Q. What is the difference between SLPOA and SLDSCA?

A. SLPOA and SLDSCA are totally different organizations. SLPOA is the Serene Lakes Property Owners Association and is concerned with property issues on the summit, as well as providing recreational forums. SLDSCA is the Serene Lakes - Donner Summit Conservation Association and was organized with the specific purpose of protecting and preserving the fragile summit alpine environment. SLPOA had the right to designate members to the SLDSCA Board, but the right of designation is a majority minus one, so SLPOA will never have majority representation on the SLDSCA Board.

With the current development on the horizon, SLPOA is also looking carefully at conservation issues on the summit, but that is not their singular function. As the proposed development moves forward, SLPOA will continue to solicit community opinion, analyze the development proposals, and oppose the proposals that negatively impact Serene Lakes and other summit communities. But it is SLDSCA that will hire experts, professionally analyze/comment on the EIR, and advocate for the preservation of the summit in whatever manner necessary, including litigation if other negotiation tactics fail. SLDSCA, however, can only engage in very limited lobbying activity, so SLPOA will undoubtedly take the lead in lobbying efforts.

Q. Who should I donate to? 

A. If you desire a tax deduction for your donation, donate to SLDSCA. If you do not care about a tax deduction for your donation, either organization deserves your donation.

Q. Isn't SLDSCA another arm of SLPOA? 

A. No, although many of the same folks volunteer for both organizations. 

Q. I've heard other non-profit environmental associations want to preserve Donner Summit such as Sierra Watch and Sierra Club. If I am interested in Saving Donner Summit from Foster-Syme's proposed development, why should I donate to SLDSCA instead of the other organizations, after all SLDSCA is a brand new organization?

A. Many organizations are interested in what happens on the summit but the exact focus of the interest varies. Although all of the organizations are deserving of funds, SLDSCA has only the conservation of the summit’s fragile alpine environment as its focus, whereas other organizations are usually focused on environmental issues in many geographic locations. Further, although many of the other organizations may be focused on one or more aspects of the potential damage to the summit environs from the proposed development, they are not focused on all of the damaging environmental results. Only SLDSCA is focused on the totality of the summit environment, history and culture.

Finally, experience demonstrates that although many environmental organizations may initially oppose egregious development, there are usually only one or two organizations left when the settlement discussions are finished. The organizations that remain at the end of negotiation and settlement are always the ones sustaining the greatest negative impact from the proposed development, in this case SLDSCA.