IAT NEWSLETTER
JANUARY 2000

Organization Information	Upcoming Events
Letter from the President	Notes from IAT Friends
Letter from the Editor	John Denver Memorabilia
Environmental Headlines	Websites of Interest
Fundraisers	Poems, Thoughts and Inspirational Thoughts
Newsletter News

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"IT'S ABOUT TIME WE BEGIN IT, TO TURN THE WORLD AROUND..."
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ORGANIZATION INFORMATION:
Co-Founder/Former President - Marcelle Orswell (morswell@earthlink.net)
Co-Founder and Secretary -- Theresa Shea (Tree1A@aol.com)
Co-Founder and Webpage Designer -- Sandy Clark (IATMail@aol.com)
President -- Ann Schnitz (aerie01@sprynet.com)
Newsletter Editor -- Ellen La Corte Quinn (elq@gateway.net)

Web Site -- http://members.aol.com/tybrenn/

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LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT and THE EDITOR
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Hello, JD friends,

Here's something different to begin this month's newsletter. Ann is focused on moving at the moment and I have been wracking my brain for something interesting to say and haven't come up with anything. So, in lieu of letters, we'd like to offer the following poem as our message to you this month. It's in honor of JohnÖnaturally.

As always, wishing you well,
Ann and Ellen

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"...IT'S ABOUT TIME WE START TO MAKE IT,
THE DREAM WE'VE ALWAYS KNOWN..."
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ENVIRONMENTAL HEADLINES
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A VICTORY FOR THE WOLVES!!!
The following was reported by Reuters/Denver on January 13, 2000.

U.S. COURT SAYS YELLOWSTONE WOLVES CAN STAY
A federal appeals court panel on Thursday ordered a reprieve for the thriving gray wolves of Yellowstone National Park, handing a victory to environmentalists and a defeat to ranchers. In a 3-0 vote the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver reversed a Wyoming lower court ruling that the wolves, regarded by ranchers as livestock predators, be removed. ``The wolves are here to stay. It's a great day for wolves,'' Mark Van Putten, president of the National Wildlife Federation, said by telephone from Washington.
Ranchers represented by the American Farm Bureau launched their legal battle against the wolves when they were reintroduced in 1995 after not being seen in the area for 60 years.

The original pack of 30 wolves was captured in Canada. Fifteen were sent to Yellowstone in Wyoming and the rest to wildlands in neighboring Idaho. Van Putten said there were now more than 300 wolves in Yellowstone and Idaho. A district court judge in Wyoming in 1997 ruled that the wolves must go but postponed implementation of the order, saying the wolves could stay until a higher court could decide the matter. Lawyers for the Chicago-based farm bureau were not immediately available to comment.

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ANDÖONE FOR THE TREES, TOO?

Apparently, there was a proposal before the City Council in Aspen to use the John Denver Sanctuary for a leash-free dog run! After lots of word of mouth and e-mailing, many John Denver fans let their voices be heard, in favor of leaving the Sanctuary as it is, and the proposal was ultimately scrapped. Guess those doggie will have to "go" elsewhereÖ

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FUNDRAISERS
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FUNDRAISING IDEAS FOR THE HUNGER PROJECT NEEDED

In 1998, we organized our first fundraiser for The Hunger Project. It was "The IAT Cyber Cookbook" and it raised almost $500. In 1999, we continued the tradition and raised over $325 for The Hunger Project with the "Cyber Cookbook, the Sequel". This year, we are going to continue our fundraising efforts for The Hunger Project, but we would like some new ideas. The cookbooks were fairly successful and we would be happy to do another if
there is enough interest, but we would also be more than willing to try something new. Please submit any fundraising ideas for The Hunger Project to Ann at aerie01@sprynet.com or Sandy atIATMail@aol.com.

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UPCOMING EVENTS
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AN AFTERNOON OF FOLK SONGS

Come and enjoy 2000 JD Gathering at Moccasin Lake Nature Park, Clearwater, FL: "An Afternoon of Folk Songs", featuring the music of John Denver. Presented by Charlie Zahm. Date: Saturday, Feb 19, - Tampa, FL area. Picnic starts at 12:30. Please contact Pat Hough at PAHough@aol.com, before February 10th, for more information.
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HAWK MOUNTAIN BENCH DEDICATION and PA CLEAN-UP DAY

We finally have a firm date for our celebration of John and dedication of the benches in his name. It will be held on June 18 - that's Father's Day - 2000. That's the day we could get everyone together and it will be nice to celebrate John's life on that day anyway since he's a "Dad" too. It will be held at the amphitheater at the sanctuary from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. I might try to extend the evening time if I get more speakers. The singers are Frank DeLaMarre from Michigan, Charlie Zahm from Philadelphia, and Carol Sullivan from New Jersey. I'm hoping to have a surprise or two. Please check the web page from time to time for updates. That address is http://members.aol.com/tybrenn/hawkmtn/hawkmtn.html.

