Making It Work

The Journal of the Association of National Park Rangers

RangerStewards for parks, visitors & each other Vol. 30, No. 3 | Summer 2014

Making It Work

RANGER • Summer 2014 u Sec1a Share your views! Do you have a comment on a particular topic featured in this issue? Or about anything related to national parks or ANPR business? Send your Board of Directors [email protected] Officers views to or to the address on President Erika Jostad, SEKI the back cover. Secretary Colleen Derber, WASO Treasurer Paula Alexander, LIBO Immediate Past President Stacy Allen, SHIL Logo design courtesy of Alex Eddy Memorial Day reflections Every year Antietam National Battlefield hosts Plan to join your the Memorial Illumination: 23,000 lights Board Members Education & Training Ben Walsh, NAMA on the battlefield for each one of the 23,000 Fundraising Activities Seth Tinkham, WASO ANPR colleagues for killed, captured or wounded on that fateful Internal Communications Jeremy Kaufman, NAMA countryside during the battle. Points of light Membership Services Gannon Frain the annual Rendezvous Professional Issues Ken Bigley, BIBE illuminate the little church for every man Seasonal Perspectives Lauren Kopplin, GLAC More details on page 17 of this who fell as the fighting raged. An eerie glow Special Concerns Wendy Lauritzen, TAPR brightens the sunken road where even more Strategic Planning Alison Steiner, SEKI issue and at www.anpr.org were cut down. An old stone bridge is wreathed in light marking soldiers’ last moments on Task Groups earth. But if a candle is lit every place where International Affairs Blanca Stransky, PEVI an American fell for freedom, from the roaring World Ranger Congress Bob Krumenaker, APIS USNPS Association of National Park Rangers | seashore of Iwo Jima to the peaceful depths of the Ardennes, an otherworldly glow would Staff commemorate liberty worldwide. Membership Services Teresa Ford — Stephen Moroz Ranger Magazine Waldorf, Maryland Editor/Publisher Teresa Ford LIVE THE ADVENTURE Editorial Adviser Kendell Thompson, LIBO Join the National Park Service Professional Ranger Section A guide to becoming Administration Michelle Torok, SAGU a park ranger Interpretation Pete Peterson, GRCA, and ANPR’s award-winning Josh Boles, WRBR with the ‘Lost . . . But Found, National Park Service Protection Kevin Moses, BUFF Safe and Sound’ video Resource Management Sue Consolo Murphy, GRTE Available on DVD A guide to becoming a Designed to show park ranger children, ages 4-12, what with the to do if they become lost ANPR Calendar National Park Service in remote areas such as parks or forests. Ranger (Fall issue) deadline...... July 31 ASSOCIATION OF NATIONAL PARK RANGERS n n n www.anpr.org DVD: $6 for ANPR members, $10 for others; also available for $5 as a CD-ROM Ranger (Winter issue) deadline...... Nov. 15 Refer visitors and PowerPoint presentation; $3 (closeout) for VHS in case anyone still has a VCR! Quantity Ranger Rendezvous XXXVII...... Oct. 22-26 prospective park employees discounts available; credit card payment YMCA of the Rockies to this informative publication. (Visa/MC) accepted. Estes Park, Colorado Order online at www.anpr.org/lost.htm Go to www.anpr.org/book.htm for single copies or bulk ordering details. Support ANPR. Questions? Contact ANPR’s business office: 25958 Genesee Trail Road, PMB 222 Golden, CO 80401 • [email protected]

