2009 Loma Prieta Chapter Election - Candidate Statements
Chapter Executive Committee Candidates
Charles Schafer
Residence: Los Gatos
Occupation: Chief Financial Officer, Silicon Constellations
Education: MBA Stanford
For those of you who don't know me, I work as a financial executive in a corporate environment, having served as Controller and Chief Financial Officer of several companies. I am also an avid photographer whose primary focus is backcountry landscapes. I have been a member of the Sierra Club for roughly 20 years, and for most of that time, have been extremely active in the Peak Climbing Section. My environmental outlook is a result of my love for the backcountry and its beauty, and is more devoted to a positive message (this is what we are saving) rather than the negative.
For the last year I have served as the Chapter's Chair, and a lot of my focus has been on building better communications within the Chapter, and on promoting member engagement and leader development. I have also worked to help develop a fundraising effort that has raised a substantial amount of money in these tough times, and is poised to help the Chapter make it through a tough transition to a new mode of operation in response to changes within the Sierra Club itself. We also are poised to undertake a new major campaign that has been recently funded to fight global warming.
There is still a lot more to do. We've seen a lot of positive changes over this last year, but I see more promise out there that I would like to continue to pursue. And I would appreciate your vote so that I may do so.
Bruce Rienzo
Residence: Cupertino
Occupation: Former Software Manager for personal computer R&D center, now mostly retired, working part time.
Education: B.A., Rutgers; M.A., Univ. of Michigan (mathematics)
Current positions: Chapter Treasurer, Finance Chair, Outings Chair, Ex Com and Operations Committee member, LPSS activity section chair, outing leader and frequent participant.
As treasurer, I manage the Chapter's assets and provide the accurate and timely financial information that forms the basis for annual budgets and longer-term planning. I'll continue to support an allocation of financial resources that is consistent with our priorities and which assures that the Chapter operates within its means, while spending wisely to achieve our environmental objectives. Recent shifts in non-profit fundraising patterns and reductions in revenue allocations will make this a particularly important and challenging role over the next two years. Planned budget deficits must be phased out and spending patterns adjusted to match the new revenue model.
Meanwhile, I'll continue to represent the Chapter's outings community on the Ex Com and keep our groups and activity sections informed about the Club's outings program. Hiking, climbing, backpacking, skiing and other outdoor activities must continue to attract new members and inspire participants to become more active in support of the environment.
Rob Rennie
As I am completing my second year on the executive committee and I look back, I realize the past year has been quite challenging. After being elected vice chair of the executive committee and chair of the operations committee at the beginning of the year (in addition to my continuing my role as one of three Pol Com co-chairs), Bruce, Charles and I immediately set about building a cohesive team with the 9 new Ex Com members and educating them on the chapter and our biggest challenges. As the year draws to a close, we truly have achieved a high performing, energetic executive committee team who has built considerable momentum toward achieving an aggressive set of exciting plans for the chapter. I look forward to helping the team complete these initiatives over the next year. The biggest challenge during the year has been and continues to be leading the chapter through difficult financial times. Our unrestricted funding and our unrestricted reserves have decreased significantly, forcing us to find ways to transition spending toward restricted funds while trying to improve our fundraising. I look forward to meeting this challenge head on in the coming year. Our second biggest challenge has been, after 6 years, our wonderful chapter director has moved on to new challenges this year. I have led the interview team to find a replacement to fill her shoes. I look forward to helping the new director transition into the job of taking our chapter to new highs. And of course, I look forward to protecting and enjoying the environment. One area I plan to do so is through involvement in our new grant to build climate friendly communities.
Margaret Okuzumi
I was appointed to fill a vacancy on the chapter Ex Com last January after years of service with other nonprofit organizations. I'm the chapter's delegate to the Club's Council of Chapter Leaders and more recently became chair of our chapter's fundraising committee. This past summer I helped to put together our chapter's Electronic Communications task force. We have a deeply committed group of people who volunteer many hours a week toward the chapter's success. I've enjoyed working with my colleagues and ask for your vote so that I may continue to help guide the chapter toward success during this difficult economic period.
Black Mountain Regional Group Candidates
Sharon Chuang
Residence City: Saratoga
Occupation: Retired Computer Engineering Manager
Education: MS in Electrical Engineering
I served as the Black Mountain Group Secretary in 2007 and 2008, and have been representing the Black Mountain Group in the Loma Prieta Chapter Executive Committee since 2007. I am also an active volunteer on the Chapter Outing Fundraising Committee.
