Sierra Club, Niagara Group
Minutes of Monthly meeting - October 24, 2006

Daemen College, 4380 Main Street, Scotus Hall, Room 227, Amherst, New York, 7 PM

Jane Jontz, Chair, Presiding

Present: Jane Jontz*, Steve Burns*, Charles Lamb*, Bob Ciesielski*, Larry Beahan*, Richard Lippes*, Paul Maine*, Joe Gardella*, Virginia Snider, Brian Whitney, Bob Sullivan, Kathy Sullivan, Joe Gardella, Jane Sheldon
(*Indicates member of Exec. Committee)

1) MEMBERSHIP REPORT - S. Burns: 2,416 individual members; 2,360 households.

2) TREASURERS REPORT - S. Burns: Niagara Group (c) (4) general account has balance of $2,998.71. Foundation (c) (3) account has estimated $4,500.00 balance. Reimbursement of $978.00 to general account, reimbursement of $1,776.90 to Foundation account.

3) ERIE COUNTY FORESTS - L. Beahan: Larry did an excellent job in organizing a number of speakers and experts to meet with the Erie County legislature's Energy and Environment Committee chaired by Thomas Loughran. Meeting of October 5, 2006 resulted in committee decision to suspend logging in Erie County Forests pending complete SEQRA environmental review of logging and contracts.

4) ATLANTIC CHAPTER EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE - L. Beahan: Discussion of Chapter Executive Committee at large delegate candidates for 2006 election. Hilary Clinton was not endorsed by Chapter.

5) POLITICAL ENDORSEMENTS - J. Gardella: Group votes to endorse Jack Davis for congressional race. Endorsement must still be approved by Chapter and National political committees. Full approval of endorsement for Francine DelMonte. Charles Lamb requests that endorsement letters be sent to Sierra Club members in DelMonte's district. Telephone calls will be made by Group members at Bob Ciesielski's office on Monday, October 30, 2006, at 7 PM. Francine has 94% approval rating in environmental voting. Jim Hayes has requests endorsement for his assembly race against Susan Grelick. Joe is attempting to contact Susan Grelick to see if she is also interested in endorsement.

6) NIAGARA GROUP EXEC. COM. - J. Jontz: Names of possible candidates for Executive Committee discussed. Discussion also had concerning officers and committee heads for 2007. Jane will not be running for re-election as chairperson.

7) MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT - J. Jontz: Joe Gardella will draft, and Richard Lippes will review the memorandum of understanding for use of the wetlands maps created by the Niagara Group. Matter will be reviewed at next Executive Committee meeting of November 28, 2006.

8) STRATEGIC PLANNING FOLLOW-UP - J. Jontz: Goals that were set by the Niagara Group at its April 2005 Strategic Planning meeting at Stella Niagara and accomplishments will be reviewed at the next Executive Committee meeting.

9) GUESTS - Bob Sullivan of the Florida Sierra Club and his sister Kathy Sullivan, former Vice Chair of the Niagara Group, introduced themselves.


Meeting adjourned at 9:00 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Robert M. Ciesielski.