Sec1bt ANPR • Association of National Park Rangers President’s Message sessions, informal activities and shared ur Association will host the 37th Ranger meals at this venue. Rendezvous Oct. 22-26 in Estes Park, ANGERThe Journal of the Association of National Park Rangers O If it has been some USNPS Colorado. The annual Rendezvous is the pri- RVol. 30, No. 3 Summer 2014 time since you have mary time each year when members can meet Ranger (ISSN 1074-0678) is a quarterly publication of attended a Rendez- in person to collaborate and connect with others the Association of National Park Rangers, an organization vous, I want to wel- created to communicate for, about and with National from around the Service. come you back. We Park Service employees of all disciplines; to promote and There are formal addresses from leaders enhance the professions, spirit and mission of National anticipate strong at- Park Service employees; to support management and within the agency and the conservation com- tendance and you are the perpetuation of the National Park Service and the munity. Training sessions this year will focus likely to reconnect with old friends and meet National Park System; and to provide a forum for profes- on leadership at all levels and development new ones. sional enrichment. of field skills intended to augment what you In meeting these purposes, the Association provides Attendees at the Rendezvous invariably education and other training to develop and/or improve receive at your home unit. Breakout sessions return home with a renewed sense of engage- the knowledge and skills of park professionals and those will explore a broad range of topics related to ment and enthusiasm about their work with interested in the stewardship of national parks; provides a national park areas and their management. the National Park Service and the Association. forum for discussion of common concerns of all employees; We will continue to conduct interviews for Attending Rendezvous reminds each of us why and provides information to the public. The membership of ANPR is comprised of individuals our ongoing oral history project and present we are a part of ANPR and what we love about who are entrusted with and committed to the care, study, a session to train interviewers. You will hear caring for our nation’s treasures. explanation and/or protection of those natural, cultural updates about the Eighth World Ranger I look forward to seeing you in the Rockies and recreational resources included in the National Park Congress that ANPR will host in 2016, and this autumn. USNPS System, and persons who support these efforts. ANPR’s official address: 25958 Genesee Trail Road, this presents an opportunity for members to Erika Jostad PMB 222, Golden, CO 80401, www.anpr.org. Members get involved with the planning team. There receive Ranger as part of their membership dues. See the are ample occasions for informal networking. IN THIS ISSUE website or Ranger for membership/subscription details. You will find specific information in this issue Russian activist Kollontai Alexandra could have Submissions and on our website at www.anpr.org. been thinking about the National Park Service Prospective authors should contact the editor or editorial If you have never attended the annual when she said, “Some third person decides your adviser before submitting articles. Editor, Teresa Ford, fate: This is the whole essence of bureaucracy.” 25958 Genesee Trail Road, PMB 222, Golden, CO Rendezvous, I want to reach out to you to join 80401, 303-526-1380; [email protected]. Editorial the event this year. The setting is spectacular, Her words are perhaps reflected in Horace adviser, Kendell Thompson, 703-927-1029. adjacent to Rocky Mountain National Park. Albright’s worry that, if not careful, the NPS Deadlines You can visit the park as part of the scheduled would turn into just another bureaucracy. Spring issue...... Jan. 31 field trips or on your own. At the heart of each One of ANPR’s most striking contribu- Summer issue...... April 30 Rendezvous is the opportunity to expand your tions has been the official professionalization Fall issue...... July 31 community beyond your park through formal of the ranger. ANPR was on the forefront of Winter issue...... Nov. 15 the ongoing struggle to obtain professional recognition and compensation for rangers and other NPS professionals. Great strides CONTENTS were made raising pay scales and opening Dual Careers: Affairs of the Heart...... 2 doors to passionate, long-suffering seasonals. Interview with Mike Reynolds...... 3 With ANPR’s support, even dual careers were H.R. 533, Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act...... 5 addressed by 1994. One Family’s Story...... 6 The tide of public opinion has turned. History of the Ranger Careers Initiative...... 8 Unheard of in the 1990s, GS-1’s now stand in Visitor and Resource Protection Career Academy...... 10 Oral History Project: An Interview with Wendy Lauritzen...... 11 green and gray where GS-9’s once stood. The NPS ranks low in surveys of good places to Professional Ranger ...... 14 work. What happened? And more importantly, ANPR Actions & News...... 16 what can ANPR do to turn this tide? Ranger Rendezvous XXXVII...... 17 In this issue, we explore these questions, but ANPR Reports...... 18 the stories reflect only part of the conversation. All in the Family...... 19 Several prospective authors were reluctant to share their stories, fearing reprisal and the perception of whining. Copyright © 2014. All rights reserved. We feature three stories of optimism. Marie Articles and images in this publication are the sole property Sauter and her partner and David Smith and his of ANPR and Ranger magazine, except where otherwise indicated. Republication in whole or part is not allowed partner fell in love both in and with national parks. without written permission. They share their tales of making dual careers work COVER: Rangers David Smith and John Evans and their children, in spite of NPS policy. Andrew Mizsak speaks Dante and Jakiah, pose for a Christmas photo on the South Rim from the outside to offer a primer on taking of the Grand Canyon in 2010. The family next was transferred to back ground lost to the changing tide. q Washington, D.C., and now resides in Kansas. — Kendell Thompson, Ranger editorial adviser

RANGER • Summer 2014 u Rodney and Marie Sauter

employees, professionals or couples separated individual but companion careers, and yet fit by zip and area codes? For us, since we met within a limited geography. We were strategic. Affairs and worked in the same national park in a We were flexible. We were long suffering. And region with local opportunities, dual career we were often apart. Sound familiar? of the seemed straightforward. But the stakes rose As part of a couple separated by zip and considerably when I chose to consider a posi- area codes, I made an unexpected discovery tion in upper management many states away. that there are more dual career couples than Rod and I spent hours discussing, weighing, I ever imagined. Friends and colleagues from evaluating, compromising and then finally all walks of life — teachers, scientists, cor- Heart agreeing. When the offer came, I accepted. It porate professionals, parents, career military was our decision. personnel and a never-ending supply of NPS By Marie Frias Sauter, White Sands The meaning changed dramatically when co-workers — shared their experiences of the hen we said “I do” 14 years ago, we journeyed cross-country together, me to dual career journey. They told me tales of joys I didn’t really understand the im- my new post, and he to uncertainty. As we and tensions, and they shared, almost with plications of being a “dual career” trekked into the unknown, we discovered pride, their respective length of separation. Wcouple in the National Park Service. But life that dual careers in remote places were more And they spoke of their commitment too. is a journey and with my husband, Rodney, challenging for federal employees. What had There seemed to be an understood “badge of we pledged, for better, for worse, in love and we done? We would find out. courage” given for long suffering that elicited support, to take that journey together. So away Rodney tested the waters with a three-year sympathy and compassion. Knowing that these we went. They say it is not the end but the career change to a field outside the NPS. couples managed to have a career while living journey that counts most. It didn’t take long Ultimately this hiatus would end when he apart, but that they were eventually rejoined, for me to discover the NPS meaning of dual returned to the NPS, accepting a position 10 inspired me to look on our new dual career career and gain a deeper understanding of the hours from our home. Making adjustments to situation with hope. commitment that the NPS definition holds for accommodate career decisions and maintain We found that among the challenges, there the intrepid dual career couple. commitment to each other became a game of were also rewards of our dual careers and our What does dual career mean and how is chess during the next half of our marriage. disparate addresses. For example, we discovered it defined? Is this phrase reserved for federal We searched for opportunities that suited our that working in different parks or sites gave us

