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Greetings!
 This is one of the most spectacular times of year in our beloved Sonoran Desert! Following our recent surprise snowfall, we now see and hear the sure signs of spring - the calls of quail, the greening of our desert landscape, and the sprinkling of desert wildflowers. What a fabulous time to visit one of your Land Trust's preserves, or to join us on a guided hike!
We are also excited to celebrate 20 years of protecting this desert landscape we love. From the acquisition of the Herbert and Dorothy Watt Preserve in 1991, to the Black Mountain Preserve in 2010, the Land Trust is working hard to protect more of our community's most special natural areas, and to steward the beautiful properties we have already protected.
This work is only accomplished because of the support of people like you! You can participate in these efforts through financial contributions, as a volunteer or as an ambassador for land conservation. Your support will provide a legacy of protected land that will benefit our region for generations to come.
Wishing you a wonderful desert spring,
Desert Foothills Land Trust
Visit us at www.dflt.org to learn more about the Land Trust. Thank you for your support! |
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 Saturday,
April 30, 2011
Rancho Manana Golf Club
Cave Creek, AZ | | Desert Foothills Land Trust's 16th annual Sonoran Stars will be held Under Western Skies on Saturday April 30, 2011, at Rancho Maņana Golf Club in Cave Creek. This year we have rounded up the Bar J Wranglers (www.barjchuckwagon.com) from Jackson Hole, Wyoming to provide a classic Western music performance. This spectacular concert, fabulous silent and live auction, and a gourmet dinner served under the stars by Tonto Bar & Grill make this event a sure success.
Sonoran Stars is Desert Foothills Land Trust's primary fundraiser, providing roughly one-third of our annual operating revenue. Funds raised at the event allow the Land Trust to accomplish its important land protection mission, including acquisition and stewardship of some of our community's most important and beloved natural areas.
This magical annual event is not to be missed for the setting, the meal, and the entertainment. Surrounded by mountain views and the setting sun, guests will enjoy a cocktail hour and browsing our fabulous silent auction. Then, a delicious meal served by Tonto Bar & Grill will be followed by a brief live auction and the spectacular release of a rehabilitated raptor from the nearby Wild at Heart rehabilitation facility. The Bar J Wranglers will then take the stage with their classic western music, storytelling, fiddling and good ol' ranch humor. They draw nightly crowds of up to 750 during their summer season in Jackson Hole, and we are thrilled to bring their "singing cowboy" performance to our event this year. There is no better way to end your spring!
Individual tickets for the event cost $250 per person and an entire table of ten can be sponsored at levels ranging from $3,000 to $10,000, or two tables can be sponsored for $15,000 or $25,000. Name or brand placement and other benefits vary at each sponsorship level. This year we have also added $500 and $1,000 sponsorship levels that include name recognition, but do not include full table sponsorship. Event admission at all levels includes a gourmet dinner, an open bar, and the most memorable concert in years. Most significantly, it allows you to be personally involved in a land protection mission that will leave a permanent legacy for our community. Contact Executive Director, Sonia Perillo, at sperillo@dflt.org or 480.488.6131 for more information about sponsorship opportunities.
Individual tickets can be ordered now! Call our reservation line at 480-659-5133 to reserve yours.
We are also gathering items for our fabulous silent and live auction. Please contact the Land Trust if you have a donation that might be appropriate for inclusion.
Save the date for April 30, and sign up early to reserve the best seats in the house!
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2010 Sonoran Stars. Photo courtesy of Michelle Fish, FishEye Photography. |
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| Land Trust Kicks Off 20th Anniversary Year at Annual Meeting |
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(L-R) Land Trust executive director Sonia Perillo and outgoing president Sue Clement are presented with a plaque celebrating the Land Trust's recent accreditation by Land Trust Alliance Western Conservation Manager Shannon Meyer and Vice Presdident Lindsay Kosnik. |
At the Desert Foothills Land Trust annual meeting on January 26, the Land Trust celebrated the year's successes and the launch of our 20th year. Representatives from the national Land Trust Alliance were on hand to present a plaque celebrating the Land Trust's recent accreditation. Alliance Vice President Lindsay Kosnik and Western Conservation Manager Shannon Meyer reflected on accreditation as an indication of the high quality work Desert Foothills Land Trust has been doing. They also shared information with the audience about the Alliance's role in providing public policy, training and other services to more than 1,700 land trusts across the country.
Tice Supplee, Director of Bird Conservation at Audubon Arizona, also spoke about Audubon's Important Bird Area program. She shared information about the process behind the designation of the Cave Creek Ecosystem Important Bird Area. It is one of 40 such areas in Arizona, and follows Cave Creek from its headwaters in Tonto National Forest, downstream to Carefree Highway. "The designation of this and other Important Bird Areas is intended to encourage conservation," said Supplee. "It does not require public access or confer any rules or regulations." Five Desert Foothills Land Trust preserves, as well as portions of Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area and dozens of privately owned properties are included in the Important Bird Area.
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(L-R) Land Trust immediate-past president Sue Clement; executive director Sonia Perillo; Audubon Arizona director of bird conservation Tice Supplee; volunteer and honoree Walter Thurber; Land Trust conservation director Stacy Fischer. |
Supplee was joined by Land Trust Conservation Director Stacy Fischer, who then presented a glass sculpture to Walter Thurber in gratitude for his work on the Cave Creek designation. Thurber recruited and trained volunteers, and was the driving force behind the countless hours of work in the field. Thurber and other volunteers conducted scientific bird inventories throughout the watershed for several years. Their data was then used to assess the significance of the area. "We really got here through the efforts of Walter and other volunteers," said Supplee.
