Honoring Enid Pearson and Emily Renzel
Featuring Guest Speaker Pete McCloskey
Friday, October 4th
6 to 9 p.m.
Mitchell Park Community Center
3700 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto, CA 94303
The 2019 Guardians of Nature Benefit for the Loma Prieta Chapter honored Enid Pearson and Emily Renzel, two local environmental champions and long-time members of the Sierra Club, and was our most successful Benefit yet.
Nearly 250 guests joined us for the 5th Guardians of Nature Benefit, making it our most attended event. Thanks to the generous support of our sponsors and other donors, we have raised more than $80,000, the most ever.
Since only a sliver of your membership dues paid to Sierra Club National is returned to our chapter, the funds raised by our Benefit are critical to providing the necessary resources to help our dedicated volunteers to realize our mission “to enjoy, explore and protect the planet.”
The celebration began with social time when attendees mixed, mingled, enjoyed delicious hors d’ oeuvres and wine, and bid on silent auction items. The main program began with a welcome speech by Chapter Director James Eggers and recognition of two Loma Prieta Chapter remarkable volunteers: 14-year-old Tina Zeng was given our 2019 Youth Award in Environmental Journalism for her eNewsletter articles, then Dara Hazeghi, Vice-chair of our chapter’s 20s - 30s outing section, received the 2019 Outings Leader Award for his help resurrecting that important group.
Afterward, a touching and inspiring tribute video was shown, which left many attendees teary-eyed. The video was created by the Chapter's longtime volunteer leader and professional video producer, Mike Kerhin.
Following the screening, James introduced our guest speaker, former Congressman, co-author of the Endangered Species Act and co-chair of the first Earth Day, Pete McCloskey. Loma Prieta Chapter Executive Committee member Mary Buxton led the guests into a surprise Happy Birthday song in honor of Mr. McCloskey's 92nd birthday just a few days before. Benefit photographer Jerzy Guterman accompanied on the piano.
Pete McCloskey provided an inspirational address honoring Enid Pearson and Emily Renzel, titled “Well behaved women never make history.” He described our honorees as females who never yield in critical fights. The attendees broke into a loud cheer and applause after Pete declared that “the secret ingredient” of the environmental movement has always been women.
After his speech, Pete presented our honorees with the 2019 Guardians of Nature Awards for Open Space Champions, the first ever given by our chapter, and Congresswoman Anna Eshoo surprised the honorees with U.S. Congressional Commendations.
Then the ladies spoke. Enid’s wit and perceptions were igniting, like a green fire, and the crowd seemed nearly levitated from her words, tone and spirit. Then Emily’s impassioned call for activism locally and nationally left many with a lump in our throats and a renewed passion in our hearts.
Jurek Guterman, our long-time volunteer photographer took scores of pictures, so don’t forget to see the 2019 Guardians of Nature Benefit album on our website, Facebook page.
Our special thanks go to our generous sponsors for their critical support, Google, our anonymous Sierra Nevada Sentinel, Mary Buxton and Ron Hess, Lisa Barboza and Brian Roach, Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, Peninsula Clean Energy, Chris and Celeste Dier, Gladwyn d'Souza, Davena Gentry, Larry L. Lundberg, San Jose City Councilmember Raul Peralez, the Loma Prieta Chapter’s Environmental Stewardship Program, Suzanne and Robert Rubenstein, Diana Stark, Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian & Mary Hughes, Marilyn Brewer, Shawn and Lisa Britton, City of Burlingame Councilmember Michael Brownrigg, Sue Chow, City of Burlingame Mayor Donna Colson, Peter and Melanie Cross, Rick and Karen DeGolia, Peter J. Dehlinger, Susan DesJardin, Bret Fingerhut, City of San Jose Councilmember Pam Foley, City of Sunnyvale Councilmember Glenn Hendricks, California State Senator Jerry Hill, City of San Jose Councilmember Sergio Jimenez, Arthur Keller, Sid and Linda Liebes, Karen Maki, Cathy Moyer, California Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore Kevin Mullin, Landa Robillard and Kelly Maas, Bruce Rienzo, Charles and Jamie Schafer, U.S. Congresswoman Jackie Speier, Loma Prieta Family Explorers and Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority.
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: Mary Buxton, James Eggers, Jurek and Justyna Guterman, Sharon Hudak, Barbara Kelsey, Camille King, Dashiell Leeds, Sharon McEntee, Robin Montoya, Mark and Laura Robichek, Rachel Sojda, and Cheryl Woodward.
Honorees' Biographies
Enid Pearson
Enid Pearson, Former Palo Alto Councilmember, has for decades been a leading force in the protection of Palo Alto parks and open space. In the early 1960s, in efforts to prevent the destruction of the City's parkland, she co-formed the Parks Committee to study how other cities protect their open space. The resulting work of that Committee was the Park Dedication Charter Amendment, which was adopted in 1965 by the Palo Alto voters. The amendment prohibits Palo Alto from selling any parkland without the voters’ approval.
In the 1970s, together with Emily Renzel, and others, Enid was largely responsible for saving the Palo Alto Baylands by stopping an ill-designed flood-control plan. If implemented, the plan would have destroyed 45 acres of endangered Clapper Rail bird and Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse habitat.
