IAT NEWSLETTERJanuary 2004 |
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Calendar of Events | Environmental News | For Sale | Fundraisers |
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Letter from the President | Letters | Newsletter News | Organization Information |
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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@comcast.net) *** CHANGED!!!
Co-Presidents -- Ann Schnitz (aerie01@comcast.net) *** CHANGED!!! and
Mary Ledford (eagleshorses@yahoo.com)
Web Site -- -- http://home.comcast.net/~tybrenn/iat/
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LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
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Dear Friends,
Happy 2004 to everyone! I hope you all had a happy, healthy holiday season.
And now we come to it, the battle of our time...the 2004 Presidential Election.
I trust that everyone is beginning to think about the state of our world, and whether
change is warranted or not. But in either case, I urge you to get involved
and support those who project the type of leadership you'd like to see. This
is not a forum for political expression but if there are issues you'd like to discuss
outside of specifics about candidates, by all means send me your thoughts.
Think about it -- what's important to you? What do you want to hear a potential
president say about the environment, energy policy, humanitarian aid, etc.?
Let's talk.
Remember -- even the smallest person can change the course of the future. That means
each and every one of us.
My heart to yours,
Ann
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QUOTE OF THE MONTH
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A famous holy man once wrote that the signs
of an enlightened person are...."generosity like that of the ocean, compassion
like that of the sun, and humility like that of the earth."
(thanks to Kathy Lill for this months' contribution -- AS)
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FUNDRAISER
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Nothing to report this month
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
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(thanks to Emily Parris and the Rocky
Mountain High newsletter for some of these dates)
February 6-7, 2004 * Las Vegas, NV / Jim Curry's John Denver Tribute Show at the
Silverton Casino. 8:00pm Silverton Hotel & Casino / 3333 Blue Diamond Road /
Las Vegas, NV 89139 Phone: (702) 263-7777
http://www.silvertoncasino.com (866) 668-6688
February 13, 2004 * Daytona Beach, Florida - "Rocky Mountain Memories",
a musical tribute to John Denver performed by Ron Rich 8:00pm SMT Downtown, 176 N.
Beach Street (386) 252-6200 Tickets $15 / $10 for children 12 and under http://www.cabinsong.com (866) 811-4111 Theatermania.com Email: lvscoy@aol.com
February 27, 2004 * Watchung, NJ -- Chris Westfall in Concert, 7 PM Watchung
Performing Arts Center Singer-Songwriter Showcase $10. Chris will perform one set.
Contact: www.watchungarts.org
March 6, 2004 * Leesburg, FL "Rocky Mountain Memories" - a musical tribute
to John Denver performed by Ron Rich 8:00pm Paul Williams Auditorium, Lake Sumter
Community College, 9501 US Highway 441 $15 http://www.cabinsong.com
(See Ordering information in the listing above)
March 6, 2004 * Gwynedd, PA * Christopher Westfall return engagement at the Friends
Folk Coffeehouse 8:00pm
http://www.gwyneddfriends.org/coffeehouse0304.html
April 17, 2004 * "An Evening of Acoustic Music with Christopher Westfall."
6 PM South Seneca High School, Ithaca NY. $10. Benefit for Elementary School musical
instruments drive. Contact: kkaminsky@southseneca.k12.ny.us
April 23-25, 2004 * Cassville, PA / Spring 2004 Retreat - PA Friends of John Denver.
Bitter Goose Lodge. $45.00 Pat Liddic <tigersnwolves@comcast.net>
May 8, 2004 * Christopher Westfall, Charlie Zahm, & Tad Marks at their SECOND
ANNUAL SPRING FOLK CONCERT starting 7:30 PM at the Salem United Church of Christ
in Doylestown, PA. Email honer@erols.com
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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LETTERS
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From Judith Gabriel (judithgabriel@comcast.net)
(Here's a lovely message that was sent to me for last month's newsletter, but there
wasn't enough space for it -- it's poignant and worth reading -- AS)
Dear Friends,
When I returned from Aspen in October, I had the honor of being a tiny part in a
client's transition. I offer various forms of massage therapy, energy work, and self-development
techniques. I had only begun to work with "Will" (no real names here) last
spring but had worked with both his daughters and other family members.
As a Mother and Father's Day gift, one of the daughters bought a series of in-home
massages for her parents. They are lovely people, and I enjoyed working with
them very much. I loved working with Will because through the massage I worked
to boost his morale not only with the bodywork but with our conversation about illness
and death.
Will had lost a kidney years ago and had begun to lose some function in the other.
He developed diabetes and subsequent heart problems. He had had a few episodes of
congestive heart failure over a number of years. I guess even with all of that, if
we were used to being high-powered, wealthy, and in control of a successful business,
we would continue to use our heads, research new cures and medicines, and check out
the best doctors.
