SierraScape April - May 2009
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by Del Johnson
Membership Committee Chair
The Sierra Club has many members who are willing to do their share of whatever has to be done in order to fulfill our mission, namely, to preserve and protect the environment. Those of us on the Executive Committee of the Eastern Missouri Group (EMG) feel that our group is especially blessed by the efforts of certain members who do far more than their share, and do it cheerfully. This year at our January meeting we recognized the long-term contributions of Cheryl Hammond and Virginia (Ginger) Harris, by presenting each of them with the award of Outstanding Sierran.
An outstanding characteristic of each of these women is their remarkable resilience–each of them, at a time when she was busy enough already, has when called upon accepted an assignment requiring significantly more work. Thus Ginger took on the chairmanship of the Missouri chapter executive committee, and Cheryl the office of chapter treasurer, when they both had pretty full schedules already. Cheryl also maintains our excellent website, and represents the Missouri chapter at national Sierra Club meetings in San Francisco.
Both Cheryl and Ginger are known for having the background knowledge needed to support their views. Each of them can, and frequently does, research a topic and produce a solid, fact-based article for the Missouri chapter's news letter the Sierran or for EMG's SierraScape.
Cheryl is particularly knowledgeable on flood plain development, and Ginger on public transportation and urban sprawl.
Cheryl and Ginger are both very energy conscious in their personal lives. Ginger rides her bicycle to events such as EMG general meetings, and Cheryl gets around via Metro as much as possible.
Thank you, Cheryl and Ginger, for all you have done for the Sierra Club, and for showing all your friends in the Eastern Missouri Group the true meaning of grace under pressure.
The Executive Committee of the Eastern Missouri Group (EMG) recognizes the excellent work which Don Barnes, the editor of our group newsletter, the SierraScape, does for the Sierra Club with a Special Recognition Award.
We have several faithful members doing important work for us who have demanding responsibilities which often prevent them from attending our general meetings or other chapter events or gatherings. That is the case with Don Barnes. Many of you have communicated with or heard his name but would quite likely not recognize him on sight.
As SierraScape editor, Don edits and arranges contributed articles, advertising and photographs, and puts it all together to make a quality newsletter. He's been filling this role for the chapter since 2004. He's also contributed to the efforts of the Conservation, Political, and Fundraising committees at various times in the past.
In his professional life, Don is the owner of PeaceFrog, an Internet and website consulting service that matches clients with the right website developer for their project. He is the Vice Chair of the Small Business Administration's Small Business Week of Eastern Missouri 2009 and serves as a mentor with Washington University's Skandalaris Center for Entrepreneurship's Hatchery Program.
He also started a family a few years ago and spends as much time as possible with his 3-year-old daughter Kaitlyn and 18-month old son Jackson. Jokingly he says, "my wife kind of likes having me around for some reason too, even though I have no idea why."
All of this understandably keeps him pretty busy–and unable to get much "face time" with his fellow members.
"When I joined Sierra Club, I wanted to do more than just write a check each year. I wanted to make a real contribution. I hope to be able to do more when my kids get a little older and hopefully get them involved as well," he said.
Don, you help us present a favorable and persuasive face to the public and we consider ourselves fortunate to have you on our team.