***************************GlobalMessage*************************************
THIS MESSAGE IS AN INFORMATIONAL MESSAGE BEING SENT TO ALL SIERRA CLUB STAFF,
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, MEMBERS OF ALL GOVERNANCE COMMITTEES, RCC CHAIRS,
COUNCIL EXCOM, AND MANY OTHER NATIONAL COMMITTEE LEADERS,CHAPTER CHAIRS,
CHAPTER CONSERVATION CHAIRS, GROUP CHAIRS, AND CCL DELEGATES.
***PLEASE DO NOT REPLY *** TO SENDER OR FORWARD THIS MESSAGE TO LISTS WHO
HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED THIS MESSAGE.
*****************************************************************************

FR:  David E. Ortman, Chair, Shareholder Action Task Force
The Sierra Club has a Corporate Accountability Committee which includes a
Shareholder Action Task Force.
Here are two ways you can help.

First, the Corporate Accountability Committee's Shareholder Action Task
Force is looking for some additional members.  Check out the SATF website
at
<http://www.sierracluborg/cac/shareholder/>    If you are interested, see
Call for Members below.

Second, if you are a delegate and will be attending the Sierra Club Summit in September, consider how corporate accountability issues should be "incorporated" into the future work and mission of the Sierra Club.  The Sierra Club has traditionally lobbied at the state and Federal level and filed lawsuits when necessary.  But nearly all the issues we face concern corporate behavior of one sort or another.  Please help support moving corporate accountability issues forward through the Sierra Club's planning process.    Thanks.

==

CALL FOR MEMBERS OF CAC SHAREHOLDER ACTION TASK FORCE

The Sierra Club's Corporate Accountability Committee (CAC) has formed the Shareholder Action Task Force (SATF) as one of its subcommittees to promote an important tool in holding corporations accountable that can be used in conjunction with Club campaigns. The Sierra Club has purchased a select number of targeted stocks in order to file shareholder resolutions, attend annual meetings, and gain some
leverage with these corporations regarding issues raised in the
resolutions.

In addition, the SATF currently has two staff members sharing one
full time position to help carry out the work of the SATF.

The SATF was initiated in 2002 with an informal membership
and issued a formal call for members in 2003. We are now seeking
three additional members.

The CAC is especially interested in candidates who have experience in
shareholder resolutions, corporate annual meetings and Security and
Exchange Commission (SEC) interactions and an interest in using these tools in ongoing club campaigns.

The Corporate Accountability Committee (CAC) is one of five national Sierra Club issue committees that report to and advise the Environmental Quality Strategy Team (EQST). The other committees are: Air, Environmental Justice, Toxics, and Water. The Club's Strategy Teams appoint issue committees, supervise their budgets, and assist them in developing and carrying out their work plans.

The CAC will select task force members, taking into consideration the
applicant's relevant experience as described above and their ability
and interest in applying these tools to hold corporations accountable
for protecting the environment and promoting environmental justice.

Candidates should have a basic understanding of how corporations use their power to prevent implementation of environmentally sound
policies and an ability to view local threats in the larger context
of national and international corporate agendas.

Please review the Sierra Club SATF website at:
http://www.sierracluborg/cac/shareholder/

Candidates should be able

- to devote time to developing educational
materials for use in the Sierra Club and in communities;

- to share experiences with other Club activists;

- to remain active on the task force for at least two years; and

- to participate in monthly conference calls and communicate by
e-mail.

Also, ability to travel occasionally to meetings or conferences, as
well as dialoguing with corporations and/or attending annual
corporate meetings is helpful. Members will be reimbursed for travel
and lodging expenses, as well as telephone calls, related to approved
SATF business.

In considering membership , the Corporate Accountability Committee
strives to achieve diversity in geography, ethnicity, and gender, to
build closer connections with grassroots leadership, to expand the
Club's influence by communicating with and motivating people external
to the Sierra Club, and to increase our ability to communicate more
effectively within the Club about the issues and the accomplishments
of activists at all levels.

We encourage members in Texas, Delaware, New York, southern
California and the Chicago area to apply because this is where many
annual corporate meetings take place.

If you are interested in applying, please read and follow the
instructions completely. We are only accepting self-nominations. If
you know of others you think may have an interest in serving on the
SATF, please pass this announcement on to them.

Applicants must be current Sierra Club members. Sierra Club of Canada members are not eligible to apply. Please contact Sierra Club
Canada at [log in to unmask] for information on Canadian participation as liaisons in these committees.

For more information on serving as part of the SATF, please feel free
to contact David E. Ortman at [log in to unmask] or Ruth Caplan at
[log in to unmask].

DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS IS September 15, 2005

A copy of the completed application found at the end of this posting
should be sent (email preferred) to these members of the Search
Committee:

NAME: David E. Ortman, Co-Chair Corporate Accountability Committee's
SATF.

ADDRESS: 7043 22nd Ave N.W., Seattle, WA 98117

PHONE NO: 206-621-8868 (w)

Email: [log in to unmask]


NAME: Ruth Caplan, Chair of Corporate Accountability Committee and of WPTF

ADDRESS: 3407 34th Place NW, Washington DC 20016

PHONE NO: 202-244-0561 (w)

Email: [log in to unmask]

The reasons that the task force is concerned about the corporate
accountability and shareholder action include:

* Corporations wield power, resources and influence that exceed that
of many countries.

* Corporations have been granted status by our court system as
"artificial persons" with many benefits but little responsibilities.

* Corporations are too often the major obstacle to implementing
Sierra Club policies, programs and campaigns.

* Shareholders have the ability to vote directly on corporate policy.

The Shareholder Action Task Force was formed to respond to the
problem by educating Sierra Club members and the larger public about
the roots of the problem and by promoting corporate accountability
and challenging the basis of corporate power.

Specifically, the SATF will continue to

--Gain experience in using shareholder resolutions to go after rogue
corporations as part of ongoing Sierra Club campaigns
--Develop winning strategy on at least one resolution
--Develop an approval process for proposed shareholder actions.


*************************************************

SHAREHOLDER ACTION TASK FORCE APPLICATION FORM


Name:

Membership # (required):

Contact information

Address:

Phone number(s):

Fax:

E-mail:

Best times to reach you:


Sierra Club activities and leadership positions held, with dates:


Environmental and related public interest work (community, state,
national, and/or international level):


Statement reflecting interest in and experience with corporate
accountability, and shareholder actions.


References (3), with phone numbers. Your Chapter Chair must be
included as one of the three.

DEADLINE: September 13, 2005

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Join us at Sierra Summit 2005.  For information go to:
http://www.sierrasummit2005.org/
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sign up to receive Sierra Club Insider, the flagship
e-newsletter. Sent out twice a month, it features the Club's
latest news and activities. Subscribe and view recent
editions at http://www.sierraclub.org/insider/