As one of the Black Mountain Group hike leaders, I believe the best way to encourage conservations is by enabling people to enjoy all that nature has to offer. I cherish the opportunity to help promote and grow the Sierra Club in the Bay Area. Thanks for your support.
Jay Michlin
Thank you for your support these many years, and I write now to ask you not to vote for me. Our Black Mountain Group has been a wonderful association of people who enjoy the outdoors and each other's company and friendship. We now need more leaders to keep up the behind-the-scenes work that makes all this possible. Serving on the BMG Ex Com is only a 2-3 hours per month commitment, and I urge you to put your own name, and the names of others who appreciate our program, into the write-in slots on this ballot. You will be helping to carry on two decades of BMG tradition, and the spirit of friends exploring and enjoying nature together. This is what led John Muir to found our Sierra Club, and what has allowed it to endure for more than a century.
Guadalupe Regional Group Candidates
Bob Groff
Residence City: Campbell
I have been a Sierra Club member since 1994 and been involved with the Guadalupe Group since 2000. I have been Chair and Conservation Chair and am currently Parks/Wilderness Chair for the group. I am a trip leader for Sierra Club Service Outings in our National Parks and Forests. I consistently use alternative methods of transportation.
We all must become more involved and active in protecting and preserving the environment. I hope to encourage our members to become more involved as well as increase membership.
David Dalton
David Dalton is a Life Member of the Sierra Club, and has been an active volunteer with Guadalupe Group Executive Committee since 2002.
He is currently the Conservation chairman and the Newsletter Editor.
At the GRG monthly meetings, he is the guy running the projector and the computers. He is also a trip leader for Sierra Club National Service Outings, and a local hike leader for GRG.
Joe Cernac
From a young age, I had my roots in the outdoors. I've a keen interest in what wilderness and solitude can do for one's state of mind. My interests locally are to keep people informed about the environmental issues that surround them in Gotham. I fully supported the group's effort to halt the land giveaway at BAREC/ValleyFair. I, currently, am the treasurer of the group (and also the acting Chair.) Anyone wanting to contact me can do so at 408-292-5465.
Bill Kirkpatrick
No candidate statement submitted.
Carolyn Straub
City of residence: San Jose
I have been a member of the Sierra Club since 2002. I have since then been affiliated with the Guadalupe Regional Group. This past April, I became the GRG's secretary for its Ex Com. I have been a former newspaper reporter for more than 25 years, and as such, developed a keen interest in the things around me and writing skills. One of them is the environment. I am the writer of numerous activist letters to congressmen and women, as well as state senators and assemblymen. As a state park volunteer at Henry W. Coe State Park since 2007, I testified in Sacramento during the current parks crisis. I am avidly interested in the Sierra Club, as well as Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society, Pine Ridge Association at Henry W. Coe State Park, Bay Ridge Trail Association, and the Committee for Green Foothills, all to which I belong. I believe in being involved in safeguarding our environment, and want others to do so, else what do we have?
Stan Bogosian
Sierra Club Member since 1989. Saratoga City Council member 1996-2004.
My top priorities:
1. Maintain healthy financial reserves at the Chapter level in order to be ready for land use issues on the regional level when the economy recovers.
2. Recruit and retain activists for the Guadalupe Regional Group and Chapter through a good offering of activities, including programs and hikes.
San Carlos/Belmont Regional Group Candidates
Eleanor Lewis
I am a second generation Sierra Club member and have been active in the Club in Pittsburgh (PA), Vermont, and Memphis Tennessee. I returned to the Bay Area in early 2007 and have enjoyed being active in my local chapter and serving as a member of the chapter Ex Com for the last year. I am most interested in sustainable development issues and would be honored to work with the Belmont-San Carlos chapter as we work with our cities to build sustainable communities on the peninsula.
Lisane Drouin
• Cool Cities' leader and liaison in San Carlos, with our team's main focus in the last year on getting the city to adopt a strong Green Building ordinance. Recent efforts have focused on outreach and on influencing the Planning Commission votes.
• Long term involvement Political Committee as endorsement team member and leader in critical race such as California Assembly District 21.
• Twice served as Chapter rep at the Sierra Club California State convention.
• Passionate about education and policies for sustainable communities.
• As a long time resident of beautiful San Carlos and the Chapter's Peninsula (May of 1996), I would be honored to serve on the Belmont-San Carlos Chapter Ex Com to shape and implement smart, forward thinking strategies for healthy and thriving communities.
Thank you for your consideration.