SierraScape October - November 2010
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CANDIDATE STATEMENTS
Executive Committee (ExCom) members meet once per month to authorize club actions and assist activities of other Eastern Missouri Group (EMG) members.
There are seven voting members on the ExCom. Four persons will be elected, each to fill a two-year term. Voting instructions are given on the ballot (see page 10).
The following are statements by candidates for the ExCom, listed in alphabetical order.
Richard Egan
The urge to become environmentally active developed within me in the mid-1990s when, as a young father, I had seen enough negative change in my region to become concerned about the condition of the planet I would be leaving to my children and subsequent generations. At that time, I found appeal in the Sierra Club because it combined local awareness with the strength and scope of a national organization.
In 2004, an article by then-EMG Political Chair Mac Dillon convinced me that one of the most effective ways of invoking positive change was by helping environmentally conscious politicians achieve public office, and then maintaining contact with them. I began assisting the EMG Political Committee at that time, took pride in our being the most active, productive PolCom in the state, and eventually became committee chair.
I believe that humans, in order to survive, must develop a mutually enhancing relationship with the world, rather than dominate over, exploit, and waste the goodness that enabled our species to reach this point in history. If given the opportunity to serve on your executive committee, I promise dedication in helping move our region in specific, local ways, closer to this global goal.
Charles J. Guenther, Jr.
Charles is retired following careers as an electrical engineer at McDonnell-Douglas (1966-1981), and as a professor in the Engineering and Technology Department of St. Louis Community College (1983-2007).
Over the years, he taught over twenty different courses at the Meramec, Forest Park, and Florissant Valley campuses, and the Missouri Eastern Correctional Center.
Charles has a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from St. Louis University (1966), and an M.A. in Environmental Education (1998) from Maryville University. He has published papers in the IEEE Technology and Society Magazine and the Bulletin of Science, Technology and Society.
Charles is a Board member of the Peace Economy Project, and continues to teach part-time at St. Louis Community College. He and his wife, Margaret Gilleo, enjoy hiking, canoeing, rafting, and cross-country skiing.
Preservation of Missouri's precious wilderness areas and park lands for future generations to explore is his primary motivation for seeking a position on the Executive Committee.
Frank Lorberbaum
I have been a Sierra club member for 16 years. On the local level I have been the chair of Inner City Outings for three years. I have been on the EMG ExCom for the last two years and have acted as our group representative to the Chapter EXCom. I currently am the Treasurer for the Chapter.
On the national level I have led two service trips to El Yunque rainforest in Puerto Rico, three to Viers in St. John's, US Virgin Islands and one to New Orleans. I will be leading another trip to St. Johns' and New Orleans this fall. Last year I was a delegate from the Sierra Club to the Conference on Climate Change in Copenhagen.
I was a founding Board Member of the local Chapter of US Green Building Council and chair of the Homes Committee. I have given several talks around St. Louis promoting Green Building. I was the first LEED Accredited Professional in St. Louis.
Recently, I have been very involved in starting a local chapter of Architecture For Humanity (AFH). I have been the House Leader for the construction of two houses for Habitat For Humanity.
For thirty years I owned and operated by my own design-build firm in St. Louis. I specialized in high end residential and light commercial construction. I have brought business experience to the board.
I would like to be elected to the board so that I might continue my service.
Jim Nyberg
The Sierra Club is an effective advocate for protecting wild places, preventing further environmental damage, and restoring what is salvable. Supporting these continuing efforts is our responsibility to future generations.
My active membership in the Eastern Missouri Group since 1980 includes petition campaigns, political lobbying, several committees, lemonade sales and countless outings. As a member of the EMG Executive Committee, I was representative to the Ozark Chapter ExCom (1994) and chair (1995); and am currently treasurer (1999-2008). I've undertaken extra projects including the new bylaws, public events, office equipment and office relocation. As treasurer, I've introduced comprehensive financial reporting and cost control.
I am a candidate to continue working for the Sierra Club and our natural earth.