Here are the candidate statements for the 2019 Sierra Club Missouri Chapter Executive Committee election. Those chosen will serve a two year term, during the years 2020 and 2021. Sierra Club members who reside in Missouri are eligible to vote. Five candidates will be elected - you can vote for up to five candidates.
Voting begins on December 1, 2019. Please vote by noon, January 3, 2020. At election time there will be a link here with information here on how to vote and edibility details.
Debi Pratt
My name is Deborah Pratt (Debi) and I am currently an active member of the Sierra Club- EMG. I am also active with the EMG Political Committee. In describing myself, I most closely fit the description of a social justice advocate and activist. The collective power of passionate people is one of my fundamental beliefs. I have volunteered with numerous organizations that have social justice at the core of their mission and find this work to be very rewarding.
I value the Sierra Club as a leading authority on global, national, and local environmental issues. The staff and volunteers I have met and worked with are committed to protecting—and improving—the environment for future generations. I believe their success comes from working to understand the issues and then helping to educate others on how to implement solutions.
I would like to continue to participate with the Sierra Club through connecting environmental issues to social justice issues, i.e. the connection between poverty and poor health as it relates to environmental inequities. Working on electing candidates who understand and are committed to a pro-environmental platform is another area of interest for me and one in which I have some experience.
Please let me know if you need any other information regarding my personal or professional experience.
Kevin Grooms
Kevin Grooms is the Thomas Hart Benton group chair and a dedicated local leader for Sierra Club. In the two years he has been an active board member, he has expanded Sierra Club's presence among ally groups throughout Kansas City--particularly economic justice groups like the Poor People's Campaign, pro-democracy allies such as Jobs with Justice, and fellow environmentalists at Heartland Conservation Alliance.
A frequent speaker for the Club, he has publicly advocated our priorities with the EPA, Missouri DNR, Kansas City Council, and local news outlets on TV, radio and print media. Kevin also serves regularly as the face of Sierra Club before student groups, political caucuses and community organizations.
After spending 2019 representing THB group on the chapter executive committee, he aims to continue serving on the finance committee and assisting in the chapter's lobbying at the state house. He supports the chapter's efforts to defend democracy in Jeff City, and driving Sierra Club toward better equity practices.
Jennifer Conner
Jennifer Conner has served as a volunteer, staff member, and executive committee member of the Missouri Sierra Club for 7 years. She currently serves as chair of the Missouri Sierra Club. Jennifer has a degree in conservation and wildlife management, is a former environmental scientist for the MO Department of Natural Resources, and is an avid outdoorswoman. She enjoys spending time in the woods with her family: hiking, cycling, kayaking, and nature photography and writing.
If she is elected to the ex-com for another term, Jennifer hopes to continue to assist the club in building grassroots power around protecting our public lands (specifically our new state parks), work on enhancing our legislative influence, and assist in developing a strategic plan to ensure that the club is prepared to face future environmental challenges as effectively and efficiently as possible.
Judy Dasovich
I joined the Sierra Club many years ago because of their reputation for effective advocacy. I became active in 2013 because of a local issue with water quality that that the Missouri Chapter identified. They educated several of us about the issue. Because of this, I joined the White River Group (WRG) Board. I was chair from January 2014 to May 2019. Currently, I am the Energy chair for the Group and remain on the board. I have been the WRG representative to the Missouri Chapter Board since then. My special interest is in coal ash disposal. I enjoy the outings set up by our local group. I look forward to continued partnership with Sierra Club volunteers and staff.
Maddie Price
My name is Madeline Price. I am a Biology student working to obtain my Associate of Science Degree in Biology at OTC before transferring to MSU next fall to obtain my Bachelor’s in Biology. As well as attending school at OTC, I work as the Lab Prep Assistant for the Life Science Department there. The environment is my passion, and you can often find me reading a new study or watching a documentary on the state of our planet in my free time. When I get the chance, you can also find me squeezing in time to read a book, travel, and watch Cardinal baseball games as often as possible!