National Sierra Club Suspends Florida Chapter. By Geniusofdespair
Last night, the Sierra National Board of Directors voted to suspend the Florida Chapter for 4 years. First the BOD will take over operations, then a steering committee of Florida volunteers will be put in place. Ick.
By ROBERT P. KING, bob_king@pbpost.com Staff Writer Palm Beach Post Tuesday, March 25, 2008
The Sierra Club's national board voted tonight to remove the leaders of its 35,000-member Florida chapter - an unprecedented step that supporters called necessary to end years of infighting.
The board voted 10-to-2 to suspend the chapter for four years, the first time the 116-year-old environmental group has ever taken such harsh action against one of its state organizations.
The suspension means that an appointed committee will replace the chapter's elected leaders, including a 27-member executive committee. Some of those leaders had been elected as recently as October.
Press secretary David Willett said he believes the suspension takes effect immediately. He didn't know when the club will appoint a committee of Florida members to take over the chapter's leadership.
Supporters of the move have said it was necessary because of years of squabbling within the chapter.
But opponents say the reports of friction are overblown, and that the proposal follows a disturbing trend in which the club's paid staff has sought to supplant the power of its grass-roots volunteers.
(I AGREE WITH THIS LAST PARAGRAPH, HAVE CANCELLED MY MEMBERSHIP AS OF TODAY)
The new volunteers are Lennar Corp. Miguel de Grandy, Michael Lattener, Jorge Perez, Rodney Barretto, Steve Shiver, Prime Homebuilders, Simon Ferro and The Miami Dade Empowerment Trust.
It is a coup. And then they shut down the members email lists...cause you don't want the natives to talk...so much for grassroots...Sierra goes the way of Audubon, corporatized and useless. Just like 1000 Fiends of Florida. Follow the money.
More from the Palm Beach Post - Robert King The board voted 10—2 to suspend the chapter for four years, the first time the 116-year-old environmental group has ever taken such harsh action against one of its state organizations.
The suspension means that an appointed committee will replace the chapter's elected leaders, including a 27-member executive committee. Some of those leaders had been elected as recently as October.
Press Secretary David Willett said he believes the suspension takes effect immediately. He didn't know when the club will appoint a committee of Florida members to take over the chapter's leadership.
Club representatives have said the suspension would not affect the local Sierra groups that carry out the bulk of the organization's conservation and advocacy work. The club's Loxahatchee group, which covers Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie and Okeechobee counties, recently voted to support suspending the chapter.
"I find it good news," said John Koch, chairman of the Loxahatchee group. "We think that during the four years we'll be able to straighten out a great many problems we've had."
But local Sierra Club member Panagioti Tsolkas said the news was disappointing though "not unexpected."
"It's obvious people voted in their own business interests," he said.
Supporters of the suspension had called it necessary because of years of squabbling. The vote followed recent actions by the club to limit the chapter's ability to hire and to enter into contracts, as well as the departure of the chapter's long-time lobbyist in Tallahassee.
Opponents called the claims of internal friction overblown, originating largely from people unhappy about losing in chapter elections.
Meanwhile, supporters of the Florida chapter's existing leadership said the proposed suspension followed a disturbing trend in which the club's paid staff has sought to supplant the power of its grass-roots volunteers. Chapter leaders also have been vocal critics of some Sierra Club national policies including an endorsement deal for "eco-friendly" cleaning products from Clorox.
Many past and present chapter leaders have declined to speak publicly about the dispute, with some saying they fear punishment from the national organization. In a recent letter, the club instructed leaders not to "seek public media coverage of this internal board decision."
Fussing among members? Don't they understand that is how we think aloud down here? It is group think.
Well, okay, that is fine. Will all the really good actvitists please meet me next to the last big Tree left? We can take our money and spend it on flyers at Kinkos and get back to the basics.
Sometimes when a group of concerned citizens come together, the early years are flush with successes due to what is percieved as the nobility of the cause.
