Home
 
Internal Power Struggle
 
Independent Directors & Petition Candidates
 
CEO and 'old guard'
 
False Claims
 
Unfair Electioneering
 
Injunctions
 
Learn more and vote
 
Press Releases
Articles & Letters
 
FAQ
 
Board & Candidate List

Internal Sierra Club power struggle

You've heard the scare tactics. "The Sierra Club is threatened with a hostile outside take over by a coalition of right wing anti-immigration and animal rights organizations." Nonsense! There is simply no truth to such claims. The press and worried members would know this if they researched the story that was originally planted in the Los Angeles Times.

A major power struggle is indeed occurring. But it is an internal struggle between two rival sets of members. On one side is an entrenched, self perpetuating group of Sierra Club directors and their supporters who are referred to as the 'old guard'. They currently hold majority control of the Sierra Club Board of Directors. The Club's chief executive officer (CEO) Carl Pope is very closely aligned with them.

Grassroots activists and independent directors who want more aggressive protection of natural resources and higher priority given to population issues are on the other side of the power struggle. These members wish to invigorate the Club with fresh and more effective leadership. This internal power struggle has been going on for several years - in the Club's board room, on websites, and on Sierra Club email discussion lists, and in annual elections for the Board of Directors. Lately it has gotten dirty and has been carried into the press as the old guard's grip on power has become threatened. Board President Larry Fahn, CEO Carl Pope and others such as Directors Robbie Cox and Chuck McGrady are responsible for this turn of events.

The fear and smear tactics of this 'old guard' group are those of the McCarthy era. They have no place in our Sierra Club.

In the 1950's it was 'the communists' who were supposedly taking over the United States by infiltrating our government. Now the fear tactic is that racist white nationalists and radical animal rights organizations are infiltrating the Club.

But it simply is not true that any such take over is occurring. This tactic should be seen for what it is - a desperate effort to keep very attractive Petition Candidates from winning and giving a majority of board seats to directors not hand-picked by the ruling clique.

The same guilt by association smear tactics that McCarthy used to destroy the careers of public servants and talents of Hollywood are now being used in an attempt to discredit highly qualified, independent grassroots-oriented board members and Petition Candidates. This smear campaign against reform within the club has become so vitriolic and unfair that the democracy that has been the underpinning of the Club throughout its 112 year history is at risk.

In short, what we are witnessing is a classic power struggle within the Sierra Club where the established bureaucrats are threatened by a change of direction in priorities as directed by the membership in their election of directors. This is democracy in action. There is no hostile take-over.