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We're Hiring! Use your profession skills to be a local environmental hero!
IMPORTANT NOTE: recently updated job descriptions (use links below).
Sierra Club is the largest, oldest and most influential grass-roots organization in the nation!
The Loma Prieta Chapter, founded in 1933, protects San Mateo, Santa Clara and San Benito Counties. See how we do it in our Annual Summaries.
Your Loma Prieta Chapter is seeking a full-time Bay2030 Campaign Manager and a full-time Communication Specialist.
Applications can only be accepted through the links given above.
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Multiply Your Gift to Your Loma Prieta Chapter with Your Company’s Matching Program
If you work for a company, there’s a great chance that it will match your charitable gift. In these challenging times, company donation matching programs are a great opportunity to double and sometimes triple your support of a cause you care about. Find details here.
The $20,000 Challenge Match is Still On!
If you have already participated in our exciting matching challenge, thank you! If you haven’t you still have a chance to go twice as far in your support of our local efforts for a healthy environment. Find out here how to get your donation matched. |
Action Opportunities in Your Area! Read More in this eNewsletter.
► Lexington Reservoir: help study newts to prevent them from being squashed.
► We're Hiring, full time: a Bay2030 Campaign Coordinator and a Senior Communication Specialist.
► Help Choose the Mascot of Your Loma Prieta Chapter's Bay2030 Campaign!
Take our 1-minute, two question survey.
► Santa Clara County: Learn about electrifying your home with SVCE's eHub
► San Mateo County: Take advantage of new EV rebates from Peninsula Clean Energy |
Are You Interested in Strong Environmental Legislation?
Join Our New ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATIVE ACTION Committee
We are forming the first Environmental Legislative Action (ELA) committee in our chapter.
Activities include the following:
• Meet with legislators to discuss bills and ask for votes
• Research priority bills from Sierra Club CA's endorsed bills list
• Organize chapter members' participation
• Collaborate with other environmental organizations
• Public Relations: Write articles on endorsed bills
Time commitment varies:
--2 one-hour meetings a month initially.
--Approximately 1 hour a week for research, talking to people, & preparing materials/presentations.
Contact: Sue Chow at sue2042@gmail.com
Looking forward to your participation!
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2020: A Quick Recap of what Loma Prieta Chapter Supporters Achieved
As 2020 comes to a close, your Loma Prieta Chapter would like to sincerely thank all of the amazing volunteers who have worked tirelessly to protect our local ecosystems and our generous supporters who have made this possible. This eNewsletter features just a fraction of the many efforts and achievements of our volunteers and staff in 2020. Look for our 2020 Annual Summary coming in February. See previous Chapter Annual Summaries and Reports. |
Our Supporters Launched the Bay2030 Campaign
The Sierra Club has increased our work to protect and restore San Francisco Bay ecosystems, with our Bay2030 Campaign. How we respond to sea level rise will have long lasting consequences for humans and wildlife alike. We have encouraged local Cities to start planning nature-based sea level rise strategies.
Here are two recent examples:
In Redwood City, your Loma Prieta Chapter co-signed with many other environmental organizations calling for Redwood City to address Sea Level Rise in their climate action plan. Redwood City has now included a process for climate adaptation in their Plan.
In Sunnyvale, your Loma Prieta Chapter organized more than a dozen volunteers to call on the City Council to fully analyze and study the impacts of sea level rise on the in-progress Moffett Park Specific Plan. This analysis is underway. |
Above photo by Mary Buxton: These anchored logs protect salmon from currents and predators.
Our Supporters Educated Environmental Activists: The Bay2030 Advocate Program
Experienced volunteer leaders of the Loma Prieta Chapter shared their knowledge of Bay ecosystems and government functions to help educate a new generation of Bay advocates.
With more than 40 regular participants, the class was active through sending advocacy letters, researching and creating presentations, and even writing content for this eNewsletter!
Inspired by her research in the Bay2030 Advocate Program, Mary Buxton participated in a salmon watch and sent us these wonderful photos, which you can see above and below.
Please join us in 2021 for next year's Bay2030 Advocate Program.
Below photo by Mary Buxton: The redd is the white part that the female fish has prepared so that she can spawn. |
Our Supporters Protected Critical Open Space in Coyote Valley, San Jose
As part of our ongoing effort to protect Coyote Valley, we have turned our attention to San Jose's General Plan Update, which affects the land use designation of this beautiful and critical open space.
