SIERRA CLUB MARIN AWARDS BANQUET CELEBRATES

LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERS

Noted Journalist and Author Mark Hertsgaard is Keynote Speaker

SAN RAFAEL, CA, Oct 2 — Mark Hertsgaard, noted environmental journalist and author of "The Eagle's Shadow: Why America Fascinates and Infuriates the World," will be the keynote speaker at the Sierra Club Marin Group’s Fifth Annual Awards Banquet on Friday, October 24, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Spinnaker Restaurant, 100 Spinnaker Drive Sausalito. His topic will be “How to Beat Bush in 2004.”

Tickets for this Sierra Club fundraising event are priced at $60 per person. To reserve, send a check to: Sierra Club Marin Group, PO Box 3058, San Rafael, CA 94912. Respond by October 16^th. Sponsorships are also available.

“Pacific Sun” columnist and satirical radio commentator, Stan Sinberg, will serve as emcee for the ceremonies, which recognize excellence in service of Marin's environment.

Marin County Supervisor Susan Adams will receive the organization’s Resource Conservation Award. In 2002, Susan was elected in an upset victory on a platform of saving the historic St. Vincent’s/Silveira properties between Highway 101 and the Bay. Her tenacity and dedication to preserving these sensitive lands helped avert a massive development planned by the City of San Rafael and returned control of both properties to the Countywide Planning process. This victory creates the possibility for more sustainable alternatives at this critical site.

The Hannah Creighton Environmental Justice Award will be presented to Marilyn Price, founder and director of Trips for Kids (TFK), a national non-profit organization that provides bicycle-oriented programs for disadvantaged youth. Trips for Kids offers access to the natural world, which enriches the lives of these young people by teaching environmental awareness and building self-esteem. TFK began in 1988 as a local Marin project partly sponsored by the Sierra Club’s Inner City Outings, but in 1999 became independent of the Club. It has served over 14,000 youth. Price says, "We're honored to be recognized by the Sierra Club for our work exposing kids to the environment while on the seat of a bicycle."

Sierra Club Marin Group consists of approximately 6,500 Club members who live in Marin County. The awards banquet is the group’s major fundraiser of the year, supporting the group’s efforts on key issues that affect Marin's environment such as: land development, water supply, housing, transportation, agriculture, parks, recreation, trails, wildlife protection, toxics, and environmental justice.

Ticket price includes choice of fish, chicken or vegetarian, dessert and a glass of wine. Parking is available on site.

For more information, including sponsorship benefits, contact Christine Cunha at (415) 868-0310 or balanceact@mindspring.com, or visit the Sierra Club Marin Group web site at http://sanfranciscobay.sierraclub.org/Marin/.

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