----- Original Message ----- From: Gene Coan<mailto:[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> Sent: Friday, October 14, 2005 3:17 PM Subject: Conservation Initiative Committees -- Announcement, Openings ***************************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. ***************************************************************************** NEW NATIONAL CONSERVATION INITIATIVE COMMITTEES TO PLAN AND MANAGE NEW CONSERVATION INITIATIVES TO CREATE A NEW ENERGY FUTURE, REBUILD HEALTHY COMMUNITIES, AND PROTECT AND RESTORE WILD AND SPECIAL PLACES. VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT AND REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS The Sierra Club's Conservation Governance Committee is currently seeking nominations to serve on three new Conservation Initiative Committees to plan and oversee the Sierra Club's nationally coordinated work around energy, land protection and restoration, and healthy communities. This recruitment is taking place in advance of the Board's final review and authorization of these new Conservation Initiatives, which is anticipated in mid-November. Actual appointment will take place after formal Board action. We anticipate that the appointments will take place in early December. These Conservation Initiatives are expected to in place for 2006-2010. Initial appointments will be for a period of 2 years. Please review the material below regarding the mission, projects, qualifications and responsibilities of the Initiative Committees. If you would like to nominate yourself for membership on one of these Initiative Committees, please send the completed application to David Scott at the address below. Email applications are preferred. If you send your application by email, please put "Initiative Committee application" in the subject line. Contact Address: David Scott, search committee chair e-mail: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> 300 East North Broadway Columbus, OH 43214-4114 If you know of someone who would be a strong candidate, please forward this message to that person, and send their name, contact information, and a brief description of their qualifications to David Scott via e-mail. THE DEADLINE TO RECEIVE COMPLETED APPLICATIONS IS NOVEMBER 15, 2005. If you have questions about the work of the Initiative Committees, contact David Scott at [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> or at (614) 263-4902. Best times to call are between 2 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Eastern time. Or you can contact search committee member Jerry Sutherland at [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> EXPECTATIONS OF ALL THREE CONSERVATION INITIATIVE COMMITTEES: Conservation Initiative Committees will be composed of 5-9 volunteers and assigned staff. Each initiative committee will develop a workplan including action objectives and policy outcomes covering the broad issue areas identified by the Conservation Governance Committee and the Board. They will then work with national committees, chapters, groups and other Club entities to assemble teams which will develop and implement projects to carry out the elements of the initiative plan. The initiative committees are not expected to carry out the projects themselves. They identify strategic opportunities and then work with the relevant Sierra Club entities to assemble work teams to put together winning plans and the resources to carry them out. They then evaluate the projects that are funded and report back results to the CGC and the Board. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECTED NEW ENERGY FUTURE CAMPAIGN INITIATIVE This initiative will work at the international, national, regional, state and local level to promote clean energy options (primarily renewables and efficiency), to stop polluting energy projects (coal-fired power plants, nuclear plants etc.), and to curb global warming. The initiative will also lead the Club's efforts to stop destructive energy extraction proposals (Arctic oil development, offshore oil development, mountain top removal coal mining, onshore oil leasing in wild places etc.) and will promote programs to provide more clean mass transit options and to clean up cars by making them more energy efficient. We are looking for volunteers for this committee with an interest in energy policy issues, energy impacts on public lands, and promoting clean energy at the community level. We are interested in recruiting strategists and volunteers with political skills to design effective campaigns, not necessarily issue experts. The initiative committee will consult with issue experts as needed on policy matters. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECTED REBUILDING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES CONSERVATION INITIATIVE This initiative will work to promote clean, healthy communities. The clean energy component of healthy communities will be covered by the New Energy Future Conservation Initiative. This Healthy Communities initiative will focus on improving community health and promoting environmental justice by preventing and cleaning up air pollution, water pollution and toxic threats. It will promote revitalizing urban areas and fighting fringe area development that leads to pollution and a loss of community. It will also oversee the Club's work on protecting special places in close proximity to communities that are threatened by encroachment and development (wetlands, farmland, open space, wildlife habitat etc.) We are looking for volunteers for this committee with an interest in community land and habitat conservation, urban planning, pollution issues and environmental justice. We are interested in recruiting strategists and volunteers with political skills to design effective campaigns, not necessarily issue experts. The initiative committee will consult with issue experts as needed on policy matters. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECTED WILD PLACES AND SPECIAL PLACES CONSERVATION INITIATIVE This initiative will work to protect and recover threatened native wildlife species through habitat preservation and restoration as well as land acquisitions to reduce fragmentation (urban development threats to open space and special places will be covered by the Rebuilding Healthy Communities Conservation Initiative). It will promote new protective designations for all wild and special places and defend existing protected areas. It will attempt to reduce human stressors such as commercial logging, mining, abusive recreation, and grazing (the energy impacts on public lands will be covered by the New Energy Future Campaign Committee) and reform management of public waterways. We are looking for volunteers for this committee with an interest in endangered species protection, habitat protection and restoration, wilderness, and protecting wild places on public lands from abuse. We are interested in recruiting strategists and volunteers with political skills to design effective campaigns, not necessarily issue experts. The initiative committee will consult with issue experts as needed on policy matters. QUALIFICATIONS For all three Conservation Initiatives we are seeking volunteers with: * Broad campaign experience, at either the local, state, national, or international level. This could be experience in political campaigns, legislative campaigns, or non-legislative campaigns. * Ability to think strategically. * Knowledge of the Sierra Club. * Experience planning and evaluating programs or campaigns. * Ability to communicate well with volunteers and staff and work effectively in groups. * Previous work on the issues covered by the Conservation Initiative desirable but not essential. COMMITTEE MEMBER RESPONSIBILITIES: * participate in conference calls (usually once or twice a month) * Attend occasional meetings of the committee (no more than once a year; travel costs are reimbursed.) * Work with applicants to design successful projects to help carry out the objectives of the initiative. * Keep informed about progress, threats and opportunities within the jurisdiction of the initiative. * Serve as an ambassador to the rest of the Club to explain the initiative and encourage participation and support. * Be willing to share in committee duties such as tracking funds, taking notes on calls, and preparing progress reports. ************************************************************* APPLICATION FORM -- PLEASE DELETE ALL TEXT ABOVE THE *******. Send completed form to David Scott at [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> Please label the subject of your e-mail: "CONSERVATION INITIATIVE COMMITTEE NOM.: <your last name here". THE DEADLINE TO RECEIVE COMPLETED APPLICATIONS IS NOVEMBER 15, 2005. Name of Initiative Committee you are applying for: 1) Applicant name: 2) Applicant contact information (phones, e-mail, and best times & means to reach you): 3) Sierra Club experience, including length of membership, leadership positions held, campaigns worked on (with dates): 4) Other environmental experience (at any level) and relevant non-environmental experience (please be specific): 5) Describe any experience you have had in planning or implementing programs or campaigns: 6) What skills or expertise do you feel you can offer to the committee? 7) Why do you want to serve on this Initiative Committee? 8) Describe your general availability for Committee meetings, conference calls, and regular e-mail contact. 9) Names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses of two references (preferably including one leader of your local Club group/chapter), including best times to reach them. One reference should be your local chapter chair unless that person does not know you well. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 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/