Margaret Pennington
Redwood Chapter Chair

Time to Celebrate

The March election results were a mix of some wins and some losses for environmentalists. (See the elections results article for more details.) However, here in the Redwood Chapter we had three BIG wins - so truly, it is Time to Celebrate.

Congratulations to Noreen Evans on her win in the democratic primary for the 7th Assembly District. Thanks to all the Sierra Club members who helped with Noreen's campaign. Special thanks to the Sonoma Group Political Committee and other volunteers including Diana Nasser, Carol Vellutini, Nona Leoni, Ron Sundergill, Elaine Walter, Anne Hudgins, Keith Kaulum, Paul Burkes to name a few, who made phone calls to other Sierra Club members, walked precincts and helped with Noreen's phone banks. Thanks to all our members who offered to put up lawn signs, write letters to other voters and make some calls to support Noreen.

Further north, Sierra Club endorsed Measure H, the ballot initiative to protect organic farming in Mendocino from GMO's (Genetically Modified Organisms), passed despite a HUGE influx of money from the biotechnology industry. The success of Measure H is testimony to what a group of committed citizens can accomplish. Congratulations to Mendocino Group on their efforts in support of Measure H (See Mendocino Says No to GMO's for details.)

Still further north, voters said NO to the attempt to recall Humboldt County's District Attorney, Paul Gallegos. D.A. Gallegos was served with a recall notice shortly after he filed a suit against Pacific Lumber alleging that Palco lied to and concealed information from state and federal agencies so that it could log 100,000 additional trees on unstable slopes, thereby committing fraud and using unfair business practices. Congratulations and thanks to all the North Group activists who rallied support for the DA who has dared to stand up to Pacific Lumber's shady ways.

And we can all celebrate one more piece of good news: Senator Diane Feinstein has signed onto the North Coast Wilderness Bill. Thanks go out to Lynn Ryan, Steven Day, Ryan Henson and all the many wilderness supporters who have worked so tirelessly to bring additional protection to federal lands in our region. Thanks to so many of you who have written letters and made phone calls to Senator Feinstein over the past several months. Your efforts have paid off.

The take home message for us all from these "three, plus two more" March victories for the environment is that together we can make a difference.

With that in mind I hope you will all read through this month's newsletter and pick an action item of your own. Earth Day and John Muir's Birthday - April 21st - is coming soon. Make an Earth Day Pledge to write that letter, join that activist list, answer that "volunteer needed" ad. As John Muir said it: "Do something for wildness and make the mountains glad."

Beyond that, I hope you will all have the opportunity this glorious spring to follow another piece of advice from John Muir: "Keep close to nature's heart... and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean."

Remember to Vote

Sierra Club National Board Elections are coming up - ballots are in the mail. Last day to vote is April 21st. There has been a lot of media attention around this year's Sierra Club elections. Please take the time to read the ballot statements, go to www.sierraclub.org for more candidate replies to questions, cast your ballot for candidates who share your values.

Congratulations, Peter!