Friends of the Desert
E-News Issue #18
April 16, 2003
*A project of the Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection*
Please visit our website for more information: http://www.sonorandesert.org
If you know of anyone who would be interested in receiving this
newsletter, or if you would like to be removed from this list, please
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IN THIS ISSUE:
* SDCP Steering Committee Update and Upcoming Meetings
* Science Technical Advisory Team Meeting
* 2003 Open Space Bond Grassroots Support Campaign Kick-off�
Thurs., April 17
* Sonoran Desert Day of Action�Sun., April 27
* April and May SDCP Open Houses, hosted by Pima County
* Volunteers Needed for 4th Annual Ironwood Festival, May 3
* SDCP Steering Committee Update:
The Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan Steering Committee is nearly
finished! They have already voted to approve several points of
agreement on details of the plan dealing with funding, property
rights, mining, and, of course, conservation. Two forthcoming
meetings have been scheduled, which should conclude the Steering
Committee’s obligation at this time: Saturday, May 10, when they will
hear the results of the independent economic analysis of the
potential costs of the SDCP, and Wed., May 21, 6-9pm, when they will
finalize their recommendations for the Board of Supervisors,
incorporating the information from the economic consultant.
Locations for these meetings has not yet been set; please check our
website at http://www.sonorandesert.org or call the Coalition office at 388-
9925 as the dates approach for more information.
* Science Technical Advisory Team (STAT) meeting: Thursday,
April 24, 1-4p, Water Resources Research Center, 350 N. Campbell
Ave.
The STAT, the expert scientific and biological advisory group
assembled by the County for the SDCP, is meeting again. After
developing the Conservation Lands System last year, which categorizes
all lands in Pima County based on their biological characteristics,
they are now developing recommendations for biological monitoring.
This monitoring will be invaluable in providing information to
scientists and decision-makers as to how effective the actions taken
under the SDCP are in meeting the conservation goals of the plan.
* 2003 Open Space Bond Grassroots Support Campaign Kick-off�
Thurs., April 17!
Note: I apologize for the late notice on this one. Please contact
Kate Hiller (info below) if you are interested in helping with this
effort but cannot make tomorrow’s event.
The Coalition is part of the group Friends of the Sonoran Desert, who
has been working on the strategy to promote public and County support
for an open space bond for this year. Funding for land acquisitions
is a key component of the SDCP, and we need your help to promote this
important source of revenue. On April 17 we are kicking off a mail-
in postcard/letter campaign, and we are asking for your
participation!!
Please join the Friends of the Sonoran Desert on Thursday, April 17
from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. at the Historic YWCA Conference Room, 300 E.
University Blvd. (enter the building on 5th Ave.)
The Pima County Board of Supervisors needs to hear from us, our
friends & families, and others in the community that we want an open
space bond measure on the November 2003 ballot. We need your help
over the next three months to create a groundswell of support for the
November 2003 open space bond measure.
At this meeting, we will be presenting a slideshow, the answers to
the hard questions about the open space bond measure, organizing
presentations, and handing out postcards to take to friends, families
and your public presentations. And we will have bagels and coffee
for you!
Please come and work with the Friends of the Sonoran Desert to put an
open space bond measure on the ballot in November 2003. Please invite
your friends, and distribute this announcement widely!
We are trying to get a quick headcount for coffee and bagels–please
RSVP to Kate Hiller at 481-5736. We look forward to seeing you!
* Sonoran Desert Day of Action–Sunday April 27th
Morris K. Udall Regional Park, Ramada 3, 10:00 a.m.
Take Action to Protect Your Sonoran Desert!
The Sonoran desert, heart and soul of Arizona, is threatened more
than ever by uncurbed development, off-road vehicle abuses, mining,
overgrazing in sensitive habitats, and other human activities. It’s
time to take action to protect the land we love!
On Sunday, April 27th, volunteer defenders of the Sonoran Desert like
you will be walking with friends and talking with neighbors about
protecting the desert. After a brief rally at Udall Park, we will
walk through nearby Tucson neighborhoods, delivering materials
emphasizing the need for a strong Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan,
and protective management for Ironwood Forest National Monument.
Now is the time for us to ask our fellow citizens to get involved,
and call on the Pima County Board of Supervisors to create the
strongest Conservation Plan and Monument Management Plan possible.
