 
OCTOBER 1997 NEWSLETTER
A New Look
The season's final issue of 4-Victor sports a "spiffy" new look (print copy only), thanks to Michael Gordon, computer whiz! Editors Pat & Jan thank him for joining the editorial staff where he will serve as layout editor for the coming season.
The Editors also want to thank this season's contributors and readers for their support and hope that 4-Victor has been entertaining reading.
Remember - just because the season is over until next year, don't hesitate to send articles, comments, stories, etc. throughout the winter months so we will have a supply of information to begin the new year. Send all copy to:
Editor - 4-Victor
PO Box 487
Calimesa, CA 92320
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Dorothy's Goodbye
Our The going-away potluck/barbeque for long-time SGVA Volunteer/Barton Flats Visitor Center Manager Dorothy Fotheringham was well attended by volunteers and members of her family on September 28 at Barton Flats. She was off to Seattle the next day.....all packed and ready to go. We will be starting a chain letter to her one of these days and will let you know more about it.
If you have ever wondered what "flame broiled" hamburgers are all about, just ask Danny Silva. Seems the propane tank caught on fire at the BBQ and it was very exciting while the tank flamed away! Thank goodness he was not hurt - and neither were the burgers on the grill at the time!!!
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1997 Fish Festival
This year's Festival was held on September 27 at Jenks Lake. Many Forest Service personnel and SGVA Volunteers hosted about 160 youngsters at the lake on a really beautiful day. Lots of poles and bait for everyone but not always a promised fish. No matter; everyone had a great time!
Thanks to Teddi Boston, all the food for the day was donated. Roger Gossett and Sandy Vandenberg were the Coordinators for the day. If you missed this event, plan to join us next year.
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Mission Creek Watershed Protected
The following article excerpt is reprinted from the Fall 1997 newsletter of The Nature Conservancy of California.
Mission Creek, one of the most important watersheds in the Southern California desert, will remain free of development. Using an innovative, multifaceted strategy for acquiring land, The Nature Conservancy has assembled a collection of crucial properties whose protection will assure the future of this rugged, biologically rich landscape. Enough land in the Mission Creek watershed has been safeguarded to provide a vital wildlife migration corridor between the San Gorgonio Wilderness and San Bernardino National Forest to the west and Joshua Tree National Monument to the east. The keystone of this achievement was the donation of 2,400 acres of splendid habitat by McKesson Water Products, bottlers of Sparkletts, Crystal, and Alhambra drinking water.
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Alice Krueper Memorial Hike
Roger Gossett organized the first annual walk to Dry Lake held on October 4 in memory of Alice Krueper. The day was bright and clear, and when the walkers reached Horse Meadows they found several Volunteers there: Sheila McMahon, Sandy Messner, Audrey Scranton, Val and Danny Silva, and Roger Gossett serving cookies, hot chocolate, lemonade, etc.
The 100 or so visitors were also treated to several displays and information about Alice's dedication to preserving the wilderness. A memory book was available for folks to sign which was presented to the Krueper family. Harry Krueper and his son Ron and family participated in the walk.
The SGVA Volunteers are refurbishing the buildings at the Meadows and plan to make this a visitor information center by next season. If you are interested in helping with this project, contact Val Silva at (619) 868-1340.
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A Highway Adopted
October 4th saw the dedicated crew again adopting-the-highway: Gitty Denver, Chuck and Margaret Phelps, Audrey Scranton, Joe McGregor, Pat Peters, and Jan Gudgell (Cindy was ill that day).
Because of Joe and Cindy McGregor's dedicated leadership, the SGVA has again met its commitment to Caltrans to pick up at least four times per season. Thank you, you two!
The area really has improved over the summer months and "appears" to be much cleaner with fewer exotic items to be found. However, the slogan "this Bud's for you" seemed to fit the day's haul! Shows you what aggressive advertising can do...
We'll try that aggressive approach and say that we need and want more helpers next season; dates will be announced later.
Cindy and Joe send their THANKS to all who participated this year.
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SGVA Web Site
The following article is reprinted from the August 28, 1997 San Bernardino County Sun column "On The Net" .
The San Gorgonio Volunteer Association's web site has brought the group a flood of donations and new helpers.
The San Gorgonio Volunteer Association's web site (http://www.edgeinternet.com/sgva/) is where the wilderness meets the web. The site has allowed the group to educate people and expand its volunteer base, which works in the San Gorgonio Wilderness. "I would say that we've reached out to people who hadn't heard of the group because they were looking for San Gorgonio and they happened upon us", said volunteer and web site creator Michael Gordon. "This year has gotten to the point where we have too many new volunteers", Gordon said. "That's mostly due to the Internet. And we've gotten some good donations that we wouldn't have gotten otherwise."
