Names of organizations reflect their identity and how they are viewed by others. In that vein, we're changing our name to the Wisconsin Chapter – a change overwhelmingly approved by 83% of our members who voted.
Our previous name honored John Muir whose boyhood home was in Wisconsin, and who was a significant environmental figure and founder of the Sierra Club. Most Chapters have names reflecting their geography, and for many, including within the Sierra Club, having a different name led to confusion and a lack of recognition that our Chapter is the Wisconsin Chapter.
We continue to honor many of Muir’s great accomplishments, but recognize that part of our environmental history, and that of the Sierra Club, was based on a Eurocentric culture and perspective that marginalized and harmed other cultures and peoples and is not representative of our current commitment to justice. In addition, that environmental perspective focused primarily on nature as a set-aside recreational resource for the pleasure of a privileged group of people.
Wisconsin’s long environmental history includes numerous great environmental heroes – with many more who our history has not chosen to raise up and value. To align ourselves with just one individual, even a person who was integral to the Sierra Club, limits recognizing the contributions made by other persons and cultures that other people may identify with or find more compelling. No single person can represent the breadth of Sierra Club’s members and leaders.
Our new name - the Wisconsin Chapter - includes everyone within our geography, with no temporal or cultural constraints. We also acknowledge that people bring different perspectives regarding the imperfections of past icons, and as an organization that strives to be inclusive, are honoring that.
Sierra Club has changed a lot since we were founded in 1892. Today we are committed to continuing our journey to become open and welcoming to all who wish to join. While we’ve grown a lot since our earlier days, we know we have a lot more to do. Our name change is just one step in many we are taking.
Contact Cassie Steiner at cassandra.steiner@sierraclub.org if you’d like to learn more or get involved in our Equity Committee.