All Chapter members are eligible to vote for the Chapter Executive Committee.  Additionally you may be eligible to vote in the Group elections if you live in one of the listed cities or zip codes.

If you live in one of these cities or zip codes, please vote using the North County Group ballot!

Bonsall, Escondido, Fallbrook, Oceanside zip code 92058, Pala, Palomar Mtn., Pauma Valley, Poway, Ramona, San Diego zip codes 92127, 92128 & 92198, San Marcos, Santa Ysabel, Vista, and Valley Center.

If you live in these cities or zip codes, please vote using the North County Coastal (Coasters) Group  ballot!

Cardiff, Carlsbad, Del Mar, Encinitas, Oceanside zip codes 92052, 92054, 92056 & 92057, Rancho Santa Fe, and Solana Beach.

The Chapter Executive Committee is composed of seven elected volunteers and an appointed representative from each Chapter Group.  The Chapter Executive Committee has the legal responsibility and authority to oversee all staff and volunteer activities of the Chapter, to establish the Chapter’s conservation priorities and internal policies, and to adopt and implement the annual budget.

The Group Executive Committees govern the business of the Group. They are the key committee responsible for making important policy decisions and setting priorities for the future in their region.

Executive Committee members receive no monetary compensation but may be reimbursed for approved expenses while on Chapter/Group business. 

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Chapter Executive Committee Candidates

Two (2) Chapter Executive Committee members will be elected. The two candidates receiving the highest vote will be elected to three-year terms,

Rochelle Hancock
Rochelle HancockExecutive Committee Member, Chapter Treasurer
Thirty-plus years ago, I learned about the Sierra Club, and knew I wanted to be part of this organization. I’ve been a member for over half my life, and I currently serve on the San Diego Chapter Executive Committee, in the role of Treasurer. I also currently serve on the Executive Committee of the North County Group, in the role of Treasurer. As a child, I learned to love nature spending summers at our cabin in the Colorado mountains. As an adult, I have come to realize that this special world should not be taken for granted. Our planet needs our appreciation, our respect and most of all, our protection from those who would harm and exploit its incredible resources. The Sierra Club is a powerful force and voice in the world. It’s size, resources and organizational abilities enable it to address environmental issues on every level, from local to national. I can think of no other organization I would rather be involved in, and so I am running to continue to serve on the San Diego Chapter Executive Committee.

My professional background is in finance, specifically banking and research grant administration for the University of California and San Diego State University. I live in Ramona with my husband, two horses, three goats, two dogs, two cats, and a turtle.

Pam Heatherington
Pam Heatherington
I was raised in San Diego when Mission Bay looked more like Morro Bay. After graduating with a degree in philosophy from California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo CA. I put my degree to work in connecting the health of the environment to the health of people. My career in medical administration spanned 25 years.

Throughout my life I have volunteered time and commitment to various environmental and health related organizations. Having served on the San Luis Obispo County Health Commission for over a decade I received recognition from the County Board of Supervisors for my environmental and health related efforts. Through my service on the Commission I served on the SLO County Domestic Violence Task Force and the Commission’s Pesticide Use Task Force.

My husband John and I are 30-year members of the Sierra Club. My volunteer energy was directed towards chairing the Santa Lucia Chapter Conservation Committee and as a member of the National Toxics Committee. In addition, I served as treasurer for the San Luis Bay Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation, as a commissioner on the Atascadero Planning Commission, a founding partner of the Marine Interest Group out of Morro Bay CA, and as a founding member of the Organization for Regional Coastal Activist (ORCA) among other activities.

North County Group Executive Committee Candidates

Four (4) Executive Committee members will be elected for terms of two years.

Alan Geraci
Alan GeraciExecutive Committee Member
I grew up on Long Island, New York, graduating cum laude from State University of New York at Albany in 1978, with a B.A. in Sociology. After moving to San Diego, I went to law school, graduating in 1982 from California Western School of Law, serving as the Head Notes and Comments Editor of the law school’s Law Journal. I was also awarded California Western School of Law 1981 Faculty Award for Consumer Protection Law. After graduating from law school, I was employed as Deputy City Attorney for the City of San Diego for five years, holding posts as a Supervising Trial and Appellate Attorney and Civil Litigation Counsel, where I fought developers for open space in the City of San Diego, including the Mission Trails Regional Park.

