Party and Progress by John Hankins.
The Sierra Club volunteers in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties work hard for the environment, social justice, free public hikes and more.
They can also party and have fun.
That happened at the annual December holiday event that gave a capsule view of the Los Padres Chapter’s wins and challenges.
“We have ‘wins’ this year, it was a difficult year and sometimes you can get down,” said Katie Davis, our Chapter Chair.
As always, the club is about its members and volunteers. A special shout-out went to Richard Hunt, our treasurer for 45 years who’s retiring this year, not only doing the books under the club’s complicated rules but helping with fundraising. He never wanted credit for it, but as Los Padres Chapter Political Chair David Gold said, “Richard, we’re making a fuss.”
“I’ve been happy to do it, as opposed to picking up trash and stuffing envelopes, with my background I could do it!” he said.
Another key member who is also retiring is Teresa Norris, who was instrumental in creating the wildly popular Wilderness Basics Course in 2010
Fun stuff included Holiday Food Tips from Gerri French, a kayak trip raffle, a David & Goliath Award, more Spanish language prospects and the “award winning Condor Call and editor” which has a print and online version, and its features are part of a blog Condor Call Currents. All of which helps reach more citizens with issues.
Some of the ‘wins’ include lobbying for 100% Community Choice energy, now a reality in both counties, success in convincing SoCal Edison to use a huge battery storage system instead of a petroleum powered Peaker Plant, a revival of Outings, stopping Cat Canyon oil fields, a likely success against Exxon using trucks to transport oil, backing wind energy now under construction and lobbying for alternative energy, to name a few.
Andrew Christie of our sister/brother chapter in San Luis Obispo was effusive in our chapter’s support of the proposed Chumash Heritage Marine Sanctuary that was first proposed 40 years ago by Chumash leader Fred Collins and now under study by the feds.
“The Los Padres Chapter really worked the levers with politicians to build that support. We believe we’re on the road to a win."
Chapter officers New and Old
First of the year brings appointments and elections of our hard-working volunteers in the Los Padres Chapter of the Sierra Club. That means these citizens are putting in huge hours without pay to serve their community for the greater good of the environment.
But first a shout-out to our retiring treasurer Richard Hunt who’s served us without complaints and some humor over 45 years! Think about that. In December we gave him the first-ever Marathon Volunteer Award.
Since we mention all these people are volunteers, we still need donations to run the club.
Donate here: www.SierraClub.org/donate/1000
Chapter posts
The Executive Committee is the ‘point of the spear’ for environmental action. Chair Katie Davis and Vice-Chair Jim Hines will serve another term, indicating trust and pride for their leadership.
Newly appointed Bernard Mines will take the place of retiring Treasurer Richard Hunt and long-term Secretary Gerry Ching will again serve the ExCom, writing its history via the minutes.
Santa Barbara Group
The four incumbents up for re-election on the Excutive Committee were re-elected. They are: Katie Davis, Alex Pujo, Robert Bernstein, and Luz Reyes-Martín.
Reyes-Martín was elected the Group's new Chair. She serves on the Goleta Union School Board and is Vice President of Community Engagement at Planned Parenthood California Central Coast. See her full bio here.
Conejo Group
Lots of changes here, notably Niki Stokols taking over from long-term Chair Hugh Warren, thanks Hugh!
Niki is a 2015 alumni of our Wilderness Basics Course, but had much experience prior to that, such as leading hikes with children from the Children’s Nature Institute, and an Environmental Educator for the Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains in 2015. She’s been a hike leader for Trails Education Days in the Conejo Valley since the early 1990's to the present and occasionally leads hikes for the Conejo Group.
Also, the group’s secretary is Marcey Pascual, and the Outings Chair is Gerry Lynham.
For general information regarding the group, or its outings email: conejogrouphiking@gmail.com
Ventura Group
Nina Danza led a Ventura Group trip to the Channel Islands on January 17, where they participated in restoration efforts and saw amazing wildlife at places like Potato Harbor on Santa Cruz Island.
