Page 43 - 2005 DT 12 Issues

Making A Difference by Pat Williams

illie Stephenitch, Community Relations Chair for Friends of Red
Rock Canyon, was awarded one of eight BLM National “Making a
WDifference” Volunteer Awards. The ceremony on May 11, 2005 in
Washington, D.C. was opened by Secretary of the Interior, Gale Norton, with
some of the following remarks:
“Many of those that we are recognizing today have been leaders in
volunteer efforts. Willie Stephenitch at Nevada’s Red Rock Canyon National
Conservation Area designed and developed a clean-up event called ‘Trash Bash
Day.’ Those efforts—the seeing, the doing and the leading—have made real
improvements on Bureau of Land Management Lands.
“That is truly the case at the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation
Area. It is a beautiful area near Las Vegas I visited a few years ago. It receives Jim Hughes, BLM Dep. Dir., Meg Jensen,
more than one million visitors each year. This past March, more than 41,000 Acting Assoc. State Dir., Willie Stephenitch,
people poured through it. The few federal employees at Red Rock are as dedi- Rebecca Watson, Asst. Sec. of Interior,
Lands and Mineral Mgmt.
cated as any in the Department, but by themselves, they simply cannot meet
all the needs of that many visitors.
“Volunteers are also vital to the lives of a few other creatures in the Con-
servation area, namely, Mojave Max, a male desert tortoise and his nine female consorts, who are kept near the visitor’s center.
Those creatures are far more than mascots. Seeing Mojave Max helps visitors understand the unique value of the desert and the
necessity of preserving it. Unfortunately, except for the volunteers at Red Rock, Mojave Max and his fellow tortoises would not
be as well cared for.
“The same could be said across the nation . . . the gifts of Bureau of Land Management volunteers have added up to something
extraordinary . . . . Your labors have touched the earth deeply . . . . Your efforts have made a lasting imprint, you have left a legacy
for others to follow . . . . As a result, each of you has done something extraordinary. Each of you has made a difference.”
The “Make a Difference” awards are celebrating their 10 year of recognizing BLM volunteers. The volunteers and partner
th
organizations of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area have been honored with this award more than any in the nation.

place in March at the Canyon. SARS account (associated with there’s no one pull those nasty weeds?
T Mark Rekshynskyj suggested SNPLMA funding) to support ceiling Or . . . no one to prepare those tasty
that Friends hold a User’s Group repairs, septic tank and leaching dishes Max likes so well? Or check the
“Festival,” where groups could field work. burrows? Or, or . . . turn on the water!!?

distribute information and solicit mutual T The boardwalk at Red Springs No! Someone will remember . . .
cooperation. Friends will consider has been completed. Kim McLean won’t they?
coordinating another User’s Group reported that exhibits funded by Relax, Max! Surely some kind
Conference similar to those held in SNPLMA have been released.
2002 and 2003. T The next board meeting will Friends will call Carol Snyder (Max’s
T Through Natural Resources take place on June 18, 9 a.m. at the very best friend) real soon and save
Chair Mark Beauchamp, 15 climbers Red Rock Canyon Pavilion, unless you from yet
from the L.V. Climbers Liaison Council otherwise posted. another scolding
cleared 13 of 15 graffiti panels in difficult (bachelorhood
to access areas as a Red Rock Poor Tortoise wasn’t really
Rendezvous service project. so bad after all,
Just when he thought he was was it?). They’ve
BLM Report covered, two of his best friends are never let you down before.
T Ceiling repairs at the Visitor leaving him. It’s not their fault. She’s just Carol is ready to sign up volunteers
Center have closed the office and leaving for the summer and promises to right now. Just call her at 268-2820 and
kitchen area, as well as the RRCIA be back, with lots of TLC, by October. let her know what day you can come out
offices, for several months. Temporary
offices have been set up in the Friends He’s moving away! (How could he?) and help. Make Max happy . . . keep
Room. All programs scheduled for the Max hasn’t broken the news to the those “girls” quiet.
F r i e n d s R o o m h a v e b e e n “girls” . . . yet (what he really doesn’t
reassigned. need right now is more abuse). There’s
T Mike Reiland reported that lots of little things that need fixing, too.
funds are being solicited from the If only summer wasn’t coming. What if News & Notes, continued on p. 5.
FORRC/June 2005 Page 3