I am a life member of Sierra Club and believe in its mission and I am active in the local chapter, serving as the North County Group ExCom as its Vice Chair and I am on the Executive Committee for both the North County Group and the San Diego Chapter as well as serving on the Legal Committee.

I remain in private practice, operating as CARE Law Group PC, now focusing my practice on Estate Planning and offering a pro-active alternative to the destructive nature of probate and litigation. In addition to membership to the California State Bar, I hold a real estate broker’s license. I am Past President of the San Marcos Rotary Club, Past President of San Marcos Democratic Club, former Executive Board member of San Marcos Youth Baseball, and a past delegate to the California Democratic Party. I am currently running for a City Council seat in San Marcos.

Phil Lauder
Phil Lauder
Thirty-plus years ago, I learned about the Sierra Club, and knew I wanted to be part of this organization. I’ve been a member for over half my life, and I currently serve on the San Diego Chapter Executive Committee, in the role of Secretary and interim Treasurer. I also currently serve on the Executive Committee of the North County Group, in the role of Treasurer. As a child, I learned to love nature spending summers at our cabin in the Colorado mountains. As an adult, I have come to realize that this special world should not be taken for granted. Our planet needs our appreciation, our respect and most of all, our protection from those who would harm and exploit its incredible resources. The Sierra Club is a powerful force and voice in the world. It’s size, resources and organizational abilities enable it to address environmental issues on every level, from local to national. I can think of no other organization I would rather be involved in, and so I am running to continue to serve on the NCG Executive Committee.

My professional background is in finance, specifically banking and research grant administration for the University of California and San Diego State University. I live in Ramona with my husband, two horses, three goats, two dogs, two cats, and a turtle.

Joy Frew
Joy Frew
Residence: Fallbrook
Occupation: Retired
Sierra Club member since: 2003
Contact: joyfrew at gmail dot com

I’ve been a volunteer for environmental causes for decades. The need for effective climate action, land use and public transit are several of the issues I have been working.

I grew up near Lake Erie where I hiked with my parents along Grand River in Lake County. I worked in Washington State for years where I was an early advocate for solar energy and volunteered with concerned citizens that promoted sustainable land use. After retiring and returning to California, I co-founded the all volunteer, nonpartisan Fallbrook Climate Action Team (FCAT). I am an active member and supporter of the Fallbrook Land Conservancy and their Save our Forest group.

FCAT educates the public on climate change and potential mitigations. FCAT has put on 93 free public presentations with invited experts. FCAT attends government meetings, commenting on policies that affect climate, including the importance of transit and Community Choice Energy. I am a voting member of the California Democratic Party Environmental Caucus.

If elected to the Executive Committee, I will continue the important work of delivering a sustainable future for all.

Thank you for considering my candidacy.

Joy

Paige DeCino
Paige DeCino
For the last 8 years I have been working with the local Carlsbad Sierra Club team to promote clean energy in our area. We helped educate our residents of the benefits of community choice energy and generated hundreds of letters of support for what is now the Clean Energy Alliance. I serve on its Community Advisory Committee. Our team is currently working to promote building electrification, better transportation and mobility choices and improving our Climate Action Plan.

On the conservation front, I manage Preserve Calavera’s water quality monitoring program covering Carlsbad’s watersheds with a team of about 20 volunteers. We do standard chemical, physical and biological analysis of the water and have expanded to test for eDNA and microfibers. I also work on wildlife movement surveys, grunion monitoring, and whatever other citizen science projects crop up. In 2016 I co-founded the only California Naturalist certification class in San Diego county. We just graduated our 7th group of naturalists.

I am up for reelection to the Coaster’s Executive Committee and seek your vote.

North County Coastal (Coasters) Group Candidates

Three (3) Executive Committee members will be elected to two-year terms.