So Will was dismayed when he had a serious episode of congestive heart failure at
what should have been a relaxing vacation at the shore. His family, ever there for
him, went into high gear, managing households, children, supporting Mother, and making
hospital visits. Will wanted to go to Hershey Medical Center, a premier Medical
Center affiliated with Penn State University. Will, as we all would, hoped
for an answer, a cure, or at least a way to live with what he had. The
prognosis was not good.
Respiratory failure followed and the family again was there to care and share, deciding
first on hospice care and then finally making a decision to bring Will home.
They set up the hospital bed and the oxygen, which he now needed constantly, in the
living room. Of course everyone was stressed but at the same time glad that
he was home. Wanting to give Mom some relief, the daughter called and asked me to
come over and give her and Mom a massage. When Will saw me, he asked if I would massage
his feet and legs. I was concerned about overwhelming his kidney and heart, but his
edema did not look too bad since he was on medication. His daughter, who is in the
medical field, told me to go ahead.
Will was listening to some of his favorite tunes from his youth, and I started to
sing along. He removed his oxygen mask and began to sing as well. It was a
special moment as we sang together, and he quickly had to return his mask after a
few bars. I joked that I was glad that he had these CD's or else I'd
have to sing John Denver songs to him because that's all I knew. We all laughed.
Then a few songs later, one touched him so much he put his fist in his mouth to keep
from crying out loud, and it struck me how difficult it is to contemplate one's own
death--about how wonderful and painful our consciousness is as Robert Burns points
out in his wonderful poem "Of Mice and Men." The mouse, whose house has
been destroyed, begins to build it again not knowing he can never achieve his goal
before winter, meaning almost certain death, but human beings can know these things
and the gift of consciousness seems to be a burden.
He was very lucid and then groggy, as happens with kidney and heart failure and as
I left I said "Goodbye Will, see you next Friday," and his body jerked
and we looked at each other, and he frowned almost as if to say, "Why did you
have to say that when you know it is not so." I knew that he knew. And here
I was the person who had talked about death with him and living in the present, and
I too had to pretend. I felt sad that I hadn't gone over and said a proper
goodbye.
All weekend I felt antsy and had the urge to call Will's wife and then on Monday
morning his daughter called and told me he had passed on Saturday morning.
The whole family was around him, and they even put his beloved dog on the bed as
he was taking his last breaths. His daughter asked if she could come over to
have work done, and at the end of the session I gave her John's "It's About
Time" CD. I told her to listen, if she felt like it, to the fourth track.
She didn't listen until right before she went to work on her Father's eulogy with
her Mother and siblings. "On the Wings of A Dream" moved her greatly, and
she played it for her family. They too cried and thought that it said much about
what they felt for their Father and used sentiments from the song in the eulogy.
The daughter, more conscious than most, told me at the service on Wed. that she had
put on her headphones, hit repeat, and listened to the song all night.
So I tell you this story, not to make you sad, but to remind all of you how precious
life is. That, as John said, each moment is a gift; in fact, we are all gifts,
and that those moments and ourselves are all that we own. Whether we spend the eternal
"Now" with a mate, a friend, a huge family, a small family, a dog, cat,
lizard, or all by ourselves, each breath is sacred and as John so wonderfully reminded
me through many, many years of living and listening--we are never alone. The Universe
gives us many precious gifts to remind us of the Truth. John Denver was one
of those, who reminded us that we are the song, the gift that we give to each other,
the earth, and to the cosmos.
Each of us, whether with close family members, neighbors, the person you smile at
passing on the street, or the person you think about, touches the presence of everyone
and everything else with his/her own, adding to that moment by lifting each essence
to life or helping it to pass with great comfort and love.
John said, "And I hope that I'm around so I can be there when I die." To
be conscious until the final breath. As Ron said on a TV special, "Knowing
John, he was trying to fix the problem all the way to the water." Conscious
to the end. Heartbreaking and yet alive with intensity.
Will also left, itself sad and heart wrenching, but living life fully in the best
of all possible worlds at home with family and loved ones around him, nurturing all
present, and so the circle, truly, remains unbroken.
So I'd like to end with John's words from the last stanza of that same song, "Around
and Around," for all of you and Will's family, "
"And when I'm gone....
I hope that you will think of me,
On warm and sunny days when you are smiling;
That the thought will comfort you,
On cold and cloudy days, if you are crying;
That you'll love to see the sun go down and the world go around, and around,
and around.
Peace and Love,
Judith Gabriel, President, The John Denver Foundation, Inc.
"Though the singer is silent, there still is the truth of the song."
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WEBSITES OF INTEREST
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None this month
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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.
Also -- if you shop online, please visit our virtual mall: www.johndenverpeacecloth.onecause.com -- every sale at a store in the mall returns a donation
to the Cloth. The Peace Cloth now has eScrip -- please see our website for
more information.
