IAT NEWSLETTER
FEBRUARY 2002
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"IT'S ABOUT TIME WE BEGIN IT,
TO TURN THE WORLD AROUND . . ."
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ORGANIZATION INFORMATION:
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Co-Founder/Former President - Marcelle Orswell
Co-Founder and Secretary -- Theresa Shea (Tree1A@aol.com)
Co-Founder and Webpage Designer -- Sandy Clark (tybrenn@mediaone.net)
Co-Presidents -- Ann Schnitz (aerie01@sprynet.com)
and
Mary Ledford (eagleshorses@yahoo.com)
Newsletter Editor -- Marcia C. Porter (mport@netnitco.net)
Web Site -- http://people.ne.mediaone.net/tybrenn/iat/
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LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
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Dear Friends,
Since we have so much information packed into this month's issue, I thought I'd skip
my letter and get on with the show. I'm thrilled to be able to share this special
Valentine's Day present with you all -- a transcript of the January 11, 2001 telephone
interview Ron Deutschendorf gave to Steve Sine of WJPF radio in Southern Illinois.
The interview aired on Sunday, January 14, and our pal David Marx was kind enough
to prepare this account of it for us. Thanks so very much to David and special thanks
to Ron D. for all you do! Plenty of other goodies here too...so read on.
My heart to yours,
Ann
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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
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Marcia is enjoying a much-deserved vacation in a warm, sunny place -- lucky girl!
Look for a letter from her next month.
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QUOTE OF THE MONTH
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How lovely to think that no one need wait a moment, we can start now, start slowly
changing the world! How lovely that everyone, great and small, can make their contribution
toward introducing justice straightaway... And you can always, always give something,
even if it is only kindness!"
Anne Frank
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
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Frank DeLaMarre in Concert, Feb 10 Doylestown, PA
Charlie Zahm in Concert, March 16, Doylestown, PA
In Celebration of the Earth, April 21, Annapolis, MD
John Denver Retreat with the Pennsylvania Friends of John Denver, May 18-20, 2001
Mt. Gretna/Lebanon, PA.
Getting-To-Know-Each-Other-Day in Oberhausen, Germany
May 19, 2001, John Denver Fan Club
Other German Get Togethers -- see below
John Denver Fan Club annual John Denver Weekend -
September 29-30, 2001 in Sinzig near Bonn, Germany
See details on calendar events below
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NEWS
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IAT FUNDRAISING
Submissions are now closed for the IAT Idea Cookbook. This is a cyber book like our
previous cookbooks, but it will have a different focus. The goal was to round up
hints and household tips that are earth-friendly, and incorporate them with other
environmental behaviors to make an easy-to-do handbook from which we'll all benefit,
especially Mother Earth. As an additional Hunger Project fundraiser, we have made
our 2 world famous IAT Cyber Cookbooks (The Original and The Sequel) available again.
Look for ordering info here soon.
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AN INTERVIEW WITH RON DEUTSCHENDORF
Steve Sine: Our guest this morning is Ron Deutschendorf. He is the brother of singer/songwriter
John Denver who passed away in a plane crash a few years ago. Ron, thanks for being
with us.
Ron Deutschendorf: Thank you.
SS: I understand that the Windstar Foundation is starting up again. Can you tell
us about the Windstar Foundation and what was Johnís dream and what you plan to continue?
RD: Sure. It would be my pleasure to do that, Steve. The Windstar Foundation is
a non-profit, environmental education organization, which promotes a holistic approach
to addressing environmental concerns. It was started by my brother and Tom Crum,
an aikido master, back in 1976. It has done a lot of wonderful things over the years,
but itís primary purpose has been to educate people about how they can participate
in affecting the environment and in creating a sustainable future on this planet.
SS: What was the response when Windstar began?
RD: It was a slow response. Initially, people were interested just because of Johnís
notoriety. So they started paying attention to it. But thereís always that cautiousness
whenever an entertainer starts getting involved with anything other than their chosen
profession. As people started finding out more about it, it got a great deal of
attention. There have been a number of organizations that have sprung up out of
what had started out of the Windstar philosophy.
SS: Now, the foundation has basically remained dormant for the past two years?