Enid successfully advocated against building 550 homes on Arastradero Subdivision, and for its permanent protection. In the early 1980s, the 533-acre open space was dedicated as a park and in 2004 it was renamed in Enid’s honor as the Enid Pearson-Arastradero Preserve.
Enid served on the board of the Committee for Green Foothills and is a long-time Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter member.
Emily Renzel
Former Palo Alto Councilmember and a decades-long environmental advocate, Emily has fiercely defended parks and the 1964 Park Dedication Charter Amendment championed by Enid Pearson. In the 1970s Emily successfully stopped a poorly designed flood-control plan which would have destroyed 45 acres of Clapper Rail bird and Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse habitat, by getting the City to hire a hydrologist who recommended just raising the bicycle path a few feet to protect against extreme floods. Also in the 1970s Emily was active in stopping the dredging of the Yacht Harbor and initiated Palo Alto’s first Baylands Master Plan.
For over 40 years, together with Enid Pearson and others, Emily has worked tirelessly to protect Palo Alto’s Baylands. In honor of Emily’s efforts, a 154 acre restored marsh was named for her in 1992.
Emily Renzel has been a Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter Life member since 1964. From 1993 to 2007, she faithfully volunteered once a week at the Chapter office. Emily served on the Board of Committee for Green Foothills in the 1990s and continues to serve on the Board of the Citizens' Committee to Complete the Refuge.
Guest Speaker
Pete McCloskey
Paul Norton "Pete" McCloskey Jr. is a decorated war hero, former U.S. Congressman, and an ardent environmentalist. Before serving in Congress, Mr. McCloskey was one of the nation’s first environmental lawyers. During his seven terms in the U.S House of Representatives, from 1967 to 1983, he co-chaired the first Earth Day in 1970, served as Congressional Advisor to the Law of the Sea Treaty, and contributed to many environmental laws including the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act. One of his enduring legacies is his co-authorship of the 1973 Endangered Species Act.
With his wife Helen, he lives on a farm in Yolo County where he tends organic oranges and olives.
Sponsors
John Muir Heir
Sierra Nevada Sentinels
Anonymous
Mary Buxton and Ron Hess
Yosemite Heroes
Anonymous
Lisa Barboza and Brian Roach
Sequoia Champions
Chris and Celeste Dier
Gladwyn d'Souza
Larry L. Lundberg
San Jose City Councilmember Raul Peralez
Environmental Stewardship Program
Suzanne and Robert Rubenstein
Diana Stark
Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian & Mary Hughes
Baylands Stewards
Marilyn Brewer
Shawn and Lisa Britton
City of Burlingame Councilmember Michael Brownrigg
Sue Chow
City of Burlingame Mayor Donna Colson
Peter and Melanie Cross
Rick DeGolia
Peter J. Dehlinger
Susan DesJardin
Bert Fingerhut
City of San Jose Councilmember Pam Foley
City of Sunnyvale Councilmember Glenn Hendricks
California State Senator Jerry Hill
City of San Jose Councilmember Sergio Jimenez
Arthur Keller
Sid and Linda Liebes
Karen Maki
Cathy Moyer
California Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore Kevin Mullin
Landa Robillard and Kelly Maas
Bruce Rienzo
Charles and Jamie Schafer
U.S. Congresswoman Jackie Speier
Loma Prieta Family Explorers
Honorary Hosts
City of Redwood City Councilmember Alicia Aguirre, City of Redwood City Mayor Ian Bain, City of Burlingame Vice Mayor Emily Beach, California State Assemblymember Marc Berman, City of Burlingame Councilmember Michael Brownrigg, City of Morgan Hill Councilmember Larry Carr, Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez, City of Burlingame Mayor Donna Colson, Santa Clara County Supervisor Dave Cortese, Patty Cortese, Town of Atherton Vice Mayor Rick DeGolia, Santa Clara County Supervisor Susan Ellenberg, US Congresswoman Anna G. Eshoo, City of Palo Alto Mayor Eric Filseth, City of Sunnyvale Councilmember Glenn Hendricks, City of Belmont Mayor Davina Hurt, City of San Jose Councilmember Sergio Jimenez, City of San Jose Councilmember Johnny Khamis, Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Director Zoe Kersteen-Tucker, City of Palo Alto Councilmember Lydia Kou, City of Sunnyvale Councilmember Gustav Larsson, City of San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, US Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, City of Redwood City Councilmember Shelly Masur, City of Mountain View Mayor Lisa Matichak, City of Menlo Park Mayor Ray Mueller, California State Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore Kevin Mullin, City of San Jose Councilmember Raul Peralez, San Mateo County Supervisor Dave Pine, City of Mountain View former Mayor Patricia Showalter, Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian, City of Sunnyvale Councilmember Nancy Smith, Town of Woodside Mayor Daniel Yost
Past Guardians of Nature Benefits for the Loma Prieta Chapter
Past Guardians of Nature Benefits
Event Committee
Mary Buxton, James Eggers, Barbara Kelsey, Camille King, Justyna Guterman
Contact us
Questions about the event and 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.