One of the PA Friends of John Denver (me!) has a scheduled cleanup on Jan. 30. Now I know that wasn't so bright, considering its Superbowl Sunday, and I forgot that when I gave out that date, so I'm going ahead with it and anyone who wants to help me, I'd really appreciate it. The cleanup is about 10 minutes outside of Reading, PA, so any of you PA folk who want to take a walk in the cold, let me know. We start at 2 p.m. and if there are about four or more of us it takes less than two hours.

Blessings in 2000,
Judith Gabriel (flyangel@early.com)
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IN CELEBRATION OF THE EARTH

We invite you to join us for an Earth Day Concert featuring the music of John Denver. It will be held on Sunday, April 30, 2000 from 11a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Rams Head Tavern, Annapolis, MD. There will be a buffet lunch (see menu below) and wonderful music. Performing for us will be our own Charlie Zahm; the Hard Travelers, featuring Mack Bailey and Kenn Roberts; and this year we have added a percussionist - David Stemple, from Virginia. Proceeds from the show will benefit the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).

The cost is $30.00/person which includes the buffet lunch, sound system rental and a small donation to the WCS. We will have items for auction as well as items for sale which include the bears from our symposium last year in Aspen. Please contact Ann Schintz at aerie01@sprynet.com for info on where to mail your payment.

Deadline for reservations is APRIL 21, 2000. NO REFUNDS AFTER THAT DATE.

MENU:

Queen Henrietta Maria Lunch Buffet: Market Street Prime Rib: Prime Rib
served in a robust au jus with a creamy horseradish sauce.

Chicken Santa Anna: Sautéed chicken with proscuitto ham & roasted corn in a
Asiago cream sauce over farfalle pasta.

Salmon Hollandaise: Prime cuts of salmon filet broiled with a light
seasoning and finished with a rich hollandaise sauce.

Classico Caesar: Leafy romaine lettuce tossed with our house Caesar
dressing, seasoned croutons & freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

Vegetable Du Jour: The chef's freshest selection of the day. Includes
coffee, tea, soft drinks with refills.

For any additional information, contact: Ann Schnitz (aerie01@sprynet.com)
or Mary Ledford (eagleshorses@yahoo.com)

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NOTES FROM IAT FRIENDS
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ENDING A MILLENNIUM
(From a moving e-mail the IAT staff received at the turn of the New Year.
Thank you, Dennis.)

Hi,
I just had to share with you a marvelous experience I hadÖ I was driving homeÖwhen I saw a large Redtail Hawk settle on top of a telephone pole wit a small rabbit. Then, an incredibly large Bald Eagle dove straight at him
and, at the last second, veered and flew a tight circle around the hawk His large white tail (was) spread like a fan and white ruff around his neck flared like an air brake, (with) his feet and talons pointing away from the hawk. As he swung around the hawk, the hawk's head swiveled to keep his eye on him. When the hawk's head had turned as far as it could, he snapped his head around the other way to follow the eagle, now less than a foot away. The second the hawk started to turn his head the Eagle rolled throwing fee and talons out and grabbing the Rabbit, pulling the hawk's feet out from under him. The hawk flew to the ground and watched the Eagle fly away with his catch. What a sight; I've seen videos of Eagles doing aerobatics buy nothing to compare with this. As I watched in awe, the Eagle flying away, would swear I could hear John singing "The Eagle and The Hawk". What a way to end the millennium! Here's hoping you find experiences to rival this on in the new millennium, and may John's music always be with you.
Dennis

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NEW 'BODY MIND SPIRIT EARTH' WEBSITE

Hello everyone,
I am a doctoral student in Behavioral Medicine at the Behavioral Physiolog Institute in Bainbridge Island Washington. Because I am convinced that all health issues, those of people, of wildlife, and of the earth, are bound together, I am about to launch a web site, "Health Webpicks.....Body Mind Spirit Earth." It will be a site filled with links to the best places on the internet which contribute to the physical, emotional and spiritual health of people and to the health of the earth. This site is my gift to John Denver. For many of us, John was a catalyst for personal change Th site will hopefully educate, entertain, assist people with making choices for their own health issues, and, perhaps, will encourage involvement in social and environmental action and raise money for causes which were so important to John.

