2008 Election Candidate Forum:
The Questions
Question 15: The Sierra Club has limited resources. Where is it most important for the Club to focus its volunteer and financial resources over the next four years?
Candidate responses were limited to 150 words per question.Lane
Boldman
•Developing their grassroots capacity. Dollars can go much farther when you have the support and resources supplied by grassroots energy. I define ‘grassroots’ as both organically-organized online supporters AND our existing base of Chapter and Group leaders. I have heard that our online outreach tools are attracting a wide range of new people. But our follow-through plan for these people is still unclear. Solidifying a long-term engagement plan will be critical.
•Regarding financial: using our still-developing online tools to solicit smaller online donors. We have seen this used effectively in political campaigns such as the Howard Dean campaign and we are in dire need of unrestricted funding. Large donors tend to give to particular designated programs. Small-dollar donors may be one answer we can leverage on. We also need to offer more ways for Chapter leaders to solicit funding to increase our resources. Joni
Bosh
Questionnaire Not Returned Clark
Buchner
The issue of how to approach rapid climate change is the most pressing issue facing mankind. It is vital that we focus on this in such a way that we do not lose our base of traditional wilderness preservation activist, as they are the very heart and soul of this organization. They can also inspire us, as they themselves are inspired, and the wilderness can lead us into our strength to deal with a planet home that yes, is in peril. Jeremy
Doochin
Recruiting and Training new activists should be of utmost priority. We must work not only to find new activists, but also to create effective organizational structures in which to plug interested members. Devising a strong leadership training program, and easy communication techniques is of paramount importance. We should strengthen our grassroots base to maximize the use of our resources. We have thousands of potential activists in our membership base that have never been tapped into. We must access these reserves in our climate change campaigns, work to build new coalitions, and extend a hand to non-traditional allies. Our extensive grassroots initiatives should be accompanied by new online marketing campaigns and the use of groups like Facebook to recruit new activists and young leaders. Financial resources should first be invested into developing our activists so that we will be more effective and prepared in our climate change and conservation campaigns. Jim
Dougherty
Global warming is where the outside money is. I support ramping up a big campaign that will garner that support.
I am confident that we will never weaken our century-old commitment to defending wild places and critters. I will fight to assure that such work is not lost amidst the hubbub of GW. Larry
Fahn
Questionnaire Not Returned Barbara
Frank
I believe Global Warming must be our strong and primary focus and that can be appropriately linked to our traditional conservation work. That's where we need to
invest our dollars. In the face of limited resources we need to be more resourceful and creative in our fund raising and resource allocation. David
Scott
One thing we must focus volunteer and financial resources on is getting more volunteer and financial resources. The ambitious Climate Fundraising Campaign has to succeed if we are to have the resources and legislative clout to do what needs to be done to confront the threat of global warming. And we have to expand our membership: numbers give us strength.
What is most important in conservation terms? Several things. Getting effective national legislation to start reducing carbon dioxide emissions now – not after it’s too late. Getting a binding post-Kyoto global treaty with strong US support. Undoing eight years of Bush – reinstating Roadless Rule protections for forests, reauthorizing the Endangered Species Act, passing Mining Reform. The must-do list is a long one.
Strengthening our Political Program should also be a priority over the next four years. We need to increase our ability to elect pro-environmental candidates at every level of government. Jerry
Sutherland
Sierra Club strength comes from its volunteer base working at the chapter and group level. We have grown to become the most powerful grassroots organization in the world by providing the big tent, offering tools and resources everyone can use to carry out the work that motivated them to become active. The Board must continue to turn aside suggestions to make chapter funding dependent on performance relative to blueprints established at the national level. Each chapter faces different challenges and needs the fiscal discretion to deal with them. Chapter subvention should be maintained. Doing otherwise will diminish our base rather than continuing its expansion. Discretionary national resources should continue to be directed towards projects implementing the Club's Conservation Initiatives with choices based on merit and solutions that will work. Matt
Urban
I’d work first to ensure that we have sound programs that provide real measurable results that are easy to understand and therefore more likely to attract outside funding and support. I’d work to continue to empower the Club’s Development staff to raise funds around those programs in the ways that we’ve been successful in the past. And I’d encourage the board and senior staff to continue to explore and develop new and innovative funding methods.
We also have to place a strong focus – both programmatically and financially - on finding, training, and retaining qualified leaders throughout the Club. Nathan
Wyeth
Questionnaire Not Returned
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