with prioritizing the interests of the donor class? Could we move disaffected voters to vote for Democrats by finding candidates who were motivated to run by more than just self-interest? Fighting racism, using clean energy to create new jobs in innovative industries, bringing the environmental movement closer to those communities most affected by pollution and climate change – could these issues reverse the Dems losing trajectory? Could we find inspiring candidates who can connect with rural voters, diverse urban communities and young people?
These seemed like the questions to ask, and I immediately thought of another one – how about having a Sierra Club Programs event with Corbin? He agreed, and I set about arranging it.
It turned out we had a slot for October 14th that fit his schedule. I liked that because it was just before Knoxville’s City Council election, and the public would have politics on its mind.
So Corbin will be with us next Tuesday to have an in depth conversation about winning. We’re bringing in a couple of allied grass roots organizations to spice things up. The only missing ingredient now is you. So come down to TVUUC at 7:00 and join the struggle. We won’t win if we don’t fight.
Check out this interview with Corbin and Anand Giridharadas to get a sample of his thinking
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November 11, 2025 Program
What: An Exaltation of Parks: John D Rockefeller's Crusade to Save America's Wonderlands by Steve Kemp
When: Tuesday, November 11, 2025, 7:00-8:30 PM
Where: Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church 2931 Kingston Pike, Knoxville TN.
Steve Kemp will give an overview of his recent book “An Exaltation of Parks: John D. Rockefeller’s Crusade to Save America’s Wonderlands.”
Over a third of the book is about the creation of the Smokies, but also includes JDR Jr.’s philanthropy for Yosemite, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, the Blue Ridge Parkway and over a dozen other national parks. The purpose of the book is to encourage partnerships that help parks.
As we approach the Smokies centennial, it’s important to remember the wildly successful collaboration that created GSMNP.
Author Steve Kemp has spent most of his adult life working in national parks, from cook at a park concession in the Grand Tetons to a seasonal ranger in Yellowstone and Denali to publications director for nonprofit park education partner Great Smoky Mountains Association (now Smokies Life). A graduate of the University of Montana’s writing program, Kemp has written for magazines including National Parks, Outside, Outdoor Life, and Smokies Life Journal, and is the author of Trees of the Smokies,Great Smoky Mountains Simply Beautiful, The Blue Ridge Parkway: In Celebration of the American Landscape (forthcoming) and the children’s book, We’re Going to the Mountains.
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What: Ecuador - Trekking with Shuar Indigenous People by Michael Kunze
When: Tuesday, January 13, 2026, 7:00-8:30 PM
Where: Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church 2931 Kingston Pike, Knoxville TN.
Michael Kunze will show photos and tell stories of his 3 trips to Ecuador to travel with an indigenous ethnic group that inhabits the Ecuadorian and Peruvian Amazonia.
2007: Following a known trail from indigenous territory to the outside world.
2008: Expelled by force, but invited for 2009. Executing Plan B in Podocarpus National Park.
2009: Exploring the jungle with an official invitation of the local Shuar Association.
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What: Transformation of Knox County and other Regional Parks by the Appalachian Mountain Bike Club by Matthew Kellogg
When: Tuesday, February 10, 2026, 7:00-8:30 PM
Where: Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church 2931 Kingston Pike, Knoxville TN.
Over the last 20 years, the Appalachian Mountain Bike Club has helped reshape Knox County and regional parks into places people genuinely want to spend time. What started as a small group of volunteers has grown into a trusted partner for local land managers, turning overlooked or underused spaces into trail systems that are fun, sustainable, and accessible for a wide range of users.
By focusing on sustainable trail design, stewardship, and strong community partnerships, AMBC has helped parks evolve into active, welcoming outdoor spaces while still respecting the natural landscape. The result is more than just miles of trail—it’s healthier parks, stronger communities, and more opportunities for people to connect with the outdoors close to home.
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What: Do You Care How Knox County Develops? by Sandra Korbelik, AICP
When: Tuesday, March 10, 2026, 7:00-8:30 PM
Where: Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church 2931 Kingston Pike, Knoxville TN.
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Free Money for an E-Bike? The Impact of E-Bike Incentive Programs with Aaron Fellhoelter
When: Tuesday, April 14, 2026, 7:00-8:30 PM
Where: Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church 2931 Kingston Pike, Knoxville TN.
Across the United States, states, like California and Colorado, and cities and municipalities, like the San Gabriel Valley in Los Angeles, are offering incentives around $2,000 to help mitigate the negative externalities of motor vehicles. These programs seek to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce congestion, and to provide mobility to low-income populations. But how effective are these programs compared to other methods of greenhouse gas reduction? Does it matter?
About Aaron Fellhoelter: A PhD student with the University of Tennessee studying bike and pedestrian safety, e-bike purchase incentives, rural EV distribution, and commercial cargo e-bikes in New York City.