t ANPR • Association of National Park Rangers are willing or not willing to sacrifice, know Rodney and I are closing the geographic gap We were strategic. what or who — or whose career — is most after 3½ years apart. Through the willingness We were flexible. We were important and when to give. This internal, of managers who understand the condition of long suffering. And we were honest conversation is essential in finding dual careers, our road has gotten shorter. We often apart. Sound familiar? the middle ground as the dual career path is are grateful as we look forward to maintaining negotiated. two careers from one address, one zip code and an opportunity to share new professional ideas Do I have regrets about choices I have one home, with one washer/dryer, one garage and solutions. A change in venue stimulated made? I prefer to look forward and stay in the and one set of dishes. USNPS liberating and rejuvenating conversation. journey, enjoy the unexpected, and dance with Similarly, when the other half lived in the the twists and turns. Similarly, when I speak to “get-away home,” the alternate location gave dual career couples who have had full, reward- Marie Frias Sauter is a 25-year veteran of the one of us a nice break from the yard and the ing careers, I have yet to hear regret in their National Park Service, starting her career at plumbing. But daily phones calls have been a voices, that they feel different choices should Great Smoky Mountains. She and Rodney met must for our mutual support and to share our have been made. while working at the C&O Canal. They now daily grind and our successes. Finally we set Instead, I hear stories about a shared life enjoy living and working in southern New Mexico a goal to end living apart, to began working journey, about choices, successes, support where Marie is superintendent at White Sands. toward one house, one area code, one address, and commitment to each other. I hear pas- Rodney is leaving the chief of interpretation post and one set of furniture and dishes. sion for their careers, and passion for their at Gila Cliff Dwellings for a new job as visitor center supervisor and volunteer coordinator at Does the NPS’s 1994 Dual Careers As- relationships and significant others. These Chamizal National Memorial in early June. sistance Program and policy work? I think so. challenges, choices, compromises and com- This enables him to commute to work instead of But as in all the other aspects of married life, mitments — and career choices — are affairs commuting to Marie on days off. couples must know their priorities, what they of the heart.

Mike Reynolds tackles difficult issues TMAP ith a reputation for fairness, integrity A Transitional Management Assessment Wand competence, Mike Reynolds was Plan provides an assessment of the health tapped to lead a difficult, Servicewide mis- of an organization at the time of manage- sion. Three years after assuming the regional ment transition. This TMAP was initiated director position for Midwest Region, he was because the associate director position for asked to uproot his family and leave world- Workforce, Relevancy and Inclusion changed famous Omaha steaks for the high stakes of in 2013, the makeup of the directorate was a Washington, D.C., assignment. Mike has revised, and NPS leadership raised concerns been tasked with fixing what ails the director- regarding operational and programmatic ate of Workforce, Relevancy and Inclusion effectiveness. or WRI. Ranger editorial adviser Kendell The TMAP team was assembled from NPS Thompson caught up with Mike on his “day staff representing many regions, parks and off” between unpacking, family events and a the Washington Office. There were also out- press of weekend emails to talk to him about side representatives from other Department his crucial new role. Mike Reynolds of the Interior bureaus, and consultants who brought workforce and facilitation experience Ranger: The recently completed Transitional to the team. Management Assessment Plan or TMAP that And in a moment of frank transparency, the was done for the WRI acknowledges that the TMAP admits that “there is a major credibility right now and are in the midst of creating National Park Service has struggled with the problem with this directorate.” Fixing the WRI a field-represented implementation strategy Equal Employment Opportunity Program, is clearly a big task. Arguably, you may only to address the findings. I really want field Learning and Development, and Human have two years to achieve the report’s recom- managers, human resource professionals and Resources functions. The report goes on to mendations. Can it be done? What part of this administrative leaders in parks and regions to say that the Service is “at a pivotal point in report stands out to you as job No. 1? be engaged and represented in bringing solu- managing not only the national heritage of tions to the table. It is a critical time and a a nation, but the equally significant resource Reynolds: Yes. We can make very positive huge opportunity. There is great support from that drives the heart and soul of any high changes to our Workforce systems, processes our leadership right now to engage in fixes and functioning, diverse, relevant organization and policies, and this is a top-level priority. The ideas. I feel a lot of momentum. — its workforce.” While basically optimistic, TMAP team gave us a road map and many the report takes an open-eyed, serious look at suggestions to do so. There is general agreement Ranger: According to the report, there were WRI, but also takes pains to avoid assigning throughout the Service on the findings of the “numerous interviews and survey and budget blame or rehashing past exploits. The TMAP report, but we need to work still on how we data analyses completed.” Are you satisfied offers a roadmap for making improvements but will do it in our complex and decentralized that you gathered enough survey data to move still leaves out many of the “how to” details. organization. We are making that job one (continued on next page)

