Chair’s Column

By Sarah Willey, Chapter Chair

Sarah WilleyI was elected this year to succeed Jim Turner as Missouri Chapter Chair. He has left some very big shoes to fill! I am thankful for the foundation he has laid with his leadership and excited for the work ahead.

At the beginning of the year, the ExCom engaged in a mini strategic planning session to establish four priorities for 2016. These priorities are: 

1) Climate Action and Clean Power Plan, Diversity,
2) Equity, and Inclusion (DEI),
3) Get out the Vote, and 
4) Pursuing common goals with other organizations.

We will weave these priorities into the work we do throughout the year.

We have two new leadership postions that have been filled by two young leaders. Out new Volunteer Coordinator is Foster Speichinger, a student at Truman State University  (my alma mater, where Jim Turner first recruited me to join the Sierra Club). Second, we have a new DEI Chair, Natalie Lucas, a recent transplant to St. Louis whom I have worked with before on a National committee and who has a history of activism with the Sierra Student Coalition and International Campaign. Foster and Natalie will also be instrumental in accomplishing our goals and strengthening our Chapter.