Richard Watson gets Michener Award

The Bay Chapter Activities Committee has announced the presentation of this year's annual Dave and Pat Michener Outings Leadership Award to Richard Watson. The award, commemorating the many years of volunteer service performed by the Micheners as editors of the Chapter Schedule (the predecessor of the calendar in today's Yodeler and Chapter web site), recognizes superior leadership by Chapter outing leaders.

Richard came to the US in 1958. He had first heard about the Sierra Club from a cousin who was an importer who brought over Sierra Club postcards. Richard himself was a gourmet-food importer. He bought a house for $19,000 in Marin because he thought it was the best place in the world to hike.

Richard has been leading hikes for over 20 years and leads dozens of hikes every year, mostly in Marin County. Some of his trademark outings include hikes to Ring Mountain and Drakes Estero and two-hikes-in-one-day outings to numerous spots. Many of his hikes include picnics, including his annual Angel Island picnic, where he carefully makes sure that the eating spot is near the arrival point so that people can bring more fragile dishes. He shows great concern for all of those who hike with him and goes out of his way to talk about history and the environment when he leads hikes.

His twice-a-year work parties at Clair Tappan Lodge are a keystone to maintaining this Sierra Club lodge high in the Sierra near Donner Pass.

Richard does valuable outreach. He maintains an extensive e-mail contact list and uses it to get people involved in defending the environment on local, state, and national issues. He advertises his hikes through newspaper ads, bringing new people into the Sierra Club.

To go on his hikes, check the calendar listings.