Press Release
Sierra Club Marin Group
7th Annual Awards Banquet Friday, October 7, Spinnaker Restaurant, Sausalito:
6 pm—no-host cocktails,
7 pm—dinner.
Come to the Marin Group’s seventh Annual Awards Banquet.
Keynote speaker Carl Pope, Sierra Club’s national executive director, will speak about "Taking the Initiative—the Path to Environmental Renewal". Carl has gathered attention as co-author of Strategic Ignorance: Why the Bush Administration is Recklessly Destroying a Century of Environmental Progress and author of Sahib an American Misadventure in India and Hazardous Waste in America. Marin resident and former Sierra Club president Larry Fahn will introduce Carl. Marin political columnist Dick Spotswood will emcee the evening.
This year the Marin Group will present its Resource Conservation Award to long-time Marin environmental leader, educator, and activist Jean Berensmeier. A founder of the San Geronimo Valley Community Center and Planning Group, Jean helped create the Valley’s first Community Plan. Her persistence (1977 - 1996) on the Marin County Parks and Cultural Commission helped acquire significant County Open Space in the San Geronimo Valley. She chaired the first Countywide Trails Plan Committee in 1986. Jean has served as president of the Marin Conservation League and of the Board of Directors for the Marconi Conference Center Historical State Park. She was active in the restoration and protection of the park, and in the creation of its trails and repository of Marin art work. The Berensmeier family founded Wilderness Way, where Jean teaches environmental education in local schools with her son.
Recently retired California State Parks ranger Carlos Porrata will receive the Hannah Creighton Environmental Justice Award. Over the last 25 years of his career Carlos worked with more than 17,000 fourth- and fifth-grade students at Tomales Bay State Park though his Environmental Living Program emphasizing the local Native American culture while instilling environmental stewardship. He is still actively involved in environmental issues, affordable housing, and a variety of other community needs throughout the county. Currently Carlos is vice chair of the Board of the Marin Community Foundation. The award memorializes former Marin Group Executive Committee member Hannah Creighton, who died in 1998. An editor of the periodical Race, Poverty and the Environment for the Urban Habitat Program, Hannah was always concerned about environmental education and opportunities for those in need.
A Special Recognition will be presented to Nancy Skinner, who led the Marin Group’s Tuesday hikes for more than 25 years. Nancy is considered the "grand dame" of Mount Tamalpais. She has a love for Mount Tam history and lore, and has led history walks and hikes for various groups. From 1998 - 2002 she led a group of researchers documenting more than 60 of the historical sites on the mountain for the State Department of Parks and Recreation.
Please join the Marin Group in honoring these extraordinary environmental activists. Regular tickets are $65 and include soup, choice of a fish or chicken entree, dessert, and one glass of wine. The Group is also seeking sponsors and would welcome your contribution. This event will be the Marin Group’s major fundraiser of the year.
For more information contact Group events co-chair Karen Nygren at:
knygren@aol.com
or (415)435-2233; or Michele Barni at (415)453-4162; or visit:
http://sanfranciscobay.sierraclub.org/Marin/events.htm
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