Due to the advocacy of the Sierra Club and our allies, the San Jose General Plan Task Force voted to recommend that land in North Coyote Valley be designated as Open Space and Agriculture. This is an important improvement, since much of this land is currently designated for industrial development. This process is not yet complete, and we will work smartly in 2021 to make sure that these new designations are approved by the City Council. |
Our Supporters Safeguarded Creeks
The work to protect our local creeks continues for the Loma Prieta Chapter's Conservation Sub-committees on Wildlife and Water. We have submitted comments on a variety of different projects for the Guadalupe River and Coyote Creek, and are engaged in the development of the draft Valley Water Public Trail Policy.
We strongly advocate for the protection of riparian corridors, and for creeks and riparian habitat to be protected with setbacks that give space for flora and fauna to thrive. |
Above photo of an Anna's Hummingbird. Photo credit to Becky Matsubara.
Our Supporters Passed a Bird-Safe Design Ordinance in Cupertino
After approximately two years of advocacy from the Loma Prieta Chapter's Conservation Sub-committee on Wildlife, and allies, the Cupertino City Council has finally passed the first reading of their Bird-Safe Design Ordinance, which will ensure that Cupertino's buildings are designed to reduce bird fatalities.
This is a great step towards protecting our local and migratory bird populations, which are suffering from human-caused impacts. |
Above image by fabric artist Linda Gass
Our Supporters Helped Host the Green Streets for Sustainable Communities Symposium
This symposium was attended by more than 300 people, many of whom were key staffers in municipalities, agencies, and non-profits. They learned about strategies for an integrated approach to pedestrian-friendly green corridors, resulting in cleaner air, cleaner water, greater biodiversity, and a reduction in heat islands. |
Above photo of the Hawyard Park Station in San Mateo.
Our Supporters Promoted Dense Infill Housing Projects Near Transit.
The Loma Prieta Chapter Conservation Sub-committee on Sustainable Land Use Committee continues to advocate for infill housing near transit. Some of these developments include
- a 100% affordable housing high density project in Downton San Mateo across from the train station,
- 1,000 units of housing near Hayward Park Station, and
- a 100% affordable housing, high density project on El Camino in South San Francisco.
Infill development near transit reduces greenhouse gases, gives more equitable access to mobility, and allows for housing needs to be met without developing in vulnerable habitats. |
Our Supporters Worked to Prevent Thousands of Local Animals from Being Killed
The Loma Prieta Chapter Conservation Sub-committee on Wildlife has supported an effort led by very dedicated local volunteers who have raised awareness of the horrible number of newts who are squashed every year by cars on Alma bridge road near Lexington Reservoir.
The thousands of newts that are crushed is staggering. Thanks to the work of environmentalists who have spent countless hours cataloguing this, the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District and the Peninsula Open Space Trust are conducting a study.
If you are interested in helping, please contact the Loma Prieta Chapter's own Conservation Assistant, Dashiell Leeds at Dashiell.Leeds@SierraClub.org |
Above image from 2019: Chapter Conservation Assistant Dashiell Leeds celebrates with community members, activists and City staff after the San Jose City Council agreed to pursue the gas prohibition
Chapter Supporters Advocated for more than 19 Successful Reach Code Ordinances
Before 2019, the expansion of gas infrastructure in new buildings was unchecked by legislation in the United States. Gas pipelines constantly leak methane into our atmosphere, accelerating climate change. They also severely impact our indoor air quality, while simultaneously making building more expensive.
Now, at the end of 2020, 40 cities in California have passed laws called Reach Codes which can limit or prohibit new gas pipelines. Our Chapter is proud to have advocated for more than 19 of these ordinances, which passed in local Cities in our Chapter. We were not alone, and would like to thank the multitude of different environmental groups and community activists who fought and continue to fight for a future free from fossil fuels. |
Our Supporters Formed a Climate Action Plan Team
Many Cities are updating their climate action plans and many more will do so soon. This volunteer-led team has already influenced the language of Climate Action Plans in Redwood City and Millbrae, and is currently engaged in the public stakeholder process in Cupertino, Palo Alto, San Mateo County, and many more jurisdictions.
Our goal is to ensure that cities set ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets, track those targets regularly with measurable metrics, and implement their plans with sea level rise and environmental justice in mind. |
Multiply Your Gift to Your Loma Prieta Chapter with Your Company’s Matching Program
If you work for a company, there’s a great chance that it will match your charitable gift. In these challenging times, company donation matching programs are a great opportunity to double and sometimes triple your support of a cause you care about. Find details here.
The $20,000 Challenge Match is Still On!