RANGER • Summer 2014 u forward? What do we still not know about of lowered morale and the feeling that there Ranger: The TMAP also found that WRI had our workforce? is a lack of support that seems loud in the clocked some success, such as the Seasonal numbers. I know the director has made this a Recruitment Operations Center, and benefits Reynolds: In this world today, it seems data is top priority. The best advice we are being given and classification work. What do you see as the never enough, right? But in this case, I think from the data and experts willing to help us main strength of this directorate? Are there ways the data for understanding where we can make point to correcting our systems and processes to leverage WRI’s successes to make wholesale changes, what our strengths and weaknesses — not to blame our employees — to make organizational improvements? are, what solution spheres work best in other better and efficient administrative tools for parts of government is there. While the team them to do their jobs. I think you see this in the Reynolds: We have a lot of talent and skill in did not have time to collect or talk to everyone, numbers. So we will be supporting leadership our central facilities like HROC, SROC and the same themes came through. We will have through focused training fed from analysis of our SHRO teams nationwide in the field and a continuous connection to data, and if we the Employee Viewpoint Survey, and we will regions. I want their operational voice heard, ask the right levels of the Service to be a part be thinking about how to more smoothly and combined with a relentless customer service of the process for change, we will have the quickly conduct our HR process with customer culture to connect with front-line field manag- practical solutions we need and the best data service and teamwork priority-one from the ers and staff in the human resource arena. We in the field’s hands to support it. start. I hope all of us keep this trend in mind may not have the best organization of systems and work at all levels to address it. We have right now. There are always performance is- Ranger: The NPS recently dropped to No. hugely dedicated employees; we need to help sues, but overall we have great people who 200 of 300 “Best Places to Work in the Fed- them thrive. Looking at administrative process are saying let me help to make this better. We eral Government,” suggesting that employee is a great place to start. also have to look at how we use these talents morale is low. The TMAP notes that “leader- and how to organize them in a very complex ship within the directorate is not consistently Ranger: The TMAP says that money is not at park system. modeling supportive workplace behaviors, and the core of WRI’s problems, but also points many professional relationships are strained.” out that “the status quo (in EEO programs) Ranger: How does it feel to be back inside the Do you think there is a relationship between is costing the agency financially,” to the tune Beltway? What souvenir did you keep from the morale of the NPS leadership and the at- of $450,000 per year in required corrective the Midwest? titude of the workforce? What does this mean actions. How does this compare with similarly to you as the new kid on the block? How will sized organizations? Is this simply the cost of Reynolds: My souvenir in this fast and vast you approach this issue? doing business, or can we realistically hope to culture of the Beltway is to keep as a guide, close roll back that number? in my mind, the values, strength and dedication Reynolds: We are one of the finest agencies of the Midwest teams I was proud to serve with with one of the most inspiring missions for Reynolds: We need to focus on protecting as an RD. Washington is a place where I can the American people, and we are, by our Or- civil and employee rights and doing so as cost help many people through Servicewide efforts. ganic Act, here for “future generations.” This effectively as possible. We have high rates, It is an honor to serve you all from here. This mission brings a talented workforce that is but other agencies do as well. We will work will take more than a few of us in D.C., but hugely committed to that mission, the parks closely with the EEO managers and leaders we will do our part here. And I hope, that by and the programs they serve. But I want to to address this. The TMAP gives us a lot of reaching a hand beyond the Beltway, the field deeply understand and fix this growing trend places to effect change. will grab hold as a partner. USNPS

EDITOR’S NOTE: The second annual Big Cypress National Preserve poetry contest attracted more than 50 entries. Employees of Big Cypress selected the winners based on a poem’s relevance to the preserve and artistic merit. The second-place poem seems to reflect the homelife issues addressed in this edition of Ranger.

