Access
Fund E-News #58
August 2005
The Access Fund
E-News Online
IN THIS ISSUE:
Adopt-a-Crag Challenge 2005- 68 events and counting
Oak Flat Perspective
2nd Round Grants Awarded- totaling $25,757
Climbing Closure Lifted, Mohonk
Preserve, NY
Rose Ledge Access Concern, MA
Access Fund- Best in America
Welcome AF’s New Media Manager
Membership Survey- Win a Rope
Call For boulderProject Web Developer
Donate your car- or a digital video
camera
Access Fund Events
Vertical Times #64 (June Issue) is NOW Online as a PDF!
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Adopt-a-Crag
Challenge 2005
68 events and counting
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There is still time to sign up to be a part of this year’s
Adopt-a-Crag. Our goal is to support 120 Adopt-a-Crags around the
country. As with all
dreams and goals, we can’t do it alone.
We need you to help us reach our goal.
To date we have 68 events. We are over half-way to our goal.
Adopt-a-Crag is an excellent avenue for building alliances and partnerships to plan for the future. Be it a crag clean-up of 8 volunteers or a fundraiser, comp, and trail work day with 100 volunteers, Adopt-a-Crag is about giving back to those places we love and use on a regular basis. Adopt-a-Crag inspires activism, advocacy, volunteerism, and stewardship. In the five years since the inception of Adopt-a-Crag, climbers around the country have built and restored thousands of miles of trails, hauled tons of trash, and completed thousands of conservation initiatives.
Take care of the crags now, so we
always have places to climb.
You can get all your Adopt-a-Crag information and
register online at www.accessfund.org/adopt. To organize your own Adopt-a-Crag, contact
Deanne at deanne@accessfund.org.
Click
here to see a list of currently scheduled Adopt-a-Crags
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Oak Flat Perspective
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The September issue of Climbing Magazine provided a forum showcasing the issues surrounding Oak Flat (Off the Wall, September, page 44). We encourage you, if you haven’t done so already, to read both sides of the issue with a grain of salt.
John Sherman (employee of Resolution Copper Company- the mining company seeking to mine Oak Flat) provided a view which unfortunately fell short in honesty, accuracy, and, sadly, conviction to truly make the climbing community stronger. The Access Fund has directly addressed the inaccuracies asserted in the article on our website. http://www.accessfund.org/AFPerspective/
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Update on Cave Rock Appeal
Access Fund files Cave Rock legal brief with the 9th
Circuit Court of Appeals
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On August 15 the Access Fund filed its latest legal brief in its
on-going attempt to keep climbing open at Cave Rock, NV. In January at the district court level in
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2nd Round Grants Awarded
Totaling $25,757
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The Access Fund has awarded $25,757 in its second round of grant funding for 2005 bringing total for the year to $68,757 across 15 grants. Awarded three times annually, Climbing Preservation Grants provide financial assistance for local climber activism and protection of the climbing environment. The grants will be distributed for trail improvements, education and assistance for a newly formed local climber organization.
“The
Access Fund is committed to preserving the climbing experience for present and
future generations,” said
Wisconsin Outdoor Access (WOA) received a grant to help
with organizational expenses and outreach to climbers throughout the
Coopers Rock, WV
The Coopers Rock Regional Climbers Coalition (CRRCC)
received a grant for start-up and organizational expenses, and to help with
trail and impact mitigation efforts. CRRCC is a newly formed group that will
focus on access and stewardship issues throughout the region.
The Mohonk Preserve received a
grant for a multi-faceted outreach project designed to reach novice climbers in
the Gunks, educate them about the fragile life on the
cliffs, and instill in them a low-impact climbing ethic that will ensure the
long-term survival of the Preserve ecosystem.
Williamson Rock,
CA
The Friends of Williamson Rock received a grant to help
with trail design and impact mitigation at this popular southern
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9th annual Climb Smart
Joshua Tree, CA
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Climber’s Gathering in Joshua Tree
kicks off the season September 30
Friends
of Joshua Tree will host the 9th annual Climb Smart gathering at
Indian Cove group campgrounds from September 30 through October 2, 2005. This is the largest gathering of
The
profound beauty of Joshua Tree, coupled with the unique climbing experience it
offers, makes this the perfect location to hold an event that celebrates
climbing and helps bring awareness to the local issues. According to Friends of Joshua Tree President
Kenji Haroutunian, “JTree
is the country’s most popular climbing area; it benefits climbers and the Park
when we gather in force and show our strengths, including our history of
stewardship. In 16 years of active
participation in protecting climbing, the Friends have been able to influence
park policy at the NPS level, which is being reflected across the country as
climbing management plans are instituted.
This is the best opportunity for climbers to give back to the land and
community we love.”
Access
Fund regional coordinator Dave Kennedy is helping to plan and promote the
event. “I may be from
The
cost of Climb Smart 2005 is reduced for this year, only $70 for the full
weekend experience for those who register by September 12. Camping space is included but is limited to
the first 100 registrants. Don’t miss
out on the chance to help kick of the Joshua Tree climbing season, hone some
skills, take home some gear, and support your climbing community. For more information visit www.friendsofjosh.org.
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Climbing
Closure Lifted
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The
closure of the climbs between “Double Crack” (5.8) to the “The Blue Stink”
(5.3), on the Trapps Cliff of the Mohonk
Preserve has been lifted. The Peregrine Falcons successfully nested and fledged
young at the location. Thanks go to the climbing community for respecting
the closure, which resulted in the first successful nesting for this species on
the Trapps Cliff in fifty years (!). Please note that
the closure of “Three Pines” (5.3) and “Something Interesting” (5.8) remains in
effect to protect nesting Black Vultures.
