New Jersey Resident Receives National Sierra Club Award

SAN FRANCISCO – Sept. 23, 2000 – New Jersey resident Dennis Schvejda was among those receiving national awards from the Sierra Club this year.

Schvejda received a Special Service Award from the organization for his work with the New Jersey Chapter of the Sierra Club.

Schvejda has served as Conservation Chair for the New Jersey Chapter since 1994. During this period, he has worked closely with all 15 members of the New Jersey Congressional delegation and their Washington, D.C., staff members to inform them about environmental issues. He also publishes the Sierra Activist, a chapter newsletter of action alerts and updates on Federal issues, as well as daily index of relevant press clippings gathered from New Jersey-area newspapers.

"Dennis is an exceptional volunteer/leader," said Sunil Somalwar, vice chair of the New Jersey Chapter. Somalwar said Schvejda’s work has inspired Sierra Club members throughout New Jersey to become more active.

"His efforts to keep us informed about what often seems like an endless list of environmental problems and issues and his support of members in their efforts to be more effective as activists is truly inspiring," Somalwar said.

Schvejda, who lives in North Haledon, has previously received several awards for his work from the New Jersey Chapter of the Sierra Club.

The Sierra Club, which was founded in 1892 by John Muir, is the country’s oldest and largest grassroots environmental organization. It currently has more than 600,000 members. For more information on the New Jersey Chapter of the Sierra Club visit their website at http://www.enviroweb.org/njsierra/.