Home By Alison Nissen

Her legs are long. Braced for the wild wind, She holds life. She stands in the muddy waters, Tangled but strong. She gives life, Rooted and sure footed, She is adorned. To spiders and lizards and birds. Arms stretched wide, Her hair decorated, They play under her leaves, hide Bands of light touch her fingertips. Green and yellow. beneath her stems, weave between her She reaches for more. It whips left and right. branches. Her body twists, She breathes life. She is home.

t ANPR • Association of National Park Rangers H.R. 533: Not Beyond Hearing By Andrew Mizsak of parks, as shown through visitor use statistics started working with the National Park Ser- PERSPECTIVE and economic impact studies, brings key facts Ivice two years ago as a volunteer and quickly to any conversation with Congress. noted the obvious: there aren’t enough rangers. position must be permanent, and it must be a The question for ANPR, as an advocate, will The NPS is trying to do more with less. position originally slated to be permanent, not be how to support the bill without it shuffling Part of the problem comes from a funding created for a targeted recruitment. Along with funding from static ONPS appropriations and shortage, but money can be found. The more the NPS, the bill would apply to the Forest sacrificing other programs and services. intractable part of the problem is the moribund Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Introduced on Feb. 6, 2013, the bill has rules surrounding recruitment. There are in- Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management been referred to the House Oversight and numerable, passionate and qualified would-be and Bureau of Reclamation. Government Reform Committee responsible rangers chafing for a chance to do more with This bill has great potential and echoes for federal personnel and employment matters. more, waiting quietly in the ranks of seasonals ANPR’s earlier efforts to create a professional However, it hasn’t moved out of committee. and volunteers. But they are stymied time and ranger series for the NPS. However, if passed, If enough of us contact our congressional again, blocked at the front door by well-mean- this bill supports the long-term stability of the representatives, ask them to reach out to ing but labyrinthine rules that seem inspired ranger profession across all of our 2,000-plus Rep. Connolly and become co-sponsors of by Rube Goldberg. public land units and in every land manage- the bill, then contact House Oversight and It has always been difficult to get a career ment agency. Government Reform Committee Chairman NPS job, but it has now become nearly impos- Moreover, this bill enjoys an almost rare Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., we might get it to sible, and promising candidates, many who bipartisan support. Twelve Democrats and 11 a hearing. There is strength in numbers. literally give their time away as volunteers, are Republicans have joined the National Parks As a knowledgeable citizen, send a letter to passed over because there is no authority that Caucus and chosen to co-sponsor this bill. your House member. Even if your represen- allows park managers to target recruitment In addition to the political diversity of these tative doesn’t read it, the staff will. Send the and hire people who have already been doing 23 members (they run the entire ideological letter to the respective district office to receive ranger jobs — often for years. spectrum), the group also is geographically more attention. You can often discover who In an effort to solve at least part of this diverse, representing 17 states and one terri- has the public lands portfolio with a simple problem, Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., in- tory. Web search and can mark your letter to their troduced H.R. 533, the Land Management Getting H.R. 533 passed should be easy. I attention. Workforce Flexibility Act. Focused originally have met with members of the Ohio congres- The best approach is always face to face in on seasonal wildland firefighters, the legisla- sional delegation or their staffs, both on Capitol their office or at events such as “Congress on tion seeks to allow seasonal or term-appointed Hill and in their respective districts, regarding Your Corner.” rangers who have served in a competitively this bill, and the response has been positive. Don’t be shy. If you live in one congres- filled position for at least 24 months and have When I explained to them the importance of sional district and work in a different one, performed their duties to the satisfaction of developing professional, career rangers, I could send a letter to both representatives. Highlight their supervisors, to be able to compete for a see them wanting to do more to support this the importance of the national park in their permanent position within the agency. The new cause. district, and how this bill would bring added But the current political trend is away from economic value — and jobs — to the area. I legislation that promises to increase the size live in one district and work as a volunteer in of the federal government. Consequently, another, so I share the story twice. GovTrack, an independent website devoted This bill is important because it can help to transparency in government, gives H.R. build a cadre of passionate, professional rangers 533 a 1 percent chance of being enacted, and across all of our public lands. It is important rangers cannot lobby Congress. because it will help park managers be able But, as citizens — not federal employees to hire people who are already right in front — we can speak about what we know. Nearly of them. It is important because it rewards every member of Congress has a national park dedication, knowledge and loyalty. or other public land unit in their district and It is up to us to share this story with Con- they need information about these sites. We gress and to become advocates in support of have information. this bill. USNPS National parks serve almost every American (more than 280 million people in fiscal year 2012). Parks provide a significant, positive economic impact that is most strongly felt in local congressional districts. Members of Con- Andrew Mizsak has volunteered at James A. Garfield gress often ask what the national parks do for NHS in Ohio since 2012. He is executive director After 44 years as a seasonal ranger, George Durkee America? What they are really asking is “what of the Friends of James A. Garfield NHS. retired without benefits. do national parks do for me?” The popularity

RANGER • Summer 2014 u By David Smith One NPS Family’s Story Brown v. Board of Education

With the South Rim of the Grand Canyon as a backdrop, Rangers David Smith and John Evans pose with their children, Dante and Jakiah.

