Page 27 - 2007 DT 12 Issues

wild to pry open logs or dig into termite Visitor Center. The board approved funds to Georgia Pollas; Elliot Emmer; Francis
mounds or crevices to extract insects and include participation in two out-of-town Casanova; Victor La; Justin Ramos;
other delicacies. Interesting, but it hardly meetings, as well. Julia Tokuhama; Anna Lam; Joshua
compares to an episode observed by • On Saturday, March 3, Ranger Sautos; and Jared McCreary.
researchers in the Congo. As reported in Gina Miele and Friends Director Gracia
an October 2005 issue of Science News, Friesema participated in the “Feria para
a female gorilla yanked a roughly 3-foot- la Mujer y la Familia”
long branch from a dead tree and waded sponsored by Univi-
into a deep pool of water. Keeping the
stick in front of her upper body above the sion Radio Station and
water, the gorilla slowly advanced about the City of Las Vegas
30 feet into the pool, testing the water’s Cultural Affairs Divi-
depth as she went, then returned to her sion. The event was
infant on shore. Several weeks later, an educational forum
another female ripped the thick trunk off on health, education, A huge THANK YOU to Vicki
a dead shrub, using the wood to support finance, beauty and the environment. Sudduth, who helped keep the volunteers
herself with one hand while she dug for • Three members of the Cultural on track with their projects – I couldn’t
herbs with the other. She then placed the Resources Committee attended a two-day have done it without you! THANK
trunk across a patch of swampy ground training course given by the Nevada Rock YOU Jim & Missy Sudduth and Fred
and used it as a makeshift bridge. Art Foundation. Jorgensen for all your hard work.
Observations of animal intelligence • The Hospitality Committee is Projects completed: painted
continue to reveal previously unseen gearing up to encourage members to restroom floors, trash containers, host
complexity as researchers delve deeper “save this date” for the Friends 2007 Annu- area sheds, collected trash and bundled
with more sophisticated tools and survey al Banquet on December 1, at the Officer’s firewood. —Barb Jorgensen
a wider array of species. Our examples Club, Nellis Air Force Base. Purveyors for
New Board Director:
of animal communication and tool use the upcoming May and August General
have cracked open a window to the Member Meetings have been contracted. Gary Vetter
animal mind, but there is much more
to tell. The story continues next month There will be no April Board Meeting.
with thoughts on episodic memory, lthough born in Omaha, my fa-
ther had the good sense to bring
cognitive capacity and imagination in Ame west to California in 1942.
creatures that visit our backyards. ❏ Campground News He claimed he made the move because
BLM has requested that Friends A
March Board Notes huge THANK YOU to all the he found it easier to shovel sunshine
than snow. I have always been grateful
• UNLV Circle K International for his wisdom.
students who volunteered
Office Manager Vicki Sudduth assist their time on a beautiful Saturday After finishing high school in Van
Ranger Kate Sorom with Desk scheduling (1/27) afternoon to help keep our Nuys, California, I worked my way
since Kate’s 120-day detail as Lead Park campground beautiful: through California State University Sac-
Ranger, beginning April 1, is concurrent with ramento at various jobs. So far, Linda
her duties as Volunteer Coordinator. BLM Rachel Ngo, President of UNLV Circle has tolerated me for over 42 years, as she
will pay labor costs for the 16 hours a K; Jamie Machain; Ray Magana; made us a home in distant places around
month required. Director Freer motioned the world. She also became proficient at
to approve the arrangement, Director Bene- Pete Robinson; Lisa Bao; Jamie Lee; multi-tasking, providing me with two
dict seconded. The vote was unanimous Paul Delos Santos; John Chau; Chris daughters, which she raised while I was
in favor. Plasterer; Cynthia Montoya; Joyce absent for months and years at a time.
• Norm Kresge has resigned as En- Hsu; Andrea Nguyen; Stephanie In 1964 I joined the Air Force and
vironmental Education Committee Chair. Chen; Anavie Salvador; Emmanuel made it into Officer Training School,
His outstanding leadership will be missed. Mojica; Alfred Liu; Catherine Luib; where they “kicked me out” as a
• Friends will participate in HSBC- Jose Ledezma; Ruben Diaz Jr.; Distinguished Graduate with the rank
World Environment Day. Shawn Holloway Jr.; Ronald Liu;
• President Pat Williams presently Christian Johnson Jr.; Paul Lawson;
attends all planning meetings for the new Yuliya Shakhievich; James Casanova; News and Notes, continued on page 6

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