IAT NEWSLETTERNovember 2002
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For Sale | Fundraisers | Letter from the President | Letters |
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Newsletter News | Organization Information | Quote of the Month |
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In Memory of Jay Hair, Ph.D., past President
and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation, who, with John Denver (Windstar) and
the Rocky Mountain Institute established the Windstar Land Conservancy
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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 (notmartha2@yahoo.com)
Co-Founder and Secretary -- Theresa Shea (Tree1A@aol.com)
Co-Founder/Webpage Designer-Sandy Clark (tybrenn@attbi.com)
Co-Presidents -- Ann Schnitz (aerie01@sprynet.com)
and
Mary Ledford (eagleshorses@yahoo.com)
Web Site -- -- http://home.attbi.com/~tybrenn/iat/
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LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
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Since this was such a busy month for me, I asked Mary to pinch hit, and she wrote
the President's Letter. Happy Thanksgiving to all!
My heart to yours,
Ann
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Dear Friends,
Another year is almost over. We've had the first anniversary of the events of 9/11/01,
and I hear on CNN that there might be additional retaliations against the US...where
and when will it all end? I have often wondered what John would have thought about
all of this turmoil. I wonder what he would have done.
Additionally, while I was in Colorado, my home state of Maryland was literally under
siege from two snipers who killed ten and seriously wounded three. Some of the shootings
were almost in my back yard and my office is actually in Rockville. I had great concern
for my friends and co-workers through this ordeal. Then, I heard as my plane was
landing at Dulles Airport on 10/23, there was another incident on I-270 (the major
interstate near my home and one I
travel every day to work) where a school bus driver thought someone had pointed a
gun at the bus. The interstate was closed in both directions as police helicopters
hovered over the area. Luckily, it was a false alarm and no one was injured. These
individuals are now on trial in Virginia and hopefully justice will prevail and the
punishment will fit the crime.
On a happier note: Aspen was wonderful. I think we had more new people this year
and that was great to see. Pam and I are already working on next year and we are
also looking to expand our event. Stay tuned for details probably around January.
Before I left, I received an e-mail from Christopher Canyon of Dawn Publications
about some children's books that will be published ... the first in the Fall of 2003.
These will focus on John's lyrics about nature and will contain single CDs of those
songs. The fist will be "Sunshine On My Shoulders"... he gave me a promotional
copy to review and the illustrations are priceless. I will let you all know as soon
as it's released for publication.
I also attended the concert for Maryland Therapeutic Riding (MTR) on 10/25. It was
beautiful! Almost the entire
show was a tribute to John. The second half of the show opened with a clip from "Let
This Be A Voice", featuring John's "Eagle and the Hawk." Then Chris
Nole approached the piano and played "For You" as he did in Aspen. The
total amount raised was $81,000. But the most beautiful moment came when a young
man who is a participant in MTR was brought on stage. He first joined the program
when he was 12 ... he's now around 17 or 18. He was shy and very reserved ...now,
he talks a blue streak and will be attending college soon!! He's quite a remarkable
young man. A winning bidder for one of the three guitars auctioned gave the guitar
back and it was decided right then to
give it to the young man and Ira Gitlan (the Hard Travelers' bass player) will be
giving him guitar lessons. I'll bet
we see him on stage next year playing that guitar!
Happy Holidays everyone and I hope that 2003 will bring some peace and tranquility
to our troubled
world.
Mary
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
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December 14, 2002 -- Christmas Concert with
Chris Westfall, Doylestown, PA
REMINDER::: The John Denver Memorial Peace Cloth is available for all JD-related
events. Please email peaceclothinfo@yahoogroups.com
for more information, or see our website at www.johndenverpeacecloth.com
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SEE DETAILS ON CALENDAR EVENTS (except those from Emily's newsletter) BELOW
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QUOTE OF THE MONTH
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If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.
Mother Teresa
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FUNDRAISER
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DON'T FORGET.....
If you know of a John Denver memorial site in your area, please send details
to Todd Barker (TheDenverRealtor@aol.com) and/or Jennifer Hunter (jenden1099@yahoo.com)
to include in this year's IAT Fundraiser. Please see the May edition of the
newsletter for more information -- AS
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LETTERS
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From Kathy Lewis (clown02@concentric.net)
Hi IAT,
I have never had the ability to get to Aspen for the John Denver events. It's a little
hard when you live in New York State. But I keep hoping that next year will be the
year. But, in the meantime, I have my own little tradition I do on the day that John
died.
At the time that he died (on the east coast) I turn off everything electric that
I can. I then light an oil lamp and go out on my front porch to read the night away.