The two most popular pages on the site are the trail conditions page and the page for first-time visitors to wilderness trails. The trail conditions page can sometimes be updated on a daily basis, Gordon said. "During the summer, the trail conditions are pretty static", he said. "Mostly fall, winter, and spring are when trail conditions vary."
Pages on flora and fauna, permits, and maps are also available.
The site offers some of the educational materials available at the Mill Creek Ranger Station on Highway 38, the office out of which the volunteer group operates.
Addendum: The SGVA web site is now nearing 5,000 registered hits (visits to the site) since its inception in April 1996. We are currently averaging upwards of 25+ hits per day - not bad for a web site with a "limited" scope. The site has won several Internet awards, and according to John Flippin, online sales of our new San Gorgonio Wilderness t-shirts have been doing well, in addition to maps, books, and sporadic donations.
I would like to recognize one of our new volunteers: Phil Rosenkrantz's help with scanning the last several newsletters has been invaluable. Phil electronically scans the newsletters and e-mail's them to me, allowing me to quickly put each new issue online. His assistance has saved me much time in hand-typing. Thanks, Phil!
If you forget the SGVA web address, the site can be found by virtually any "search engine" (e.g., Yahoo, Alta Vista) - just type in our name: San Gorgonio Volunteer Association. Many search engines will also locate our site by the words "San Gorgonio" alone.
Michael Gordon
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We Appreciate Those Board Members
This year's Board Officers have done an outstanding job and we thank them all:
- President: Val Silva
- Vice-President: Roger Gossett
- Secretary: Sandy Messner
- Treasurer: Cindy McGregor
- Directors: Linda Roddick, Sheila McMahon, Michael Gordon, Heather Gordon, Larry Stiles, Pat Peters, Jan Gudgell, Bill Matula, and TamMara Matula.
The 1998 officers will be elected at the November Board meeting and new Directors in March of 1998. If you are interested in becoming a Board member, please contact Val Silva (619) 868-1340 or John Flippin (909) 864-4546.
Board meetings are open to all interested volunteers and are held at the Supervisor's Office in San Bernardino the last Tuesday of each month at 6:30pm (no meeting in December).
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Bits and Pieces
- Congratulations to Kim and Bob Windver on the birth of their first baby. Little Emily was born on September 17, 1997 and all are doing fine. Do they make uniforms this small?
- Thanks to Tom Rutledge for allowing the SGVA Board to hold their summer meetings at his Angelus Oaks restaurant.
- John Flippin requests your assistance in collecting photos of any volunteer activities which will be assembled in 'history' albums by John Dombrowski. Please send photos to John Flippin at Mill Creek.
- Ed & Lane Lutz sold over $12,000 worth of Adventure Passes this season at the Barton Flats Visitor Center. They will return as Visitor Center managers next year.
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A Rewarding Day
The annual Awards Luncheon on October 26 was attended by 70 volunteers and Forest Service personnel. The luncheon provided by the Forest Service was great as usual, and the day was a special one - warm and sunny - a typical mountain autumn day.
This year's 140 volunteers put in 16,000 hours of service equaling $160,000 in labor savings to the Forest service. There were 55, 000 visitors to the Wilderness, of which 20,000 personal contacts were made by the SGVA. The group of volunteers assisting Alfredo Zarate put in 3,000+ hours equaling $33,000 in labor.
John Flippin served as master of ceremonies in his most capable fashion, presenting special awards to 5-Year Volunteers; 10-Year Volunteer George Denney; and 15-Year Volunteers Mickey Kacherwski, Jim Fuller, Linda Roddick, and Natalie Gammey.
Audrey Scranton, Karen McKinley, Sandy Vandenberg, Steve Stump, Alfredo Zarate, and Jana Larson expressed their appreciation to all the volunteers for their varied services donated to the Forest Service.
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Remembering the Season Past
The season's end is upon us. Remember your first trip? How the forest was not quite awake yet? How the ground and trees had that smell of snow not long melted? How the snow flowers were popping up from their long sleep? How you had to step over the inevitable downed trees and the many rocks that seem to grow on the trails during the winter months?
Remember how, as summer progressed, the wonderful smell of the sun on the pines was the most wonderful of scents? And how many great folks you met on the trails? And your new friends made in the volunteer group? And how fit you were becoming, no longer panting up that steep slope?
Remember, how as fall approached, the colors began to change? How the nights cooled and a sweater or jacket seemed a good idea? And how often it seemed to threaten rain...or maybe even did?
And as the season closes you remember all the events and activities you participated in with the knowledge that you have had a most wonderful time; all the while you were giving your time, energies, and talents to a very worthwhile cause.
We thank you - all of you - and know you will be back again next season!
Editor
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Send questions or comments by email  to Michael Gordon, San Gorgonio Volunteer Association, 34701 Mill Creek Road, Mentone, CA 92359, USA. Telephone (909) 382-2882.
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