Margaret Pennington
Redwood Chapter Chair

Democracy in the Sierra Club

Our local Chapter and Group election results are in. Congratulations to all the candidates who were elected to Group and Chapter Executive Committees, and a big "Thank-you" to everyone who ran for office.

I've written this a number of times before, but I will say it again: Sierra Club is unique as an environmental organization, not just because we are the oldest and largest grassroots environmental group, but also because "The Club" is uniquely organized as a true membership non-profit. This means members vote to elect the Club's leadership at all levels of the organization.

Sierra Club is democratically organized, but as with any democracy, elections only reflect the true will of the electorate (our members) if:

1. Members take the time to VOTE in Club elections.
2. Members cast their votes based on informed choice.

This is all the more important when elections are highly contested and that IS the case with the Club's upcoming National Board of Directors (BOD) election.

Upcoming National Sierra Club Board of Directors Election

Many of you have by now seen articles in the press about different groups (inside and outside the Club) vying for seats on, and even control of (8 of 15 votes), the Club's National Board. My PLEA to YOU - to all Club members who care about environmental protection - is to do one and two above:

Vote in the upcoming Sierra Club Board of Directors election and find out about the election and the candidates so you can cast an informed vote and be sure that the 5 candidates you support will reflect your desires for the future of the Sierra Club.

To maintain a meaningful democracy within Sierra Club, I see a need for improvement in two areas.

• More Club members need to vote.

Reality - last BOD election about 9% of members voted - Redwood Chapter turnout was about that average. In our local elections we had about a 3% turnout chapter-wide and about 8% turnout in Napa Group where the election was more controversial. Those numbers are pretty sad and need to be higher.
• The Club needs to do a better job of getting meaningful information about the candidates to the voters.

Reality - The candidate statements, upon which most voters rely to make their decision, are only 350 words long and do not necessarily include clear statements from candidates about their positions on controversial issues. More information can be found, but you have to seek it out. I hope you will.

In most recent years there has been some type of electronic candidate forum (web site or email list). I don't have information on that at this time, but I hope it will be posted in the ballot and prominently posted on the Club's website: www.sierraclub.org.

All Club members can join the Council of Club Leaders Discussion email list. A lively discussion of the election controversy amongst members with varying views is currently taking place on this list. Archives are available. To subscribe send a message to: listserv@LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG, in the body of the message write: SUBSCRIBE CCL-DISCUSSION (you'll need to supply your membership number to join this list.)

You can also contact local Club leaders and ask their opinions. Remember - that's what you will get - one person's perspective. For that reason, you might want to contact more than one person.

Organizing, Education, Voting for the Earth

Turning that contact around, I've recently had the pleasure of contacting some of you. I've been helping with our Chapter member-to-member phone bank getting the word out about Sierra Club's endorsement of Noreen Evans for State Assembly, 7th District, and inviting our members to get involved with Noreen's grassroots campaign. For the March election this is Redwood Chapter's highest political priority. Our longer term Chapter goal is to identify members who will help out as environmental precinct captains in elections to come. This ties in with Sierra Club's number one goal for 2004 ­ educate the American public about the attack on environmental protections coming from the Bush Administration - and stop those attacks.