cover image One for the Earth: Journal of a Sierra Club President

One for the Earth: Journal of a Sierra Club President

Susan Merrow, Wanda Rickerby. Sagamore Publishing, $19.95 (244pp) ISBN 978-0-915611-52-2

Heading a large, politically active, contentious organizaton is as arduous as running in a Presidential primary, found Merrow, who feels that as president of the Sierra Club from May 1990 to May 1991, she gave a year of her life to the Earth. In her journal, revised with freelancer Rickerby, she gives a behind-the-scenes view of the Club's work--lobbying, policymaking, publicity, fretting about funding--while tracking world events during her tenure as well. Commuting from her home in Connecticut to the Club's offices in San Francisco, Merrow gave countless interviews, made TV appearances, attended economic summits and met with members of Congress. In telling how she dealt with frustrating internal affairs, a dispute with the Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund and conferences abroad, Merrow offers an inspiring account of leadership even as the Gulf war and other environmental disasters made her tenure a troubled year for the planet. Photos not seen by PW. Author tour. (July)