I know that it's only a little thing that I do. But if it inspires more people to
"turn off" the electric stuff, just think of how large a dent we'd make
in the need for fossil fuels! My little contribution, multiplied by the thousands
that also can't get to Aspen could really make a difference. Maybe we could plan
on doing this more than just once a year.
Imagine the Possibilities!
Peace,
Kathy Lewis
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From John Atherton (john.ath@ntlworld.com)
Hi IAT,
I just came across this article during Aspen week, and beyond finding that the poem
reminded me of John's outlook, it also made me think of John's song, Flight (The
Higher We Fly).
I found it amazing to discover that this poem was written as part of a treatise nearly
350 years ago, by Thomas Traherne, a Herefordshire clergyman, who died in 1674 aged
38. A modern commentator has called him "one of the most radiantly, infectiously
happy mortals this earth has seen". He wrote in a state of almost continuous
religious rapture.
This treatise was found by a Cambridge Don who was just sheltering from the rain
in the Lambeth Palace library!!! In the article in The Guardian, links are made between
this poem and the comments by the Apollo astronauts when returning to the earth!
I hope you enjoy reading at this poem (even with the 'Old English')...
The Celestial Stranger
(from The Kingdom of God)
Had a man been always in one of the stars, or confined to the body of the flaming sun, or surrounded with nothing but pure ether, at vast and prodigious distances from the Earth, acquainted with nothing but the azure sky and face of heaven, little could he dream of any treasures hidden in that azure veil afar off.
Should he be let down on a sudden and see the sea, and the effects of those influences he never dreamed of... such strange kind of creatures, such mysteries and varieties, such never-heard of colours, such a new and lively green in the meadows, such odoriferous and fragrant flowers, such reviving and refreshing winds, it would make him cry out:
"How blessed are thy holy people, how divine, how highly exalted! Heaven itself is under their feet! The Earth seems to swell with pride that it bears them all; all its treasures laugh and sing to serve them.
"Verily this star is a nest of angels! This little star so wide and so full of mysteries! So capacious and full of territories, containing innumerable repositories of delight when we draw near! Who would have expected, and who could have hoped for, such enjoyments?"
· Thomas Traherne: poetry and prose,
published on October 18.
(Thanks for this, John. To me, this brings to mind the writings of Khalil Gibran
-- AS)
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From Yellowstone Wolf (justice@bluemarble.net)
Hi IAT,
I think things have changed for me in the Aspen In October <gatherings>. I
have been fortunate to go every year (had to save and save but I did it!). In the
past, (Wolf) Pup and I have given things to auctions through Wildlife Creations and
volunteered a little, but thus year we decided that we were going to follow in John's
footsteps and do all we could do. We volunteered for almost everything! And what
a reward it was! We never thought we would have so much fun! I urge any of you that
have never volunteered, please consider it. Windstar surpassed itself in every way!
Not only did we volunteer along with Connie Young, but we got to make recipes out
of the Windstar Cookbook! And we used the Windstar kitchen which was sooo great!
That kitchen is quite unique! It brought back, to me, what it must have been when
Windstar was in it's "heyday" and going strong. Which I KNOW WITH ALL OF
US TOGETHER, WILL HAPPEN ONCE AGAIN, ONLY BETTER!
Pup and I have already volunteered to help Connie Young next year with everything
she needs us to do! Since Christmas is right around the corner ( yep it is!), what
a perfect gift than a Windstar membership! I have already renewed my membership and
that of my granddaughter, Shelby. I plan on signing up my other granddaughters and
new grandchild once he/she is born.
Love, Peace and Prayers...Your JD SIS, Wolf
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| From George Schumer (Itamazesus@aol.com): Singing Skies Foundation's winners of high achievement awards for 2002 are: Ann Schnitz (It's About Time), the Claremont Folk Festival (John Denver concert), and Windstar Foundation (John Denver statue). Congratulations, Ann! Info on Singing Skies Foundation's activities and awards can be found at www.singingskies.org geoschu (Thank you, George and all, for this wonderful honor. Of course, IAT would not be possible without Sandy, Mary and all of you guys too! -- AS) |
From JoLynn Long (jdspirit@cox-internet.com):
I thought you might be interested in getting into the Click For Cans action at Chunky
soup.
This season, Chunky soup has introduced three new Roasted Favorites varieties. Plus,
Chunky soup and the NFL are teaming up once again in Tackling Hunger across America
- and they are looking for your help in the campaign!
Right now, you can visit http://www.chunky.com and donate a can of Campbell's soup on behalf of your favorite
NFL team towards Tackling Hunger. Come back often and help your NFL team's effort
toward a total goal of 5 million donated cans.