RD: Well, itís almost been three years, ever since the accident happened. It [Windstar's
hiatus] happened for a number of reasons. There were negotiations going on with
the Rocky Mountain Institute to come in and replace the National Wildlife Federation
as a partner of Windstar Foundation in what is called the Windstar Land Conservancy.
The negotiations have, in effect, gone on for three years while things remained
somewhat dormant with the foundation. Recently, November 2nd, everything was resolved,
an agreement was formulated and signed so that now the land that John had initially
purchased for the foundation can go on now in perpetuity and be taken care of. The
Rocky Mountain Institute has been doing a great deal to bring the land back to its
natural, original state. I think they dug out about 25,000 tons of silt out of the
pond thatís on there. This particular piece of property is a place where a herd
of elk come every year, as part of their migratory pattern. Itís a beautiful piece
of property. We encourage people to go out there. Itís a wonderful place to go
out an visit, meditate, and enjoy nature.
SS: Itís located in Colorado?
RD: Yes, itís in Old Snowmass, CO, just outside of Aspen.
SS: Does Windstar have a corporate headquarters or is it just a network?
RD: Thereís actually an executive office in Santa Fe, NM, where Cheryl Charles, who
has been the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees for a number of years now, lives.
John and her moved the offices there after the 1995 [Windstar Choices for the Future]
Symposium. They were moving things for a number of reasons. Prices in and around
Aspen were ridiculous. They were working on this negotiation with Rocky Mountain
Institute (RMI). Part of the negotiation with RMI was to allow them to take over
the buildings and use [them] as their offices that are on the Windstar property,
so that they could be there, closer to the land that they are maintaining, taking
care of. There was a need to move the executive offices. By executive offices [I
mean] itís really all the administration of being a foundation. No body gets paid
for doing anything at this point in time. In years gone by, they had an executive
director who ran things day-to-day and maybe a secretary or so that were actually
on the payroll. But [now], everything goes into the programs.
SS: Were you involved any of Johnís enterprises over the past two or three years?
RD: Well, I actually managed John back in ë86-í87 when he asked me to come in and
get involved in his career. His career had been flipping over a number of years
and so, for about a two year period, there was a great deal of work that we did together.
We were able to put him back in a position where he could do as much or as little
work as he wanted for the ten years prior to his accident.
SS: Why did you get involved now in Windstar?
RD: One, I feel that, as with Johnís music, this is truly a legacy of his. I felt
that the Windstar Foundation had done so much good over the years that there was
a need out there. One of the main purposes of the foundation was to make people
aware of the environment and what we are doing to it. I sure you well know, the
waterís not a lot cleaner and the air is certainly not a lot more breathable in a
lot of places. So, thereís still a need out there for people to become aware of
and to start taking action to make this planet sustainable for life.
SS: Many artists who have passed on, there music is more popular in death than in
life. Are you finding that with your brother?
RD: No, thatís certainly not the case. Thatís something I hope to have a certain
amount of influence over also. Thereís a lot of Johnís music that people who havenít
heard it in the pastÖ You know, when Elvis passed away, his fans went and got all
they could. There was a tremendous surge to buy all of the Elvis Presley music because
people thought there wouldnít be any more. By " be any more" [I mean]
that it would go out of print, out of circulation. In the course of all of that,
a lot of people became aware of what Elvis had done and his influence on music.
With Johnís music, unlike Elvisí, it tells a story, puts you in touch with things,
just like the foundation itself. It makes you aware of the planet, if you will.
One of the things that John and I discussed over the years, which he took to heart
and made great use of, was that his gift of music was a tremendous tool with which
to communicate. Basically, this came out of my experience in Vietnam, when you take
away the politics and the religion, you find out that everybodyís the same. All
grandparents want their grandchildren to have a better life. The music is a tool
by which you can communicate. A lot of Johnís songs wonderfully communicated about
life, about family, morality, and the environment.
SS: Is there anything out there that hasnít been released? I mean, are there any
older songs that people have found that havenít been released that may be soon?
RD: Well there are. Thereís some archival stuff that RCA has found that were [recorded]
when John went in to do different album projects. He maybe recorded fifteen tunes
and [only] twelve were put out. Thereís three that were never released for one reason
or another. Theyíve been doing some things with that and releasing new songs. Michael
Omansky, who is a very good friend of mine from BMG Music, has put a compilation
album thatís going to be released, I think, next month or the next couple of months.
