Members, thanks for giving. It's just what we need!

For 100 years, Angeles Chapter members have been fighting for a better environment. Over the last century, you have helped bring cleaner skies to our communities, preserve open space, create new parks, improve environmental justice and expand public transit in Los Angeles and Orange counties.

You help fight climate change and reduce our dependency on foreign oil. You have advanced our appreciation of environmental issues. You have had a hand in the tens of thousands of hikes and outings from easy city walks to backpacking trips in the mountains. You have taken thousands of inner city youth on their first wilderness experience.

What have you done for us lately? The Chapter received gifts from members in unprecedented numbers who heeded the call for our 1000 at $100 campaign, who donated an old car for our benefit, who have made a contribution on a recent hike, who regularly make an annual donation because they know it takes more than grass-roots activism to protect the planet.

For all of this, we say thanks.

Thanks too to our volunteers without whom we would have no backbone to carry out the environmental vision laid down by John Muir a century ago.

We know too you are givers who make a difference in the community and in the world. With the holidays in mind, here are some ideas on how to keep giving – without consuming — and making a difference.

• Give a Sierra Club gift membership for the holidays. Having a robust and relevant membership is what we’re all about!

• Join the 1000 at $100 campaign to help us reach our donor goal by giving a one-time or monthly gift of $100 or more. Also, check out our appreciation page for the names of those who have already contributed.

• Donate a car or send a tribute card this holiday season.

• Volunteer to help this year. We have lots of places where your efforts make the difference.

• Do something! The Chapter leads an amazing all-night holiday hike starting at 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 22 to visit L.A.'s Skid Row and dispense socks, clothing and blankets.

• Do something social! Harwood Lodge at the foot of Mt. Baldy will be open for two weeks over the holiday season. Come and join in the merriment
and recruit others to join the Club. At $12 a night, it’s a bargain – and a wonderful place to relax.

• Do something more! Make a planned or matching donation to the Chapter that matches the size of your commitment to the environment.

For more information on any of these gift ideas, call us at (213) 387-4287. With all of this, we’ll be off to a
great start in 2013.

Photo: Turkey. Credit: Tom Politeo