The Loma Prietan
July/August 2003
New Conservation Representative Hired
by Terry Andre
The Chapter is very privileged to announce that in mid-July, Melissa Hippard will join us as our new Conservation Representative. Her position will be focused on public education, organizing, and advocacy on our priority campaigns. This new position was created in response to changes in Chapter finances, requiring the elimination of the Chapter Director position.
Because we were fortunate in having a pool of more than 70 extremely qualified applicants from which to select, the final decision proved to be tough. Melissa brings outstanding experience to this position.
Melissa is returning to California (she is a Bay Area native) from graduate work focused on understanding the relationship between community involvement and the bureaucratic structure in which environmental policy is made. Most recently, at the University of Wyoming, she taught sociology courses which emphasized social justice, critical thinking, and active participation. Melissa will complete a Ph.D. in Environmental Sociology this year.
She has experience in land use management, air/water quality, habitat and endangered species protection, environmental policy making, and grassroots activism, and joins us with over 15 years of experience in community organizing and nonprofit administration with social justice and environmental organizations.
Some may know her work on our Coastside, including three years as Associate Director of Save Our Shores, the regional ocean conservation organization. (Ollie Mayer has corresponded with her on several Coastside issues.) Melissa was also a board member of the Coastal Watershed Council and worked with many other grassroots organizations.
She has done extensive research in an area that the Loma Prieta Chapter will be facing more and more: the co-management of natural resources as our parks and forests face increasing and new levels of pressure to develop in perimeter areas.
As the Conservation Representative, Melissa will work closely with the Conservation Committee to:
- develop and implement conservation campaign strategies;
- recruit and motivate new volunteers;
- make presentations to community, political, and governmental bodies;
- write press releases, newsletters, flyers, and other communications;
- advocate Sierra Club positions on relevant proposed legislation;
- inform and communicate with elected officials, business leaders, governmental agencies, other non-profit organizations, and media representatives;
- coordinate efforts with the National Sierra Club headquarters staff; and
- provide guidance and functional supervision of staff in assigned program areas.
We will be keeping Melissa busy for her first couple of weeks, but in August, plan to come by the office to say hello.