Thatís another one thatís a release, but it has again two or three songs that were
never released before that will be on that. We have a project that I actually have
of John performing in Russia that has never been released. Itís John, by himself,
and his guitar, which there was never a concert album released of John performing
with just his guitar. Thatís another project that weíve thought about releasing.
SS: At the time of his death, there were a lot of rumors as it goes about what happened.
Can you just really briefly give us a basic synopsis of what happened that fateful
day?
RD: Well, itís been proven that he didnít run out of gas. But that the accident
was, in fact, an accident. It was not pilot error, that it was the valve that controlled
the flow from the tanks to the fuel line to the engine. It was that valve that was
the problem. Thereís been a settlement that Iím not involved in. Itís my mom and
Johnís three children, but there was a settlement made based on that. That kind
of sums it up. It was an accident.
SS: Thereís another issue that I want to talk about here and thatís a will. John
did not have a will?
RD: Well, thatís what they say. [laughs] We know for a fact that there had to have
been a will. You know, John had done a number of wills over the years and knew Colorado
law. He knew from his experience in his divorce with Annie that if you have a will
and something happens after you divorce your wife, then certain things transpire,
which she is automatically out of it, no matter what you had put in for her. And
that if you donít have a will then your kids get whatís left of your estate. There
were problems with John and his second wife. They had a very difficult divorce.
Knowing all of those things and how much trouble John had with all of that, everyone
knows that he would not have left his kids to have to deal with a similar situation.
He wouldnít have put them in that position, so we all know there was one. There
has not been one found though.
SS: Has there been a settlement reached?
RD: There really isnít a settlement. Everything goes to the kids.
SS: Speaking of kids, he had two children?
RD: He actually had three children. Zak and Anna Kate, he adopted when he and Annie
were married. Then, Jesse Belle, which was a child born to Cassandra while they
were married.
SS: How are they doing?
RD: I think the kids are all doing pretty good. I havenít got to talk to Jesse Belle
for a while. Her mother and she keep moving around quite a bit.
SS: About how old is she now?
RD: Jesse is eleven. The last thing I heard was when my mother had talked to me
and she had heard from Jesse Belle. Well, Jesse Belle had given her her new cell
phone number, which I thought was kind of ridiculous, for an eleven year old to have
a cell phone. Iím hoping to get to spend some more time with her. Zak and Anna
Kate, on the other hand, theyíre doing great. Theyíre great kids.
SS: Going back to Windstar, if someone wants to get involved in this organization
what should they do?
RD: Well, if they have the ability to go on the network, they can go to www.wstar.org
and they can find out everything about the Windstar Foundation, the Windstar Land
Conservancy, and they can download an application form. We hope, very soon theyíll
be able to participate on-line. Weíve taken great pains to try to put together a
secure server situation with Chase Manhattan Bank and another entity for software
so that people can actually participate via credit card.
SS: Itís a 501-3c organization?
RD: Yes, it is.
SS: Speaking of the internet, if anyone would like to find just about anything about
John, itís available there isnít it?
RD: Thereís a lot of sites Iíve found. I actually hadnít known there was so much
going on. Some of the friends and fans we have out there made us aware of sites
that pay a lot of attention to John.
SS: Our guest today is Ron Deutschendorf. For those of you who do not know, John
real last name is, of course, Deutschendorf. Right?
RD: Yes.
SS: How many other brothers or sisters were there?
RD: Oh, there was just John and myself.
SS: Whatís the age difference?
RD: He was five years older than I was, except for about three months out of the
year.
SS: One more thing before we go. There was a CBS story last year, [Take Me Home]
The John Denver Story. Was that accurate?
RD: No. It wasÖ oh, you canít say those things on your radio showÖthe old George
Carlin thingÖthe seven famous [dirty] words. But, I would have to say that that
was not correct. There were many, many problems with that.
SS: One of the things that I understand is that Johnís dad basically supported his
move, right?
RD: Yes, he did in its entirety. Itís funny because it was so ridiculously portrayed
in the movie how their relationship was. They had the typical relationship every
father has with his son at some point in their lives, but they had long since gotten
past that. Dad actually set up Johnís charter plane operation, which was also called
Windstar, and flew John. They had the greatest time in the world.
SS: If you listen to some of Johnís songs, you find out how close he was to his dad.