Sally Prendergast
Sally Prendergast
Residence – Encinitas

Background – Strategic Marketing/Management. Environmental Advocate. Current Chair of The Sierra Club North County Coastal Group and Board Member of the Sierra Club San Diego Chapter Executive Committee

I have been a member of the Sierra club since 1997 but really became active in the North County Coastal Group, about 10 years ago when I volunteered for the interim Planning Committee. In 2016 we officially re-launched the North County Coasters Group and I was elected for a two year term to serve on the Executive Committee Board. Since then I have continue to serve as Chair of the Coasters ExCom, as well as a voting Board Member of the Sierra Club San Diego Chapter ExCom. Over the last 8 years our ExCom has spent our time focused on endorsements for political candidates, conservation and development issues, and working with environmental partners on a variety of activities from reducing single use plastics to supporting legislation to prevent our open spaces from thoughtless sprawl and being lost forever. This past year I have acted as a representative for our Chapter on a State-wide task force focused on the 30 x30 initiative (Preserve 30% of our natural lands and resources by 2030). We have also hosted quarterly meetings that have featured speakers on a variety of topics from sea level rise to lagoon restoration. My entire life I have enjoyed and appreciated nature and have been an outdoor enthusiast. I feel deeply connected to our beautiful North County environment and I am passionate about it’s preservation. In particular, I am concerned with issues relating to climate change, preserving open spaces and conser-vation. Now more than ever I believe it is critical that The North County Coastal Group stays focused on the goal of building a vibrant and active group dedicated to preserving our beautiful North County region, growing our membership and connecting people to the outdoors.

After earning an MBA from Northwestern I worked in the entertainment business where I held a number of strategic marketing and management positions. When we moved to Encinitas I turned my attention to our children and became an avid volunteer in the school district, serving as PTA President and a holding several foundation positions. I have continued to work as a marketing consultant. Over the years I have been involved with a number of local issues related to development, traffic and conservation and feel grateful to have the opportunity to direct my strategic marketing and management skills to work on behalf of the environment for the Sierra Club.

Mark Jenne
Mark Jenne
In 1981 the Sierra Club caught my eye as the best way to work against the anti-environmental bias of the Reagan administration, and I’ve been a member ever since. During that time the ability of local groups to affect issues that impact our daily lives has become clear. Along those lines, I’d like to see the North County Coastal Group help preserve the functional, natural beauty of our large and small wild areas and help people find ways to experience nature regularly. We also need to do our part to save the planet starting at the local level, both by direct action and by electing responsible people to public office.

I’m currently on the Coaster executive committee, serving as secretary. I’m also a volunteer naturalist/docent for the Nature Collective, a Certified California Naturalist, Secretary for the San Diego Mycological Society, and a member of the City of Encinitas Urban Forest Advisory Committee. I enjoy learning about the great variety of life that dwells in and passes through this area, and look forward to
working with you all to make our Sierra Club fun and effective!

