Basic information on the Sierra Club - John Muir Chapter for new members and volunteers.

1. Sierra Club – John Muir Chapter
222 South Hamilton St, #1, Madison, WI 53703
(608) 256-0565
http://wisconsin.sierraclub.org
shahla.werner@sierraclub.org
Sierra Club - John Muir Chapter:
2010 Highlights & Future Plans

2. The Sierra Club
Founded in 1892 by John Muir
Sierra Club is the oldest, largest, and
most influential grassroots
environmental organization in the
United States.
1.3 million members & supporters in
North America
We use grassroots activism, public
education, lobbying and litigation to
protect natural resources.

3. Sierra Club Mission
To explore, enjoy, and protect the wild places of
the earth;
To practice and promote the responsible use of the
earth's ecosystems and resources;
To educate and enlist humanity to protect and
restore the quality of the natural and human
environment; and
To use all lawful means to carry out these
objectives.

4. Sierra Club Outings
Thousands of exciting
National, Chapter and
Group trips each year
From backpacking in the
Sierra Nevada to whale
watching in Hawaii; from
trekking in Nepal to bird
watching in Brazil………
www.sierraclub.org/outings

5. 64 Sierra Club Chapters in US and
Canada: 2010 Assessment to
Highlight Strengths and Needs

6. Sierra Club – John Muir Chapter
Formed in 1963, we are the statewide branch of the
Sierra Club in Wisconsin
We follow the footsteps of legendary Wisconsin
conservationists: John Muir, Aldo Leopold, Sigurd
Olson and Gaylord Nelson.
Executive Committee of Volunteer Leaders
Priority Issues: Promoting clean energy and
efficiency and protecting Wisconsin’s water and
habitats
15,000+ members/supporters and seven local
groups in Wisconsin

7. Sierra Club Staff in Wisconsin
Chapter Coordinator: Jacinda Tessmann
Coal & Rail Programs Apprentice: Elizabeth Ward
Chapter Director: Shahla Werner
Regional Staff: Jennifer Feyerherm, Emily Miota,
Judy Hofrichter, Emily Green

8. John Muir Chapter
Volunteer Leaders
2010 Officers
 Chair Eric Uram
 Vice Chair Jim Kerler
 Treasurer Harriet Iwamoto
 Secretary Liz Wessel
Committee Chairs
 Conservation Will Stahl
 Political Dave Blouin
 Legislative Caryl Terrell
 Fundraising Sarah Streed

9. Sierra Club – John Muir Chapter’s
Local Groups
Groups: Coulee Region, Chippewa Valley, St Croix Valley
Interstate, Four Lakes, Fox Valley, Great Waters, Southeast
Gateway
Groups: The finger on the pulse of local issues and a local outlet
for environmental education, outings and outreach; Ideal for
Cool Cities activities & direct community action (like local
roadside clean-ups, invasives removal or recycling programs)

11. John Muir Chapter
River Touring Section
 http://wisconsin.sierraclub.org/rts/
 Purpose: To coordinate paddling trips, to promote
on-the-water safety and improve paddling skills, to
support river conservation organizations

12. John Muir Chapter:
Inner City Outings (Madison)
 Ann Catlett, (608) 233-5840 http://www.madisonico.org/
 Purpose: ICO offers hiking and camping trips, boating and skiing
outings, and other outdoor adventures to underprivileged youth in
the Madison area.

13. Sierra Student Coalition
 http://www.ssc.org/
 Purpose: The student arm
of Sierra Club, Sierra
Student Coalition is a
broad network of high
school and college youth
(ages 17-30) from around
the country working to
protect the environment.

14. Chapter Priority Issue Teams:
Focused on Clean Energy & Water
- Coal and Activist Network Trainings Aug 29
and Sept 12
- 2010: GWS Team branches out to form Clean
Transportation, Coal and Energy Efficiency
- Water Team

15. 2010 Clean Energy Activities
 Protested offshore drilling at Hands Across the Sand
 Supported regional transit authorities, Clean Energy
Jobs Act, Focus on Energy Quadrennial Review
 Boosted attendance at EPA Coal Ash hearings
 Coal Country screenings, Board of Regents comments
delivery; UW-La Crosse rally, UW Oshkosh event for coal
alternatives at state-owned plants
 Supported High-Speed Rail (petition, LTEs, 10-10-10
Parade for the Planet, 10-16-10 Rail Rally)

16. 2010 Water Protection Activities
 Worked for stronger CAFO regulation by weighing in on
Livestock Siting Rule and General CAFO permit
 Supported bills to protect groundwater and restrict
waste spreading in karst
 Supported Rules to limit Phosphorus Runoff and Point
Pollution that are now the strongest in the country

17. Other Conservation Activities
Helped Chris Larson beat Jeff Plale in SD 7
Supported BPA – Free Kids Act, Mercury in
Household products ban, Elecronics
Recycling law (PASSED)

18. John Muir Chapter’s Future Plans
Reducing oil dependence by expanding transit with statewide RTAs
and high-speed rail, Requiring WisDOT and Metro Planning
Organizations to require greenhouse gas evaluations, low carbon
fuel standards, electric vehicles
Passing enhanced renewable standards: 25% renewables by 2025
Passing energy efficiency standards: Reduce energy use by 2% per
year
Transitioning coal plants to cleaner fuels or retiring them:
Dairyland, Valley, Edgewater;
Continuing to work for groundwater protection, increased factory
farm regulation

19. John Muir Chapter’s
Organizational Plans
 Implementing our new strategic plan:
improving connections between Chapter,
Groups, Sections, Outings
 Increased programmatic focus, planning
 Membership recruitment and increased
emphasis on age, ethnic diversity
 Expanding Our Fundraising Capacity

20. Sierra Club – John Muir Chapter:
The case for membership
 But I’m already a member of so many other
organizations!
- Sierra Club has long history and proven track record
- We educate through hands-on, statewide outings
- We lobby for strong laws and rules
- We sue polluters who break the law
- We hold policymakers accountable w/our legislative
scorecard
- We endorse candidates and elect conservation champions
- We engage our members in grassroots activism and
provide them with conservation leadership opportunities