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Full Funding and Permanent Reauthorization for the Land & Water Conservation Fund Possible
Thanks to the amazing work of Land & Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Coalition partners over the last few weeks, amazing progress was made and there are now 58 cosponsors on S. 1081 – the LWCF Permanent Funding Act. This is exactly the kind of groundswell that was needed, capitalizing on Mitch McConnell’s (R-TN) remarks and the passion of our bipartisan champions to help bring their colleagues along. Last night we heard from leadership that the overall support in the Senate and the momentum from the last few weeks has paved the way for a new stand-alone package that will include full funding for LWCF and Restore Our Parks Act (ROPA – S.500). The new joint bill will be cosponsored and introduced TODAY by Sens. Gardner (R-CO) and Manchin (D-WV) and rolled out at a press conference this afternoon. They are also seeking additional cosponsors on a very short time-frame, so we need to mobilize to our Senate supporters today and ask them to please sign on quickly to this new bipartisan joint bill. The Coalition will issue a statement as soon as the bill is public, but we will need additional outreach from all of you to get Members on that bill before it introduced (which was supposed to happen today around noon eastern-ish) as well as after introduction.
In related news, we just wanted to make sure you all saw that President Trump tweeted about LWCF twice yesterday afternoon. The LWCF Coaltion retweeted the commitment to sign full, permanent funding legislation with thanks, taking it as an opportunity to talk about bipartisan momentum to get this done. As you can imagine, there is a LOT of social media conversation going on right now. One of the best things to add to this conversation is a Nature Conservancy video that also came out yesterday, which is AMAZING! It features four of our bipartisan Senate champs (Burr, Manchin, Cantwell and Gardner) on the effort to fully and permanently fund LWCF to protect the places we all love and give everyone opportunities to get outdoors. Super well done and being shared a lot, please amplify further to spread the positivity and bipartisanship! This is really exciting forward motion—-we are one more major step closer to getting LWCF permanent funding over the finish line, so let’s get out there and seize the day! Talk to your Senators and get on social media to encourage others to do so as well.
Thanks so much to all who have worked hard to get us to this point, and thanks to all who will keep working it hard!
Amy E. Lindholm
LWCF Coalition Manager
Northeast Regional Coordinator
202.509.6804
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NOMINATIONS SOUGHT for OCTA National Board
Nominations are being accepted through April 15, 2020 for election to OCTA’s National Board of Directors. Directors serve for three-year terms and may serve no more than two consecutive terms.
Members of the Board are responsible for setting policies and priorities for the organization and electing officers. They also serve as important liaisons with OCTA chapters.
The term of Board members Cecilia Bell and Chuck Milliken will expire in 2020. Cecilia is completing her second term and is therefore ineligible to run again. Chuck is completing his first term and is eligible for re-election.
Directors are expected to attend two board meetings annually, one of which is held in conjunction with the OCTA Annual Convention. The second, Mid-Year meeting, is held usually in late winter or early spring at rotating locations.
In order to be a candidate for the Board of Directors, all that is required is being an OCTA member in good standing. Please submit a short statement of qualifications and experience, a photograph, and the endorsement of three members of OCTA.
Candidacy papers should be sent to the Nominating and Leadership Committee Chair, Pat Traffas at traffasp@gmail.com or mailed to 6731 W. 108th Terrace, Overland Park, KS 66211-1117. For more information about the elections process or the position you may contact other members of the Nominations and Leadership Committee who are Duane Iles at 96cruisin@embarqmail.com or Cecilia Bell at cecilialjb@aol.com. Additional information may also be found in the Members area of the OCTA website.
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Partnership for the National Trails System
Seeks New Executive Director
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The Partnership for the National Trails System (PNTS or The Partnership) seeks a dynamic, entrepreneurial and visionary Executive Director to build on the organization’s 27-year legacy of accomplishments and guide its work to the next level of success.
The Partnership is the only nationwide, nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the extraordinary value of America’s National Scenic and Historic Trails. It envisions a world-class system of National Scenic and Historic Trails that preserves natural and cultural values and provides recreational benefits for all. The Partnership’s mission is to empower, inspire, and strengthen public and private partners to develop, preserve, promote, and sustain the National Scenic and Historic Trails. It connects 34 member trail organizations, eight affiliates, and five federal agency partners to serve as a collective voice for the over 55,000 miles of trails within the National Trails System.