John Eldon
John Eldon
While growing up in burning, choking west Los Angeles smog, I developed a keen interest in air pollution, and when I entered UCLA this quickly led me to Project Clean Air. My love of bicycling simultaneously led me to become active in UCLA’s Earth Action Council, which advocated bicycling for transportation. A few years later, the groundbreaking and interdisciplinary Doctor of Environmental Science and Engineering program was established, and in 1978 I became one of the early recipients of the D.Env. degree, while researching mathematical modeling of photochemical smog formation at Technology Service Corporation.
My career subsequently took a different turn, when I began designing integrated circuits to perform real time signal processing using some of the same tools I have used and developed in data science. I never lost a passion for environmental protection, and I served on the Encinitas Environmental Commission for 12 years, and I taught several sessions of a civil engineering course on air and water pollution at UCSD Extension. My current environmental interests include lifecycle accounting of consumer goods, including waste reduction and resource reclamation, as well as climate change, because I understand the science and math behind the models and projections and the technology used in data collection. Just as my doctoral thesis suggested ways of optimizing smog precursor emission strategies, I am likewise interested in realistic and cost-effective strategies that deliver a win-win for the environment, the economy, and human quality of life.
Michael Holland
Michael Holland
Michael Holland: Ph.D. physics, worked in renewable energy research for years, active in the Sierra Club, Surfrider, The Climate Reality Project, Mission Blue and the Citizens Climate Lobby. I am committed to climate and environmental protection efforts. I also enjoy many outdoor activities, including biking, hiking, walking, visiting national parks, state parks and foreign countries. I took a Sierra Club hiking trip for seniors to the Black Range Wilderness area of New Mexico and would like to see many other similar opportunities offered by the SC to seniors like me. I believe that I might be able to contribute a unique perspective to the ExCom and would welcome an opportunity to serve on the board. I am also available to support other activities.
Alan Geraci
Alan GeraciExecutive Committee Member
I grew up on Long Island, New York, graduating cum laude from State University of New York at Albany in 1978, with a B.A. in Sociology. After moving to San Diego, I went to law school, graduating in 1982 from California Western School of Law, serving as the Head Notes and Comments Editor of the law school’s Law Journal. I was also awarded California Western School of Law 1981 Faculty Award for Consumer Protection Law. After graduating from law school, I was employed as Deputy City Attorney for the City of San Diego for five years, holding posts as a Supervising Trial and Appellate Attorney and Civil Litigation Counsel, where I fought developers for open space in the City of San Diego, including the Mission Trails Regional Park.

I am a life member of Sierra Club and believe in its mission and I am active in the local chapter, serving as the North County Group ExCom as its Vice Chair and I am on the Executive Committee for both the North County Group and the San Diego Chapter as well as serving on the Legal Committee.

I remain in private practice, operating as CARE Law Group PC, now focusing my practice on Estate Planning and offering a pro-active alternative to the destructive nature of probate and litigation. In addition to membership to the California State Bar, I hold a real estate broker’s license. I am Past President of the San Marcos Rotary Club, Past President of San Marcos Democratic Club, former Executive Board member of San Marcos Youth Baseball, and a past delegate to the California Democratic Party. I am currently running for a City Council seat in San Marcos.

Phil Lauder
Phil Lauder
Thirty-plus years ago, I learned about the Sierra Club, and knew I wanted to be part of this organization. I’ve been a member for over half my life, and I currently serve on the San Diego Chapter Executive Committee, in the role of Secretary and interim Treasurer. I also currently serve on the Executive Committee of the North County Group, in the role of Treasurer. As a child, I learned to love nature spending summers at our cabin in the Colorado mountains. As an adult, I have come to realize that this special world should not be taken for granted. Our planet needs our appreciation, our respect and most of all, our protection from those who would harm and exploit its incredible resources. The Sierra Club is a powerful force and voice in the world. It’s size, resources and organizational abilities enable it to address environmental issues on every level, from local to national. I can think of no other organization I would rather be involved in, and so I am running to continue to serve on the NCG Executive Committee.

My professional background is in finance, specifically banking and research grant administration for the University of California and San Diego State University. I live in Ramona with my husband, two horses, three goats, two dogs, two cats, and a turtle.

Joy Frew
Joy Frew
Residence: Fallbrook
Occupation: Retired
Sierra Club member since: 2003
Contact: joyfrew at gmail dot com

I’ve been a volunteer for environmental causes for decades. The need for effective climate action, land use and public transit are several of the issues I have been working.

I grew up near Lake Erie where I hiked with my parents along Grand River in Lake County. I worked in Washington State for years where I was an early advocate for solar energy and volunteered with concerned citizens that promoted sustainable land use. After retiring and returning to California, I co-founded the all volunteer, nonpartisan Fallbrook Climate Action Team (FCAT). I am an active member and supporter of the Fallbrook Land Conservancy and their Save our Forest group.

FCAT educates the public on climate change and potential mitigations. FCAT has put on 93 free public presentations with invited experts. FCAT attends government meetings, commenting on policies that affect climate, including the importance of transit and Community Choice Energy. I am a voting member of the California Democratic Party Environmental Caucus.

If elected to the Executive Committee, I will continue the important work of delivering a sustainable future for all.

Thank you for considering my candidacy.

Joy