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Independent directors and Petition Candidates strive for reform

Many grassroots members of the Sierra Club want more aggressive protection of forest lands and other natural resources. These members see the Club and its $80 million per year budget as bloated overly bureaucratic, and mainly staff driven. These grassroots activists do an excellent job at the local level with almost no resources. The national organization, which keeps most of the $80 million to itself, has not been nearly as effective. Many think we could have done a better job to help prevent the election of George W. Bush, the worst president for the environment in decades.

Grassroots members are also concerned about policy strings that may be attached to some of the Club's funding. IRS Form 990 reports from the Sierra Club Foundation identify an unusually large $48 million dollar annual contribution from an anonymous donor in 2000 -- and a series of anonymous contributions in the form of Treasury Notes totaling $54 million in 2001.

As a result of the secrecy, not only the membership, but a number of the Sierra Club's board members cannot learn where this money comes from, what agreements may have been made about how it is to be spent, or which issues the Club may avoid in exchange for accepting this money.

Independent board members and reform-oriented Petition Candidates believe strongly in the democratic rights of all 750,000 members of the Sierra Club to decide what is best for the Club. Grassroots activists have brought a number of initiatives forward for the members to vote on over the last ten years. These grassroots activists within the Club are looking for change and fresh leadership while the old guard protects the status quo.

The true 750,000 strong grassroots of the club are currently represented on the Board by at least five independent, reform-minded directors (Lisa Force, Marcia Hanscom, Doug La Follette, Paul Watson and Ben Zuckerman). Six Petition Candidates - Dick Lamm, Kim McCoy, Frank Morris, David Pimentel, Karyn Strickler and Roy van de Hoek - are supported by grassroots reformers in the March 2004 election.

Petition Candidates come from the grassroots. Each has to collect hundreds of signatures from fellow Sierra Club members to be placed on the ballot. In contrast, nominated candidates are placed on the ballot by a committee appointed by the Board President. They are nominated to perpetuate control by the group currently in charge, not to bring fresh leadership.