Volunteer opportunities

If you've been waiting for a nudge to get going as a Sierra Club volunteer, this is it. You need no special expertise to get started - only a genuine interest in learning about Sierra Club and the issues, and some time and energy. We need more volunteers to work on local environmental issues, to help lead our hikes and other activities, and to undertake a variety of administrative jobs. A few possibilities are listed below - and the election article starting on the front page has many more. For more ideas, look through the rest of this Yodeler or call Chapter conservation manager Jonna Papaefthimiou at (510) 848-0800, ext. 312, or: jonna@sfbaysc.org

Election help

This November's elections could be the most important ever for the environment! Help elect candidates who will care for the earth. The Sierra Club offers volunteer opportunities at all levels of involvement - and special trainings for you to improve your election skills. See the article starting on the front page for details.

Sierra Club Calendars

Once again the Bay Chapter will be selling Sierra Club wall and engagement calendars as a fundraiser for our local conservation work and to beautify local walls and desks. We need your help as:

• project coordinator - to manage the entire sales process, overseeing each step from receiving orders to shipping the calendars; you must be available twice weekly during business hours from September through December; you should be detail-oriented, well-organized, self-motivated, and a good team leader;
• regional-group reps - to sell calendars at local meetings and events in your geographic area from September through December; regional groups can use this as an opportunity for fundraising;
• data-entry clerk - to enter orders into an Excel file and update their progress through shipping dates; you should be detail-oriented, computer-comfortable, and available mid-September through mid-December for a weekly four-hour shift;
• shipping clerks - efficient, detail-oriented volunteers to pack and ship calendars, available weekly 4 - 6 hours weekly, mid-September through mid-December.

To volunteer or for more information, call Joanne Drabek, (510) 848-0800, ext. 315.

Plan to support your local Sierra Club this holiday season and order your 2005 Sierra Club Calendars from the Bay Chapter and the regional groups. Calendars will be available mid-September through mid-December. See the order form on the back page of this Yodeler - with early-bird prices.

Wall prep for Clair Tappaan Lodge murals

The walls at Clair Tappaan Lodge, the Sierra Club's own lodge in the Sierra near Donner Summit (see ad, page F), are becoming increasingly lively as volunteer artists paint murals there. To speed up the process, the painters seek volunteers to help prep the walls: basically sanding, filling, and base-coating. You work at least four hours per day and are rewarded with a free stay at the lodge. We need you to get started soon. We also welcome people who would paint and draw, as well. Contact Mei Mary D. Graham at (510) 638-3366 or: md_graham@pacbell.net

To view the ongoing project, see: www.meidorothy.com/gallery/slideshow.php?set_albumName=murals

Yodeler proofreader

This issue of the Yodeler looks fatter than it used to, doesn't it? That means we have a lot more proofreading to do. If you'd like to help, please call editor Don Forman at (510) 848-0800, ext. 305.

Receptionists

The Chapter Office in Berkeley needs additional volunteer receptionists who are energetic team members, service-oriented, and gracious. You will be directing calls, greeting guests, responding to inquiries, and providing general office support. Regular four-hour shifts are available weekdays, 10 am - 2 pm or 1 - 5 pm. We request a weekly commitment for a minimum of four months. Training and ongoing support are cheerfully provided. If you have a predictable schedule and would like to support the Chapter by helping in the office, call Joanne Drabek at (510) 848-0800, ext. 315.

Retired? Want a challenge?

Volunteer at the Club's national headquarters in downtown San Francisco (one block from BART and Muni); contribute your experience to help us come to grips with the environmental problems of the next century. You'll meet new people with similar interests; have access to computers, the internet, and one of the best environmental libraries in the country; and expand your own interests while sharing your time and skills. Experience would be useful in just about any field. We can use skills at translating from English into a wide range of languages. In addition, we need a volunteer to do administrative support including filing, copying, and if familiar with computers, some light correspondence and internet searches. For details, call Michele Perrault at (415)977-5670.

