page 2 • San Diego Chapter • May/June 2003 • Hi Sierran A A DDRESS DDRESS CORRECTION CORRECTION ? Send your current mailing label and your correct address to: Sierra Club PO Box 52968 Boulder, Colorado 80322-2968 Or e-mail your mem- bership number and your correct address to: address.changes@ sfsierra.sierraclub.org Please allow 4 - 6 weeks for processing. HI SIERRAN, MA Y /JUNE 2003 USPS–896140 The Hi Sierran (USPS 896140) is pub- lished bi-monthly by the San Diego Chapter of the Sierra Club, 3820 Ray St., San Diego, CA 92104–3623, for memb ers in San Diego and Imperial counties. One dollar of the annual membership fee is for a subscription to the Hi Sierran. Periodicals Postage Paid at San Diego, CA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Hi Sierran, Sierra Club Members Services, PO Box 52968, Boulder CO 80322–2968. HISIERRANSTAFF EDITOR& Art Director Sergio Salvador, 619-993-8465 HiSierranEditor@... COM. CHAIR /OUTINGSEDITOR Pauline Jimenez 619-660-9898 HiSierranOutingsEditor@... CONSERVATIONEDITOR Ellen Shively, 619-479-3412 HiSierranConservationEditor@... ACTIVITIESEDITOR Shelley Warn ick, 858- 695-3552 HiSierranActivitiesEditor@... ADVERTISING Sergio Salvador, 619-993-8465 HiSierranAdvertising@... The suffix for all above e-mails is: @sierraclubsandiego.org Several Club members were sitting in the Chapter offices deliberating upon how to raise money for the Chapter. Someone men- tioned they were going out that night to buy Arianna Huffington’s new book, and wouldn’t she make a great speaker? The idea intrigued me enough to do a little resear ch and leave some messages. Sure enough the credibility of the Sierra Club resulted in a prompt and enthusiastic r eply . Ms. Huffington, it turns out, is a hot commodity on the lectu re circuit. A standard speaking engage- ment lasts 45 minutes to an hour and can include a question and answer period. The cost, I asked? $15,000 , plus 1st-class travel. I’m sure he heard my gasp on the other end. I politely informed them that we could not afford su ch a sum, and thought that the end of the project. Not so. Ms. Huf fington has taken a liking to the Sierra Club, and would be willing to appear at our fundraising event for only $7,500 plus travel. She would also be willing to attend a pre/post reception and do a book signing. Upon reporting my findings to mem- bers, many felt it could be a great opportunity, ifwe cou ld somehow find the $7,500. Someone suggested I write an article asking if there is enough interest to explore the possibility of bring- ing Arianna to San Diego, or (even better) might there be someone willing to help underwrite the costs? S o I write. For those of you unfamiliar with Arianna Huffington, she has become a new voice for the environment through her syndicated VIEW FROM THE CHAIR by Richard Miller, Chapter Chair HS columns in such papers as the Los Angeles Times, New York Daily News and Boston Herald. She might be best known for suggesting that by owning an SUV, soccer moms are supporting terrorism! Huffington’s assertion that SUVs support terrorism led her to start “The Detroit Project,” a grass- roots campaign to change the driving habits ofAmericans by asking them to broaden their horizons and consider the effects their gas-guzzling SUVs are having not just on the environment, but on foreign policy. Donations poured in, helping the campaign to launch several TV ads bringing worldwide attention. In September 2002, the Sierra Magazine fea- tured a commentary by Huffington entitled “What Are They Thinking In Washington?” In the article Arianna states it’s the oil, coal, and gas lobby that’s doing the thinking; that they’ve taken over both long-term policy and day-to-day environmental decisions. The result is that President Bush and his administration support massive regulatory rollbacks resulting in juicy profits for industry fat cats. Huffington has just released her new book"Pigs at the Trough: How Corporate Greed and Political Corruption ar e Undermining A merica.” It's a blistering, wickedly witty portrait of exactly how and why the worst and the greediest are running American business and government into the ground. This is not the first time Huffington has critically looked at the workings of government. Her previous book, “How To Overthrow the Government,” was released in 2002 and focused on the corruption of our political system and need for reform. To comment, donate funds, or help to explore the possibility of bring in guest speakers to help the Chapter raise funds, give Richard a call at 619-299-1743 or 619-291-3061. * BEQUESTS: Make a gift to support the envi- ronmental work of future generations in your will or living trust. Sample bequest language is available. * RETIREMENT PLAN ASSETS: Use your tax deferred retirement plan assets to benefit the environment. * LIFEINCOME GIFTS: Transfer assets t o The Sierra Club Foundation and you and your THERE ARE A V ARI ETY OF WAYS TO MAKE A LASTING CONTR IBUTIONTOWA RD A B ET TER WORLD AND ENS URE THE ENVI RONMENT IS PROTECTED FOR GENER AT IONS TO COME . BELOW IS A SUMMAR Y OF THE V ARI OUS WAYS YOU CAN MAK E A FINANCIAL COMMIT MENT TO THE SANDIEGO CHAPTER FROM YOUR WILL , LIVING TRUST, OR OTHER EST AT E PLANS TO PROTEC T OUR ENVIRONME NT. Will it to Happen! chosen beneficiary receive income for a term of years or for life. After the conclusion ofthe term, the remainder of the life income gift is distributed to The Foundation. * RACHEL CARSON SOCIETY: We honor and recognize individuals who make a commit- ment to the environment by including the Sierra Club or The Sierra Club Foundation in their estate plans. We welcome the opportunity to show you the potential benefits of making a gift to support our work. Personal discussions, visits, or written presentations incur no obligation on your part, and of course, all information discussed is confidential. For a confidential discussion of these options to support the Sierra Club legacy in San Diego, call Martha Coffman at 619-299-1741. PLANNEDGIVINGOPTIONS ARIANNA HUFFINGTON TO SPEAK ATSANDIEGO CHAPTER?
