In This Issue:
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DECEMBER 1997 NEWSLETTER The Board voted for new officers at our November 25 meeting; Roger Gossett has been elected as President and Linda Roddick elected as Vice-President. All other Officers remain the same. Sandy Messner and Cindy McGregor will remain as Secretary and Treasurer, respectively. I have enjoyed being President over the past five years, and everyone on the Board has been so enthusiastic. When a suggestion has been made, someone has jumped in to take charge and develop the new idea. I feel I have been the ringleader for a great gang! We've accomplished so much - the Web site Michael Gordon set up, our outlets are essentially supporting us (we receive minimal contributions from the Forest Service), Adopt-A-Highway has been very successful thanks to Cindy McGregor, interpretive programs are doing well; Jim Fuller is very successful with his star-gazing, and in the past two years, Sheila McMahon, Michael & Heather Gordon, and Bill & TamMara Matula have made many innovative changes to the Forest Festival. Jan Gudgell and Pat Peters have been wonderful as 4-Victor editors and I think the new system they have developed is going to be the best yet. There were many other projects and people I haven't mentioned. I just want to say thanks and good work!! Of course I cannot say enough about the support John Flippin gave me. John is the person who knows everything. He knows what is going on in the forest and what the needs of SGVA are. He knows how much money we can spend and what we can spend it on. When he says he will do something you can consider it done. John is essentially SGVA. I am anxiously looking forward to Roger taking over the presidency. I know he has a lot of great ideas and enthusiasm for SGVA. Most of you know Roger as a hard worker and tireless volunteer. In addition to being an SGVA volunteer, he is on the San Gorgonio Search & Rescue, Pacific Crest Trail Coordinator for the Whitewater to Wrightwood area, and he runs triathlons in his spare time. He seems to accomplish these activities with a great degree of organization and professionalism. His wife, Patty, must not see him often. We are hoping she is going to volunteer to help at Horse Meadows next summer. At least she can see us. Thanks for all your support. I'll look forward to seeing you next year. Valerie Silva Editor: Val's contributions to the SGVA are too numerous to mention. She has
been a true "volunteer", dedicated to the success of the whole while recognizing
the needs of individuals. Thank you, Val. Plans to renovate and develop Horse Meadows into a visitor site are progressing. Chairperson Val Silva is joined by members Roger Gossett, Sheila McMahon, Audrey Scranton, Patty Wold, Karen Saffle, Ron Timmons, Dana Klatt, Sandy Messner, and John Flippin. The buildings have a new roof and a coat of paint and are being readied for displays , maps, and pictures of an historical nature. A display explaining variations in weather and snow conditions as well as possible living history days depicting early Wilderness defenders are ideas being studied. The Committee needs help reproducing, enlarging, and mounting pictures in ways to
prevent vandalism. Display uses that can be easily transported are also needed. If anyone
has access to such or skills in these areas, the Committee would love to hear from you.
