Genji Schmeder

The new year begins with a host of challenges and opportunities. We intend to expand our program this year, adding transportation issues and a comprehensive approach to the eastern reaches of Napa County. But the health of the Napa River watershed remains our primary responsibility. Margaret Mead wrote, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." In all our work, we invite greater participation by our members and the cooperation of the whole community. Make our small group large in numbers and influence!

We are concerned that some members didn't receive ballots for the recent ExCom election. We would like to hear from all those members so we can investigate and try to improve the process. In fact, we would like to hear any suggestions for improving the electoral process. Contact our secretary Elaine or send mail to the Napa group postal address.

Before reading further, set your web browser to http://redwood.sierraclub.org/napa/. The Napa group website is our reference library, phone directory, photo gallery and link to allies and agencies. It's the most popular group website in Redwood Chapter, but has a long way to go before we are satisfied. If you have skills in web design, consider joining our website committee.

We have created a conservation discussion email list named Redwood-Napa-Cons-Forum. Subscription is by permission, but anyone welcome at a conservation committee meeting can subscribe. See our website "email lists" page for instructions. Since it's a forum, every subscriber can post to every other. The primary use will be discussion between conservation meetings.

The tightly intertwined issues of housing needs, industrial growth in south county and transportation have been given much governmental attention and will be a major involvement of ours this year. We intend to address the cities-county housing agreement from our long term policy of protecting local agriculture and keeping urban growth slow and balanced. In fact, it's been neither slow nor balanced! To gain control over growth, we need to address the complex of interacting factors.