Chapter Executive Committee
Amritha Kathikeyan (Membership Number: 53860904)
My name is Amritha Karthikeyan(she/her). I am a strong advocate for the climate and environmental justice. I have been involved with climate activism in Arizona for about four years. My involvement started with the Arizona Youth Climate Coalition, with my first course of action being helping plan a strike at the State Capitol in March of 2019. My passions have evolved throughout the years, leading me to study the intersections between sustainability and data and college, and eventually lead me to being an advocate for sustainable and equitable urban development and resiliency. As I’ve evolved, it’s been empowering meeting and working with other people in the environmental community to advocate for change. I would love to continue being a part of this committee to continue to learn more about environmental activism and organizations while meeting other people in the local community.
Anna Mohr-Almeida (Membership Number: 50455852)
Hello there! I am Anna Rose Mohr-Almeida, a clean-air activist and Engineering student at Arizona State University. I founded Kids Climate Action Network! (Kids CAN!), a 501c3, a youth leadership community that works to improve air quality, biodiversity conservation, carbon sequestration, and creating purposeful art. I was the Youth Keynote at Arizona State University’s Local to Global Teach-In and discussed the negative environmental impact of the factory farming model of food production. I participated on the L2G Youth Keynote Panel and discussed community organizing. I have been honored by the Grand Canyon Chapter of Sierra Club as an Outstanding Youth, participated in the Rainforest Action Network’s Palm Oil Action Leadership Summit, and was a member of RAN’s Palm Oil Action Team. I have also lobbied locally and in D.C. with Moms Clean Air Force for improved air quality. I was a Youth Climate Coalition group member responsible for the many climate strikes from 2019 to 2020. I also worked at GenOn, a bipartisan organization dedicated to getting people registered to vote and to care about the impacts of climate change. I want to continue as a member of the Sierra Club Executive Committee. Thank you.
Natalia de la Torre (Membership Number: 51470222)
I am running for the ex com because it helps me stay informed on what is happening in my community. I believe it’s very important to stay informed as well as involved. Being a part of the ex com allows me to help my community grow. These past years with the PVG ex com have been very rewarding, like helping with the feeding for the owl project and being able to provide support for the high school I went to -- to be able to build a succulent garden.
Getting people involved in their communities at a young age is so important to building a better future. This year I would work on more outreach to younger audiences to get involved in their community and stay informed on environmental issues. To accomplish this, we would make a social media page to get further outreach to people of all ages. Which could also help with more membership sign ups.
Overall, I have really enjoyed being a part of the ex com and would like to continue supporting my community. Thank you for the opportunity.
Rhys Williams (Membership Number: 56137501)
My appreciation for the natural world comes from my experiences hiking and camping. But in the few short years I've become involved in organizing, I’ve learned many lessons. I’ve learned that we must build the world we want to see, and I’ve learned that change is possible through the hard work of dedicated people. The Sierra club is doing that work, as an institution of the environmental conservation and justice movement. I want to be a part of that effort. So that the places I am able to experience can continue to flourish for future generations to come.
Palo Verde Group
Greg Clark (Membership Number: 55082849)
Greg Clark primarily works doing on-the-ground habitat conservation projects to support the population of Burrowing Owls in Arizona and any owls migrating during the winter. Greg installs artificial burrows to build new homes for owls that are displaced from land development projects and relocates the owls to the new habitat. With the expansion of solar farms in Arizona, Greg is working with large developers to add habitat enhancements around the solar farm sites to create food and space for Burrowing Owls and other animals that also will live in the artificial burrows, such as Gila Monsters. In addition, Greg is assisting with the build-out of the Motus migratory bird and bat tracking network. Long distance migratory birds and bats can be tagged with tiny transmitters and automatically tracked using radio stations placed in the path of the migratory animals, such as the Pacific Flyway. Motus tracking data can then be used to determine where best to focus on habitat enhancements to support declining populations of migratory animals in the West
Natalia de la Torre (Membership Number: 51470222)
I am running for the ex com because it helps me stay informed on what is happening in my community. I believe it’s very important to stay informed as well as involved. Being a part of the ex com allows me to help my community grow. These past years with the PVG ex com have been very rewarding, like helping with the feeding for the owl project and being able to provide support for the high school I went to -- to be able to build a succulent garden.
Getting people involved in their communities at a young age is so important to building a better future. This year I would work on more outreach to younger audiences to get involved in their community and stay informed on environmental issues. To accomplish this, we would make a social media page to get further outreach to people of all ages. Which could also help with more membership sign ups.
Overall, I have really enjoyed being a part of the ex com and would like to continue supporting my community. Thank you for the opportunity.
Jim Vaaler (Membership Number: 11880851)
I will uphold principles of justice, equity, diversion, and inclusion (JEDI) in our Palo Verde Group. The Jemez Principles need to guide and inform our decision making process in our Sierra Club work as well as in our daily lives. While the 30 X 30 land proposal put forth by the Biden Administration is a very good idea, I believe that before we can expend a lot of energy on that proposal, we must be certain that Donald Trump is no longer an existential threat to our democracy, our environmental laws, and indeed the Planet. Until that is accomplished it will be necessary to try and sell duplicatable and peer reviewed science to politicians who in many cases do not wish to be bothered by the science of climate change and land protection. Indeed, when looking at what the Republican Party has become, one realizes that the Republican Party is no longer a political party, but simply a cult of personality. I do believe we have our work cut out for us.
Saguaro Group
John Beshears (Membership Number: 47263325)
John Beshears has been a member of the Sierra Club Grand Canyon Chapter for longer than 20 years. He has been on outings, volunteered on service projects, helped lobby, and attended various meetings and events. Beshears attended SC outings, first aid and fundraising training, Campfire soon. Beshears has served as Fundraising Chair, and currently Saguaro Group Outings Co-Chair and Saguaro Group Service Projects Co-Chair.
Sally Howland (Membership Number: 46901049)
I am Sally Howland and I have been a member of the Saguaro Group of the Grand Canyon Chapter of the Sierra Club for the last eleven years. I have been actively involved in organizing meetings, hikes and service projects for the Saguaro Group. I look forward to continuing my service.
Yavapai Group
Russell D. Pilcher (Member ID: 48855207)
I'm running for another term on the ExComm for the Yavapai Group of the Grand Canyon Chapter of the Sierra Club.
Stan Bindell (Member ID: 47066215)
I'm running for another term on the ExComm for the Yavapai Group of the Grand Canyon Chapter of the Sierra Club.
Nopales Group
Nick Arnold (Membership Number: 50709617)
Anakarina Rodriguez (Membership Number: 48447588)
Rhys Williams (Membership Number: 56137501)
My appreciation for the natural world comes from my experiences hiking and camping. But in the few short years I've become involved in organizing, I’ve learned many lessons. I’ve learned that we must build the world we want to see, and I’ve learned that change is possible through the hard work of dedicated people. The Sierra club is doing that work, as an institution of the environmental conservation and justice movement. I want to be a part of that effort. So that the places I am able to experience can continue to flourish for future generations to come.
Flagstaff/Northern AZ
(Under reorganization)