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If you're looking for something special
for a special someone, come check out what Wildlife Creations (http://www.geocities.com/wldlifecreation)
has to offer!! We have many items relating to John Denver and other items that would
make fantastic gifts for people you know and love! Or gift someone who is hard
to buy for, something that they will talk about for years! From keychains, snowglobes,
t-shirts, potpourri jars and more!!! We're sure you'll find something!
And remember, whenever you purchase from Wildlife Creations, you're not only giving
a gift to someone you know, but to the Windstar Foundation and also the National
Wildlife Federation, in John's memory, for wolf education as all proceeds are given
to them. Wildlife Creations is now offering a feature product. Checkout the website
for this month's offering! For more information, you can email us at wldlifecreation@wildmail.com.
In this healing time...
Thank you for helping to make the world
a better place in which to live,
Diana and Susan
Wildlife Creations
http://www.geocities.com/wldlifecreation
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ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS
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DENlines, 1/22/04
1. A New Conservation Voice Takes the Stage: Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund
Citing growing threats to meaningful conservation, Rodger Schlickeisen today announced
the launch of the Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund, a new organization designed
to give conservation voters an added voice in the upcoming legislative and regulatory
battles. Schlickeisen said the Defenders Action Fund will lobby key U.S. Senators
and Representatives for pro-conservation policies; hold members of Congress accountable
on critical conservation votes protecting America's wildlife and wild lands; research
and identify messages that move citizens who care about conservation and wildlife
issues to take action; and educate citizens about the records of Congress and the
administration. "The Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund was created to fight
for sane conservation legislation and educate citizens about the need for responsible
stewardship of our wildlife and public lands," said Schlickeisen.
For more information, check out the new Defenders Action Fund website www.defendersactionfund.org. While you're there, be sure to sign up as an Action
Fund member for information about all the important political happenings in 2004.
2. Global Warming May Cause Mass Extinctions by 2050
According to a recent scientific study published in the prestigious scientific journal
Nature, between 15 and 37 percent of the world's species may face extinction by 2050
due to global warming. In one of the biggest mass extinctions since the demise of
the dinosaurs, the loss could total 1.25 million species. The report's authors are
calling for a "rapid implementation of technologies" to combat the human
causes of climate change. Read New York Times and Washington Post stories on the
study.
3. Energy Companies Cavort with Bush Administration Officials and Republican
Legislators
A recent conference, held at the tony Biltmore resort in Phoenix, Arizona, provided
the opportunity for coal, oil, natural gas, and other energy industry representatives
to hobnob with officials from the Bush administration and 16 Republican legislators.
One of the groups sponsoring the event advertised it as a chance for energy companies
to "help Congress write its 'To Do' list for next year." Read more about
how energy executives can influence policy behind closed doors in a Washington Post
story.
4. This Valentine's Day Give a Gift from the Heart
Show someone special you really care this Valentine's Day. Make a truly meaningful
gift by sending your loved one a wildlife gift adoption. It's a perfect gift for
a child or grandchild! Pass on the legacy of wildlife conservation to someone you
love by adopting a wolf, panther, snowy owl, polar bear, dolphin, sea otter, whale
or black bear. When you do, we'll send that person a plush animal toy and a certificate
of adoption suitable for framing. It's the perfect gift to send to all the special
people in your life. Visit our wildlife adoption center today to send a Valentine's
gift that will show just how much you care - for that special person and for wildlife.
5. Fish and Wildlife Service Postpones Decision to Delist Gray Wolves
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) recently decided to delay its plan to remove
federal endangered species protections for wolves in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming,
because the agency decided that Wyoming's plan could lead to wolves being shot with
few restrictions. Wyoming's plan would classify wolves as predators in some parts
of the state and as trophy game in others. FWS decided that Montana's and Idaho's
plans were adequate, and was planning on delisting the wolves from protection under
the Endangered Species Act. Learn more about efforts to protect wolves.
6. More Wolves Killed in Southwest, Reward Grows
To confront the tide of lawless wolf killings in Arizona and New Mexico, Defenders
of Wildlife and other groups have announced an increase in the reward - now up to
$45,000 - for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.
The reward increase comes after the discovery of the death of two more endangered
Mexican gray wolves - bringing the total to 11 deaths in New Mexico and Arizona since
March. Anyone with information should contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
at 480 967-7900 (Arizona), 505 346-7828 (New Mexico), or the state game and fish
departments at 800 352-0700 (Arizona), 800 862-9310 (New Mexico). All calls will
be confidential.
DENlines is a biweekly update of Defenders of Wildlife, a leading national conservation
organization recognized as one of the nation's most progressive advocates for wildlife
and its habitat. It is known for its effective leadership on endangered species issues,
particularly predators such as brown bears and gray wolves. Defenders also advocates
new approaches to wildlife conservation that protect species before they become endangered.
Founded in 1947, Defenders is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization with more than 450,000
members and supporters.
Defenders of Wildlife
1130 17th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Copyright © Defenders of Wildlife 2004
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POETRY
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None this month
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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 February 19, 2004. 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 contents of this newsletter are 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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