2018 Benefit for the Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter

Honoring Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian

Friday, October 5th, 2018

6-9 PM

Mitchell Park Community Center

3700 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto, CA 94303

The 2018 Guardians of Nature Benefit in honor of Santa Clara Supervisor Joe Simitian was our most successful ever. Thanks to all the supporters, we have raised more than $65,000.
Since only a sliver of your membership dues is returned to our chapter, the funds raised by our Benefit will provide the necessary resources to help our dedicated volunteers to realize our mission “to enjoy, explore and protect the earth.”

Despite Friday’s traffic, more than 200 guests attended to celebrate Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian and our Loma Prieta Chapter community. After the social time when guests had the opportunity to mix and mingle and bid on silent auction items, the program begun with a welcome address by Chapter Director James Eggers, then was followed by a 5 minute video tribute to Supervisor Simitian, which left many attendees teary-eyed.

This video was generously produced by a long time chapter conservation leader, Mike Kerhin.

Afterward, Sally Lieber, community leader, a long-time Sierra Club member, former California Assemblywoman and Speaker pro Tempore, introduced Supervisor Simitian, including a testimony to his environmental leadership.

Our honoree was inspirational as he accepted his award as Elected Official Environmental Champion. Supervisor Simitian praised environmentally minded elected officials that came before him and the scores of Sierra Club environmental activists who helped make impactful changes in environmental law and implementation. You may read his speech here.

Jurek Guterman, our long-time volunteer photographer took scores of pictures, so don’t forget to see the 2018 Guardians of Nature Benefit album on our Facebook page or here.

Our special thanks go to our generous sponsors for their critical support, especially our anonymous John Muir Heir, Sierra Nevade Sentinel and Midpeninusula Regional Open Space District, Mary V. Hughes, Alan and Irene Adler, Chris and Celeste Dier, Marion and Charles Krause, California State Assembly Speaker pro Tempore Kevin Mullin, City of San Jose Councilmember Don Rocha, Mark Reedy, Peninsula Clean Energy, and Silicon Valley Clean Energy.

Last but not least, we thank our wonderful team of volunteers and staff for working tirelessly for many months on organizing this year’s Benefit: Carolyn Curtis, James Eggers, Jurek and Justyna Guterman, Sharon Hudak, Barba Kelsey, Camille King, Faye Ly, Robin Montoya, Mark and Laura Robichek, Rachel Sojda, Teri Wiss, Joyce Wright, and Cheryl Woodward.

Honoree Biography

Santa Clara Supervisor Joe Simitian

Joe Simitian is President of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors and represents District 5, which includes Cupertino, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Saratoga, Stanford, and portions of Sunnyvale and San Jose. Joe also previously served on the Palo Alto School Board and Palo Alto City Council, and in the California State Senate and State Assembly.

Joe authored many environmental laws during his Senate and Assembly terms, including The California Clean Coast Act, The Sustainable Oceans Act, The Delta Reform Act, and the state’s 33% by 2020 renewable portfolio standard.

He also served as Chair of the Senate Environmental Quality Committee and routinely earned a 100% score from the California League of Conservation Voters.

Guest Speaker

Sally Lieber is a community leader and nonprofit advocate, working for economic and environmental justice, and environmental preservation and restoration.

She served as Mayor and Councilwoman in the City of Mountain View and three terms in the California State Assembly. In the Assembly, she represented Silicon Valley's 22nd Assembly District and as Speaker pro Tempore, only the third woman to hold this leadership position since 1849.

In the Assembly, Sally authored key legislation to fight climate change, scale back auto emissions and reduce the use of toxic chemicals. She also successfully raised the State’s minimum wage, authored the State’s first law to combat human trafficking, prevent wage theft and protect and empower people with disabilities.

She now heads a nonprofit organization responding to the needs of women in poverty, including women that are homeless and women refugees and their families. She also serves as an advisor to the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority, an agency that was created through her legislation.

Sally Lieber has served on the board of the Sierra Club California and has been a long-time member of the Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter.

Honorary Hosts

City of Mountain View Councilmember Margaret Abe-Koga, City of Burlingame Councilmember Emily Beach, California State Assemblymember Marc Berman, San Mateo County Supervisor David Canepa, City of Mountain View Councilmember Christopher Clark, Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez, Santa Clara County Supervisor Dave Cortese, Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Director Jed Cyr, Town of Atherton Councilmember Rick DeGolia, City of Palo Alto Councilmember Tom DuBois, City of Palo Alto Councilmember Eric Filseth, City of Palo Alto Councilmember Adrian Fine, City of Campbell Councilmember Liz Gibbons, City of Milpitas Vice Mayor Marsha Grilli, San Mateo County Supervisor Carole Groom, City of Sunnyvale Mayor Glenn Hendricks, Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority Director Virginia Holtz, City of San Jose Councilmember Sergio Jimenez, Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Director Yoriko Kishimoto, City of Palo Alto Mayor Liz Kniss, City of San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, City of Saratoga Mayor Emily Lo, U.S. Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, City of Mountain View Councilmember John McAlister, City of Daly City Mayor Juslyn Manalo, City of Mountain View Vice Mayor Lisa Matichak, California State Assembly Speaker pro Tempore Kevin Mullin, City of Milpitas Councilmember Bob Nunez, City of Cupertino Mayor Darcy Paul, San Mateo County Supervisor Dave Pine, City of Half Moon Bay Vice Mayor Harvey Rarback, City of Mountain View Councilmember Ken Rosenberg, City of Los Gatos Councilmember Marico Sayoc, Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Director Pete Siemens, City of Cuperino Councilmember Steven Scharf, City of Palo Alto Councilmember Greg Scharff, City of Mountain View Councilmember Pat Showalter, City of Sunnyvale Councilmember Nancy Smith, City of Los Gatos Councilmember Barbara Spector, City of Cupertino Councilmember Savita Vaidhyanathan

2017 Guardians of Nature Benefit for the Loma Prieta Chapter

Watch the video from 2017 Guardians of Nature

Pictures from 2017 Guardia ns of Nature Benefit

Event Committee

James Eggers, Barbara Kelsey, Camille King, Justyna Guterman, Joyce Wright

Contact us

Questions about the event: Barbara Kelsey (Barbara.Kelsey@sierraclub.org or 650-390-8411)

To volunteer: Justyna Guterman (Justyna.Guterman@sierraclub.org or 650-390-8494)

All proceeds benefit the Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter. Tickets purchases and gifts to the Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter are not tax-deductible; they support our effective, citizen-based advocacy and lobbying efforts.