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Rose Ledge
Access Concern
Rose Ledge, MA
(by Jeff Squire, President, Western Mass Climbers’
Coalition)
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Some important information
has come to our attention so we are asking everyone to please help to spread
the word.
For those of you who have
climbed at Rose Ledge and use the current parking area are familiar with the
customary trudge up the road before diving into the woods at the top of the
hill. The property owner located at the end of the road has expressed concern
about people, particularly the busses and other large groups, dropping off gear
at the end of the road before heading back down to park. The property owner
actually owns, and uses, the first portion of the dirt drive prior to the
actual trail. Piles of gear and packs left in the road by people and groups
prevent him from accessing his property. The owner does not object to people
accessing the trail and Rose Ledge through his land but prefers that the gear
come up with the climbers rather than be left. We realize that this may not
affect many of you however if you could please help spread the word, it will
help to prevent future access issues.
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Access Fund- Best in America
The "Best In America"
seal was inspired by the recent comparative review of "watchdog"
groups by the National Council of Nonprofit Associations. The Council included
the CFC standards in its review, and it was obvious that those standards match
or often exceed the standards of other groups.
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Welcome AF’s New Media
Manager
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Randy
begins work September 19th and can be reached at Randy@accessfund.org after that date.
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Membership Survey- Win a Rope
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We’re gearing up for the Access Fund 2005 Survey
and need a few minutes of your time. This survey is important on many
fronts from lobbying in
Keep an eye out for a separate email the week of August 29th with the link to the Access Fund 2005 Survey! Your participation is greatly appreciated.
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Call for Stories
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Why do you climb?
Why are you a member of the Access Fund?
Have you had a personal experience with access issues that you think
others could learn from? Why do you
volunteer your time? What do you do to
help conserve the climbing environment and keep climbing areas open?
Here’s your chance to tell the climbing world your
story. Write it down and send it in so
that we can all learn from your experiences.
Submissions limited to 500 words (if your story takes more, submit an
abstract limited to 200 words). Send
submissions to Media@accessfund.org. Include your name and all contact information
so that we can properly credit you and get a hold of you if we need to.
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Call for boulderProject Web
Developer
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The boulderProject is
about how the climbers, the environment and access are interconnected. It depends on community and the power of the
movement. Because of this, we’re tossing
the website to you.
We’re looking for a young developer who is
passionate about climbing and understands their role in the future of
climbing. This project is open to highschool and college students only. You must submit samples/links of past web
work/projects and anything else you think would help us make a decision. Include your name, email, phone, address,
year in school, and a 200 word essay discussing your role in the future of
climbing.
This is an unpaid project though we will set you up
with a mondo gear package valued at over $500. This is a great way to build your portfolio,
showcase your work, and give back to the climbing community.
E-Submissions only.
Send to Media@accessfund.org
with “yourname-boulderProject web” in the subject line.
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Donate
your car- or a digital video camera
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Unwanted Vehicle? Don't trade in, donate it to us! Vehicle donation is easy, it's tax deductible and often times yields more to you than the dealer offers in trade in. Click here for more details http://www.v-dac.com/org/?id=943131165
· IT'S EASY. You don't have to do anything except fill out the paper work. Once you mail in your paperwork, our service will call and pickup your vehicle within a week. The Access Fund will receive the funds from the sale within 8 weeks.
· IT'S TAX DEDUCTABLE. You are entitled to an itemized tax deduction of the fair market value of your vehicle.
· It can be worth more to you than the dealer offers in trade in. Compare what the dealer offers against the value of your tax deduction before you trade-in. Plus we get the net proceeds to work on programs to keep local climbing areas open.
· You can donate ANYTHING. Cars, trucks, airplanes, boats— any vehicle can be donated.
For more detailed
information on donating your vehicle to the Access Fund please contact
Digital video camera that you never use? Send it our way and let us put
it to work! We’re looking for a
higher-end camera to take with us to events to document all the hard work of AF
volunteers (okay, we’ll probably shoot some climbing footage too). So if you have a nice working digital video
camera sitting in a closet collecting dust or if you just need a good excuse to
upgrade, donate it to the Access Fund.
You can take a tax write off and hey, we’ll even name it after you. Email Robb with details: robb@accessfund.org.
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Access Fund Events
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Check out the
latest Access Fund affiliated events accessfund.org/events/events.php
To streamline the
events process, the AF has created a new page on the website under the EVENTS
tab where interested people or groups can complete a webform
for their event. If your event qualifies, membership materials and goodies
may be sent in support additionally. All events the AF is involved with will be
included on the event schedule. The deadline for event registration is one
month prior to event. To register an event, visit: accessfund.org/events/index.php
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Vertical Times #65
(August Issue) is NOW Online as a PDF!
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The August issue of
Vertical Times (volume 65) is online as a PDF file for downloading. The issue
offers additional news and photos (not included in the Access Fund E-News). It
can be downloaded from accessfund.org/news/vt.php (Adobe Acrobat is required).
Viewing Vertical
Times online instead of receiving the paper version decreases printing and
mailing costs, thus allocating more funds to protect YOUR CLIMBING FUTURE. To
take part in this effort, and cease shipment of the Vertical Times to your
home, e-mail your name and address to memberservices@accessfund.org
with "Remove Vertical Times" as the subject.
Presently, over
2300 members have chosen our online option - a savings of over $11,000 per year
to be utilized towards the Access Fund's
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