1. The Sierra Club: Walking in John
Muir’s Footsteps to uphold
Wisconsin’s Environmental Ethos
Sierra Club – John Muir Chapter
222 South Hamilton St, #1, Madison, WI 53703
(608) 256-0565
http://wisconsin.sierraclub.org
shahla.werner@sierraclub.org
2. The Sierra Club
Founded in 1892 by John Muir,
Sierra Club is the oldest, largest,
and most influential grassroots
environmental organization in the
United States.
1.4 million members & supporters
Mission: To explore, enjoy, and protect
the wild places of the earth; to practice
and promote the responsible use of the
earth's ecosystems and resources; to
educate and enlist humanity to protect
and restore the quality of the natural
and human environment; and to use all
lawful means to carry out these
objectives.
3. The Sierra Club’s Structure
The Board of Directors: (15 volunteer
members, elected by members) set
conservation priorities & policies, and
national budget, hires staff, directs
volunteers.
Key Contacts:
Michael Brune – Executive Director
Bruce Nilles – Dep. Conservation Director
Sarah Hodgdon – Director of Conservation
One Club” Policy: Chapters may not
establish policies or activities that conflict
with national or regional branches.
4. Sierra Club Founder John Muir
Spent early years in Scotland and
Wisconsin
One of America’s most influential
conservationists: “Father of our
National Parks,” “Wilderness
Prophet,” and “Citizen of the
Universe”
Self-proclaimed “poetico-trampo-
geologist-botanist and
ornithologist-naturalist!!!”
Formed the Sierra Club to “make
Photo from Sierra Club
Colby Library
the mountains glad” in 1892
5. Sierra Club Outings
National Outings: Offer
over 330 exciting outings
each year
www.sierraclub.org/outings
Chapter & Local Group
Outings: Often free ways
to connect with outdoors;
designed to inspire
members to protect areas
From backpacking in the they visit
Sierra Nevada to whale
watching in Hawaii; from
trekking in Nepal to bird
watching in Brazil………
6. (Just A Few) Sierra Club
Accomplishments
Establishment, expansion, and protection of many
national parks, including significant parts of
Yosemite and Yellowstone
The Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species
Act
National monument status for Utah’s Grand
Staircase-Escalante
Enactment of Alaska National Interest Lands
Conservation Act designating more than 100 million
acres of parks, wildlife refuges, and wilderness
areas.
7. Sierra Club Chapters and Regions
64 Chapters in 3 US Regions
Central region: ND, SD, NE, KS, OK, LA, AR, MO, IA, MN,
WI, IL, MI, IN, OH, MS, AL, TX
John Muir Chapter = Wisconsin branch
8. Sierra Club – John Muir Chapter
We are the statewide branch of the Sierra Club in Wisconsin,
formed 50 years ago in 1963: http://sierrawi50.org/
We follow the footsteps of legendary conservationists: John
Muir, Aldo Leopold and Gaylord Nelson.
Executive Committee of 15 Volunteer Leaders & 3 Paid Staff
(Director Shahla Werner, Chapter Coordinator Jacinda
Tessmann, Conservation Programs Coordinator Elizabeth
Ward)
Priorities: Reducing Climate Change by Moving Beyond Coal
to Clean Energy; Beyond Oil to Clean Transportation;
Protecting Water; & Stopping Destructive Mining
We have 15,000 members & supporters, 6 local groups, and
3 special activity sections: River Touring Section, Inner City
Outings and Sierra Student Coalition
9. John Muir Chapter Clean Energy Wins
Passing Wisconsin’s RES, requiring utilities to get
10% of our electricity from renewables by 2015
Blocking Alliant Energy’s proposed 300 MW coal
plant in 2008
Using Clean Air Act to Move Beyond Coal or require
pollution controls at UW Madison, We Energies’
Valley Plant, and Dairyland’s Alma Plant.
Supporting uniform wind turbine siting
Garnering approval for SC Johnson’s Waxdale wind
project
Blocking bills to allow utilities to buy outdated clean
energy credits, enact unworkable wind standards, &
reward energy wasters
10. Sierra Club- John Muir Chapter:
Clean Water Victories
Thwarting Perrier’s plans to build a water-bottling plant in
Adams County.
Stopping Exxon’s plans to build a toxic mine at the
headwaters of the Wolf River.
Pushing for the clean-up of toxic polychlorinated biphenals
(PCBs) from the Fox River.
Helping to protect the St. Croix River, by advocating for its
designation as a Wild and Scenic River.
Helping to pass the historic Great Lakes Compact
Helping to pass strong numeric nutrient standards and
phosphorus lawn fertilizer restrictions to protect waterways
from toxic algal growth.
11. John Muir Chapter Leaders
2013 Officers
Chair Liz Wessel
Vice Chair Marilyn Pedretti
Treasurer Joan Quenan
Secretary Jim Kerler
Committee Chairs
Conservation Will Stahl
Political Dave Blouin
Legislative Alexa Edinburgh &
Caryl Terrell
Fundraising Liz Wessel
12. John Muir Chapter’s
Local Groups
Function: The finger on
the pulse of local issues
Local outings and
environmental
education
Local roadside clean-
ups, invasive species
removal or recycling
NOTE: Connect with
Groups and Special
Activity Sections to
advance your
campaign goals!
13. John Muir Chapter:
Inner City Outings (Madison)
http://www.madisonico.org/
Purpose: ICO offers hiking and camping trips, boating and skiing
outings, and other outdoor adventures to underprivileged youth in
the Madison area.
14. John Muir Chapter
River Touring Section
http://wisconsin.sierraclub.org/rts/
Purpose: To coordinate paddling trips, to promote
on-the-water safety and improve paddling skills, to
support river conservation organizations
15. Sierra Student Coalition
http://www.ssc.org/
Purpose: The student arm
of Sierra Club, Sierra
Student Coalition is a
broad network of high
school and college youth
(ages 17-30) from around
the country working to
protect the environment.
18. Who Speaks for Sierra Club?
SR. 2.2.2: Representing the Club
(a) No Club member, present or former leader, or
member of the staff shall make a statement or take a
public position in the name of the Club that is
contrary to, or creates a misimpression of a policy or
position established by the Board, the duly
authorized chapter, group, committee or other Club
entity, or the Club membership through referendum.
When speaking or taking a public position on their
own behalf, or on the behalf of organizations other
than the Club, members shall avoid giving the
impression that they are representing the Club and
endeavor to correct any misimpression in this regard.
Adopted 03/01-02/97; amended 11/14-15/98,
05/19-20/06, 02/24/07
19. Sierra Club – John Muir Chapter
Online Resources
Sierra Club- John Muir Chapter:
http://wisconsin.sierraclub.org
Facebook: Please Like Us!
http://www.facebook.com/SierraClubWI
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SierraClubWI
20. Questions?
Shahla Werner, Director
Sierra Club – John Muir Chapter
222 South Hamilton St, #1,
Madison, WI 53703
(608) 256-0565
http://wisconsin.sierraclub.org
shahla.werner@sierraclub.org
