Volunteering - the Sierra Club way to make a difference

Elections, conservation campaigns, outings - the Club has a volunteer opportunity for you

When you read the daily news, you may grumble - but what can you do about it?

When you read the Yodeler, you may grumble - but there's always something you can do - many choices, in fact. There's something that fits your schedule, your abilities, and your concerns.

Most important, these actions are effective and make a real difference. Our campaigns bring real results, even some that at first seem difficult or even hopeless. Through channeling the energy and aspirations of 700,000 member-volunteers (and a lot of non-members who pitch in too), the Sierra Club has become the most effective force for environmental protection on the planet.

That's what the Sierra Club is about: enabling people to make a difference in the most important environmental campaigns, locally and around the nation and world.

Elections - from now till Tue., Nov. 7

Much of this Yodeler is focused on volunteering in election campaigns. Elections are a great way to get started as a volunteer because of the range of opportunities. You can distribute leaflets or make phone calls; you may contribute a special professional skill such as graphic design or bookkeeping or legal advice; or you can help organize other volunteers. You can volunteer one time, or once a week, or every day full-time - depending on your own schedule and personal motivation.

Elections make a huge difference in protecting the environment. Electing people who care and are committed makes all the Sierra Club's other work much easier.

In this issue are articles about a few of the Club's endorsed candidates and ballot measures for this November, the ones we have identified as the key campaigns for volunteering. (The November-December issue will have a much more extensive list of our endorsements.) Help in any of these campaigns, and you will be making a difference for the environment and for democracy.

Environmental campaigns

Year-round, of course, there is a wide range of volunteer opportunities in other sorts of environmental campaigns.

In addition to the volunteer opportunities in our regular Conservation section, this Yodeler has articles about two ongoing high-priority campaigns where you can make a special difference: 1; our efforts to achieve Community Choice Aggregation (a fancy name for one of the most promising ways to advance renewable energy sources) and 2; to prevent sprawl development in Pittsburg.

We also talk about two special volunteer projects. The Chapter Energy Committee has done a survey of the costs in different cities for permits for home solar-energy systems and is now working with many cities to bring the costs down. This volunteer work is directly lowering the cost of renewable energy. The Northern Alameda Group organized a day-long workshop on air pollution, with a special focus on West Oakland. By bringing information and understanding to community members, we hope to help them to act to reduce the pollution that has been troubling their community.

Outings and other opportunities

One of Sierra Club's special roles is to lead outings that spread knowledge and appreciation of our environment - and these outings are led by volunteers. In this issue is an article on how you too can become an outing leader. (Even if you're not yet ready to lead, the article many give you ideas about types of outings you want to participate in.)

The Volunteer section of this Yodeler and every issue contains a variety of volunteer opportunities, in all these categories and some that defy category.

Volunteer stories

Our volunteer of the month is Alex Frogner, who at the ripe old age of 14 is already an active and effective environmental campaigner. We also have an article about Ed Wayburn, who is about to celebrate his 100th birthday but has hardly slowed down in his activity to protect our Bay Area environment - and lands far beyond.

Several Bay Chapter volunteers have recently been honored for their efforts. Ruth Gravanis has been appointed to San Francisco's Commission on the Environment. Dan Sullivan has received the Sierra Club's Colby Award, one of the Club's highest national honors. And the Bay Chapter honored a number of volunteers and interns at our Volunteer and Donor Appreciation Barbecue.

We have also included an article, "The magic of volunteers", adapted from a Sierra Club newsletter in another part of the country, because it tells the story so well of a set of volunteers who found fulfillment in volunteering - in conservation efforts and in the organizational work needed to keep the Sierra Club healthy.

You?

What kinds of people become environmental volunteers? Where do they come from? Why do they care so much? How do they know so much about the environment? They must be very outgoing to give their opinions, right? And how do they find the time to volunteer? As it turns out, we have all kinds of people in the Sierra Club - shy ones, outgoing types, urban dwellers, country folks, professionals and blue-collar, students and older people. What we share is caring. We are everyday people who feel strongly enough about the Earth to say "I'll help!" You don't have to know anything about conservation, specific issues, or organizing. You only need to care enough to want to learn. No one will tell you it is easy, or that it doesn't take time. But while the rewards are not always tangible, the work is as satisfying as anything you will ever know. Environmental activism matters. It matters to you, to your family, to your community, and to the future of the planet.

To begin volunteering, call any of the contact numbers listed in this Yodeler, or call Joanne Drabek at our Chapter Office at (510) 848-0800, ext. 315.

Empower yourself - volunteer with the Sierra Club!

Don Forman, editor; with coda by Sherry Hayden, editor of the Mackinac, the newsletter of the Club's Mackinac (Michigan) Chapter.