Margaret Pennington
Redwood Chapter Chair

The Redwood Chapter Executive Committee held our annual retreat the last weekend in June at Jughandle Farm on the Mendocino Coast. The weather was perfect and the scenery was as-good-as-it-gets "California Coastal". However, we didn't have much time to bask in all of that, as we spent about 14 hours making plans for the coming year. The task at hand was to attempt to apply our limited resources (money and volunteer time) in ways that would bring about the most protection to our natural environment. Funny how after spending two years in a graduate program in economics, everything I say or write lately comes out like the classic definition of economics: the study of the allocation of scarce resources across competing needs.

Still and all, that's what our retreat was all about: How to best spend our limited time and limited money or, alternatively, how to acquire more of both of those essential ingredients. On the money end of things - one method we always employ to expand the pot is to write to our dear members - all of you - once each year, and ask you to please give generously to support the work of your local Sierra Club Chapter and Groups. That letter probably arrived in your mailbox just a few days ago. I hope you'll read it, see what we're up to, and open your heart and wallet to help us continue.

As to the "time" item on the ledger, we're forever trying to figure out ways to entice more of you to join us in the real fun of Sierra Club. Yes, I know many of you joined the Club to go hiking and that is fun (I vaguely remember.), but I'm talking about the real fun. Things like writing the Governor to tell him why wilderness matters, calling Club members in swing states to tell them we need a new President because this one thinks it's OK to build roads in the nation's roadless areas (among so many other things!), or writing a letter to the editor to show your support for keeping agriculture in your county GE (genetically engineered) free. (See articles in this Needles for details on all of these.) More fun still is joining with others to figure out who makes the ultimate decisions, what might persuade them to decide in favor of the environment, and how to rally the political will to make it all happen.

But as fun as this all sounds, we're still left scratching our heads as to why more members aren't lining up in droves to get more involved. We would like to know, and only you can tell us. I'm inviting you to do just that.

Please write and tell me:

1) What stops you from getting more active with Sierra Club? and/or

2) What might make it more inviting or easier for you to get involved?

All responses will be entered into a drawing - the winner will receive a pound of Sierra Club organic, free trade coffee - and be appointed Chapter Membership Chair (just kidding, just kidding - it's safe to enter the contest - you'll only be assigned to the membership committee for 5 short years. You don't really have to be Chair. Ha, ha!)

The National Sierra Club has a suggestion. It's called Engaging Our Members. It's a plan for holding small Sierra Club gatherings where members and friends can talk about environmental issues that they care about like air quality, global warming, forest protection. Beyond the talk, those many heads (being better than just one) come up with next steps and action plans for bringing about a healthier environment. If this sounds like something you'd like to know more about and maybe help get off the ground here in Redwood Chapter, please let me know. We could have a contest for this one too. First person to step up to help organize a backyard or living room or on-the-trail gathering wins hmmmm .. a Sierra Club Calendar and Datebook (2005, of course).

See - it's the economics again: that pound of coffee or datebook might be just the nudge someone needs to make the benefits of getting more active outweigh the costs. I guess I'll find out.

Ah - I just realized - the prize could have been a free lunch at a restaurant featuring locally grown organic food. But that would never work because everyone knows (because the economists have told them) "there's no such thing as a free lunch."

Have a great summer!