The Sierra Club, the largest grassroots environmental group in the world, is proudly democratic and member driven. The at-large Delegates you elect, along with the Group delegates direct the work of our Atlantic Chapter. Five individuals have been nominated this year to run for four open at-large seats. Each candidate’s statement includes information on how to reach them with questions. See their bios below.
Ways in which you can vote:
Online Voting:
- If you prefer to vote online, please check your email inbox in mid-late December for your official, non-transferrable link to the 2018 Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter online ballot. It will be sent to all members in good standing who have email addresses on file as of December 1, 2018, and who have not opted out of receiving Sierra Club emails. If you prefer online voting, your choices cannot be emailed. Everyone voting online must follow the link and use the official online ballot. The online voting deadline is January 18, 2019.
- You will need your member ID, found on the mailing label of your 2018 Sierra Atlantic newsletter. It is the eight (8) digit number printed to the left of your name on the address label. The number will have no leading zerios (0). If you have a joint membership, your member ID will be able to be used twice, so that both members can cast a ballot. Please contact atlantic.chapter@sierraclub.org with any questions. The online ballot is open from December 15, 2018 - January 18, 2019.
Mail-in Voting/Paper Ballots:
- Those who prefer may mail in paper ballots. If you vote using both the paper ballot on the back of your printed Fall/Winter Sierra Atlantic AND the online ballot, the only one counted will be the online ballot. Ballots should not be cut or separated from the address box found in your Sierra Atlantic, as it bears your member number and name.
- The Election Committee will accept only ballots that are attached to your name; others will be discarded. So do not cover up your mailing address—this is used to verify that the ballot is being submitted by an Atlantic Chapter member. For your privacy, after your memberships are authenticated, the Election Committee separates all ballots from identifying information thereby ensuring secrecy, then conducts the count.
- Mail your folded ballot with attached identifying address and number in an envelope so as to conform to U.S. postal regulations. Affix a first-class stamp and mail to: Elections Committee, Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter, P.O. Box 38225, Albany, NY 12203. Mail your ballots so that they are received on or before January 18, 2019. Paper ballots on the newsletter are being mailed in December.
- Members in good standing of the Atlantic Chapter as of December 1, 2018
- Each member may fill out only one ballot.
- Joint members use both ballot columns, on the paper ballots, or if voting online, use your member ID twice.
Voting procedures
- Each member may vote for four candidates or fewer, but voting for more than four will void your ballot.
- Ballots will be counted in mid January 2019.
- Members who do not receive a ballot, or who damage or lose their ballot, may request a replacement from an Atlantic Chapter office employee who will send you a replacement ballot. The replacement ballot will bear your membership number and the signature of a Chapter staff member. Only original or correctly issued replacement ballots will be counted. No replacement ballots will be issued after January 9.
- If you have any questions or problems, contact Chapter staff at 518-426-9144, or email caitlin.ferrante@sierraclub.org. (A reminder that the Chapter offices will be closed for the holiday from December 24, 2018-January 2, 2019).
Below are the unedited statements from candidates running for at-large delegate seats to the Chapter's Executive Committee (ExCom). To vote for up to four candidates, use the ballot on your print Sierra Atlantic, or use the link found in the email sent in mid-late December.
Click candidates' names for their bios:
- Carl Arnold - Kings County (Brooklyn)
- Shannon Cuthburt - Kings County (Brooklyn)
- Chris Burger - Broome County (Whitney Point)
- Gale Pisha - Rockland County (Nanuet)
- David Fischer - Onondaga County (Syracuse)