By Loretta Van Coppenolle
Outgoing Alamo Group Chair Peggy Day was not expecting to receive the group’s highest award at the club’s annual holiday party December 15. Making the award was Loretta Van Coppenolle, longtime Alamo Sierran, who urged Day to join the Alamo Group in 2008.
Day joined that year and was immediately asked to join the executive committee, subsequently becoming Vice Chair. The following year she succeeded Lloyd Cortez as Chair and remained in that position until a few days ago. During the past year, Day was Co-Chair with Terry Burns, who has now succeeded her.
Prior to her service to the Alamo Group, Day lived in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where she helped found the Puerto Rican Chapter of the Sierra Club in 2002. She then became a member of the Puerto Rican Chapter’s executive committee, its treasurer, and its first outings and program chairs until 2006, when she returned to her previous home, San Antonio.
Day recalls that in the 1990s she supported the Sierra Club financially and was a speaker on nuclear waste disposal at one of the group’s general meetings. It was not until 2002, however, that she became a Sierra Club activist.
Asked if she feels that she accomplished anything during her tenure as Chair, she answered in the affirmative, stating that accomplishments can be measured by comparing how San Antonio is today with how it was 15 or 20 years ago. Progress has been made.
The award given Day read, “The Alamo Group of the Sierra Club bestows upon Margaret (Peggy) Day the Stoker Extended Service Award with great appreciation for many years of outstanding service. December, 2015.”
Day’s recent comment on receiving the award was, “I was very surprised and honored to receive this award. It’s always nice to be recognized for doing work that is above and beyond the call of duty.”
Indeed, Day’s commitment has been above and beyond the requirements of Chair. And Day plans on continuing her work with the club, lending her assistance where needed.
Thank you, Peggy Day.
[Editor's Note: New to the San Antonio area? Check out the Sierra Club's Alamo Group!]