1. Structure , Responsibility, and Issues:
Whitey Markle July, 2012
SUWANNEE/ST.JOHNS SIERRA
CLUB GROUP

2. FLORIDA SIERRA CLUB GROUPS

3. SCALE OF THE SSJ GROUP
 The Largest Sierra Group in the Eastern U.S., geographically.
 The biggest city is Gainesville..the biggest county is Marion, by population.
 From the Georgia border to Homosassa Springs is Approx. 140 miles. From Cedar Key to East Palatka is about 100
miles. We cover over 10,00o square miles. More than the state of Massachusetts.
 North Central Florida is a hotbed of environmental issues. A new issue every week (it seems).
 We have the valuable natural resources (water, cheap land, and low taxes).
 Migration is still coming. North and South, with subsequent development.
 2 of the 15 Executive Committee (EXCOM ) members live outside of Alachua County. Historically, few have come
from out of the area. Subsequently, our attention tends to be “Gainesville-centric”. This hurts our membership. It
is difficult to ask members who live up to 60 miles away to attend EXCOM meetings monthly, and it is difficult to
provide service to the outlying areas.

 Suggested Smaller Groups:
 Alachua, Bradford, Union, Clay, Gilchrist, and Dixie Counties.
 Putnam, Marion, Levy, and Citrus Counties.
 Columbia, Hamilton, Baker, Suwannee, Union, and Bradford Counties.

4. SSJ EXCOM Job Descriptions
 15 member Executive Committee (to be reduced to 11)
 EXCOM Jobs:
 Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Vice-chair
 Conservation
 Administrative
 Environmental Education
 Membership
 Fundraising
 Publicity
 Webmaster
 Political
 Newsletter Editor
 Newsletter Production
 Legislative Liaison
 Program
 Events Coordinator
 Inner City Outings
 Social

5. EXCOM Survey Results
 How do you personally rate the SSJ group’s performance?
 4 or 5= 4.5,4, ,5, ,4, ,5, ,5,4, 4, ,4, ,3, 3 AVE= 4.14
 How do you rate your performance as an Excom member?
 3, 4, 3,2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5 Ave=3.55
 Please rank the committees in order of effectiveness:

 Outings 3, 5, 3, 4, 3, 5, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5 Ave=4.0
 Conservation 5, 4, 5, 5, 5, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5 Ave=4.73
 Publicity 2, 2, 2, 2, 1, 3, 4, 3, 4, 2, 4 Ave=2.64
 Newsltr Editg 4, 5, 5, 4, 5, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 4 Ave=4.55
 Foldg & Mlg 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5 Ave=4.91
 Fundraising 1, 4, 3, 1, 2, 4, 4, 5, 1, 1 Ave=2.6
 ICO 4, 5, 2, 4, 5, 5, 1, 4, 4, 4, 5 Ave=3.91
 Web 4, 3, 3, 4, 5, 5, 5, 2, 4, 4, 3 Ave=3.82
 Admin 5, 5, 5, 5, 3, 5, 5, 4, 4, 5, 4 Ave=4.55
 Political 5, 3, 3, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4 Ave=4.45
 Env Ed 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 2, 4, 3, 3 Ave=3.0
 Lgisl 4, 3, 3, 1, 3, 1, 3, 5, 3, 4, 2 Ave=2.91
 Sectry 5, 5, 5, 4, 3, 5, 5, 5, 3, 5, 3 Ave=4.36
 Social 4, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 1, 3, 4, 1 Ave=2.70
 Leg al 4, 4, 5, 2, 4, 3, 3, 3, 5, 2 Ave=3.6
 Program 5, 5 Ave=5

6. We Need Your Help!
Publicity
Fundraising
Social events
Outreach

7. SSJ’s “Neighbors”
 Putnam County Environmental Council
 Audubon Club(s)
 Chassahowitska River restoration Committee
 Withlacoochee Area Residents, Inc.
 Quiet Lakes of Alachua County
 Homosassa River Alliance
 Rainbow River Conservation
 Silver Springs Alliance
 Save Our Suwannee
 Our Santa Fe River
 Santa Fe College Saints for Sustainability
 UF I.D.E.A.S.
 The Smart Growth Coalition (Ocala)
 Veterans for Peace
 Nature Coast Coalition
 Native Plant Society
 Blue Path
 Green Drinks
 Girl Power
 Riverkeeper
 Florida Defenders of the Environment

8. Government Agencies
 SJRWMD
 SRWMD
 SWFWMD
 Regional Water Authorities
 FDEP
 FFWCC
 County and City Governments
 County EPDs
 Regional Planning Councils

9. Recent Issues in the Group
 Adena Springs (SJRWMD)
 Rodman Dam Removal
 Chassahowitzka/Homasassa MFL reduction
(SWFWMD)
 Koppers
 City and Co. Growth Management/Trans.
 Preservation lands, use and sale
 Baker County (C.U.P. app.+ Waste burner)
 Clay/Putnam Lake Augmentation (SJRWMD)
 Tarmac Mining (Levy County).

10. How we function:
 Attend public meetings: SSJ should have a representative who states our
position at public meetings. We need help. Strict rules for representing Sierra
Club.
 Petition drives : The Airboat Ordinance/Oelrich. Our letter-writing worked.
Sierrans as far away as Big Cypress joined our letter-writing campaign,
producing several thousand letters to the Florida Senate Environmental
Protection Committee.
 Publicity:. Newspapers, Radio and TV stations, Internet, “Social” media.
We need help.
 Political endorsements.
 Social events. For our members and future members.
 Outings : Bring attention to landmarks and natural wonders.
 Outreach to like-minded organizations + our membership. We help them. They
help us in return.
 Funding ( Lawsuits, events, publicity, public education). We need help.