wo very much in love recent college At the time, it never dawned on us that that our search for seasonal jobs and trying to find grads pulled into the visitor center there would be challenges in trying to even get housing where we could keep our dogs. parking lot at Voyaguers National Park a job, much less work at the same park. Nor did There was a year spent with John at Joshua Tin Minnesota in the fall of 1991. We were about it really seem to be an issue that we were two Tree and me in Canyonlands. Thank goodness halfway through a four month, trans-United guys and that we would be doing this together for eight-day, backcountry shifts, long week- States camping journey. What started as a way — as a dual career. We both loved the police ends and a fuel-efficient car. After slogging to see America quickly became a test of our and rescue part of rangering, and also work- away as seasonal rangers for five years, both relationship and a chance to explore what we ing in education and interpretation. John had of us realized that this type of lifestyle might were going to be when we grew up. paid for college as a construction worker, and work for a single person but it certainly was By the time we arrived at Voyaguers, we I had spent my adolescence painting houses. not working for a couple. We knew from the must have visited at least 50 different park sites. Surely with all those skills, we would be able to beginning that we would one day establish a As we went from monument to battlefield to find work at some park, whether it was in law family, and for us, that meant stability. Stabil- forest, we noticed that, by far, the happiest enforcement, interpretation or maintenance. ity meant a permanent job, health care for a people we were meeting were park rangers. I Somehow, 23 years later, we have made it growing family and the chance to establish wanted to be a forester and John (Evans) hoped work. But it wasn’t always perfect and rosy. roots in a community. to become a police officer, but our plans at that Looking back at being a young gay couple This need to settle down led to our decision point were going nowhere. Why not look into living and working in rural Utah, I’m sure we to leave the NPS and join the Border Patrol the National Park Service and have a career were an oddity. But neither of us experienced for yearlong stints. It sounds odd now, but at protecting our parks, serving the public, and outward hatred or animosity – just a lot of cu- the time, it seemed a reasonable course. This especially, being happy? riosity. Our stress came from the NPS through was all pre-Internet, and looking for perma-

t ANPR • Association of National Park Rangers as a leader, it was unacceptable for him to As a family we struggle just like park talk like that. He was shocked, a bit humbled parents do everywhere in trying to and apologetic. We went on to become good balance work with parenting. friends. From that day on, for the first time in my adult life, I was closeted about who I was and my relationship with John. Until we nent jobs meant a four-hour drive from the left the Border Patrol, neither one of us shared Maze to Moab to look over the “pink sheets” our relationship with our co-workers. at headquarters for potential all sources clerk As a married couple in the NPS, we have typist positions at the Arch or a park guide made the same compromises that any married job at the Statue of Liberty. Not only was this couple makes. We realized that our chance of proving fruitless, but the idea of surviving in getting jobs at the same park would be greatly New York City as a GS-3 was a bit frighten- increased if we moved into different fields. I ing. Since we both loved the Desert Southwest started focusing more on interpretation. John and were familiar with the border region, a was always strong in law enforcement and SAR GS-9 border agent in Arizona seemed like an and made that his primary focus. Both of us excellent idea. This was our chance to spend a are stronger NPS employees because of our year learning Spanish, an opportunity to go to diverse backgrounds and because each of us FLETC, and to live and work in some stunning brings our respective work experiences home public lands. Maybe not a park, but we would at night to share. be working somewhere wild and beautiful. As a family we struggle just like park par- Whether you realize it or not, the NPS is ents do everywhere in trying to balance work John Evans and David Smith at Joshua Tree an amazingly welcoming family. Bosses, co- with parenting. We both love our work and workers and even the director of the Service are committed to the mission of this agency. the middle of the American heartland. What have reached out to offer help during moves. This commitment has resulted in four different we found in the Midwest was an amazingly The same cannot be said for the Border Patrol, moves since the children were born. I like to competent cadre of professionals, all of whom at least the Border Patrol of 1996. My first think that our kids are more resilient and ac- made us feel exceedingly welcome. Most of our week in FLETC, my lead instructor informed cepting of change because of all these moves. new park friends had never met a same-sex our class where “fags” would hang out in the More than likely, it just means that they will couple raising an interracial family. I can also San Diego sector and what to do when we be in need of major counseling as they get say they treated us like family too. confronted them. I don’t know where I got older. Our journey in the NPS is about half over. the nerve, and I was shaking in my boots, but Each move has been met with an amazing I imagine we will both work until we are at I mustered enough courage to take him aside amount of camaraderie, friendship and sup- least 65, and I can’t imagine working for any after class. I let him know there were plenty port from our park family. We never dreamed other agency. of gays and lesbians in the Border Patrol and that we would end up living and working in Would we do it again if we knew then what we know today? Without hesitation: yes. Our John Evans observes the San Francisco skyline. agency is not perfect. We have met more than one bigot who didn’t much like gays. But what we have found is that park people care more about my character than whom I marry. They need to know that we will treat them fairly, that we will back them up, and that we will be there for them in hard times. It’s just like they would expect us to do for them. USNPS

— Photos provided by author —

David Smith is the superintendent at Brown v. Board of Education in Topeka, Kansas. John Evans serves as the branch chief for security and intelligence at the Washington Office’s Visitor and Resource Protection. He is duty stationed in Topeka.

