Executive Committee (ExCom) members for the Tuolumne Group of the Sierra Club volunteer their time to enable the group to hold monthly meetings, plan and host public presentations, sponsor outings, publish a newsletter, and promote support for conservation and environmental protection. ExCom members serve for 2-year terms. Interested in volunteering for a seat on our Tuolumne Group Executive Committee? Email our membership chair, Elaine Hagen: elainehagen@att.net to find out more.
2021 Tuolume Group ExCom Members
Jim Bearden Group Chair
jbearden@ieee.org
Jim worked first as a research faculty member of the Cancer Center of
the University of Hawai’i, for 8 years, then as a software developer in
the “Silicon Valley” area of California for 25 years. Since he retired,
about 12 years ago, he’s been living in Calaveras County, next to
Calaveras Big Trees State Park, and doing volunteer work there, which
led to an invitation to join the Board of Directors of the Calaveras Big
Trees Association in 2020. He got involved with the Sierra Club in the
1970s, and has been a lifetime member since 1986. He responded to an invitation to join the Executive Committee of our Sierra Club group in 2016, and has been managing our group’s Web site since that time. He’s also been serving as the Chair of our Committee since 2020, when the previous Chair decided it was time to step down. In addition to these jobs, he’s very interested in working with the newer Executive Committee members who have initiated a Climate Change Committee, and continuing to work with CSERC, the Tuolumne-Stanislaus Inter-Regional Water Management Authority, and Ebbetts Pass Forest Watch, to preserve the vital natural resources of this beautiful area.
Karen Swanson Secretary and Treasurer
tuolumnegroupsecretary@gmail.com
Karen plans our Zoom meetings, take notes and drafts minutes for ExCom approval, maintaining a digital record of the minutes. She is also currently acting as group treasurer. Karen also heads our TGSC Scholarship Committee designating worthy and appropriate students, reading student applications and reviewing transcripts, then collaborating with committee to award scholarships.
John Buckley Founding Member
johnb@cserc.org
John is one of the founding members of the Tuolumne Group and has participated in the local ExCom for over 30 years. John brings extensive experience with local forest, water, and wildlife issues.
Keith Martin Chapter Delegate and Outings Leader
keithwmartin@sbcglobal.net
Keith Martin has been a Sierra Club member since 1989 and a Sierra Club Outings Leader since 1991. Keith has been a licensed Civil and Structural Engineer with his own consulting practice since 1983. He has also been a member of the Los Angeles County Fire Department Urban Search and Rescue Task Force, deploying with the task force to numerous national and international incidents. While living in Los Angeles, Keith was very involved in Angeles Chapter Outings, and has won several outings awards from Angeles Chapter. Since moving to Tuolumne County in 2016 with his wife Beth, who is also a Sierra Club Outings Leader, he has been the Outings Chair for the Tuolumne Group and has participated on numerous Tuolumne Group activities while also maintaining his ties with the Angeles Chapter outings community. Keith enjoys including forest and nature knowledge in his outings and is still the Outings Chair for the Natural Science Section of the Angeles Chapter. Keith has been involved with Tuolumne Group forest health issues, representing the Group on the Yosemite Stanislaus Solutions panel. Keith is a member of the Pine Mountain Lake Safety and Security Committee and the Groveland Area Community Emergency Response Team.
Joe David News Editor and Conservation Chair
jd@daviddesign.com
Joe David assists with communications for our Tuolumne group. He edits our newsletter and helps keep our website up to date. A resident of Tuolumne County since 1980, Joe has owned and operated David Design, a web and print design business in Jamestown since 1990.
Elaine Hagen Membership Chair
elainehagen@att.net
Elaine moved to Tuolumne County in 2014 and loves the beautiful scenery surrounded us. She enjoys traveling, crafting, and kayaking. She’s had several jobs: Mom, Registered Nurse, Certified Childbirth Teacher, Real Estate Public Notary, freelance writer. She’s retired, and for the last 10 years has been a Community Organizer. Elaine and her husband have traveled to National Parks in approximately 42 of the 50 states. She’s active in local and regional politics, working to preserve our environment.
Gisselle Bourns Climate Action Committee
tsclimateaction@gmail.com
Gisselle became the chair of the climate action committee last year, and also volunteers for other local community organizations. She is also a lawyer.
Betty Chase Climate Action Committee
tsclimateaction@gmail.com
As a recent addition to the executive committee, Betty Chase helps to lead our group’s Climate Action team. She is also a docent for Calaveras Big Trees State Park and a volunteer for Citizen’s Climate Lobby and the Business Climate Leaders subcommittee. Before retiring, Betty worked as an employee communications professional for high-tech firms such as Western Digital, Marvell Technology, VMware, HP and others.
Publicity, Political Chair, and Programs Open Positions