By Bob Heinemann, Jim Taft, and Gale Pisha
Readers of Sierra Atlantic already know that Sierra Club members belong to the national organization, a state Chapter, and a local Group. Atlantic Chapter (all of NYS) has had eleven Groups. One of them, Ramapo-Catskill Group (Sullivan and Orange Counties), gradually lost most of its leadership and active members. In 2018 the Group asked to be dissolved and transferred its financial assets to the Chapter.
Atlantic Chapter’s Executive Committee (ExCom) had hoped instead to revitalize the Ramapo-Catskill Group and asked leaders in adjacent Groups to attempt the task. We in Lower Hudson Group (Gale Pisha), Mid-Hudson Group (Bob Heinemann), and Susquehanna Group (Jim Taft) contacted all 1100 affected members by regular mail and emails. We then set up virtual (due to the pandemic) meetings. Three Ramapo-Catskill members attended, an insufficient number for an active Group. This may be partly due to the fact that, unlike most Groups, Ramapo-Catskill lacked a dominant urban center, thereby inhibiting meetings and relationships.
Our revitalization committee, supported by our Groups' ExComs, suggested to the Chapter that Ramapo-Catskill members be reassigned as follows:
Sullivan County Members reassigned to Susquehanna Group.
Orange County members in these zip codes reassigned to Mid-Hudson Group: 10915, 10919, 10932, 10940, 10941, 10963, 10985, 12518, 12520, 12543, 12549, 12550, 12551, 12552, 12553, 12555, 12566, 12575, 12577, 12584, 12586.
Orange County members in these zip codes reassigned to Lower Hudson Group: 10910, 10911, 10912, 10914, 10916, 10917, 10918, 10921, 10922, 10924, 10925, 10926, 10928, 10930, 10933, 10949, 10950, 10953, 10958, 10959, 10969, 10973, 10975, 10979, 10981, 10987, 10988, 10990, 10992, 10996, 10997, 10998, 12729, 12746, 12771, 12780.
The Atlantic Chapter and national Club approved this plan.
Former Ramapo-Catskill members will be contacted by their new groups and welcomed to future meetings and events. Our three groups are very active, and we hope the reassigned members find many opportunities to get involved with us.