If you have already participated in our exciting matching challenge, thank you! If you haven’t you still have a chance to go twice as far in your support of our local efforts for a healthy environment. Find out here how to get your donation matched.
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Above: A tribute video to Byron Sher, by Mike Kerhin
Donors and Volunteers made Benefit the most successful EVER! Despite unprecedented hurdles this year, local donors and volunteers made the 2020 Guardians of Nature Benefit for the Loma Prieta Chapter the most successful in our 83 year history! We are enabled, inspired and enraptured by the incredible generosity of our Loma Prieta Community and will continue to work to protect our local environment with the encouragement of our many strong supporters. Thank you to all of the guests who attended and contributed! Experience the excitement and inspiration via video!
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Help Us Tell Our Story: Donate Your Photos
Photos can speak louder than words. Help us powerfully tell our story by donating your photos. We will use them in our publications like The Annual Summary, on invitations, and our Chapter note cards.
If you’d like to share with us your high-resolution photos of local nature, with or without people, please contact our Development Coordinator Justyna Guterman, Justyna.guterman@sierraclub.org |
Silicon Valley Clean Energy has Launched an eHub to Help You Electrify Your Home, Car and Appliances
Save money and reduce your emissions with eHub, Silicon Valley Clean Energy’s free, one-stop-shop for transitioning to electric living. With SVCE, you already receive clean electricity, eHub gives you the power to use that energy to power your home, car and appliances. Browse efficient, electric appliances with the Appliances Assistant, compare electric vehicles with the EV Assistant and explore additional clean energy options with the Solar+Battery Assistant.
Click here to visit eHub today |
Peninsula Clean Energy is expanding its program offering rebates to help first-time buyers of new electric vehicles.
From PCE's Oct 1 press release:
"The 2020 New EV Rebate Program will offer rebates of $1,000 towards the cost of a new fully electric vehicle and $700 for a plug-in hybrid purchased by San Mateo County residents between Oct. 1 through Dec. 31.
Eligible vehicles are any new EVs that have a purchase contract cash price of $45,000 or less, before sales tax.
Peninsula Clean Energy is also providing residents the opportunity to experience driving an EV with a $200 rebate toward the rental of an EV and assistance in setting up at-home or at-dealership test drives."
Read more here |
Let it go, let it go! When the trade-in value’s too low, let it go, let it go!
Your best move is donating your vehicle to support your Loma Prieta Chapter. Call 844-6-SIERRA (844-674-3772) or donate online. We accept cars, classic cars, trucks, boats, RVs, and more. Plus, your gift is tax-deductible.
VERY IMPORTANT: tell CARS that you want to support the Loma Prieta Chapter through the Sierra Club Foundation. |
Social Media Channels for the Loma Prieta Chapter
facebook: Chapter, 20s – 30s, Sierra Singles
YouTube; Twitter; Instagram; Spotify
MeetUp: Chapter conservation and education meetings (2667 members),
Hiking events (5031 members), Singleaires outing section (1775 members),
Day Hiking section (1646 members), Guadalupe Regional Group (553 members), Peak Climbing (467 members), Gay & Lesbian Sierrans (403 members),
Black Mountain Hiking section (392 members), 20s - 30s (150 members),
Family Explorers (95 members)
Social media volunteers needed. Chapter Director James.Eggers@sierraclub.org |
Got Mail? Too much Sierra Club mail? You can take control; it's easy!
If you feel overwhelmed you can easily manage what you receive. See the simple tutorial |
We look forward to the time when the Power of Love
will replace the Love of Power.
Then will our world know the blessings of peace.
~ William Ewart Gladstone |
Health and safety to all,
and Happy Trails to you.
James Eggers, Director
Sierra Club, Loma Prieta Chapter
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Thank you to our 2020 Guardians of Nature Benefit Sponsors
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Yosemite Heroes Lisa Barboza and Brian Roach
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| As people across the country protest in defense of Black lives, the Sierra Club recognizes the need to dismantle systemic racism in the United States and within our own organization. We must reckon with how white supremacy -- both past and present -- has shaped our institutions and do the critical anti-racism work necessary to repair the harm done. The environmental movement does not exist in a vacuum, and it is our responsibility to use our power to help abolish systemic racism, which is destroying lives, communities, and the planet. |
| The COVID-19 crisis has not passed and continues to disproportionately harm Black, Indigenous, and Latinx people and other communities of color. The pandemic has revealed how the communities hardest hit are often the same communities that suffer from high levels of pollution and poor access to healthcare. The fight for environmental justice cannot be separated from the fight for racial justice. |
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