The Sierra Sage nominations committee is presenting eligible candidates for the election of members of our Management Committe for the years 2025 and 2026.
Management Committee members guide the Sierra Club’s work in our communities. We make decisions about environmental policy, recommend the endorsement of political candidates, and direct our outreach activities. A good Management Committee member has a deep love for the Sierra Club and the environment, and a willingness to serve the organization, and collaborate with fellow members to enjoy, explore and protect the wild places of Southern California.
Sierra Sage belongs to the Angeles Chapter of the Sierra Club, and our members will also be voting for at large members of its Executive Committee.
Some things to know:
- Terms are for two years and begin in January 2025.
- To be eligible to run, candidates must be active Sierra Club members and have their nomination submitted by July 10, 2024.
- The election runs through October and November.
- The five candidates for Sierra Sage and their statements are listed below in alphabetical order.
Tod Fitch
![Tod Fitch](/sites/default/files/styles/general_small/public/2024-07/Tod%20Fitch.jpg.webp?itok=r6QtD1sv)
I have been a member of the Sierra Club since the early 1980s, and my wife and I have been life members since 2015 when we moved into the area served by the Sierra Sage Group. I have been in leadership positions with the Mount Pinos Nordic Ski Patrol and in the National Ski Patrol. I am currently the candidate trainer for the Mount Pinos Nordic Ski Patrol and qualified by the National Ski Patrol as a Nordic/Backcountry Instructor.
My interest in the outdoors, especially hiking and camping, has been life long, starting with family hiking and camping in the 1960s. Over that time I have seen great changes, usually for the worse, in the health of our natural environment.
I have enjoyed many local hikes sponsored by Sierra Sage and would like to contribute to the success of the group. Your vote will allow me the privilege of serving on the Management Committee.
Ed Maurer
![Ed Maurer](/sites/default/files/styles/general_small/public/2024-06/P1000630%20%282%29.JPG.webp?itok=DMhop58w)
I’m a 45-year member of the Sierra Club, an active hike leader for over 20 years, and the editor the OC Sierran newsletter reaching over 20,000 members, friends, and supporters of the Sierra Club throughout Orange County 6 times a year. I’m running for election in 2024 to help our Management Committee regain its strength by
- Returning the board to its full potential of 9 active members, preferably with SC members living in Sierra Sage’s geographic area.
- Cooperating more closely with the other Sierra Club entities in Orange County to better deal with membership, fundraising, outings, and other important issues.
- Taking on city councils reluctant to enact measures to deal with climate change and other environmental issues.
- Increasing outreach with better meetings, programs, and meet-and-greet events throughout south county.
To move forward, we must communicate better, listen more, and I ask for your vote.
Helen Maurer
![HM photo2.jpg](/sites/default/files/styles/general_small/public/sce-uploads/blogs/HM%20photo2_0.jpg.webp?itok=-r8qAzAi)
I have been a member of the Sierra Club for 40-plus years and an outings leader for over 20 years. As with many members, it was love of the outdoors and specifically of hiking that encouraged me to join in the first place. Over time, I became involved in other aspects of the Sierra Club’s activities. I served on the Sierra Sage Management Committee for two terms—until life intervened—although I have continued as the group’s appointed representative on the OC Conservation Committee as well as our representative on the OC Safe Trails Coalition, where one of my primary concerns is e-bikes. In the interest of full disclosure, I believe in the positive potential of e-bikes as an alternate form of transportation that can help us to get away from fossil fuels, but also believe that they do not belong on our wilderness trails. In addition, I am the copy editor for The OC Sierran.
As we move further away from COVID and rebuild our group activities, I would like to serve again on the Sierra Sage Committee and I ask for your vote.
Linda Pauer
![Linda Pauer with Falcon](/sites/default/files/styles/general_small/public/2024-07/Linda%20Pauer%20with%20Falcon.JPG.webp?itok=jx19VSdQ)
As a Sierra Club member since 2003, it wasn’t until the past few years that I’ve become active with the Sierra Sage group. Enjoying educational programs and hiking throughout the beautiful wildland trails of Orange County has inspired further engagement with the local membership. As a volunteer, I’ve worked side by side by side with many of the ExCom board members to bring speakers to bi-monthly educational meetings on topics such as Urban Foraging, CoastKeepers and Sierra Club Working Together, and the Wilderness Travel Course. Currently, I serve as the Assistant Editor of the OC Sierran, and have written informational articles on many of the subjects of interest to members, including climate change, land use, wildlife crossings and hiking events.
As an advocate for the environment, I support the Sierra Club’s efforts to protect wild places and endangered species. Consequently, returning the Sierra Sage board to its full capacity of active members, engaging with environmental partners and leading fundraising initiatives to ensure continued outreach throughout the region appears to be an important priority. It would be an honor to join with members of the Sierra Sage ExCom to achieve these goals.
Doug Shepard - incumbent
![Doug Shepard](/sites/default/files/styles/general_small/public/2024-07/Doug%20Shepard.jpg.webp?itok=YmxdM3WX)
I have been representing Sierra Sage at the Orange County Political Committee’s meetings for the last 2 years, canvassed for political campaigns, interviewed a candidate for SC endorsement, attended fundraisers, and helped run Tabletop displays to attract new members to the SC. I have also served as an alternate representative for our group at the Angeles Chapter Executive Committee. I attended every monthly 4-hour Zoom meeting as a non-voting alternate member. These meetings gave me an overall view of the people and workings of the Sierra Club’s Angeles Ex Com during this important transitional period for the new Sierra Club management group. Therefore, please consider my candidacy for our management committee.