By Tackling Hunger, Chunky soup, the NFL and you are all champions!
To learn more about Chunky soup, go to http://www.chunky.com
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From Judith Gabriel (judithgabriel@msn.com):
Hi Folks!
Just to let you know that The John Denver Memorial Foundation is now incorporated
and is awaiting its exempt status. Stay tuned for future fundraisers ( some fun ones!)
and this summer's concerts. Dates and performers not yet available although I'm working
for mid-July. The not so good news is that I picked up The Eastern PA Business Journal
today and one of the front page articles was "Gifts Drying Up for Nonprofits,"
detailing how even big foundations like United Way had a difficult time this year,
so the concert may be small and the foundation's ability to give gifts limited. It
may take a few years to really grow because of the economy.
Also stay tuned for an independent webpage for the foundation in about a month or
less. One of the fundraisers consists of beautiful art cards with pictures of hawks
and wildplaces all over the country, some with sayings from famous naturalists and
poets. The cards are blank inside so they fit every season. The cards are $6 a piece
or boxes of 5 ($25), 10 (50). They are very nice. The photographer is Jeff Grabert.
And of course when the website gets up and running, it will include an order form
for the cards. Very nice holiday gift.
Also -- please contact me if you would like to come and eat dinner and dance and
listen to music on New Year's Eve
to benefit the foundation in Reading, PA. The price would be in the area of $75
a couple and $40 an individual for dinner, dancing, and a sneak preview of this summer's
concert with one or two performers.
Let me know ASAP whether or not you would be interested and if you would be able
to buy tickets before December to help put the down payment on the room. The theme
for dancing would be oldies from the 60's, 70's, and 80's and some John Denver music
for sure. If I can get enough JD fans together to start this, I can then go ahead
and advertise to the general public. The dance music "might" have to be
recorded but we'd still have live performance by the sneak previewers.
Thanks for your support in the past and I hope I can get something together for all
of us this New Year's Eve.
Peace,
Judith Gabriel
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From Carole Romanowski (Whispjesse@aol.com)
Critique on "Healing Hands, Hopeful Hearts: Poetry in Aspen 2002"
"Healing Hands, Hopeful Hearts: Poetry in Aspen 2002" is a beautiful, sensitive,
moving collection of inspiring poems from many authors compiled by Carolyn Matthews
to uplift us, especially during these troubled times. The book is dedicated to the
9/11 victims, heroes, and their families and is interspersed with colorful pictures
of the World Trade Center, nature, children, and John Denver -- all proceeds benefit
The John Denver Memorial Peace Cloth.
The book is divided into theme sections - Remembrance (9/11); Healing Hands; Hopeful
Hearts; Home, Children and Family; Love, Life and Friendship; Nature; student poetry
from Mussleman High School; and a surprise! - a special, touching tribute to JD at
the end!
Poetic entries (including my two!) range from the plight of the human condition -
pain from loss, tragedy, confusion and grief to the celebration of life - love of
nature and of the seasons, appreciation of family and of friendships, and strong
desire for love and for peace. As you read the poetry, you can sense John Denver's
blueprint for living in every verse. His message of universal brotherhood, preservation
of the environment for our children - our future, helping and healing one another's
pain through love, giving of hope and through action to make a difference, and seeking
joy in nature, in each other and in ourselves is imprinted on every page.
Thanks to Carolyn for giving "poetic justice" to this project and to all
the writers for reaching out to share their heartfelt thoughts and dreams with all
of us!
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From Deb (PixieDmyr@aol.com):
Friends:
The first major winter storm of the season has been and gone here on the California
coast - and the log that has John's name carved into it at John Denver Beach in Pacific
Grove is still there, although it has moved again!
One of the amazing things about that beach, for me, is never knowing what I'll find
when I get there. Sometimes John's log is right side up, sometimes it's upside down,
sometimes it's sideways... the sand moves around, the shoreline changes, and it's
never quite the same beach two years in a row. The ocean is extraordinarily powerful,
and the waves will always make it to shore regardless of what may be in their path.
I expect that one of these years we'll hear that the log has been washed back out
into the bay, or has broken up against the rocks along the shore. We can't expect
to fight Nature, and win. We can't expect things to always be the same. All we can
do is enjoy what we have while we have it. And remember what was, rejoice in what
is, and be thankful for it all.
For now, we still have the log. And I'm grateful.
Peace, Love and Understanding -
John Denver: The Legacy Continues...
