by Jim Turner, Chapter ExCom
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In July 2005 I was one of three persons added to Missouri Ozark Chapter Conservation Committee. In January 2006 I also began service on our chapter’s Executive Committee. I’ve also had a few occasions to consult on the Legislative Committee’s LISTSERV.
I’ve found these committees very receptive to input from all their members, both on the listserves and during meetings. Collectively, a lot of time and thought goes into determining Ozark Chapter’s positions on issues and how to express them.
If you are feeling like you want to become more involved with your Missouri Sierra Club, here are descriptions of what Chapter leaders do.
 Ozark Chapter ExCom meeting. Photo by Carla Klein |
In general the Executive Committee members understand and promote the mission of the Sierra Club. Led by the Chapter Chair, the ExComm works with a team of volunteer activists and the Chapter Director, Carla Klein, to provide leadership and vision within the state wide Missouri Chapter of the Sierra Club. Among other activities, the ExComm members attend bi-monthly meetings, participate in long range planning and assist the Chapter Development Coordinator in fundraising activities.
The Chapter Conservation Committee is guided by the Chapter Conservation Chair to motivate and direct the conservation work of the Chapter. The Chapter Director along with the Conservation Chair work with the Conservation Committee to identify and delegate activities related to the conservation goals of the Missouri Chapter. The Conservation Committee works with the Chair, ExComm and Director to provide the Chapter with a long range vision of the Chapter’s conservation strategy and priorities.
The Legislative Committee works directly with the Chapter Chair who is the lobbyist for the Sierra Club. They read and discuss bills introduced every year in the Missouri legislature. They decide on Sierra Club positions on these bills and work with the lobbyist to compose testimony for hearings and talking points to send out to members in the form of Legislative Listserv alerts.
These committees meet bimonthly in St. Louis, Columbia, Kansas City, or Cape Girardeau. Because our listserves keep members informed and involved, much is efficiently accomplished at these meetings. Even so, a Conservation Committee meeting typically takes six hours, with enough time spent on each issue so that all members and visitors have a good basis for understanding it. A potluck supper after each meeting provides additional opportunities to discuss matters. Various Ozark Chapter members do attend the meetings of the Conservation Committee and the Executive Committee, and we urge you to attend when you can. The more members involved in our thinking, the better! Here’s a list of the times and locations for our 2006 meetings:
June 3/4, 2006– Kansas City
July 15/16, 2006 – Columbia
Sept 23/24, 2006 – Cape Girardeau
Nov 11/12, 2006 – St. Louis
Jan 27/28, 2007 – Columbia
In these times when the environment is being strained by many deplorable economic and governmental decisions, more than committee work is needed—important decisions also are needed at Ozark Chapter’s grassroots. Consumers and voters can be persuaded by Ozark Chapter’s statements, but it’s also necessary that they be influenced by the demonstrated beliefs of their local Sierra Club members—people they already know through shared work in various local clubs, religious congregations, etc. We need to write letters to editors, help circulate petitions when needed, and help the campaigns of candidates who will protect the environment (legislators are especially influenced by the views of the persons who have stuffed envelopes etc. in their campaigns). Your interest in serving on committees of our Groups and of Ozark Chapter also will be appreciated.
We also hope that you will make thoughtful donations to help the work of Ozark Chapter. During our committee meetings, our Chapter Development Associate, Melissa Blakley, has been showing the materials she’s developing, to better tell the stories of Ozark Chapter’s accomplishments and goals. You’re seeing some of her works in these newsletters, and she’ll be glad to correspond with individual members and to arrange visits to discuss targeted donations.
With high gas prices and strong hurricanes nowadays, you’d think the public would now better respect the environment. But complacency is a strong habit. Jared Diamond’s book Collapse shows how hard it is for societies to restrain resource-grabbers and sustain the societies’ environmental bases. It will take much American ingenuity to tame our culture of “consume at any cost.” Lots of us must step up to a higher level of care for our good Earth, and set a good visible example. Please recognize that this is a pivotal time for Earth, and act accordingly!