Sierra Club California is the green heart of the state

The Sacramento Office of the Sierra Club is a wonder. With a team of just four lobbyists, each specializing in two or three key areas of our environmental agenda, Sierra Club California is California's most influential environmental lobby. We regularly win battles for cleaner air and wild lands. Even the governor consults the Sierra Club when he wants to take a popular environmental stand. When you hear or read about it (the Sacramento staff are good writers and frequently write for the Yodeler - see pages 5 and 8 of this issue, for example), you say to yourself, "I'm proud to be a part of that. That's why I belong to the Sierra Club."

Would it surprise you to learn that the national Sierra Club doesn't run that office? Would you be interested to know that the dollars to run it aren't part of the Club's national budget?

The Sacramento Office is funded largely by the 13 Sierra Club chapters in California, and it is our lobbying office, not an adjunct of the national office. Its policies and political positions are developed by the Club's California Legislative Committee in consultation with our California/Nevada Regional Conservation Committee and specific issue committees. It is overseen by the Sierra Club California Executive Committee, a group elected at the annual Sierra Club California Convention. Sierra Club California belongs to all the members of the Club in California.

Why is that so important? Isn't it all one Club?

In most every other state, there is one Sierra Club chapter that lobbies its legislators and governor. The costs are raised by that chapter, and it is responsible for success or failure. But California is divided into 13 chapters (one jointly with Nevada). This is great for local issues, but for statewide ones it divides us, and makes a high level of consultation crucial to success.

This makes fundraising difficult. Because the Sacramento office doesn't belong to anyone, and every Chapter has its own local priorities, funding for Sacramento is a perennial headache. The basic expenses of the office are covered by a sort of tax on each of the California chapters, but to build the strength that makes Sierra Club California so effective, we have to go to individual members with an outstretched hat asking for more dollars. Our annual mailing just went out. You can help.

The Sierra California web site is a great place to learn about the issues in Sacramento that you and the Sierra Club care about - and to learn how effective Sierra Club California really is. We know you care. We hope you'll contribute your share towards a strong and effective Sierra Club California.

Ed Easton, member, Sierra Club California Executive Committee