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COMING EVENTS
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CHRIS WESTFALL IN CONCERT
December 14, 2002
Time 6:00 PM doors open at 5:30 (NOTE THE CHANGE IN TIME)
Price $10
Chris will be having a Christmas Concert at the Salem United Church of Christ on
December 14th (Saturday night) starting at 6. The next afternoon, December 15th,
Christopher will be doing a few songs as part of the church's annual Live Nativity
which starts at 4 PM! Why not plan a weekend in lovely Bucks County? Please write
Dottie Honer (honer@erols.com) or Donna Pinto (donnapinto@yahoo.com)
for more information.
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FOR SALE
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Peace Cloth Items!
Don't forget to check out www.johndenverpeacecloth.com
(Peace Cloth Store) for exclusive John Denver items. All proceeds benefit The John
Denver Memorial Peace Cloth.
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"UNDER THE MIDNIGHT SUN: The Ascent of John Denver Peak and the Search for
the Northernmost Point of Land on Earth" by John Jancik, Steve Gardiner and
Javana Richardson is NOW available -- $29.95 + s/h (+ sales tax (3.8%) for Colorado
residents). Order yours at http://www.starsend.com/underthemidnightsun.htm
This is a beautiful book with a great story of courage and exploration, and amazing
photography of wild lands and wildlife. Not to be missed -- AS
*****
From Mary Ledford (eagleshorses@yahoo.com):
Aspen Auction "Leftovers"
We have t-shirts and about 17 Eagles left. The Eagles are 9" in height, brown
and white with gold beaks and
feet. They have white t-shirts with a photo of John on the front (my photo from Cohasset)
with the following lettering in white: "JOHN DENVER: Reach for the heavens and
hope for the future." Aspen 2002. They are $20 each plus postage as indicated
below.
The t-shirts are white with a photo of John (my photo from the inside tray of "Harbor
Lights") on the front. The lettering is in black as follows:
"Giving a voice to the forest
Giving a voice to the dawn
Giving a voice to the wilderness
And the land he lived on"
- John Denver
Aspen 2002
We have the following sizes:
5 - Medium
31 - Large
26 - X-Large
10 - XX-Large
2 - XXX-Large
The cost is $25 plus priority postage as follows. This is for both t-shirts and
eagles:
1-2 (shirts/eagles) $3.85
3-4 (shirts/eagles) $5.00
Send your check/money order made payable to Pamela Beasley and send to her:
Pamela Beasley
721 Ravencroft Drive
Garland, TX 75043
If you need to contact her, her e-mail is:
pamela.beasley@airmail.net
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From Wildlife Creations:
We want to thank everyone that purchased items from us in Aspen. We donated the total
funds to Windstar and are proud to say, thanks to you, the amount was $270.00! We
also sang at the Assisted Living Center and Wildlife Creations donated snowglobes
to give the seniors. We also gave each of the participants a keychain that had a
pix of the Prayer Pose on one side and a pix of last year's World Family of John
Denver Singers on the other.
As a reminder of this event, these items are available for $5.00 (keychain) and $10.00
(snowglobe) until Nov 15th. After that, you can still get them but at the regular
cost. The discount applies only to the ones provided in Aspen.
Show your patriotic pride with a flag for your car antenna!! At only $2.00 each,
you can't go wrong. They are made of plastic canvas and yarn and slip easily over
the antenna for your car.
To order any of these items, just email us at wldlifecreation@wildmail.com
or visit our website at www.geocities.com/wldlifecreation and remember, all proceeds are split between the NWF and Windstar.
Making the world a better place in which to live.
Wolf and WolfPup
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ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS
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DENlines, 11/13/02
1. ELECTION FALLOUT: Results spell trouble for environment
The environment is a big loser in last week's elections. Changes in the Senate will
thrust anti-environmental senators into important committee chairmanships. They include
Oklahoma's James Inhofe, who scored zero with the League of Conservation Voters for
his votes in the last session of Congress, and Alaska's Ted Stevens, champion of
such environmentally destructive ideas as logging in the spectacular Tongass National
Forest. The election took away at least three Senate votes for protecting the Arctic
National Wildlife Refuge. Trent Lott, the soon-to-be Senate majority leader, is already
promising an aggressive push for new energy legislation that would include drilling
in America's greatest wildlife preserve.
