Ex_Comm Highlights

Welcome to ExComm Highlights, a new feature designed to give Southern Sierran readers a glimpse into the the monthly Chapter Executive Committee (ExComm) Meeting.

Overview

What's a Chapter ExComm, you ask? Chapter ExComm is the membership- elected body composed of nine at large members and sixteen representatives from regional groups. Senior Chapter Director Ron Silverman is a non-voting member of the Committee.

At-large members are elected each year for two-year terms, a detail very pertinent this month as we are electing four new members. Once the Chapter election results are tallied, the 25 ExComm members elect a Chair and other officers.

Chapter business is the reason for ExComm and for its meetings. While the agenda varies monthto- month, common items include political endorsements, budget and treasury reports, plans for upcoming trips, outings relations, and the Annual Angeles Chapter Awards Banquet, whose planning committee ExComm forms each year. And of course, we discuss our conservation mission and hear reports, updates, and funding requests from our Conservation Committee.

Recent Meeting Highlights

Poppy Reserve Update

At the September 26 meeting, Antelope Valley Chair Dean Webb apprised those in attendance of the latest development in the struggle between those dedicated to saving the California Poppy Reserve and those who support the building of a racetrack/motorsports development. The proposed development would irrevocably damage the Reserve and neighboring lands. Pollution, light pollution, air pollution, and noise pollution-- caused by the motorsports development would destroy lands immediately to the north of the reserve as well as ruin vistas of flowers on lands outside the preserve. Dean reported that the L.A. County Regional Planning Commission would next October 20.

Fundraising

Sierra Sage Chair Duana Miller presented a check to the Angeles Chapter general fund from Sierra Sage for $2,000, giving special recognition to Mike and Patty Sappingfield, Mary Morales, Russ Brown and Sylvia Stevenson for their help with fundraising trips this summer that gave us the financial means to make the donation

Council of Club Leaders

Attendees of September's National CCL meeting reported that Michael Brune, having assessed Club strategy on climate change, urged us as an organization to be more flexible and open to mechanisms for change. Brune also said we need a message of tough love for President Obama, as his support for things environmental seems to have flagged.