Yodeler Photo Contest

Help make the annual Yodeler Photo Contest happen (see article, page L). To volunteer, contact Aphra Pia at (510)655-0969 or: aphrapia@aol.com or Wade Sherwood at (510)531-8664 or: wwsherwood2@juno.com

Energy Committee

Join the Bay Chapter Energy Committee. Our mission is to keep abreast of energy issues affecting the Bay Area and to work with other Sierra Club entities to encourage renewable energy and energy conservation. Currently we are working on implementation of solar bond measures (see article, page 17), plant siting, and tidal power in San Francisco; preventing new power-plant permits in Eastern Alameda County; and bringing a solar bond initiative to Oakland. We meet once a month, usually on the fourth Wednesday, to discuss these and other local energy issues, and to hear presentations from energy experts. Experience in the energy field is helpful, but more important is an interest in learning the details of specific technologies and legislation. For more information, contact acting committee chair Doug Beach at (415)608-1439 or: dbeach7@mac.com

Alaska under assault - volunteers needed!

The Bush administration is attacking the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the western North Slope, and the Tongass National Forest all at once. Its efforts to drill for oil in the Arctic are particularly horrendous. We've stopped that effort so far - and we can stop it again - but only if we have lots of volunteers making phone calls and sending letters to the editor. Help the Sierra Club's Alaska Task Force and the Alaska Coalition mobilize to defend Alaska's unique public lands! Even volunteering a couple of hours for phone calls makes a difference. To volunteer, contact Vicky Hoover, Sierra Club Alaska Task Force, at (415)977-5527 or: vicky.hoover@sierraclub.org or David Edeli at (415)252-7524 or: dedeli@hotmail.com

Central Contra Costa Sierra Club needs you!

The Sierra Club needs help in central Contra Costa County.

Help the Mount Diablo Group; give just a few hours each month. Participating in our conservation efforts involves you in local land-use and transportation planning and politics. It is very satisfying when you can help make life better and healthier for yourself, your family, or your grandchildren.

Our Conservation Committee monitors developments and municipal planning and explores and proposes better alternatives. Our Transportation Committee considers alternatives for the problems of our crowded and polluting highways. At times, attending a public meeting and perhaps speaking up is crucial.

We also have openings for volunteers interested in local politics. This work gives you an opportunity to meet and to be in touch with local officials, and to encourage conservation-minded new candidates to run for office.

There is more! Contact Werner Koellner, (925)937-6433 or: wkoellner@astound.net

Key Chapter Committees

This list includes many of the Chapter's key administrative and conservation committees. Please feel free to contact committee chairs to volunteer or to raise questions and concerns. We have included regular meeting information for some of these, but committees sometimes revise their schedules; for meetings not listed in the Yodeler calendar, we advise verifying time and location before coming to a meeting.

Executive Committee (second Monday, 7 pm)
Chapter chair Steve Krieg, (415)953-4862 or email Steven.D.Krieg -at- BankofAmerica.com

Conservation Commitee (first Thursday, 7 pm)
Bob Solotar, (510)525-2110 or email Bob_Solotar -at- hotmail.com

East Bay Public Lands
Norman La Force, (510)526-4362 or email n.laforce -at- comcast.net

Energy (fourth Wednesday, 7 pm)
Doug Beach, (415)608-1439 er email dbeach7 -at- mac.com

Environmental Justice
Patrisha Piras, email piras -at- ix.netcom.com

Population
Nancy Leite, (925)934-5471
Dick Schneider, (510)482-1553 or email Richs59354 -at- aol.com

Presidio of San Francisco
Becky Evans, (415)775-3309
John Rizzo, (415)751-1615 or email jrizzo -at- sprintmail.com

Solid Waste and Recycling
David Tam, (510)472-5723 or email daviditam -at- gmail.com

Transportation and Compact Growth (third Monday, 827 Broadway, #304, Oakland)
Andy Katz, (510)540-5921 or email andykatz -at- uclink.berkeley.edu
Bob Piper, (510)848-4134 or email piperrr -at- alum.mit.edu

Wilderness (third Tuesday)
Bob McLaughlin, (510)524-7910

Wildlife
Terry Preston, (510)582-4179 or email mtmpreston -at- comcast.net

Activities Committee (first Monday of February, March, May, August, and November)
Steve Bakaley, (925)945-8205 or email slbakaley -at- lbl.gov

Political Committee
Ruth Abbe, (510)521-0505 or email RuthAbbe -at- aol.com