Come walk with your friends and meet your neighbors! Join us at
Udall Park at 10 a.m. Sunday April 27th for free food, fun, friends,
and an opportunity to take action for the Sonoran Desert!
The Sonoran Desert needs your help! For more information or to RSVP,
call Julie Sherman, Tucson Sierra Club, 620-6401, or Carolyn
Campbell, Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection, 388-9925
* Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan (SDCP) Open Houses
Pima County is hosting two more open houses in April and May to
provide information to the public about the Sonoran Desert
Conservation Plan. At the open houses, you can:
* Hear updates on the SDCP process
* View maps and reports
* Learn about Pima County’s cultural resources
* Learn about the Conservation Plan’s riparian, habitat, and
corridor elements
* Learn about ranch conservation
* Learn about the impacts of outdoor recreation on the Sonoran
Desert
* Learn how to use Map Guide, so you can access electronic
versions of Pima County maps on-line
* See a live "Raptors of the Sonoran Desert" presentation
The Open Houses are Wednesday, April 23, 6-8pm, Woods Library, 3455
N. First Ave.; and Wednesday, May 21, 5-7pm, Robles Ranch Community
Center, 16150 W. Ajo Way.
For more information, please call the County Administrator’s Office
at 740-8800.
* Volunteers Needed for the 4th Annual Ironwood Festival!
We need your help!!
On Saturday, May 3, 2003, from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m., the Tucson Audubon
Society will host the Fourth Annual Ironwood Festival at the Mason
Audubon Center, located at 8751 N. Thornydale Road. This festival
supports the many conservation, education and recreation programs of
Tucson Audubon, highlighting the preservation of the unique
ironwood/saguaro habitat at the Mason Audubon Center.
More then 500 people are expected to attend this celebration of the
centuries-old ironwood trees and we need volunteers to help the event
run smoothly.
Festival-goers of all ages will enjoy the live animal presentations,
nature walks, storytelling, the exciting line-up of musicians, tree
planting demos, hands-on booth activities, cultural presentations, a
variety of food and beverages, and the opportunity to learn about our
natural environment.
The Ironwood Festival Committee would greatly appreciate any
volunteer assistance you can provide for the Festival. Come help for
a bit: stay for the fun!
We need your help for the following positions and shifts:
Set-up
1:00 – 4:00 p.m (4 positions) Friday, May 2nd
8:00 – 11:00 a.m. (4 positions) Saturday, May 2nd
11:00 – 2:00 p.m. (4 positions) Saturday, May 2nd
Food/Beverage ticket sales (Saturday, May 3rd)
2:30 – 4:30 p.m. (1 position)
4:30 -6:30 p.m. (1 position)
6:30 – 8:30 p.m. (1 position)
Beer serving and ID checking (Saturday, May 3rd)
2:30 – 4:30 p.m.
4:30 – 6:30 p.m.
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Activity timekeeper/door person (Saturday, May 3rd)
2:30 – 4:30 p.m. (2 positions)
4:30 – 6:30 p.m. (2 positions)
6:30 – 8:30 p.m. (2 positions)
Recycling/Garbage (Saturday, May 3rd)
2:30 – 4:30 p.m. (1 position)
4:30 – 6:30 p.m. (1 position)
6:30 – 8:30 p.m. (1 position)
Stage hands (Saturday, May 3rd)
2:30 – 4:30 p.m. (1 position)
4:30 – 6:30 p.m. (1 position)
6:30 – 8:30 p.m. (1 position)
Take down (Sunday, May 4th)
8:00 – 11:00 a.m. (6 positions)
11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. (6 positions)
In appreciation of your efforts, we will provide you free admission
plus one guess pass. We will also provide beverages and light snacks
for our wonderful volunteers. If you are interested and would like
to sign up, please contact Jamie Brown, Ironwood Festival Committee
Chair at 744-0004 or masonoutreach@mindspring.com as soon as
possible.
Thank you for your consideration. We hope you’ll join us!
Sincerely,
Jamie Brown
Mason Audubon Center
Community Outreach Coordinator and Ironwood Festival Committee Chair
and
Sue Jensen
Ironwood Festival Committee, Volunteer Coordinator
Until next time!
Susan Shobe
Assistant Director
Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection
300 E. University Blvd., #120
Tucson, AZ 85705
(520) 388-9925
Susan@sonorandesert.org
http://www.sonorandesert.org