4Th Quarter 2020
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Volume 20, Number 4 Newsle�er of the CALIFORNIA STATE PARK RANGERS ASSOCIATION Autumn 2020 “State Park experts and professionals advoca�ng for State Parks since 1964.” President’s Message I have served on the CSPRA support of the California State State Park Board for nearly eight years as Parks 150th Anniversary in Career by a Director, Treasurer, and the 2014, including funding and Charles last four years as President. I being one of the editors for Melhert. have enjoyed this service and the Staff Photo Album. feel I have been able to Active make a lastingpositive Organized the largest and promotion contribution to CSPRA, the considered to be one of the of the World Ranger Congress CSPRA membership, and finest California Parks and CSPRA member California State Parks. Conference ever, that was participation for both in held Yosemite Valley, during Colorado and in Nepal. Here’s an overview of the the department 150th most significant projects and Anniversary (2014). CSPRA’s active support for efforts that I was substantially the Cadet graduation involvement with or that I Acting as CSPRA’s ceremonies. headed up during my time on representative to the the Board or as President: International Ranger Leading the CSPRA effort to Federation (IRF) for nearly 20 protect the cultural resources Establishment of the Ranger years. of Jack London SHP that Foundation (RF) and my resulted in the filing the first- service as RF President. Major Initiating CSPRA organizing ever CSPRA legal action efforts by the RF include Line World Ranger Day events on against the department. of Duty Death grants, Covid-19 an annual basis. victim grants, disaster relief Taking an active role in the program, grants for Latin Bringing CSPRA conferences legislation to ban smoking in American Rangers to attend back into state park locations state parks. the 2019 Nepal World Ranger (Morro Bay, Fort Tejon, Mono Congress and several other Lake, Anza-Borrego and It has been my honor serve worthwhile projects. Donner Memorial) and on the CSPRA Board and as including local park staff in President. I hope to continue Developing affiliation the conferences. to be active in several areas agreements with the including the Ranger Association of National Park CSPRA’s active support of the Foundation, the legal action, Rangers (ANPR), the California California State Park Ranger World Ranger Day events, and Parks Hospitality Association 150th Anniversary in 2016. the affiliation with the (CPHA) and the California International Ranger League of Park Associations Promoted and edited several Federation. (pending). state park related books including Me and the Mother Headed up CSPRA’s active Tree by Petey Weaver and My The CSPRA Wave – FourthQuarter2020 – Page1 CSPRA Ranger Foundation OFFICERS 2020 Wildfire Relief PRESIDENT Mike Lynch, Re�red Ranger/Supt. At the six week point in the The RF anticipates that (530) 613-4732, [email protected] Ranger Foundation (RF) there will be more grant wildfire relief program. 32 applications from the VICE PRESIDENT Ann Meneguzzi, Re�red, Sup. Rgr. grants (27 from Santa Cruz current fires and with new (209) 373-9844, [email protected] District) have gone out for a wildfires threatening various total of $28,417. There are parks right now, there will SECRETARY Jeff Price, Re�red Ranger, Sup two pending requests. no doubt be additional (805) 278-9201, [email protected] losses by park staff. Grants have gone to all TREASURER Tom Bernardo, Re�red Ranger/Supt. classifications of the state If you would like to help and (916) 990-2009, [email protected] park family: camp hosts, donate to the RF wildlife maintenance, rangers, relief effort, go online at DIRECTORS Miles Standish, Re�red Ranger interpreters, administrative, h�p://www.ranger.founda�on/ (831) 466-9789, [email protected] seasonals and retired all suffered loses due to the Or you can write a check to: Joanna Kerbavz, Env. Scien�st (650) 720-5007, [email protected] wildfires and also include Ranger Foundation and mail three grants to Solano it to: Frank Padilla, Jr, Ret. Ranger/Supt. County rangers. To date, (805) 660-0245, [email protected] 2020 wildfire relief Tom Bernardo, Treasurer Kim Preston, Ret. Admin. Chief donations have amounted to 11426 Gold Country Blvd. (530) 589-0250, [email protected] nearly $27,000 and Gold River, CA 95670 additional donations, one Steve Ptomey, Interpreter III (559) 972-5844, [email protected] from the California State Park Foundation, are Neill Fogarty, Supervising SPPO pending. (707)364-5173, [email protected] Rob Picke�, Supervising Ranger (661)618-6924, [email protected] PAST PRESIDENT Victor Bjelajac, North Coast Redwoods [email protected] ADMINISTRATION Mike Lynch, Ac�ng Execu�ve Manager P.O. Box 3212, Bowman, CA 95604-3212 MEMBER SERVICES Betsy Anderson (707) 884-3949, [email protected] INTERNET