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Concerned about the health of your family and our planet?
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by Sally Wilts | 2006

Yes? Then get active in OUR Chapter and let your energy make a difference!

Our state Sierra Club chapter is seeking more involvement from members. We have been relying on a core group of dedicated individuals for many years, and it would invigorate the chapter to have more people contributing their passion and energy. Those of you who are reading this feel strongly about the need to care for our planet, or you wouldn’t be members of the Sierra Club. It is very rewarding to become better informed about issues and then to work for better solutions.

Being part of a national organization means that we are able to draw on the resources that it offers. The Sierra Club pioneered the use of public education, political accountability and lobbying, and litigation to protect the health of our environment. The Club's website offers a wealth of information and links to resources to help us achieve our goals. There are national and regional trainings offered to Sierra Club volunteers.

The state chapter volunteers are knowledgable and resourceful. We are involved in issues dealing with air quality, water quality, endangered species protection, wilderness preservation and management of national forests, mountaintop removal and preservation of Blair Mountain, among others. We need all the help that we can get!

The most urgent need that we have is for an Outings Chair. For all of Sierra Club’s history, introducing people to the beauty of the outdoors has been the most effective way to involve people in our mission. Wild and Wonderful West Virginia is not just a marketing tool for tourism, but a description of the best areas of the state. There is some training required for this position, but it is by far the most alluring!

We also need a secretary to help with minutes of our executive committee meetings and we need someone to learn how to use the Sierra  Club’s system for posting to our website. Paul Wilson or any of the Excom members can be contacted if you are interested in helping in any of these capacities.

The political committee will decide which state and congressional legislative races are important in environmental issues and prepare questionnaires for the candidates to complete. Once the results are back, the committee will make endorsements for candidates in these races. Regina Hendrix is the Political Committee Chair and Point Of Contact: regina1936@verizon.net , Phone 304-343-5211.

The membership committee is seen as vital to the recruitment and retention of Sierra members. As well as welcoming new members, the committee will work on ideas for involving members more actively in issues of concern to all of us. Sandy Cress is the Membership Committee Chair and Point Of Contact: sandra@sandracress.com , Phone 304-290-8733