RD: Yes. Thatís for sure.
SS: Ron Deutschendorf, our guest today. he is beginning up the Windstar Foundation,
once again. Ron, thanks for being with us.
RD: Thank you very much, Steve
**********
PEACE CLOTH MAKES COLORFUL STATEMENT
by J.P. McDaniel
John Denver often sang of peace and a better world. Although the singer died over
three years ago, his influence lives on. Denver's tireless efforts toward world peace
will be recognized this weekend during the national kick off for
the Season For Nonviolence, at Mile Hi Church of Religious Science in Lakewood.
This is the fourth year for the Season for Nonviolence, a world wide event that promotes
the principles of peace as taught by M.K. Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
More than 150 cities worldwide will be participating in the event, with Colorado
chosen to host the opening. A highlight of the event will be the display of the
John Denver World Peace Cloth , a colorful and artistic piece of work created by
more than 1,000 individuals world wide. The cloth, which depicts Denver's commitment
to humanity and the environment, has been displayed at the United Nations and other
events throughout the United States and Europe. The tapestry is over 800 feet long
and continues to grow. It has only been shown once in its entirety, at the United
Nations Millennium for Peace event last September, but will be fully displayed at
Mile Hi Church on Sunday, Feb. 5.
The cloth began about a year ago through the inspiration of Washington state resident
Debra Chilton, who was inspired by Denver's message. She let others know of her idea
of a peace cloth and the quilt sections started rolling in at a pace that
was soon overwhelming for Chilton. Others volunteered to help sew the pieces together,
and requests to display the cloth started coming forth. Chilton says the cloth has
become a means of expression for people who were touched by Denver's messages. People
from all over the world have contributed cloth that is meaningful to them. Pieces
included material from a wedding dress from a couple who met at one of Denver's concerts,
cloth from a grieving mother whose dying daughter loved John Denver, a section from
a Los Angles police officer's shirt, baby clothes, tie-dyed clothing, concert clothing,
plus elaborately embroidered and painted pictures and hand stitched wording on colorful
cloth swatches.
Chilton states the cloth has taken on a life of its own, continuing to grow and expand
as more material comes in from people of all ages, cultures and geographic regions.
It is almost impossible to view this magnificent tapestry and not feel the love
and special messages behind the individual pieces of cloth. One also begins to get
an idea of the impact John Denver had on many lives. The message of peace is truly
one of his legacies.
Another legacy is the Windstar Foundation and the Windstar Land Conservancy, a 1,000
acre education and wildlife area near Aspen. Speaking at Mile Hi's Season for Nonviolence
opening on behalf of Windstar will be Ron Deutschendorf, Denver's
brother and newly appointed president of the Windstar Foundation. Following Denver's
death, the Windstar Foundation experienced a time of hiatus and regrouping. It is
now open to membership again and is making plans to move forward. Deutschendorf will
talk about Windstar and his brother's vision for peace at all three morning services,
at 8:30, 10 and 11:30. In addition, Deutschendorf will address approximately 600
teenagers, along with Dr. Arun Gandhi, grandson of M.K. Gandhi, Friday evening at
6 at George Washington High School in Denver for a 2-day youth summit on nonviolence
sponsored by the Season. Dr. Gandhi will also be a featured speaker at Mile Hi Church
on Sunday. Admission to both events, as well as the Peace Cloth display, is free.
Mile Hi Church is located near Garrison and Alameda, between Kipling and Wadsworth.
The cloth will be displayed to the public between 7:30 and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb.
4. For more information about the cloth, contact Debra Chilton at 360-694-6012.
Windstar information can be found at www. wstar.org or by calling 970-963-1463. For
additional information on the Season for Nonviolence contact Robin Chapuis at 303-984-0930.
(This article ran in the 1-31-01 issue of the Columbine Courier, with a circulation
of about 30,000 homes in Littleton, Colorado.)
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WEBSITE OF INTEREST
I came across a most wonderful web page....
http://members.aol.com/mempenny/index.html
where I found the following words by Chief Seattle..I believe it has much
meaning and is in tune with what John believed. I have never posted anything to
a group so I am sending this info to you that you might relay it to the JD group..I
think they will enjoy each and every page this gal Penny has done...I find her work
awesome..
(I found Chief Seattle's words on one of her pages about "Nature") but
EVERY PAGE is a gem...trust me on this...