COMMUNICATIONS Jeffery B. Price, Webmaster [email protected] www.cspra.com The CSPRA Wave ISSN 0087-9176 Brian Cahill, Editor [email protected] Published by CSPRA, PO Box 3212 Bowman, CA 95604-3212 Deadline for next issue January 1 The CSPRA Wave – FourthQuarter2020 – Page2 2020 Honorary Ranger Award The COVID pandemic prevented 2020's in-person CSPRA Gathering & Retiree Rendezvous at Donner Memorial State Park. However September 14 was still Honorary Ranger Day for David Allen of Native Sons of the Golden West (NSGW). In 1918 NSGW donated the Donner Monument and eleven acres to commemorate the Donner Party history. David Allen and NSGW are active in the current Donner Project to restore the deteriorating original monument. Social distancing meant only a few were nearby as Mike September 14 socially distanced ceremony at the Donner Lynch named David Allen Monument. Pictured L-R Tom Bernardo, Carl Chavez, Hon- the 2020 Honorary Ranger orary Ranger David Allen, Mike Lynch, Ann Meneguzzi because of his years of support for Donner Memorial The Awards Committee is David Nelson, SP through his volunteer accepting nominations for [email protected] or efforts as a leader of NSGW the 2021 Honorary Ranger. direct to:honorary- for historic recognition and Contact Carl Chavez, @cspra.com preservation. [email protected] or World Ranger Day Celebration July 31 A low-key, socially distanced gathering held at Donner Memorial SP Visitor Center. California State Parks and Rangers Association Stand with the World's Rangers Mike Lynch (CSPRA President), Jeremy Lin (Donner Memorial SP), Bill Bowness (Donner Memorial SP), Ann Meneguzzi (CSPRA VP),Heidi Doyle (Sierra State Parks Foundation) and Patsy Lynch. The CSPRA Wave – FourthQuarter2020 – Page3 Park Rangers Create Their Own Adventures Ranger Wualmort Moreno, Venezuela (Note this story was machine translated and we resisted the urge to rewrite it to preserve the author’s voice as much as possible) "No one can pass through life, more than can pass through a field, without leaving clues behind, and those clues can often be useful to those who come after you in search of their way." -Lord Baden Powell own canoe, in a way of life, teacher, Clan Wood Badge, I start with this phrase, more than work, which was in the Scouts and Rescue of because just as I am a born at 8 years old, as a the Unit Rescue Group Ranger forever, I am also a cub, in the herd of the Scout Industrial Safety and Rescue Scout, forever and "I will Group Humboldt 724, in Technician (UTSIR), in San always Be Prepared". Caracas Venezuela. Cristóbal, Táchira state, Venezuela. If I had been asked 20 years My name isWualmort ago, what do you expect to Moreno, Deputy Ranger of I was born, in my be a Park Ranger in 20 the Venezuelan Ranger grandparents' house, in the years, I would not have Corps, attached to the beautiful town, imagined what I would live Táchira Region, I am a coincidentally, in the limits and do, because I was Lawyer and Higher and boundaries of the creating my own adventure, University Technician in "Chorro El Indio" National and I would only row my Tourism, also a university Park, where I work. I have always identified with nature and always, somehow, conscious and unconscious, I have protected and fought for it. I remember that in 1982, when I was admitted to the Santo Tomás de Aquino Seminary, when I was only 11 years old, I participated in the combat of my first vegetation fire, in the pines that were near the seminary. I remember it was at the beginning of the year and my parents had bought me some new shoes and give The CSPRA Wave – FourthQuarter2020 – Page4 them to me, with the fire. previously, I worked as a From there, my self-denial rescue on the roads and Civil for nature began, following Defense, for that time, not learned guidelines, during being able to obtain my life as a Wolf Cub Scout permanent work. That is, and then as a Scout. there were already previous sacrifices, with long shifts, As a teenager, I joined weekends, Christmas and Rescue Groups, specializing New Years, carnivals and in mountain rescue, and as Easter, in operations, for an adult, I continued as a many years, but they were Clan leader, in the Scouts of always 24-hour shifts, with Venezuela, obtaining my 24 free. "Wood Badge", in Clan, today, with pride to make But as a Ranger, they were worthy young people weeks and many times they formed, for the service of were prolonged by other God, family, country and more followed weeks, by life. operations, fires, Rescue, loggers and others. In February 2002, trying to mountains of the city of San find my calling, in Rescue Cristóbal, by vehicle). In the "El Tamá" National and protection of Nature, I Park, that great adventure submitted my CV to join the I left and arrived scared, but began, which today I live as proud National Park with the impetus to do my a way of life, being a park Institute.