by Caroline Pufalt
There are many ways to participate in the Sierra Club. One is to serve as a chapter or group officer. The Sierra Club in Missouri is organized in a state-wide chapter, and in four "groups" which cover the state but are centered around Columbia (Osage Group), Kansas City (Thomas Hart Benton Group), Springfield (White River Group) and St. Louis (E.Mo.Group). The chapter is managed by an executive committee, nine of whose members are elected at large - meaning chosen in an election in which members across the state can participate. (see ballot) Each group can also send a member to the executive committee.
Serving on "ExCom" is a 2-year commitment. Members may run for subsequent terms. Terms are staggered so that each year there are some more experienced members.
The ExCom makes important decisions for the Missouri chapter about financial and conservation issues. The chapter also has a conservation committee which deliberates on conservation topics and determines some priorities and strategies. But whenever the conservation committee considers taking an important position on a new issue, that position must also be approved by the executive committee.
We face a lot of important environmental challenges in Missouri. A few of the issues we have been involved in within the past year include encourging cities to reduce their greenhouse emissions, promoting energy efficiency in utility service, reducing our State's dependence on coal, promoting better transportation policies, providing input to the Ozark National Scenic Riverways management plan, and proposing new wilderness areas in Missouri.
Some of these efforts occur through work in Missouri's state legislature, or by interacting with administrative officials. Other times we focus on ballot issues. To succeed, we are always trying to educate and encourage participation and enroll new active members.
How do we manage all this and keep our costs down? ...by relying on volunteers to help make decisions and to inspire each other to carry out many of the tasks. The ExCom "meets" 6 times a year, sometimes in person, sometimes by conference call, to save on time, travel and energy use by volunteers. Being an active volunteer is a challenging and rewarding job.