We have an association with Amazon.com and proceeds from the sale of book and music there will go to Windstar, Plant It 2000, and The Hunger Project. So if you are a regular customer of Amazon.com, consider going throug Health Webpicks to make your purchase. We also have an association with Art.com and proceeds from the sales ther go to the Pacific Wildlife Project. Contributors to the site include Tom Crum, Judy Warner, Michae Thau, Sandy Ostertag, Charles Tart and others. I am indebted to them for their generosity of spirit in their willingness to participate in this new venture. Please come visit the site at: www.healthwebpicks.com.

My hope, too, is that you will participate in making comments and suggestions for Health Webpicks. We really are all in this together.

Peace,
Leslie Newman, MSW
"There are no passengers on spaceship earth. We are all crew." - Marshall
McLuhan
www.healthwebpicks.com
e-mail: starwood2@mindspring.com

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SAD NEWS FROM WINDSTAR

David Tice, the land manager who worked so hard on the John Denver Meadowlands report to obtain the NADF donation for the ceremony I arranged, and who had just seeded down acres and acres of the Meadowlands this past
summer and was spreading hay on them during the Windstar Open House Columbus Day Weekend, just died of leukemia. (He) had been undergoing chemo treatments and thought he was in remission until recently. He went very
(quickly) - in about a month's time. What a shame--young, hardworking and really a believer in preserving John's lands out there. His last email to me was that he was going to put another coat of silicone on the Meadowlands sign I brought out there and that he had put in the ground himself. (A)nyone who went out there for the Open House may remember him. He is in most of the pictures from the' 98 ceremony, (a) blonde guy who read his report to the crowd.

I sent a donation in his memory and honor to the Windstar Land Conservancy for the John Denver Meadowlands revegetation project that David was working so hard on. He was in charge of a team so hopefully they will continue what he began.

Bette Danse [bettedanse@snet.net]

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BENCHES AT HAWK MOUNTAIN

We made it! With three last contributions coming in after Christmas, we made more than enough to commission the second bench. The contributions from beginning to end totaled enough ($2,500) to receive two benches as tokens of appreciation for large contributions to the sanctuary (costing between $100-200 each, Nancy Keeler said), plus four kestrel research boxes. All of this, of course, was donated in John Denver's name. All donors will be getting their letters of thanks from me very shortly and from Hawk Mt. after the holidays. I already sent John's family notification from Hawk Mt. as well as my own letter.

In that letter I quote the lines from one of John's songs, "I love the Lord, I love the little people," saying that this is a gift from the "little people," some of whom could little afford to give a donation, yet loved John so much that they wanted to be a part of something in his name. So come to Hawk Mt., join the Sanctuary if you choose, sit on a bench that John might have sat on as he looked out over the ridge watching eagles and hawks.

If you have any comments or questions please feel free to contact me. It is a real positive thing that you have done, and Nancy Keeler thanked us on behalf of Hawk Mt. for what she said was a generous donation in John's name.

Thanks again,
Judith Gabriel [flyangel@early.com]

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FRIENDS OF JD-MIDWEST/CHICAGO UPDATE

Right now, our group is and has been since last month, in the midst of getting organized. I'm pleased to tell you that the response has been wonderful -- far beyond what I originally imagined when I began to take this ball and run with it! I've heard from so many wonderful people-from Minnesota, Missouri, Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin (my home state), and Ohio, as well as Chicago, where I live now. Of course, I'd always love to hear from more JD fans in our Midwest area.

My vision for this group not only includes get-togethers (campouts/sing-alongs), but alsoÖbeing a source of support, awareness, and education for the many causes that John so believed in, worked for, and sang for. Some examples, as you no doubt know, are feeding hungry children, caring for the environment, and helping handicapped children. Many have suggested tree planting as something we could get involved in, and there is a project I have in mind called "John Denver Meadowlands." This is sponsored by the National Arbor Day Foundation. This project involves planting acres of trees near the Windstar headquarters, which is near Aspen, Colorado. I am also looking at the possibility of sponsoring a child through Compassion International, which is based in Colorado Springs. I have some other ideas, which I will share as time goes on.

