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The fight to protect giant sequoia trees in California was not an easy one for Carla
Cloer, a small-town school teacher whose fellow residents did not share her passion. She
was called names in letters to the editor and chewed out on the street. But in April, when
President Clinton designated the Giant Sequoia National Monument, Cloer was close at hand
with tears welling in her eyes.
Cloer was among those who were honored at the annual Sierra Club awards ceremony on
Sept. 23 in San Francisco. She received the John Muir Award - the highest honor the Club
gives to volunteer activists.
"If it were not for the work Carla has done during the past 20 years, it is
doubtful that we would have a Giant Sequoia National Monument today," said Sierra
Club President Robbie Cox.
New York Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D) received the Edgar Wayburn Award, which honors
service to the environment by a person in government. Hinchey has represented New York's
26th Congressional District since 1993. Since his first term in Congress he has championed
the Utah wilderness bill, now known as "America's Redrock Wilderness Act," and
has persuaded numerous lawmakers to support it as well.
Washington Post reporter Michael Grunwald received the David R. Brower Award for
environmental journalism for his series of investigative reports on the Army Corps of
Engineers. His articles exposing the Corps' manipulation of data to justify destructive
water projects - like new locks on the Mississippi River - have sparked congressional
investigations, a National Academy of Sciences investigation, a Defense Department
investigation, congressional hearings and nationwide calls for independent review of
proposed and existing Corps water projects.
The Joseph Barbosa Earth Fund Award, which honors persons under age 30 who have
demonstrated a commitment to the environment, was given to Chicago resident Patrick
Murphy, a founder and co-chair of the Sierra Club Illinois Chapter's Utah Wilderness Task
Force. Murphy also serves as national conservation director for the Sierra Student
Coalition, the student arm of the Sierra Club. The award included a $2,000 prize from the
Joseph Barbosa Earth Fund that will be divided between the Sierra Student Coalition and
the National Utah Wilderness Task Force to help further Murphy's work with those
organizations.
Other Sierra Club awards for 2000 include the following:
The Ansel Adams Award (for conservation photography):
Clyde Butcher of Ochopee, Fla.
The William O. Douglas Award (for contributions in the
field of environmental law): Eric Huber of New Orleans, La.
The Raymond J. Sherwin International Award (for
international conservation): Beth Clark of the Antarctica Project.
The Chico Mendes Award (recognizes individuals or
non-governmental organizations outside the United States who have exhibited extraordinary
courage and leadership in the struggle to protect the environment): Mexican anti-logging
activist Rodolfo Montiel Flores.
The EarthCare Award (honors an individual, organization
or agency that has made a unique contribution to international environmental protection
and conservation): The Bellona Foundation of Norway.
The William E. Colby Award (for outstanding leadership,
dedication and service to the Sierra Club): Marjorie Sill of Reno, Nev.
The Walter A. Starr Award (for continuing support of
the Club by a former director): Shirley Taylor of Los Gatos, Calif.
The Oliver Kehrlein Award (for outstanding service to
the Club's Outings program): Carol Vellutini of Santa Rosa, Calif.
Susan E. Miller Award (for outstanding service to
Sierra Club chapters): Robin and Lori Ives of Claremont, Calif.
One Club Award (recognizes people who use outings as a
way to instill an interest in conservation and protecting public lands): Camille Armstrong
of San Diego, Calif.
Denny and Ida Wilcher Award (for excellence in
fundraising and/or membership development): the Central Florida Group, the Santa Fe Group
and the Poudre Canyon (Colorado) Group.
Special Achievement Award (recognizes a single act of
importance dedicated to conservation): Harold Wood of Visalia, Calif., and the Rio Grande
(New Mexico) Chapter.
Special Service Awards (for strong and consistent
commitment to conservation over an extended period of time): George Barnes of Palo Alto,
Calif.; Peter Belmont of St. Petersburg, Fla.; Jan Swenson, Gerhard Raedeke and Diane
Warner of Bismark, N.D.; the Santa Monica Mountains Task Force (Angeles Chapter) and
Dennis Schvejda of North Haledon, N.J.
Electronic Communication Award (for best Sierra Club
Web page): Charlotte Gardner (Georgia Chapter and Savannah River Group).
Newsletter Award The Chesapeake (Maryland Chapter) and
The Del-aware Sierran (Delaware Chapter).
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