Thanks for your help in spreading the site..
Sue Stewart
***
(here's an excerpt of this site)
Every part of the earth is sacred to my people. Every shining
pine needle, every sandy shore, every
mist in the dark woods, every meadow, every humming insect.
All are holy in the memory and
experience of my people.
We know the sap which courses through the trees as we know the
blood that courses through our
veins. We are part of the earth and it is part of us. The
perfumed flowers are our sisters. The
bear, the deer, the great eagle ... these are our brothers.
The rocky crests, the dew in the meadow,
the body heat of the pony, and man all belong to the same
family.
The shining water that moves in the streams and rivers is not
just water, but the blood of our
ancestors. If we sell you our land, you must remember that it
is sacred. Each glossy reflection in the
clear waters of the lakes tells of events and memories in the
life of my people. The water's murmur
is the voice of my father's father.
If we sell you our land, remember that the air is precious to
us, that the air shares its spirit with all
the life that it supports. The wind that gave our grandfather
his first breath also received his last
sigh. The wind also gives our children the spirit of life. So
if we sell our land, you must keep it apart
and sacred, as a place where man can go to taste the wind that
is sweetened by the meadow flowers.
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TEDDY BEAR AUTOGRAPHS FOR COLUMBINE TRUST
We would like to announce the four winners of the autographed teddy bears for The
Columbine Trust Foundation.
The Band Members Teddy Bears:
Debra Ordway of Boulder, CO who bid $500
Maureen Stephany of Sudbury, MA who bid $500
The Songwriters Teddy Bears:
Debra Ordway of Boulder, CO who bid $500
J.M. Gardner of Covington, WA who bid $300
Thank you to each of the winners, and to everyone who participated by sending bids
for the teddy bears. We would also like to thank the following people for their graciousness
in autographing the teddy bears:
Mack Bailey, Denny Brooks, Jim Connor, Bill Danoff, Annie Denver, Alan Deremo, Erma
Deutschendorf, Ron Deutschendorf, Richie Gajate-Garcia, Joe Henry, Jim Horn, Pete
Huttlinger, David Mallett, Chris Nole, Kris O'Connor, Herb Pedersen, Kenn Roberts,
Jim Salestrom, Michito Sanchez, John Sommers, Mollie Weaver
Steve Weisberg
and special thanks to Stephanie Sommers, who took the time and patience to gather
each signature and sign the Certificates of Authenticity.
The Columbine Trust Foundation
www.columbinetrust.org
P.O. Box 11807
Aspen, CO 81612
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COMING EVENTS
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FRANK DELAMARRE IN CONCERT
Salem United Church of Christ
186 Court Street, Doylestown, PA
February 10, 2001, 7:30 PM
Frank will be performing JD Songs and some from his CD "A Lovely Place"
For more information: http://www.frankdelamarre.com
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CHARLIE ZAHM IN CONCERT
Salem United Church of Christ
186 Court Street, Doylestown, PA
March 16, 2001, 7:30 PM
Charlie will be performing a concert to celebrate the release of his 11th CD, "A
Walk In the Irish Rain", which will be available at the show. Joining Charlie
will be fiddler extraordinaire, Tad Marks. And the last set of the evening will be
ALL John Denver songs! You won't want to miss this (and this will be your ONLY opportunity
to see Charlie perform John's music for months to come).
Email PAHough@aol.com for more information
(You can also order Charlie's new CD, and all of his previous releases, at his website:
www.charliezahm.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 Saturday, April 21, 2001 from 11AM until 4PM at the Rams Head
Tavern, Annapolis, MD. There will be a buffet lunch and wonderful music. Performing
for us will be our own Mack Bailey, Doris Justis & Sean McGhee (Side by Side)
and a local singer from Gaithersburg, Joe Devlin. Also of note is a special appearance
by a panel of the One World John Denver Peace Cloth.
In honor of its recent rejuvenation, this year's show will benefit The Windstar Foundation.
The cost is $35.00/person which includes the buffet lunch, sound system rental and
a small donation to the Windstar Foundation. We will have a JD Goodie Basket as a
door prize as well as the bears from the auction last year in Aspen. Make checks/money
orders payable to ANN SCHNITZ and send to the following address
IAT c/o Ann Schnitz
P.O. Box 483
Lionville, PA 19353
Deadline for reservations is APRIL 6, 2001. NO REFUNDS AFTER THAT DATE.
