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Collaborating with BLM to engage the public through stewardship, outreach, and education for the use and enjoyment of the natural and cultural landscape of Canyons of the Ancients National Monument and nearby public lands.
I realize that it's already February but we had so much to announce in this newsletter that it took a little longer to put together. I hope you're all enjoying the winter weather. This snow has been a lot of work for many people but the views are worth the effort in my opinion. The snow covered landscape is one of my favorite sights.
In my short time with this organization I have come to appreciate the landscape of Canyons of the Ancients more than I could have imagined. It is such a beautiful place full of natural and cultural history and resources. There is still so much that I have yet to experience and much more for me to learn but I can't wait! I completely understand why this area is protected and why we need to help to preserve these public lands.
As we begin a new year, we are once again faced with a period of transition. We are saying goodbye to our Cultural Site Stewardship Manager and former Executive Director, Diane McBride, and welcoming Susan Montgomery to our Board of Directors. We are also excited to announce a new system for memberships, donations and more. Scroll down for more info about all our news. We appreciate your continued loyalty and support through yet more changes.
While we plan to continue the Site Steward Program, we also hope to bolster our programming by introducing new events and presentations. SCCA is coordinating a cultural demonstration series that will include artists and subject matter experts to educate the public about the history and resources within the Monument. We are participating in the Four Corners Lecture Series. We plan to help coordinate and pursue Dark Sky certification for CANM including night sky programming like the star party at the Visitor Center. We also plan to have Tours by SCCA up and running again by the spring.
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, subscribe to our email list or check our website for more information about upcoming presentations and events in 2023.
As always, thank you for supporting SCCA in all the ways that you do!
Best wishes,
Markleigh Swanson, Executive Director
Announcements
A Fond Farewell to Diane McBride
Diane McBride, has recently announced her intent to resign from SCCA. Diane has been involved with our organization since its very inception and we are very sad to see her go. She served as our first Executive Director and then as Associate Director before stepping back last year to concentrate on managing the Cultural Site Stewardship Program.
Historically, SCCA’s focus has been the Cultural Site Stewardship Program which monitors over 100 cultural sites within this area. Diane McBride has championed and managed this program for many years however she has decided that its time to pass the torch.
“Managing the program has brought me deep joy and satisfaction since 2008, and I am grateful to you and the other volunteers who have contributed so much to protecting the cultural resources in Southwest Colorado.” states Diane McBride.
We want to assure you that we plan to continue this program in her absence. Diane has graciously agreed to stay on with SCCA until we have found an ideal candidate to manage the program and that person has been thoroughly trained. Keep an eye out for a job posting coming soon!
We know that she will continue to enjoy the fruits of her labor as she spends more of her time hiking and camping throughout the area just for fun.
We'd like to welcome Susan Montgomery to the Board of Directors.
Susan moved to Montezuma County from Washington State in the fall of 2014 with 30 years of experience in the field of Education (teacher training, curriculum, program and professional development). After participating in three programs, Passport in Time at Edge of the Cedars, Earthwatch at Crow Canyon Archaeological Center, (CCAC) and Road Scholar service program at the Anasazi Heritage Center- she realized that this is where the archaeology is! She moved here for the archaeology, not the weather.
She currently works part-time in the CCAC laboratory as an assistant. She also volunteers at CCAC and Canyon of the Ancients National Monument in Curation and in the garden. She is a site steward in the CANM program and in San Juan County in Utah.
"Volunteering has been a rewarding and valuable experience for me. It has provided life long learning opportunities, a way to do something productive and a way to give back. I am interested in finding volunteer opportunities for others in the local avocational archaeology community." states Susan Montgomery.
We are so glad to now have her valuable input and expertise on our Board of Directors!
We're excited to introduce you to our new system for donations, memberships, events and more!
We now have a simple process for annual memberships, sustaining memberships and donations. We will be adding events to our new system as they become available. Keep an eye out for FCLS and Tour registrations. Click on a link below to see how it works!
You can also now create a login name and password to access our constituent portal which features your own contact information, donation history, membership status and other information just for you.
If you have any trouble with these new forms, please let me know. New systems always have a few kinks and I need your help to work them all out.
The Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center and Museum's last day open to the public will be Saturday, February 18 before they close for up to 3 months to repair and stabilize the VC floor. We will keep you posted on when they plan to reopen to the public. The trails and pueblos at the VC will remain open, as well as access to the Monument. While closed, when we have good weather, they plan to have rangers and volunteers outside still connecting with our wonderful visitors, providing orientation and guided hikes to Dominquez and Escalante Pueblos. Stay tuned for more details!
Download and print the donation form and send it to us by mail with your check payable to “Southwest Colorado Canyons Alliance” enclosed or your preferred payment information to:
Southwest Colorado Canyons Alliance P.O. Box 113 Cortez, CO 81321
Membership
Join Or Renew Your SCCA Membership
Becoming a member or renewing your membership to Southwest Colorado Canyons Alliance is easier than ever. Join now to protect and preserve the irreplaceable landscape of Canyons of the Ancients National Monument and its Visitor Center and Museum!
With your tax-deductible membership you can:
Receive e-news updates
Participate in Members Only events (special e-mail invitations)
Know that your money is being spent to help protect irreplaceable cultural and natural landscapes through on-the-ground programs and cataloging material culture for researchers to study.
Select Southwest Colorado Canyons Alliance as the organization you wish to support--search either by name or use the NPO code WM546.
REMEMBER, you must scan your registered City Market loyalty card or use the phone number that is related to your registered City Market loyalty card when you checkout for each purchase to count.
AmazonSmile
Unfortunately, Amazon has made plans to end its AmazonSmile program by February 20, 2023. Until this date, customer purchases made via AmazonSmile will continue to accrue funds for our charity as normal. If you would like to register for the last month of AmazonSmile so that 0.5% of the price of your eligible purchases are donated to SCCA, please click here.
Corporate Support Opportunities
This is your opportunity to impact the landscape and future economy of Montezuma County. By making a donation to SCCA, you can help engage the public in opportunities for stewardship, education, and recreation on our local public lands and create positive economic impact in Southwest Colorado by bolstering outdoor recreation and regional tourism. All the while, your logo can reach over 1600 Facebook followers, 900 email subscribers, and 200 members. Click here for more info.
Thank you for your support!
Thank you to our members and supporters who donated between December 1 and December 31, 2022. *
We appreciate your continued support!
Mary L. Gallagher Miriam Gilbert Pamela Heaney Jeffrey & Linda Jahraus Tom Kochanski Susan Montgomery Pat Rauscher Jim Skvorc John Spear Mark Varien Ray Williamson Virginia Wolf
Deep Gratitude to our Sustaining Members
Thank you for providing SCCA with a steady stream of support!
Steve Barker Kenneth Boucher Chris & Lou Burkett Tris & Bruce Downer Tom Ferrell & Caroline Brown Cynthia Gray Sharon E. Greenhill Terri Helm Erik Hendrickson DonHoffheins Diane McBride David Melanson Vincent Miller Gregory E. Munson Marcie Ryan Michael Stillman Carol Taylor John Thyfault David Umbarger Julie Ward Lehner Richard Wheeler
Sincere thanks to all our annual and sustaining members!
*SCCA processed contributions from new and renewing annual and sustaining members and donors named in this newsletter between December 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022. Please accept our sincerest apologies if your name is not listed here or if we have not yet processed your donation.
Visit Canyons of the Ancients National Monument For more information about visiting CANM go to this link.
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