Outgoing president Sue Clement was recognized throughout the evening for her leadership and commitment in her role as president. Sue and five others - Gary Gerlach, Andrea Laufman, Trudy Rhoades, Joanne Rebollo, and Pat Cooper Wesley were elected for continuing roles on the board, and Pat O'Brien was announced as the incoming President.
Treasurer Andrea Laufman shared a review of the finances for the year, celebrating a year-end total in the black. Executive Director Sonia Perillo also shared some of the year's successes, including completion of the transfer of 4.5 acres from an earlier merger with Black Mountain Conservancy, launch of a revamped volunteer program, several successful community engagement events and many land stewardship activities on the preserves. "Our strength is really a reflection of the tremendous level of support land conservation and the Land Trust receive in our community," said Perillo.
Newly named President Pat O'Brien then shared information about some of the Land Trust's plans for the coming year, including a continued focus on new land protection possibilities and community engagement opportunities. It's a great time to get involved - help us launch the next 20 years! |
| Volunteers, Stewards and Docents |
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Stewardship volunteers visit Wallace Lone Mountain Preserve during one of their six Steward and Docent training sessions in late 2010. |
Since last fall, the Land Trust has hosted several volunteer orientation sessions through our grant from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. Nearly 40 volunteers have attended a session - and we owe them all water bottles in gratitude! Call or e-mail Mary Warren at 480-488-6131 or mwarren@dflt.org if you attended a session and haven't yet received your very stylish and practical Land Trust water bottle! We also graduated a class of six new stewards and docents in late 2010, and a new group of volunteers began their stewardship training in late February.
We are grateful to all of our wonderful volunteers for their assistance - this land conservation work would simply not be possible without their support! If you are interested in joining us for an upcoming volunteer orientation session, or for our fall stewardship training series, contact Mary. It's a great way to get involved, to meet other folks who are passionate about land conservation, and to visit some of our community's most amazing natural areas.
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| Upcoming Events | |
SPEAR S TRAILHEAD DEDICATION
Sat. April 9, 9:00 am
Join representatives from Maricopa County, Desert Foothills Land Trust (DFLT), North Country Conservancy (NCC) and the New River-Desert Hills Community Association (NR-DHCA) to celebrate the completion of the Spear S Trailhead on the Maricopa Trail. We'll have coffee, juice and pastries for attendees, as well as brief comments from Andrew Kunasek, chairman of Maricopa County Supervisors; RJ Cardin, director of Maricopa County Parks and Recreation; and representatives from NCC, NR-DHCA, and DFLT. Then we'll enjoy this wonderful new community resource!
Meet at the trailhead at New River Road and East Linda Lane in New River.
CAVE CREEK
TRAIL RUN
Sat. April 23, 7:00 am
Come out to the State Trust Land near Spur Cross Ranch for a 10K run, a 5K run/walk, or a 2K kids' fun run - all to support the protection of 4,000 acres of open space in Cave Creek! Pre-registration is required. Additionally, volunteers are still needed. Join the Town of Cave Creek in this race to protect some of our community's most treasured open space!
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Calendar | |
Preserve at the Cave hike* - HIKE FULL
Sat. 3/26/11, 9:00 am
P.A. Seitts Preserve at Go John Canyon hike (Military Trail and Watt Preserve)*
Sat. 4/2/11, 9:00 am
Saguaro Hill hike*
Fri. 4/8/11, 9:00 am
Spear S Trailhead Dedication - Maricopa Trail, New River
Sat. 4/9/11, 9:00 am
Jewel of the Creek hike*
Sat. 4/9/11, 9:00 am
Black Mountain hike*
Fri. 4/15, 8:30 am
Preserve at the Cave hike* - HIKE FULL
Sat. 4/16/11, 9:00 am
Sierra Vista Sanctuary hike*
Fri. 4/22/11, 9:00 am
Cave Creek Trail Run - Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area
Sat. 4/23/11, 7:00 am
Cave Creek Earth Day Celebration - Desert Foothills Library and Saguaro Hill Preserve tours
Sat. 4/23/11, 10:30 am -3:30 pm
Sonoran Stars
Sat. 4/30/11, 5:30 pm
* Registration is required for all guided hikes. More information, including descriptions of each hike and their level of difficulty, can be found on our website at www.dflt.org. |
| Please Support Your Land Trust! | |
Desert Foothills Land Trust is supported by contributions from community members like you who want to help us protect the landscape we love. Please join us by making a membership gift today!
Additionally, consider gift memberships for host or hostess gifts, or for your clients and colleagues. You can use our website for a secure online gift using Mastercard, Visa, Discover or American Express. You can also call our office at 480-488-6131 or mail a contribution to: Desert Foothills Land Trust, P.O. Box 4861, Cave Creek, AZ 85327.
All members receive our biannual newsletter, invitiations to events and updates on the Land Trust's activities. You will also receive the satisfaction of helping to conserve our wonderful Sonoran Desert landscape.
Thank you for your commitment to this important mission! |
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Photo Contest Moving to the Fall! | | We're moving the Black Mountain Photo Contest to the fall! Keep an eye out for the complete announcement and entry forms later this spring. We'll announce more details in a press release, on our website and in an upcoming issue of this newsletter. Note that photo submissions do not have to be taken during the entry period, so you can start taking those shots now! | |
| Conservation Deserves More Than 2%* |  |
Please help us receive this significant, renewed CHALLENGE GRANT supporting the critical work of Desert Foothills Land Trust. Please join as a member or renew your membership today!
*Conservation only receives 2% of all charitable giving. Most people believe it deserves more. (Source:Giving USA) |
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Quick Links | |
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