Anyone who would like to join us is welcome to write me at my e-mail address: 75210.645@compuserve.com .

Peace,
Margaret Moores


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WISCONSIN FRIENDS OF JD from Karen Seiser <karenj@wi.net>

"The Wisconsin Friends of John Denver" and have finally (almost) completed our website. Our address is: http://users.wi.net/~wifjd . Please contact Karen at karenj@wi.net for more infomration.

We are having a gathering in Racine, WI on April 1 from 1-7pm. at the Holiday Inn Express. We will be welcoming any new members as well as discussing our goals for 2000. Our group has 30 members and we have 3 newsletters a year, next one available May 2000.

Our group want to thank all of you for what you have done and continue to do in John's honor. Again, if there is anything we can do, possibly join ideas and plans, please let me know.

Peace and Friends in JD....Karen.

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JOHN DENVER MEMORABILIA
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Recently, there have been several complaints about certain websites and their ability to deliver the John Denver products that they advertise. Our connection to each other, as a John Denver Network, is a good way to keep abreast of the credible vendors, as well as the not so credible. However, if you do have a problem with an order you've placed and cannot achieve satisfaction, there are several things you can do.

1) If you have placed an order by credit card, many times there is recourse through your credit card company. So, give them a call to see if they can help you out.

2) The Better Business Bureau is now online. You can register complaints about online fraud with them at: http://www.betterbusinessbureau.com. Complaints can also be posted at:http://www.fraudbureau.com/ and http://www.fraud.org, as well.

3) Please keep your fellow John Denver fans informed. Just hearing about your trouble with a particular vendor can prevent many others from a similar hassle.

"LowellNorman.com" is one website to be warned against, according to several IAT friends. International Disk is, apparently, in the "iffy" category. And, JDProjectV@aol.com is yet another questionable source for John Denver products.

-E. L. Quinn

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WEBSITES OF INTEREST
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www.healthwebpicks.com ("body, mind, spirit, earth" website described above, in Leslie Newman's letter)

www.frankdelamarre.com (singer/songwriter Frank DeLaMarre's website)

www.freethebears.org.au/index.htm (Free the Bears Fund, Inc. website - an Australian-based organization dedicated to preserving, protecting and enriching the lives of bears)

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POEMS, QUOTES AND INSPIRATIONAL THOUGHTS
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The following is excerpted from "101 Ways To Keep John Denver's Memory Alive" by Annalisa Berns.

To keep John Denver's Memory Alive:
-Help a farmer harvest wheat.
-Howl like a wolf.
-Face everyday like it is your first or the last one.
-Read "Alfie The Christmas Tree", by John Denver, to a child.
-Go plant a tree!
-Watch a meteor shower.
-If you want children in you family, consider adoption.
-Love children.
-Listen to silence.
-Listen to people.
-Listen to the earth.
- "Love the earth as you would love yourself."
-Go bird watching.
-Live with honor.
-Climb a tree.
-Climb a mountain.
-Learn more about astronomy.
-Watch re-runs of Jim Henson's The Muppet Show.
-Listen to Peter, Paul and Mary.
-Visit Alaska.
-Try Reiki.
-Vote for him to be on a postage stamp. Write to: Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee, US Postal Service, 475 L'Enfant Plaza S.W., Room 4474E, Washington, D.C. 20260-2437.
-Read his autobiography "Take Me Home"
-Call a radio station and request that they play one of his songs.
-Have a compost pile.
-Rent the movie "Oh, God!"
-Go camping.
-Say "Far Out!" aloud in public at least once in your life.
-Donate pet food to your local animal shelter in his name.
-Know that, in life, every day is a gift.
-Join a John Denver fan club.
-Encourage children to learn how to play musical instruments.
-Believe in love.
-Learn how to fly.
-Be an unapologetic optimist.

(For a complete copy, contact Annalisa at aberns@hotmail.com.)

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NEWSLETTER NEWS
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If you would like to submit articles, news items, stories, poetry, or any other pertinent information to IT'S ABOUT TIME, please e-mail any of the IAT staff, or send it directly to the Editor, Ellen La Corte Quinn, at elq@gateway.net. I welcome your contributions! The submission deadline for our February edition is February 15, 2000.

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"...IT'S ABOUT TIME WE START TO LIVE IT, THE FAMILY OF MAN."

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