To read an election analysis from Robert Dewey, our vice president for government
relations, click here http://www.defenders.org/newsroom/election02.html
2. SPEAKING OUT: Your voice 'loud and clear' at convention
Thousands of DEN members responded to our action alert by e-mailing the Convention
on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), the most important international
treaty governing trade in threatened and endangered wildlife. Since CITES was adopted
in 1973, 160 countries have agreed to work together to prevent the extinction of
wild plants and animals as a result of international trade. From Santiago, Chile,
site of this meeting, Defenders of Wildlife's Carroll Muffett reports: "Both
the heads of the U.S. delegation are telling me that they've been bombarded by e-mails,
and they've heard our message loud and clear. Thank everyone, and tell them to keep
the e-mails coming." So far, delegates have soundly defeated Japan's attempts
to allow the resumption of international trade in whales. But they approved allowing
the nations of Botswana, Namibia and South Africa to sell elephant ivory on the international
market again. To learn what you can do to help elephants, whales, sharks, parrots
and other wildlife, go to http://www.defenders.org/cites/.
3. START YOUR ENGINES: New plan allows more snowmobiles
into Yellowstone
Interior Secretary Gale Norton has released her long-awaited policy on snowmobiles
in Yellowstone National Park. Her proposal? Allow 1,100 snowmobiles into the park
every winter day -- 35 percent more than the daily average of 815 machines that now
enter Yellowstone. That's even though 80 percent of the more than 360,000 e-mails
and letters received by the park service on this issue supported banning snowmobiles.
Park rangers already are forced to wear gas masks on busy days for snowmobiles, and
they're suffering from nausea, headaches and dizziness. On some days, snowmobiles
leave Yellowstone as polluted as downtown Denver.
4. SAFE HAVENS: Manatees given new sanctuaries but not enough
It took an angry federal judge threatening to cite her for contempt of court, but
Secretary Norton has finally designated more sanctuaries for endangered manatees
from careless pleasure boaters on Florida's coasts. But Norton still has failed to
follow a court-approved agreement with Defenders of Wildlife and other environmentalists.
The safe havens that Norton designated don't cover water where manatees are most
in danger. Defenders of Wildlife is bringing Norton back into court to demand that
she do more. The number of manatees already killed this year by boats has broken
the record of 82 set three years ago.
To send a petition to Norton demanding that she protect manatees, go to www.helpmanatees.org.
5. PERFECT GIFT FOR THE HOLIDAYS!
Here's a great holiday gift that does more than please someone on your gift-giving
list -- it will also protect an imperiled species in need of your help.
"Adopt" a wolf or give a wolf adoption as a unique holiday gift. (It doesn't
have to be a wolf -- you can select another at-risk animal, like a dolphin, a sea
otter, a big cat, or a polar bear). When you send a tax-deductible contribution of
$25, we'll use your gift to bolster all our efforts to defend America's wildlife
and wild places.
In return, we'll send you an official adoption certificate, and a year of our award-winning
quarterly magazine DEFENDERS.
Plus (and this is what makes adopting a wolf or other at-risk animal such a great
gift idea for the holidays) we'll send you a cuddly stuffed animal (the wolf howls!)
to represent the wild, free creature you're keeping safe in its own wilderness world.
To ensure delivery by the holidays, please respond soon.
To adopt your favorite animal, just click on http://www.defenders.org/adopt/.
6. CALL OF THE WILD: Restore wolves to Washington state
Defenders of Wildlife is calling on the federal government to restore gray wolves
to the forests of western Washington. Along with the Northwest Ecosystem Alliance,
Defenders petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Endangered Species
Act to restore and protect gray wolves in their remaining natural habitat in the
region. "Gray wolves have an important role to play in the ecological health
and character of the Pacific Northwest, and the federal government should start getting
serious about restoring the species here," Defenders of Wildlife President Rodger
Schlickeisen said. "It's time to hear the call of the wild again in these beautiful
forests."
Wolves are under threat of losing their protections as endangered species. To learn
what you can do, go to www.savewolves.org.
7. CARNIVORES 2002: Major conference aimed at protecting wildlife
How to save wolves, bears, sea otters, whales and other carnivores is the focus of
a major conference organized by Defenders of Wildlife next week in Monterey, Calif.
We're bringing together more than 600 top scientists, natural resource agency personnel,
educators and advocates to discuss carnivore conservation and biology. It's the largest
conference in Defenders' history. As Defenders President Rodger Schlickeisen pointed
out, "Predator conservation and recovery face numerous challenges. We hope that
this conference will help scientists, educators and activists meet these challenges."
Among the speakers is Sylvia Earle, world-renowned scientist and pioneer in the field
of marine biology. To learn more, click here http://www.defenders.org/carnivores2002/ .
Defenders of Wildlife
1101 14th Street, N.W.
Suite 1400
Washington, DC 20005
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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. The submission
deadline for the next edition is December 19, 2002. 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. All contributed material may
be subject to editing for content and length.
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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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