Mayoral candidate Ed Harris will speak at this week's meeting, and we'll
begin our March endorsement considerations with incumbent San Diego
County District 3 Supervisor Dave Roberts
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We're excited to welcome San Diego lifeguard, former city councilman and mayoral candidate Ed Harris as our special guest this month.

We'll meet this Wednesday, March 23, at 6:30 pm at the La Jolla Village Square community room inside the mall at 8657 Villa La Jolla Drive, next to the AMC Theaters.

Along with remarks from Ed Harris, the club will also entertain endorsements in several races, including:
Supervisor Dave Roberts
Melinda Vásquez
Steve Padilla
Eduardo Reyes
Rudy Ramirez
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Check-in will begin at 6:30 pm, and the meeting will come to order at 7:00.

Download a copy of the agenda for our March 23, 2016 meeting here.

Download the minutes from our Feb. 24, 2016 meeting here.

The March 23, 2016 club endorsement meeting is open to the public, but only club members are permitted to speak or vote in the endorsement process. While most of the races we will consider on Wednesday are not "hotly contested," we will nevertheless abide by the club's endorsement meeting procedures as we have in previous endorsement meetings.

Club members are permitted to vote and leave at any time, but may only vote on endorsements that have not yet been decided. Late ballots from members on endorsements already voted on will not be accepted.

Applicable candidate questionnaires for each race will be distributed and made available, but no candidate questionnaire may leave the room for any reason.
Roosevelt Dinner – Saturday, April 2
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We only have a few seats left for the annual San Diego County Democratic Party Roosevelt Dinner on Saturday, April 2 at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront, so if you'd like to attend and sit at the Enviro. Dems. table, please let us know immediately – seats are at the club rate of $110.

If you're interested in attending please contact vice president Fred Rogers or treasurer Brett Fisher. Get these final seats while they last and help represent San Diego County Democrats for Environmental Action at this year's Roosevelt Dinner.
Earth Fair Volunteers – Sunday, April 17
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We need volunteers to staff our booth at Balboa Park on Sunday, April 17 for the annual San Diego Earth Fair.

San Diego Earth Fair is a great opportunity to introduce area environmentalists and Democrats to the club, and a chance to talk with the public about the mission of San Diego County Democrats for Environmental Action – as well as our recent successes.

We recruited a number of new members and shook plenty of hands at last year's Earth Fair event, and we could use your help, enthusiasm and passion for the environmental club at this year's event. Please RSVP club president Tommy Hough if you can make time to volunteer Sunday, April 17. A sign-up sheet will also be available at the meeting on Wednesday.
Proposed Club Hike at El Monte County Park
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We've had several trail suggestions floated during and since our first club hike at Mission Trails Regional Park on March 13, and while Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve and Cabrillo National Monument are always worthwhile locales, it may not be a bad idea to do an East County hike while the spring weather and green conditions are still in place.

El Monte County Park near Flinn Springs and Harbison Canyon comes to mind, not only for the area's lovely ourdoors and pleasant trails, but also for the view afforded from the trail of the El Monte Valley, where a sand mining proposal is being considered along the San Diego River.
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According to club member Renée Owens, hikers could begin at the top of the trail, go down to the saddle and then head west or east. According to Renée it is an easy downhill grade to the saddle in about 20 minutes, and makes for a "solid uphill" on the way back. While switchbacks make it easier for beginners, Renée notes "it isn't for have-not-been-off-the sofa-in-a year beginners," so it would be a little more challenging than our Mission Trails outing.

Renée also suggests beginning the hike at the very west end of El Monte County Park, which has a steeper uphill grade, but is also shorter than from the saddle to Flinn Springs at Creek Hills Road.

From El Monte Park the saddle is about 0.7 miles of switchbacks (going up and heading out), and from Creek Hills Road (going down and heading out) it is 1.1 miles to the saddle. From the saddle hikers can go another one to two miles – or more – east or west along the flat flume trail.

According to Renée it is a "lovely hike, with nice signage about the old flume, and few people use it." Perhaps sometime in early April?