OF THE
NORCAL ENVIRONMENTAL STUDENT NETWORK
During the fall of 1996, the Sharing Our Globe program was awarded a grant by the California Department of Education - Office of Environmental Education. A condition of that grant award, required the establishment of an inter - high school environmental club organization.
Initial establishment of this organization began as part of the Sierra Student Coalition (SSC) of the Sierra Club, since they had sent organizers to the 1996 Sharing Our Globe. In February of 1997 a group of Sharing Our Globe alumni, leaders of the Napa SSC, Marc Epstein (Executive Director of the Secondary Environmental and Science Educators Institute), and Pam Martin (California Region 6 Environmental Education Coordinator) met in Dixon, CA to establish the Northern California Council of the Sierra Student Coalition. This Council was to serve the six Sierra Club Chapters within the Northern California Regional Conservation Council.
During the summer of 1997 five of the six chapters approved the preliminary application for official recognition. The sixth (Mother Lode Chapter) rejected the application due to the affiliation with the Sharing Our Globe program. As a result of this rejection a decision was made at the 1997 Sharing Our Globe to form an organization as a division of the Secondary Environmental and Science Educators Institute.
On March 1, 1998, the Norcal Environmental Student Network was formally established at the Marin Headlands Youth Hostel, Sausalito, CA. At this meeting a set of By-Laws were adopted and a provisional Leadership Council elected. On April 17, 1999 the first formally elected Leadership Council was installed.
With the transition from affiliation with the Sierra Club to the Secondary Environmental and Science Educators Institute, the Norcal Environmental Student Network began to concentrate on environmental education opportunities as set forth by the California Office of Environmental Education. These opportunities were provided through environmental service projects, informal education programs, and outdoor recreation.
During the summer of 2000 the Leadership Council made the decision to seek tax exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service. In October, 2000 a revised set of By-Laws were adopted setting up a Board of Directors, enabling an application to be submitted to the IRS in December. The application for tax exempt status was approved by the IRS in May of 2001.
Executive Director, Secondary Environmental and Science Educators Institute
Marc H. Epstein
Legal Cousel, Secondary Environmental and Science Educators Institute
Ellen Dove
Elected Student Leadership Council Representative
Rosamaria Cervantes, Ukiah High School, Ukiah - Class of 2003
High School Club Advisor Representative
Dennis Dowling, Advisor - MBR Club, Wilcox High School, Santa Clara
Program Alumni Representative
Sal Toscano, Escalon High School - '92, Researcher Genentech