For any additional information, contact:
Ann Schnitz (aerie01@sprynet.com) or Mary Ledford (eagleshorses@yahoo.com)
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GERMAN JOHN DENVER FAN CLUB NEWS
Hi friends,
We have three more "Getting-to-know-each-other-days" to announce;
May 19th, Bremen, organizer Ursel doesn't have email, but interested people can write
to me at inge@johndenverclub.de, and I will supply them with phone/fax number
June 15, Kastelruth in the mountains, info can be obtained from Klara at
klara@johndenverclub.de
June 16 or 23, near Goerlitz, info is available from Rena at
rena.s@t-online.de
All the best,
Inge
Schaut doch mal auf unsere Website: http://www.johndenverclub.de
Inge Kaminski ikaminski@t-online.de
**********
Hi Friends ~
We just would like to send a quick note about our next John Denver retreat. The date
has been picked and the deposit has been sent in, so this one is definite! So mark
your calendars now.
When: May 18, 19 & 20, 2001 (check in time is early eve. on the 18th)
Where: Gretna Glen Camp in Mt. Gretna/Lebanon, PA. We reserved a
gorgeous place called The Chalet.
The price for the retreat is $40.00 a person. This is for the entire weekend, not
per night. Complete details for the retreat will be in the upcoming newsletter,
so watch for it! Or, feel free to e-mail me for any additional info: Duetschess@aol.com.
Peace to you,
Peggy Kitch
(to subscribe to the Pennsylvania Friends of John Denver's newsletter, you can write
Peggy at the email address above)
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FOR SALE
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NEW JOHN DENVER VIDEOS AVAILABLE!
The Eagle and the Hawk, 1971
The Day of the Bighorn, 1972
These two landmark environmental documentaries starring John Denver, are now available
commercially for the very first time!
To order, go to www.aspenteddybear.com and search all
products. Videos are $14.95 each + shipping
**********
VIDEOS AVAILABLE
Videos of 1999 "Hearts In Harmony" Inn at Aspen concert available for expenses
(two tapes for $9.50)
USA only. Email donnapinto2@yahoo.com
*********
David Stemple (djstemple@cstone.net) writes:
"John's Music Lives On Through Giovanni"
Giovanni's latest album has two John Denver songs on it. Sunshine On My Shoulders
and I Want To Live. Home Shopping Network is selling it. The album is called Giovanni
My Foolish Heart. Item number is 009-103 and
cassettes are $25 and CDs are $35.
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ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS
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HELP KEEP ALASKA'S COPPER RIVER DELTA WILD FOREVER.
WHAT'S AT STAKE
In a world that grows closer and more cluttered by the day, the Copper River Delta
is a vast and exquisite remnant of nature as it once was. Located in a remote region
of southcentral Alaska, just east of Prince William Sound, the 700,000-acre Delta
is simply exceptional. It is, among other things:
The largest wetland on the Pacific coast of North America;
A critical staging area for 16 million shorebirds and waterfowl;
Home to the largest population of nesting trumpeter swans in the world;
A migratory stopover for the world's entire population of western sandpipers;
A migratory stopover for the Pacific coast's entire population of dunlins;
The only nesting habitat in the world for dusky Canada geese;
Home to the world's largest concentration of beavers;
Home to the world's largest concentration of sea otters;
A haven for wildlife such as wolves, brown bear, mountain goats, moose, and sea lions;
and
Critical habitat for world-famous Copper River chinook, sockeye, and coho salmon.
The Copper River Delta nurtures the people of the Copper River basin as well as its
wildlife. Generations of Eyak Indians have relied upon the fish and wildlife that
thrive in the area. Today, Cordova, a small fishing community with no road access,
is the only town in the Delta region. More than a third of Cordova's workforce is
directly involved in commercial fish harvesting or processing, and many other people
provide support for the fishing industry. The local economy is made possible by Copper
River salmon, one of the most highly prized stocks of
wild salmon in the world.