Early pictures or other historical items will be appreciated. Please call Sheila
McMahon at (909) 683-8850. Volunteers, friends, and contributors: Your help is needed as usual. You are our
best and most convincing contacts with the rest of the world. We are currently
sending/passing out sponsor invitation letters to consumer products and consumer services
companies. If you work for or have contacts with such companies, please call John
Flippin at (909) 864-4546 for copies of the letter to distribute. Thank You! Interpretive Programs to Begin in 1998 Karen Saffle and Sheila McMahon will spearhead the Interpretive Program
for next year's season. If you might be interested in presenting programs, please let them
know. More information will appear in future editions of this newsletter. Our condolences and sympathies to Ron Timmons, whose wife Barbara passed
on November 27 after a long battle with illness. Ron Timmons is part of our Barton Flats
Crew and is also serving on the new Horse Meadows Committee. Uniforms are still coming in... I'm afraid we had a few volunteers serving
without pants or shorts this year (of the uniform variety, that is!). We are still
receiving uniform backorders. If you have uniform parts due which you've paid for, call
(909) 864-4546 and tell me exactly what you have coming. I'll put it in a box or bag at
the Mill Creek front desk for you to pick up or I'll hold it for next May. Thanks for your
patience. Fabulous Forest Clothing Sale... Are your kids stealing your jeans because they
are becoming ripped and full of holes (becoming fashionable)? Well, now is your chance to
pick up some used uniform jeans at a fantastic price if you are the right size. If you are
not, please eat more or less as appropriate. A little too tall? Cut them off for shorts or
wear them down where the youngsters do. Not quite tall enough? That's easy - just pull
them up tight and get used to that wedgie. Anyway, the following sizes are available at
$5.00 a piece. All are in good condition; no rips, holes, or abrasions: Womens Jeans (* - approx. inseam) 8x30, 10x32* (2), 12x32* (2), 12x29, 14x32 Mens Jeans (* - approx. inseam) 30x30, 33x30*, 33x32 (2), 34x37, 35x31*, 35x32*, 35x34*(2), 35x35*, 36x31*,
36x32*, 44x31* How about a beautiful new volunteer T-shirt to enhance your fashion attire wherever you go? Or get an extra large for bed and lounging around the house? These kelly green T's proudly display the US Forest Service, San Gorgonio Volunteer, and our ram's head logo on the left chest. A $10 value for only $5, or two for $9. The following sizes are available: XXL(2), XL(6), LRG(3), Med, Small Also, while we're talking high fashion, I have two brand new Forest Service western-style felt Stetson hats, taupe color, size 7 and size 7¼; a $92.50 value each, going for only $45.00 each - a fantastic buy! All proceeds go into our SGVA operating fund. If you are interested, please give John
Flippin a call at (909) 864-4546 as soon as possible. I can mail T-shirts, but you
will need to make arrangements to meet me at Mill Creek for other items. Your volunteer efforts extend to our partners serving the public... The work of all volunteers gains the SGVA much appreciation and monetary donations from many sources. As a result of the donations in response to the excellent service of our volunteers, we are sometimes in a position to help others - our volunteer partners. Two such partners are the San Gorgonio Search & Rescue Team and the Valley of the Falls Search & Rescue Team. Recently we were able to donate some of our funds to both of these groups who provide a vital service to forest visitors and residents. Our donations help them buy equipment such as Wilderness Rope Rescue Bags which contain rope, pulleys, webbing, and carabiners for "over-the-side" rescues in the Wilderness. Both of these volunteer teams have responded to our calls for help in rescuing lost or
injured forest visitors. They have also staffed static search and rescue displays at our
Forest Festivals. Fortunately they have not had to rescue any lost or injured volunteers,
but they are always ready if the need arises. It is an honor and a pleasure for our
volunteers to work with these teams of men and women in providing a safer and more
enjoyable forest experience for the public. Their support enables us to serve... without the monetary support of the following SGVA organization members during the past year, we would not have been able to provide half of the services we do. Our great appreciation goes to: (in random order) Camp Arbolado, Camp Conrad-Chinook, Camp Osceola, Camp Nawakwa, Camp Ta Ta Pochon, College Camp, Santa Ana River Cabin Assoc., Camp Edwards, Camp Metoche, Camp Radford, Camp Seely, Camp Tautona, De Benneville Pines Camp, Camp LaVerne, Camp Morning Star, Camp Round Meadow, Camp Sky Meadows, Camp Wasewagen, and Pine Mountain Camp. We look forward to the continuing SGVA membership of these organizations as together we
provide the public an enjoyable, safe, and meaningful forest experience. Tracking the bucks... Marvin J. Siddel, MBA, has a long established
