Letter from Austin
I'm heading to Austin this week for the Sierra Club board meeting, and I want to let you know about some opportunities and Club news: upcoming conference calls, including an Open House I'm hosting next Monday, lots of activity in our natural gas reform fight, plus the nomination committee is seeking new members.
Upcoming Conference Calls
- February 21 (Monday) — Open House with Robin Mann
Call: 866-501-6174 — code: 1892-005#
Join me for an update from the board meeting in Austin. I'll leave plenty of time for questions.
I'll be joined by Amber Harris from CoolBiz Albuquerque, who I met at the recent Good Jobs Green Jobs Conference in Washington, D.C. She will share her experience with creating a local project reaching out to businesses to reduce their energy use and carbon emissions, a great model others may want to try. (We've uploaded two documents from CoolBiz Albuquerque on Clubhouse.)
- February 28 (Monday) — Energy Policy Amendments Discussion
Call: 866-501-6174 — code: 1892-005#
Join Dave Scott, vice president for Conservation, Dick Fiddler, Task Force chair, and Bruce Hamilton, deputy executive director for discussion on proposed changes. Read the introduction and proposed amendments and submit your comments.
- March 1 (and every other Tuesday) — Energy Activists Call 5:30 pm Pacific / 6:30 pm Mountain / 7:30 pm Central / 8:30 pm Eastern
- March 2 (Wednesday) — Resilient Habitats Campaign Monthly Call
Call: 866-501-6174 — code: 2239223#
Sign up to be added to the Energy Activists email lists and get the most up-to date and time sensitive information on the Club's work on Capitol Hill on climate and energy issues.
I also encourage you to sign up for ReNew, the Resilient Habitats newsletter, an excellent way to stay informed about our work to protect wildlife and wild places in the face of climate change and other threats.
New Natural Gas Reform Staff, Plus Gasland House Parties
I'm pleased to welcome Deb Nardone as the Sierra Club's first national Natural Gas Reform Campaign Director. She will direct a national campaign aimed at getting the natural gas industry to fully protect our water, air, wildlife, open spaces, and communities. She comes to the Sierra Club from the Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited and has been a leader in protecting watersheds throughout Pennsylvania from unsound development and industrial activity.
Based in State College, Pennsylvania, Nardone will oversee the Club's aggressive campaign to support strong federal and state safeguards against the threats posed by the natural gas industry and hydraulic fracturing, a.k.a. hydrofracking.
On a related note, the Hydrofracking Team is hosting more than 40 house parties screening the Oscar-nominated documentary Gasland. Sign up to attend or host a Gasland House Party, and/or join the Hydrofracking Team.
Seeking Applicants for Nominating Committee for 2012 Board Election
We have three vacancies on the Nominating Committee, one of the most important jobs in the Club, which selects a slate of at least seven nominated candidates for election to the Board of Directors every year. Serving on the "NomCom" involves a substantial commitment of time and attention, but it is also gratifying and enlightening work. Experienced leaders are encouraged to apply.
Please supply the following information to me by February 28, 2011:
A. Statement of Intent: why you are inspired to serve in this capacity (150 words max)
B. Brief Bio (150 words max)
C. Summary of Sierra Club experience
D. Two references (including phone number and email address)
More information here.
Hope to "see" you at the Open House on Monday.
—Robin Mann, Sierra Club president
P.S. Sign the Petition to Protect our Health from Polluter Attacks!
Polluting corporations are working hard to derail EPA safeguards, putting their profits above our health. Be part of our new Stop Polluters Campaign — we are going to hand deliver a petition with 100,000 signatures to get the White House's attention. We need Obama to stand strong when it comes to our familiies' health.
