Page 10 - Summer 2013 magazine

As with everything that we as an organization do to raise funds, organize events, educate our user groups and maintain the infrastruc-
ture at Red Rock Canyon, there is the unknown story of the “behind the scenes” work. This is a highly condensed version of the re-
markable volunteer effort that went into obtaining the Red Rock Canyon Charitable License Plate.

And it all began with just one person saying, “I can do that.”

The story that began 10 years ago obtained a re- would be four new charitable plate slots available.
markable achievement in May 2013. The Red Rock Friends needed to prepare a packet of organizational
Canyon charitable license plate, the first license to stability and letters of support, as well as a prelimi-
benefit a Bureau of Land Management site, sur- nary design.
passed 2,000 plates on the roads.

Friends started the research into getting a charitable Enter Julia (aka “Jules”) Burke. Jules spent weeks at
license plate in 2001 but couldn’t find a volunteer the Rock taking photographs of some of the Rock’s
willing to take the lead role on obtaining the plate most iconic images – The Rainbow Range, Mount
until 2003. Norman Wolin, during an annual plan- Wilson, Turtlehead Peak, the Calico Hills – trying to
ning meeting, volunteered to take the leadership po- find the image that would personify Red Rock Can-
sition on the project. The Department of Motor Ve- yon. After sifting through hundreds of photos, Jules
hicles (DMV) policies and procedures were clear: narrowed the selection for the License Plate Commit-
Only 20 charitable plates were allowed to be active tee: Norman Wolin, Athena Sparks, Jules Burke and
and there were already 20 charitable plates available Pat Williams; and a choice was made. We were off to
for sale. Friends could apply for a spot in the Carson City to present our charitable plate concept
“queue” of organizations and hope, through attrition and support packet.
and insufficient charitable plate sales, that slots
would open up for a Red Rock Canyon license plate. Our application and preliminary design was accepted
in February 2007. We were number three in the queue
Norman organized the required support petitions, as
we needed to have 1,000 signatures for new charitable license plates! All we had to do

affirming interest in purchasing was wait for the
issue date.
the plate if and/or when it
became available. Norman
also called the DMV
on a monthly basis
to see where our
license plate dream

stood in the queue.
Finally, in early
2007, we were
notified that there

Norman Wolin with one of the first Red Rock Canyon License Plates. Friends Archives Photo
Page 10 (Continued on page 13)