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People working together for social, economic and environmental justice in Tennessee
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SOCM members are:
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...people from all walks of life, all educational levels, and all ages... from a ten year old boy named Aifer who keeps a jar on the kitchen counter so visitors to his parents' home can contribute to SOCM (and he makes sure they do!) to adults who haven't finished high school to scientists with PhD's.
Some of us are self employed, some are in politics (we have several members who are County Commissioners), some work in factories, some are teachers, some farm, some are nuns, some are lawyers, some are ministers, some are engineers, some are retired.
The majority of SOCM members live in Tennessee but we have members throughout the United States who believe in and support the work of SOCM in Tennessee.
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All of us, in the special way that SOCM works, are family. Our family includes Caucasians, Afro-Americans, Hispanics, native born and naturalized citizens. We often disagree but always treat each other with respect.
By working together we gain power to bring about much needed social, economic, and environmental change.
SOCM is ordinary citizens doing new and often extraordinary things. We accomplish things that have never been done before.
We work together until the job is done, however many years that takes.
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TENNESSEE MEMBERS:
About 25% of our members belong to county and area chapters.
The remainder are members at large, with representation on the SOCM Board.
These members at large are both active in and important to the work of SOCM in TN.
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ACROSS THE US:
Most of our members live in Tennessee, but we also have many members across the United States.
Although SOCM is a Tennessee organization, people in other states see our work as extremely important and are strong supporters of the work we do in here Tennessee
to make this state a better place in which to work, live and play.
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FOLLOWING ARE QUOTES FROM SOME OUR OF MEMBERS:
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• "Being a part of SOCM means that we belong to an organization that is willing to help individuals and communities stand against powerful groups for their rights and
where everyone works together to accomplish their goal." Christine Barton
of Jamestown
• "I have seen how a grass roots group can lobby for laws and regulations that protect the people.
People's health must be protected and the people need to get active. Join SOCM and see that power resides in the people." Murray Hudson of Halls
• "SOCM means average, everyday, local people getting together and learning how to have their voices heard in issues that directly effect their lives.
One person doesn't have much effect on government or big business, but a group of people working together does.
SOCM has made a difference in my community by giving average, everyday, local people a voice.
They stand for the citizen's right to be heard." Toni Roberts of Crossville
• "SOCM is an organization that tries to get all ages and races involved in what's happening in their communities." Jonita Farris, 17, of Columbia
• "SOCM helped save our home from Armstrong Energy Company. It is a way to give to my community." Bobby Clark Jr. of Dunlap
• "It's truly a democratic, grassroots leadership group." Scott Bates of Sewannee
• "SOCM is an organization that makes 'just plain folks' feel comfortable about expressing their concerns about the environment in an effective way." Kym Farmer of Celina
• "SOCM and groups like it help us not have to fight the world, or the 'big guys,' all by ourselves." Ed Gould of Dunlap
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• "SOCM has given me the skills and information to be able to stand up for the things I believe with confidence that I know what I am saying is true and right.
SOCM empowers people to take charge of their destiny by being able to make changes in their community." Baraba Levi of Soddy Daisy
• "It means a chance to have a voice in my community instead of sitting silent." Johnny Farris of Columbia
• "SOCM means, Sure, Our Concerns Matter … especially in the case of Roane County residents who have been poisoned by toxins in our water, soil and air.
SOCM has been a source of information on why my skin blisters, my tissues swell and hurt, my bones ache, and I got confused with words and concepts.
And SOCM has helped me connect with similarly affected residents and with decision makers who have the power to help." Peggy Adkins of Maryville
• "SOCM means that local communities and people get involved in our state laws concerning our local area, the Cumberland Mountains." Hettie Bushman of Winfield
• "SOCM means people from many walks of life working together to protect or restore environmental and cultural integrity of their communities and the region, to keep these assets working for their children who come after them." Frances Lamberts of Jonesborough
• "SOCM has made people aware of the danger of the use of organophosphate pesticides, like malathion and maloxation, as well as defoliant and the health effects on humans and animals.
SOCM means I have a forum to voice my concerns about aerial spraying in West Tennessee and it gives me the opportunity to do something about it." Robert Henry of Halls
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