However,it seems that as the organization grows, so do the struggles for some percieved power and the organization becomes less about the cause and more about "who" is controling the message.
8 comments:
Ummm . . .
Why?
Florida Sierra chapter suspended for 4 years
By ROBERT P. KING, bob_king@pbpost.com
Staff Writer
Palm Beach Post
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
The Sierra Club's national board voted tonight to remove the leaders of its 35,000-member Florida chapter - an unprecedented step that supporters called necessary to end years of infighting.
The board voted 10-to-2 to suspend the chapter for four years, the first time the 116-year-old environmental group has ever taken such harsh action against one of its state organizations.
The suspension means that an appointed committee will replace the chapter's
elected leaders, including a 27-member executive committee. Some of those leaders had been elected as recently as October.
Press secretary David Willett said he believes the suspension takes effect immediately. He didn't know when the club will appoint a committee of
Florida members to take over the chapter's leadership.
Supporters of the move have said it was necessary because of years of squabbling within the chapter.
But opponents say the reports of friction are
overblown, and that the proposal follows a disturbing trend in which the club's paid staff has sought to supplant the power of its grass-roots volunteers.
(I AGREE WITH THIS LAST PARAGRAPH, HAVE CANCELLED MY MEMBERSHIP AS OF TODAY)
The new volunteers are Lennar Corp. Miguel de Grandy, Michael Lattener, Jorge Perez, Rodney Barretto, Steve Shiver, Prime Homebuilders, Simon Ferro and The Miami Dade Empowerment Trust.
It is a coup. And then they shut down the members email lists...cause you don't want the natives to talk...so much for grassroots...Sierra goes the way of Audubon, corporatized and useless. Just like 1000 Fiends of Florida. Follow the money.
More from the Palm Beach Post - Robert King
The board voted 10—2 to suspend the chapter for four years, the first time the 116-year-old environmental group has ever taken such harsh action against one of its state organizations.
The suspension means that an appointed committee will replace the chapter's elected leaders, including a 27-member executive committee. Some of those leaders had been elected as recently as October.
Press Secretary David Willett said he believes the suspension takes effect immediately. He didn't know when the club will appoint a committee of Florida members to take over the chapter's leadership.
Club representatives have said the suspension would not affect the local Sierra groups that carry out the bulk of the organization's conservation and advocacy work. The club's Loxahatchee group, which covers Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie and Okeechobee counties, recently voted to support suspending the chapter.
"I find it good news," said John Koch, chairman of the Loxahatchee group. "We think that during the four years we'll be able to straighten out a great many problems we've had."
But local Sierra Club member Panagioti Tsolkas said the news was disappointing though "not unexpected."
"It's obvious people voted in their own business interests," he said.
Supporters of the suspension had called it necessary because of years of squabbling. The vote followed recent actions by the club to limit the chapter's ability to hire and to enter into contracts, as well as the departure of the chapter's long-time lobbyist in Tallahassee.
Opponents called the claims of internal friction overblown, originating largely from people unhappy about losing in chapter elections.
Meanwhile, supporters of the Florida chapter's existing leadership said the proposed suspension followed a disturbing trend in which the club's paid staff has sought to supplant the power of its grass-roots volunteers. Chapter leaders also have been vocal critics of some Sierra Club national policies including an endorsement deal for "eco-friendly" cleaning products from Clorox.
Many past and present chapter leaders have declined to speak publicly about the dispute, with some saying they fear punishment from the national organization. In a recent letter, the club instructed leaders not to "seek public media coverage of this internal board decision."
Fussing among members? Don't they understand that is how we think aloud down here? It is group think.
Well, okay, that is fine. Will all the really good actvitists please meet me next to the last big Tree left? We can take our money and spend it on flyers at Kinkos and get back to the basics.
Sometimes when a group of concerned citizens come together, the early years are flush with successes due to what is percieved as the nobility of the cause.
However,it seems that as the organization grows, so do the struggles for some percieved power and the organization becomes less about the cause and more about "who" is controling the message.
where are you going to get the paper for those flyers?
m
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