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2009 Election Candidate Forum:
The Questions

How effective are the Sierra Club's publication and electronic communication tools and which ones do you read or use?

Boldman, Lane

As a former Communications & Education Governance Committee member, and as a Media & Marketing Manager professionally, I have made it a point to be subscribed to every Sierra Club outreach and internal channel possible in order to provide good feedback, which I do on a regular basis. I am subscribed to Sierra Magazine, Taking the Initiative, RAW, Hotline, Currents, Plugged In, Insider, The Green Life, Clubhouse News, several Chapter newsletters, committee publications such as EJ and Inner City Outings newsletters, the Club’s Facebook and MySpace pages, Sierra Club Radio,  “Hey Mr. Green” podcasts and multiple listservs.

We do need to make sure that the purpose of each medium and channel is clear and useful. Our internal communications in particular still need much work. I am well known by leaders as an effective communicator, and will bring this and my media skills to my work as a Director.

Gibson, Laurence

I’m so busy administrating I only read Sierra magazine, the chapter newsletter, and our group newsletter, which I write. I use Helen in a basic manner, Wild occasionally, and am quite frustrated that Ansel comes only in hard copy….weeks later. Clubhouse is a beautiful thing if I have extra time.

Mann, Robin

I subscribe to several electronic communications, including Currents, Taking the Initiative, The Green Life, and RAW.  There is a diversity of function, tone and depth that offer the opportunity to engage and inform a variety of audiences.  For instance, the edginess of RAW seems very well-suited to reaching younger audiences.  

Regarding print media, my view on print newsletters has changed over the past couple of years.  I think there are alternative ways to deliver time-sensitive conservation and outings information more effectively and affordably, and I strongly believe that Chapters and Groups should at least be exploring ways to enable their members to opt for an online subscription, allowing them to cut down on mailing, and free up scarce resources for use to better effect.

Morris, Frank

I’m on about 8 Sierra Club list serves.  I most closely track energy issues, and agree with Ned Ford’s efforts to prioritize energy efficiency.   The list serves are a good way to communicate with Sierra club leaders, and I’m very thankful that Sierra Club provides this service.  I’ve been actively involved with the environmental movement since the first Gulf War, and my efforts are action orientated.  I listen to NPR most waking moments, read google news throughout the day.  I consider myself well informed.  Sierra Club publications aren’t a big part of my media diet.

Reyes, Rafael

I make extensive use of nearly all the Club’s communications tools.  I also read our print media including local newsletters and the Sierra Magazine.  Sierra Magazine is exceptional and is consistently cited as a key benefit by members.  However, print media is in broad decline across the board raising questions about our other print media. There are significant opportunities to be more selective about our use of print, including shifting some, but not necessarily all local print communications to electronic form.

In general, our electronic communications offerings are good – sierraclub.org, Clubhouse for activists, email, video.  Technology moves very fast so we need to continually work to make our tools as effective as possible.  I’m pleased that we have made a major stride with the launch of ClimateCrossroads.org which I, in collaboration with Director Karpf, pushed for and have played an active role in guiding.

Scott, David

I check the main page on Clubhouse regularly, and I have been using my own Clubhouse blog and comment board to get input on what we want from the next Administration.  Many people have commented there, and this kind of comment process has real value.  I used it previously in major club policymaking processes, including the development of our Energy Resources Policy.

I read much of the regular email communication from the Club -- Clubhouse email, Insider, Currents and other topical email.  They're well-done and are a resource that's available for those who want to take advantage of them. Sierra magazine is another important tool.  I'd like to see more electronic publications focusing on wilderness and wildlife.

Club listserves are an invaluable resource for communication about legislation. We have to get the Activist Network and our social website up and running full-tilt, but I am confident that is coming soon.

Warshaw, Chris

I believe that the content of the Sierra Club’s publications and electronic communications is incredible. While I enjoy reading the Sierra and many of the Club’s email newsletters, I also find that too often our electronic newsletters are overly long and rambling.  Moreover, they are often far behind the current day’s news. As we move toward an Internet-based world, the challenge is to make the Sierra Club communications continue to be 1) timely and 2) relevant in our members’ lives. The monthly Sierra Magazine will continue to be important. But I would focus more of our electronic communication resources on providing timely updates and action alerts that respond to current national news.  These communications should be targeted to local news and events in our members’ home states to ensure that the communications are relevant to the lives of our members.

Wheeler, Phil

Our publications are of varied effectiveness. I’m very web oriented, but I still find the Sierra magazine, our chapter’s Southern Sierran newsletter and my local group’s Foggy View newsletter to be valuable in print versions for continuing reference. Our chapter also has a thrice-yearly Schedule of Activities (most recently 73 pp) which lists chapter-wide outings and is viewed by hikers as an essential publication. Budget issues will, in time, move us toward fewer print publications and more electronic publishing – but I fear we will lose contact with many long-term members and outright alienate others in the process.

Clubhouse remains an essential asset. The improvements of 2008 are notable and needed. Social networking tools, such as those currently prototyped at our Activist Network (e.g., http://sierraclubactivistnetwork.ning.com/) hold much promise for our future; I look forward to using the fully developed Activist Network tools John Barry and others will provide in 2009.