The N.C. Sierra Club has undergone exponential growth over the past year, reviving local groups statewide, expanding our Outings program, reactivating critical Chapter committees, and raising – then wisely spending – all the funds that high-quality environmental advocacy requires.
You've seen some of our leading volunteers and staff quoted in the news, our blog posts and newsletters. But there are plenty of folks working outside the spotlight, solidifying the foundation on which all our accomplishments rest.
Dave Keesee is one of them - and the national Sierra Club agrees, honoring him this fall with the Atlas Award, given to volunteers nationwide who make administrative contributions that are critical to our success. Dave, the N.C. Chapter's treasurer since 2024, was recognized along with other leading volunteers during the Club's Oct. 14 livestream of its annual awards.
A Sierra Club member since 1998, Dave has given 19 years of leadership service since he first joined the Orange-Chatham Group's executive committee in 2007 and became the Group's treasurer the following year.
Like many nonprofits, the statewide Chapter was hit by staff, volunteer and member falloff during the pandemic shutdown, and struggled for several years to find a treasurer. Two years ago, Dave was asked to step into the role.
"Dave was exactly who we needed, at exactly the right time," Chapter Chair Katie Tomberlin says. "With new staff hires and a path forward, Dave was instrumental in this transition period, and brought his financial talents to the table. I am thankful for Dave and the role he has played during this important transitional period."
As the Chapter executive committee and staff focused on rebuilding, Dave drew on a career’s worth of professional corporate finance experience to help us elevate our financial systems and overall operations.
"I think my skillset is somewhat unique among our members and see it as a way I can make a meaningful contribution," he noted.
The past year has seen the Chapter more than double our staff as well as the number of trained Outings leaders across North Carolina. We've also vastly expanded our events and our media profile, and built stronger, more passionate activist networks and alliances.
"Dave made sure that this growth was supported by strong financial planning, sound systems, and disciplined administrative oversight," Tomberlin said. "He's helped us address our immediate needs while ensuring that our long-term stability is an integral part of our strategy."
As Chapter Director Chris Herndon said in nominating Dave for the award: "Dave brings integrity, judgment and courage to the role of treasurer. He is willing to ask difficult questions, identify potential risks and provide honest guidance when necessary. His professionalism and reliability have earned the trust and respect of Chapter volunteer leaders and staff alike. … He is ahead of the curve and has been instrumental in the progress the North Carolina Chapter has experienced."
When asked what he's most proud of accomplishing as Chapter treasurer, Dave points to two things: putting the Chapter on a more solid financial posture through better processes, reporting and the transition to the Club's new financial system; and now, managing the Chapter's financial activities so that Chris, Katie and the rest of the Chapter's leadership and staff can focus their attention on our mission.
"I think of a story I heard long ago, one I used in my working career with my teams, of the worker pushing a broom at the NASA Mission Control center. When he was asked what his job was, he said, 'Putting a man on the moon,'" Dave says. "I see my work with the Chapter the same way. I may not be assembling a rocket, but I am still helping put that man on the moon."
Join us in thanking Dave – and all our volunteer leaders –who guide the Sierra Club's mission to "explore, enjoy and protect" North Carolina's environment and all who live in it.
About Us: The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with tens of thousands of members and supporters in North Carolina. We help people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, and work to promote clean energy, protect wildlife, safeguard the health of our communities, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action.