| Roanoke Group - 2005 Member Survey In February 2005, the
Roanoke Group, in cooperation with the Environmental Education Program of Roanoke College,
undertook a survey of our members in the Roanoke metropolitan area. The purposes of
the survey were: 1) to assist the Roanoke Group's ExCom in formulating policy and
conservation campaigns based on member preferences and concerns, 2) to establish a profile
of an important segment of the environmental community in terms of their activism,
knowledge, opinions, and level of interest, 3) to provide a community service by offering
a beneficial premium to those who participate, 4) to identify individuals who may be
interested in doing volunteer work with the Sierra Club, and 5) to create a learning and
community service opportunity for Roanoke College Students.
Becca Draper, a Roanoke College senior, was responsible for the questionnaire
design, production and results analysis, under the guidance of Mark McClain (Roanoke
Sierra Club ExCom Chair), Jan Lynch, Ph.D. (Professor of Psychology), and Jon
Cawley, Ph.D. (Assistant Professor of Biology and Director of Roanoke College
Environmental Education Program)
The Roanoke Group ExCom has received the results of the survey, and we will be
analyzing this information and incorporating what we have learned into our programs
throughout the year and into the future.
Here is an article written by Becca Draper about the project.
Sierra Club – Roanoke River
Group – Member Survey
Designed and Conducted in Collaboration
with Roanoke College
by Becca Draper
I am a senior at Roanoke College.
Throughout the spring semester (January through April, 2005), I worked in conjunction with
the Sierra Club to complete my Honors project / Environmental Science independent study. I
designed, conducted, and analyzed a survey under the advisement of Mr. Mark McClain and
other Sierra Club members as well as several Roanoke College professors. The survey was
conducted in order to better understand and satisfy the thoughts and preferences of you,
the local Sierra Club member. Following are several results collected from the survey data
(based on frequencies of marked answers):
Respondents report that the most
important local environmental issue is control of urban sprawl and promotion of smart
growth (32% named this as their top priority, 78% listed it as one of their top five).
The #2 issue cited by respondents was Air Quality.
Over 90% of respondents felt that local
officials give too little consideration to environmental issues in making land use
decisions.
22% of respondents reported they attend
public meetings involving environmental issues either occasionally or frequently.
Place most often cited that respondents
go to enjoy and interact with nature: the Blue Ridge Parkway (with National Forests a
close second)
Source of information about
environmental issues for most is Sierra Club publications (local newspaper ran second in
this question)
The majority of respondents indicated an
interest in doing volunteer work for the Club. The most frequently cited volunteer
interests were 1) service projects, 2) working at public events, and 3) writing letters to
support environmental protection..
Those who returned the survey with contact
information included will be receiving a free tree seedling as a thank-you gift. The
details of this will be distributed at a later date. My gratitude goes out to those of you
who participated in this project. I hope that the results and analysis of the survey will
help to enhance your experience as a member of the Roanoke Group of the Sierra Club. |
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