Thanking Sierra and Timothy for Their Board Contributions

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Sierra Flanigan and Timothy Yee, who have recently stepped down from our board. Sierra, as our Board Chair, provided essential leadership during a pivotal time for SVN, while Timothy's work in developing our governance structures has established a solid foundation for our future. Both have given generously of their time and expertise.

At this juncture, they are shifting their focus to other important areas in their lives, allowing space for new members with fresh perspectives and energy to take on interim Board roles. We thank them for their dedication and wish them all the best in their future endeavors.

The SVN community changed my life forever… While there remains much work to do, I believe the worst is over, and the best is yet to come.

– Sierra Flanigan

Reflections from Sierra Flanigan

The SVN community changed my life forever when I joined the 2016 through the Innovation Entrepreneurship program. From people like Carol Sanford turning my professional paradigm upside down with the work of regeneration, to my time advocating for the Love Economy, and stewarding the Living Planet Working Group, my entrepreneurial, people-loving, tree-hugging self has always felt at home with the SVN family. 

When it became clear that SVC's differences with ASBN were irreconcilable last year, I was humbled to be called on to step onto the SVC interim Board as the provisional Chair to give SVC a legal voice, to effectuate the separation from ASBN, to navigate a new relationship with Investors Circle, and to build back our community, business model, and leadership with a focus on just governance. I am proud of the work we have done to practice distributed, grassroots leadership as we build back with integrity, the deep listening of community needs, aspired to be our best selves together through modeling emergent leadership, and reclaimed our identity as SVN after the historic RISE un-Conference this summer in Oakland, CA. I am hopeful about our shared future, together. While there remains much work to do, I believe the worst is over, and the best is yet to come. I look forward to continuing on as a paying member, and also co-chair of the Living Planet Working Group, which all are welcome to join during the first Thursday of each month.

Fondly,
Sierra

SVN is in my blood. This community welcomed me with open arms in 2009 and I knew I had found my extended family.

-Timothy Yee

Reflection from Timothy Yee

It was an honor to serve for three years on the SVN Board. SVN is in my blood. This community welcomed me with open arms in 2009 and I knew I had found my extended family. It was only right for me to give back to SVN starting in 2014 by becoming a Lifetime Member and then a Board member from 2020 - 2022. When I was called back to serve on the Board in 2023 to help SVN navigate choppy waters, I answered the call.

And that is what I ask of all of you. SVN has made an impact for nearly 40 years.  It needs your help to continue to thrive for the next 40 years. Make an ongoing contribution. SVN needs money. Give of your time to being an SVN volunteer. To quote long-time SVN member and current Board member, Duane Peterson,“Many hands make light work”. And please step into the role of Lifetime Member. SVN means a lot to all of us. How can we honor and magnify that?

In service,
Timothy