RANGER • Summer 2014 u PERSPECTIVE A Brief History undercompensated. Although park technician, park ranger and park manager work was now of the Ranger Careers Initiative combined into a single series, rangers were still nonprofessionals. in the National Park Service Combining technical and professional work By Bill Sanders resources for land managing agencies, there resulted in some professional ranger work be- uring the early 1990s, Ranger Careers has never been sufficient demand for rangers ing classified at low levels, and some technical was a significant episode in the long to cause universities to establish degree paths work appearing at higher grades in the standard. (and still ongoing) struggle to obtain in “park ranger.” No specific degree, amount There was no ranger work described above grade goodD stewardship and professional recognition or field of study is required for entry into a 13, thus the ranger occupation was capped off, and compensation for national park rangers. It park ranger position. restricting professional career advancement was intended to be a comprehensive reinven- The Park Ranger Series (General Schedule, opportunities. Using the same OPM standard, tion of the park ranger series and its manage- GS-0025) is placed in the Miscellaneous Family ranger work was classified differently in the ment within the National Park Service. of federal job occupations. Park rangers tradi- various units and regions of the NPS, some ANPR began championing the profession- tionally performed all types of work in parks paying basic rangers at the GS-5 grade, some alization of ranger careers in the late 1970s. As (professional, technical and administrative), as high as GS-9. Inconsistency led to morale early as the third Ranger Rendezvous in 1979, essentially pitching in to do whatever was and retention problems. Park managers were attendees discussed a host of issues important necessary to safeguard park resources and visi- often not compensated as well as other land to the ranger occupation. Included were hous- tors, and to provide information and education managers or military base facility managers. ing, law enforcement, park technician vs. park about park resources to the public. ranger, grades, career mobility, enhanced an- The U.S. Office of Personnel Management The Vail Symposium nuity retirement and seasonal concerns. (formerly the Civil Service Commission) is The 1988 National Park Service 75th Anniver- empowered under the law to establish job sary Symposium held in Vail, Colorado, con- Background qualifications and classification for all work vened top managers along with distinguished Park ranger work does not fall neatly into any required by the federal government. For many government, academic and private leaders to occupational group or job family used by the decades, NPS management struggled with the examine almost every major aspect of park U.S. Office of Personnel Management.- Al rulings of OPM regarding the work of park operations and management. Work teams though often referred to as “generalist” work, rangers. Somehow, OPM never seemed to “get provided critical thinking about the parks and rangers actually perform multi-specialty work it right” and from the OPM perspective, the the service. An urgent call was issued to halt crossing many disciplines and occupations. NPS never “understood” their system. Fol- the “erosion” of the NPS workforce by develop- Historically, successful rangers have come from lowing the 1985 revision of the classification ing “…a comprehensive, Servicewide human many different educational backgrounds and standards for the Park Ranger Series (requested resource policy and strategy…” A key finding learned skills and slices of many various aca- by the NPS), there was a general consensus regarding park rangers was: “Rangers must be demic disciplines while on the job. Although among the rangers and managers of the NPS versatile, adaptable, and able to independently rangers are cost effective and efficient human that park ranger work was still undervalued and integrate a broad variety of information in complex field settings where their decisions have far-reaching consequences.” The Vail Agenda, as it was called, also made specific recommendations regarding pre-career education, training, development and career management. Managerial preparation and succession planning was a much-stressed problem within the park ranger workforce.

Studying Problems A Ranger Futures Working Group was assembled in the spring of 1992 to identify and study the problems facing the ranger occupation and to propose solutions. The working group consisted of senior officials from the Office of Personnel Management, the Department of the Interior and the NPS human resources offices along with private human resources consultants (KRA Associates), senior NPS managers and members from the various ranger functions. The working group conducted a series of fact- finding visits to a representative sampling of

