Priority Campaign Update

The election is just around the corner! Have you done your part?

Road Warrior volunteer talks with voters in Reno, Nevada.
"Road Warrior" volunteer talks with voters in Reno, Nevada and has thm write a post card. The presidential election may be won by such outreach to voters in swing states. Will you help? Photo by Cathleen Sullivan.

The Bush administration has the worst environmental record in U.S. history. In contrast, John Kerry has the highest lifetime rating on environmental issues of any nominee ever from a major party. The Sierra Club's highest current priority is to elect John Kerry as president.

Here in the Bay Area and in California, the news is better. Sen. Barbara Boxer is one of the strongest environmentalists in Washington, and the Club is working hard to re-elect her. Here in the Bay Chapter, we have many good environmentalist officeholders; several are up for re-election, and we have some good chances to elect more.

In short, for the environment, this November's election could be the most important ever. We need your help to make the environment a central issue, to educate our neighbors, and to increase turnout of environmental voters. Fortunately, election volunteering can be a lot of fun - at the same time that you're making a critical impact!

Win the election the fun way - with the Sierra Club.

Election trainings

The Bay Chapter has launched a series of trainings to teach you the skills to make an impact. Remaining trainings are:

Thu., June 24 - "The Nuts and Bolts of GOTV (Getting Out the Vote): Grassroots Communication";

Thu., July 22 - "The Nuts and Bolts of GOTV: Neighborhood Outreach";

Thu., August 26 - "How to be a GOTV Leader".

All trainings will be at 7 pm at Sierra Club Headquarters, 85 Second St., San Francisco, on the fourth Thursday of the month.

To sign up for trainings, get materials on past or upcoming trainings, or to join the fun as a volunteer, contact Cathleen Sullivan at (510) 848-0800, ext. 316, or email:

Spread the Sierra Club message to a swing state

Nevada has a lot of beautiful open space, but only a handful of Sierra Club members. Spend a weekend as a "Road Warrior" on a "Road Trip for Change" to Lake Tahoe and Nevada to spread the word about the Bush administration's environmental record in a key swing state! The all-expense-paid trip is scheduled for Fri. - Sun., Aug. 6 - 8, with lodging at the Sierra Club's own lovely Clair Tappaan Lodge.

Later in the fall the Club will be scheduling a whole series of "Road to Somewhere" trips for Club members to visit swing states. The first is scheduled for the weekend of Sep. 18 - 19, where you will have the chance to talk one-on-one with fellow Sierra Club members who are not frequent voters. Further details are not yet determined; for more information, contact Anna Oursler at (510) 848-0800, ext. 307, or email:

Closer to home

This summer come to a fair, festival, or farmers' market to help educate and register voters, encourage people to write letters, and recruit volunteers. Join an election phone bank, petition drive, or precinct walk. Some of the scheduled opportunities are listed below, but we'll be adding lots more; contact us for the latest opportunities.

Sat. - Sun., June 26 - 27, 10am to 1pm - petition-collecting for Supervisor Jake McGoldrick, San Francisco.

Thu., July 1 - letter-writing party.

Sat., July 10 - voter registration at Brentwood CornFest; petitioning for San Francisco Supervisor Jake McGoldrick.

Sat., July 17, 4 to 6 pm - Environmentalists for Kerry house party, 300 Caldecott Lane (Parkwoods), Oakland. For more information contact Jerry Hinkle at: or (510) 849-2173 or see: http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/eb4kerry

Sat., July 24, picnic with Contra Costa Supervisor Millie Greenberg. For details call Anna Oursler, (510) 848-0800, ext. 307.

Sun., July 25, 11am to 1pm - voter registration at Union Square farmers' market, San Francisco.

Sat., Aug. 14, 10am to 5pm - voter education at Antiques Faire in Golden Gate Park.

Sat., Aug. 28 - voter education at Oakland Chinatown StreetFest.

September - October - reserve at least one day a week to Get Out the Vote!

Wed., Sep. 15 - 50-day countdown begins!

Oct. 25 - Nov. 1 - reserve three nights to call voters.

Nov. 2 - take day off from work to help get people to the polls; 8 pm - victory party!

There are many more events still to be scheduled so check in often for updates! To sign up or for more information, contact Cathleen Sullivan, (510) 848-0800, ext. 316, or email:

Beer, Bay views, bat rays, and Bush-bashing

Thu, Sep. 9, 6 - 8:30 pm, at the Aquarium of the Bay on Pier 39 in San Francisco.

The Club kicks off its political season with our soon-to-be-annual Microbrewery Beerfest. Rub shoulders with the Bay Area's political elite while sampling beers from over 20 local breweries and celebrating the unique environment of the San Francisco Bay. Sip beer while strategizing about how to beat Bush and help elect our local environmental candidates. Tickets are $35 with sliding-scale admission for activists. To pre-register for the Beerfest or contribute as a sponsor, please send your check made out to "Sierra Club Political Committee" to:

Beerfest Committee
Attn: Cathleen Sullivan
Sierra Club San Francisco Bay Chapter
2530 San Pablo Ave.
Berkeley, CA 94702.

For more information call Ruth Abbe at (510) 521-0505.