In addition to commercial fishing, many Cordovans harvest resources from the Delta
for personal use -- bartering, trading, and sharing with friends and neighbors. Cordovans
harvest an average of 162 pounds of subsistence resources per person every year,
picking berries and taking Copper River salmon, halibut, herring and shellfish, as
well as deer, mountain goat, moose, small game, and waterfowl. A healthy Copper River
Delta is necessary to sustain this way of life in Cordova, and preserve the culture
of the Eyak Indians.
In an ideal world, the Copper River Delta would be cherished and protected as a unique
ecosystem. In the real world, the Delta is jeopardized by road construction, logging,
coal mining, and oil and gas development. One corporation has already begun building
a road across the Delta in order to clear-cut its land 55 miles east of the Copper
River. If completed, the road would sever dozens of streams that feed the eastern
portion of the
Copper River Delta, including the Bering and Martin Rivers which are eligible for
inclusion in the Wild and Scenic River system.
But ultimately, it may not be the large projects that pose the greatest danger to
the Copper River Delta. A more insidious threat lies in the prospect of unfettered,
sprawling development that is built one convenience store, tourist lodge, and access
road at a time. Incremental development is already eating away at the Delta step
by step and, if not managed wisely, will inevitably consume this extraordinary, but
fragile ecosystem.
WHY ACT NOW
The Forest Service is now considering its options for managing the Copper River Delta
and the surrounding National Forest over the next several decades. So this is a perfect
time for the Service to recommend permanent protection of the incredible wildlife
and wilderness values of the Copper River Delta while respecting existing rights
and allowing traditional activities such as hunting, fishing, and motorized access
for subsistence purposes.
A wilderness designation would allow the Forest Service to manage the Delta for fish
and wildlife conservation while regulating activities such as road construction,
logging, and other harmful development. Recommending the Copper River Delta as a
wilderness is the best and most sensible way of preserving a world-class ecosystem
and the people and wildlife that depend upon it.
HOW TO HELP
Write today and urge the Forest Service to recommend that the Copper River Delta
be designated a wilderness area! In your letter, please note some of the reasons
why you want to see the Delta protected. Please send your letter to:
Dave Gibbons
Forest Plan Revision
Chugach National Forest
3301 C Street, Suite 300
Anchorage, Alaska 99503
Fax: 907-271-3992
For more information contact Scott Anaya or Tony Turrini at (907) 258-4800, or provide
comments on-line at
http://nwf.org/copperriver/index.html
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POETRY
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From Dennis (wildhart@oregontrail.net)
The following Prose where inspired by the ever changing view of the mountains I love.
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Looking out my window.
Oh how can I tell you
of the beauty I have seen
as a summer storm changes the Mountains
from pastel colors
to the most brilliant colors to be seen.
Have you ever watched the clouds
dance across the mountain tops
and pour over a snow capped mountain,
flowing down the mountain side
to strike the bright morning sun
and watched as the clouds explode
into fast rising steam
with snowy white fingers
that twits and turn
as they rise
only to disappear
as they reach for the blue heavens above.
Oh how can I describe
a brilliant glowing tree or bush
Shinning as Bright as the morning Sun
as the sun strikes millions of needles of frost
setting them aglow
with the brilliance of the Sun.
And how can I tell you
of the millions, of brilliant sparkling, lights
that shine like diamonds in the night
when struck with light
on a very cold winters night
Have you ever looked up at the dark mountains
as evening falls
and seen the sun silhouette the mountain tops
and watch the wind carry snow, from the peeks,
high into the evening sky like a giant feathers
painted pastel shades of pink
against a darkening sky --
All this and more I have seen
as I look out the Window
of my Wallowa Valley Home
and I know word can not describe
the beauty I have seen.
And I Know there is so much more
to be seen
as I look out the Window
at the snow covered mountains I love
and watch an Eagle circling fare above.
I really understand
why John wrote a song
about "Starwood in Aspen"
and the home he loved.
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NEWSLETTER INFORMATION
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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. The submission
deadline for the March edition is March 19, 2001. Please be sure to include any contact
information so that members can e-mail or snail-mail for further details.
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The content of this newsletter is entirely at the discretion of the "It's About
Time" staff. Contributions, as always, are welcomed, although inclusion is not
guaranteed.
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".
. . IT'S ABOUT TIME WE START TO LIVE IT,
THE FAMILY OF MAN,
IT'S ABOUT TIME
AND IT'S ABOUT CHANGES . . .
AND IT'S ABOUT
TIME."
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