The Partnership’s major activities and signature programs include:
- The annual Hike the Hill® multi-day action aimed at increasing congressional and federal agency leader awareness and adequate funding of the National Trails System;
- An annual multi-agency Land and Water Conservation Fund collaboration;
- Multi-Year Action Plan for National Scenic and Historic Trail management;
- National Trails System Gap Analysis and Corridor Projection Project;
- Monthly webinars and biennial convenings for members of the National Trails community;
- Apprentice and internship programs to introduce young adults to the National Trails System; and
- Publication of the Pathways Across America quarterly journal.
The ideal candidate will demonstrate excellent leadership, fundraising and partnership building skills. The anticipated start date for the position is Fall 2020. Please visit www.pnts.org to learn more about the organization. To review the full position description please visit here . To inquire about the opportunity, please contact Mary Stelletello, Principal, Vista Global Coaching & Consulting at m ary@vistaglobalcc.com. To apply or nominate an individual, please send a cover letter and resume to edsearch@pnts.org. |
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John Fromm
1935 – 2019
John Fromm, 84, passed away on December 5, 2019, at his home in Prescott, Arizona, following a short illness.
John Robert Fromm was born in Mason City, Iowa. He married Thelma Wittin 1955 and lived in their home on the farm at Mason City for the next 33 years. He served in the Army National Guard from 1957 to 1960. In addition to farming,John was elected to two terms as a Cerro Gordo County Supervisor from 1981 to 1988, work that he found rewarding and invigorating.
They moved to Prescott AZ in 1988. John worked for Yavapai College as a mechanic and bus driver for college athletic teams. He was also a driver for Yavapai Bus Tours and Elderhostel.
John will be remembered as a member of Central Arizona Geology Club and as a docent at Dewey-Humboldt Historical Museum. He also served for many years as the Secretary of the Southern Trails Chapter of the Oregon-California Trails Association.
He was preceded in death by his father and mother, brother Charles, sister and her husband, the Reverends Marilyn and Charles Butler.
He is survived by his wife Thelma,sister and brother-in-law Geraldine and Dean Schwarz of Decorah, IA, by nieces Beverly and Anne Butler, nephew John Butler, as well as the Schwarz children and grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers,suggestions for memorials would be Dewey-Humboldt Historical Society, Skull Valley Historical Society or Sharlot Hall Museum.
A memorial service was be held at the Prescott United Methodist Church on Wednesday, December 11. Graveside services will also be held at the Oakwood Cemetery in Plymouth, Iowa, at a later date.
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New Video Announcing OCTA’s New Partnership with Southwest Stories With the Two Steves on PBS 
Steve Rushingwind and Steve Brown, hosts of “Southwest Stories with the Two Steves”
Last week we announced our new partnership that will expose national PBS audiences and international Roku audiences to the historic trails of the American Southwest. The program’s Facebook page released a new video announcing the partnership as well. Enjoy!
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Upgrade Your Membership or Purchase a Gift Membership Now For a Wonderful Present!
For a limited time, OCTA is encouraging our existing members to “upgrade” their membership. This also makes an excellent gift and we’ll send those gifts to your recipient as a present from you. These free gifts include:
Simply call us at (816) 252-2276 and we will renew your membership at a higher level or simply extend your existing membership for another year past your next renewal date and ship out our “thank yous” immediately. Or, send it as a gift to a friend or family member. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity; it’s only while supplies last.
Finally, if you’re not already a member, join now at the Emigrant level ($50) and we will send you a copy of your choice of items listed above. Not only that, but as a new member you will get immediate access to every single issue of the Overland Journal dating back to 1982 as well as access to Paper Trail, our incredible genealogy tool that helps you search original trail diaries.
No where else will you find such a comprehensive archive of information related to 19th century western emigration trails. Join now and get immediate access to the nearly 40 years worth of the entertaining and informative Overland Journal! Seventy-eight people have upgraded their membership since we began this program. Won’t you become #79?
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