accounting and payroll practice in Redlands. Marvin has provided excellent financial
services to the SGVA for several years and we recommend him to anyone needing accounting
or payroll services. To our benefit, Marvin has served us for a very reasonable price
because he shares our love of the mountains and forests. Our sincere appreciation goes to
Marvin for helping us keep track of all our bucks and for being one of the key players in
management of the SGVA. Help needed at Barton Flats... Do you know a reliable couple, or two, who would like to spend at least two months in the mountains next summer for free? We need a couple(s) to be assistant managers at the Barton Flats Visitor Center from May 15 through July 31, 1998. They would need their own trailer or motor home unless they are willing to live in (and fix up if they wish) a Forest Service trailer currently on site which does not have a built in heater, an operating shower, or hot water. They would be provided with free water, electrical, and sewer hookups. Propane will also be provided. The visitor center is open mid-May through mid-October, Wednesdays through Sundays from 8am until 4:30pm. Volunteer work includes greeting visitors, issuing free Wilderness permits, selling maps, books, posters, etc., and minor grounds and building maintenance. Volunteers can sign up for half or all of the period, though we will give preference to those able to volunteer for the whole period. If you know anyone that would like to live high and cool, please give me their name and
number or have them call John Flippin at (909) 864-4546 as soon as possible. Memorial hike greatly appreciated by Alice's family... As you may have read in our previous newsletter, the Alice Krueper Memorial Hike was a wonderful success. The day was made very enjoyable for about 100 visitors by Roger Gossett (organizer), Sheila McMahon, Sandy Messner, Audrey Scranton, Danny Silva, and Val Silva. Alice's surviving family members, including her husband Harry and son Ron, participated in the hike. We recently received a thank you letter from Harry which read in part: "Words cannot express my appreciation for your remembering Alice by instituting this memorial hike and for the support it received by the Volunteer Association. You folks are doing a fantastic job in promoting wilderness enjoyment and understanding. My wife and I always felt that this is really our home, and I want desperately for it to remain as an area where people can go to 'recharge their batteries' from the hectic everyday life situations to which many of us are exposed. Again, my most sincere thanks." And our thanks go to Harry and Alice and many others who were responsible for
preserving the San Gorgonio Wilderness. Alice will always be a very special part of SGVA
tradition because she founded our organization and still inspires many of us to do what we
can to ensure the SGVA goes on "to Serve, Protect, and Educate." I know
when things seem to be too hectic, tiring, or frustrating, it helps me to look at Alice's
picture above my desk and remember what all of your volunteer work is for. Alice is
smiling down upon all of our volunteers. Another wonderful summer season has flown by again. All of you working volunteers and contributing members once again enabled us to care for the forest and help visitors better understand and enjoy a wonderful natural resource which belongs to them. Your efforts were amazing and varied as they have been for the past sixteen years. This summer you donated 16,000 hours, worth about $160,000 to the Forest Service. You
protected and cleaned the forest, improved facilities and trails, and personally contacted
21,000 visitors to help them better understand and enjoy the forest. Some of your major
accomplishments in 1997 were:
Well, you get the idea. Your services are amazing in quantity, quality, and variety.
And that is why you were honored by the Forest Service at awards ceremonies on October 26.
Very special awards were presented to Val Silva, SGVA President and Equestrian
Coordinator; Roger Gossett, Vice-President and Foot-Patrol Coordinator; Ed and
Lane Lutz, full-time Barton Flats Visitor Center managers; 10-year veteran George
Denney; and 15-year veterans Jim Fuller, Natalie Gammey, Mickey Kacherwski, , and
Linda Roddick. Congratulations to all volunteers for another great year! John Flippin Minimum Impact Tip of the Month: Just before
abandoning camp, check carefully for anything left behind, pick up any small pieces of
litter, and "naturalize" the site. Return any pinecones, branches, or rocks to
their original locations.
 to Michael Gordon, San Gorgonio Volunteer
Association, 34701 Mill Creek Road, Mentone, CA 92359, USA. Telephone (909) 382-2882. Home | Volunteer | Contribute | Wilderness | Flora &Fauna | Trails | Trail Conditions | Weather | Trip Planner | Wilderness Regulations | Minimum Impact Ethics | Store | Gallery | Links | Wisdom | Newsletter | Special Report! | Awards | Summit Register | What the visitors say | History of the SGVA | Developed Campgrounds | What's New |
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