t ANPR • Association of National Park Rangers parks, gaining an understanding of the variety enforcement (protection) park rangers and • Physical fitness program for rigorous positions of functions and work activities performed by drafted a new DO/RM-57 medical standards • Complete set of benchmark position descrip- rangers in parks. policy and resource manual. tions (many drafted) ANPR members played key roles in pro- • Revised physical fitness program for protec- • New ranger competency program (interpre- viding field perspectives, expert insight, and tion park rangers. tation largely complete, protection started) professional and organizational knowledge to • Obtained increased appropriations for the working group. Ranger Careers ($2.5 million reprogrammed Epilogue in FY94, $13.5 million in FY95, $11 million The “Brief History of Ranger Careers” was Solving Problems in FY95, $5.7 million in FY97). written as the NPS was ending the Ranger After years of intensive problem definition, • Assisting FLETC, developed new Field Careers program, leaving it unfinished. Many consultation and policy development by the training and evaluation program for law en- of the basic systemic components necessary to working group, its “Ranger of the Future” forcement program. achieve the purposes of Ranger Careers were concept paper was produced. A Ranger • Developed an awards program for Ranger abandoned and some were since reversed. Careers manager for the NPS (Bill Sanders) Activities, including logo. Then, as now, inadequate funding was a was hired in November 1993 by NPS Chief • Instituted “demonstrated competencies” major obstacle to moving forward, even with Ranger James Brady to implement reforms. concept for park rangers. a clear roadmap in place. As funding issues Implementation began using KRA Associates grew, internal struggles and tensions ultimately as personnel subject-matter experts (Fossum, Other Programs in Ranger Activities played themselves out through competition, Moser, Howe) working with John Mussare, The WASO Ranger Activities Division was delays, animosities and other unfortunate NPS chief of classification and compensation, working simultaneously to professionalize activities, which sometimes are all-too-com- and Steve Perloff, associate director, OPM. the park ranger occupation, including but mon ailments of large bureaucracies. Yet, The Ranger Futures career management not limited to: venting recriminations and if-only hindsight reform initiative was launched in 1994 as • Law enforcement – obtained new credentials is unproductive. Ranger Careers, a term Sanders coined. and shields, obtained new Sig Sauer semi- Many of the core tenets of Ranger Careers automatic handguns and AR-15 rifles, insti- could, if revisited, updated and implemented, Major Accomplishments tuted criminal investigators and special agents offer solutions to some of the still-lingering • Established NPS career management policy in the NPS, obtained major drug enforcement systemic ailments of the NPS and the park for the park ranger profession (Special Direc- and ARPA enforcement funds. ranger profession. Park ranger is still not a tive 94-3), set full performance level for NPS • Wilderness – instituted coordinated, sci- “profession,” as it would have been had Ranger park rangers at GS-9. ence-based wilderness management with Forest Careers been fully implemented. Lack of di- • Published “Ranger Careers, Volume I: “Posi- Service and other agencies, began aircraft over- versity is still an issue, as is a smooth, logical tion Management.” flight and soundscape management programs. career pathway leading from a clearly defined • Benchmark position descriptions for all park • Fee collection – implemented new legis- career-entry portal to retirement, and other rangers in grades 5/7/9. lation to collect entrance fees in all parks, “already-solved” issues. • Developed new qualification standard for developed visitor use assistant series to collect Money is not the problem. Will is. Money park rangers, establishing at least 24 semester fees and inform visitors, freeing park rangers always flows to where the political will re- hours in the natural or cultural sciences as from this administrative task. quires it. This country has fought wars with minimal qualifications and specifying park The Ranger Careers program effectively no money; we simply moved it off-budget. It or park-related specialized work experience ended in August 1998 when Bill Sanders, took years to build the coalitions, agreements, as minimal. manager, was transferred to Hopewell Furnace compromises and political groundswell neces- • Developed new classification standard for NHS as superintendent and the position was sary to ultimately launch the Ranger Futures park ranger work in the Factor Evaluation Sys- abolished to save money. Initiative back in the late 1980s. NPS employee tem. Described GS-14 level park ranger work. organizations, unions and various professional • Developed Career Pyramid method of de- Completed but Never Implemented associations both within and outside the NPS scribing the interlocking, mutually supporting • New classification standard (with ANPR notably providing leadership and work of protection and interpretation rangers. • New qualification standard motivation), played a major role in generating • Obtained enhanced annuity retirement • New supplemental qualification statement the momentum that eventually resulted in a (6-c) coverage for law enforcement and fire • New seasonal ranger program (career seasonals) special appropriation from Congress to make fighting park rangers, including coverage for • Agency initiative to complete transition to Ranger Careers happen. prior service. 6c for law enforcement (and fire) The question comes down to whether • Developed new “front door” into the park • New occupational replenishment program ANPR members and the members of other ranger profession via a new supplementary (diversity) organizations are willing to work hard enough qualifications statement. • New NPS law enforcement background to launch a “Ranger Careers II” or even to • Developed a new occupational replenish- investigations program (pre-OPM) finally achieve implementing some of the ment and diversity plan. long-dormant components of Ranger Careers • Developed a new seasonal park ranger system Not Fully Completed but Necessary in hibernation for decades. USNPS and new benchmark position descriptions for • New careers management program (Ranger GS-5 and GS-7 seasonal park rangers. Careers, Volume II, drafted) ANPR life member Bill Sanders retired in 2006 after 34 years of service. He lives in Pennsylvania. • Developed a new medical standard for law • OPM suitability test for law enforcement rangers

RANGER • Summer 2014 u Report to the field —Visitor and Resource Protection Career Academy By Demica Vigil, Mather Training Center significant milestone has been reached due to the ongoing effort of the Visi- tor and Resource Protection Advisory ACommittee, the VRP Servicewide training manager, Clemson University and support from the Washington Office VRP directorate. The Visitor and Resource Protection For the first time a comprehensive assess- Advisory Committee, ment of VRP employee developmental and along with Cameron training needs has been completed across Sholly, associate the National Park Service. The assessment director for VRP, ultimately targets the greatest developmental and several Clemson gaps from the field’s perspective. These valuable University represen- outcomes and findings are now available in an tatives, met at the National Conserva- executive summary on InsideNPS (search VRP tion Training Center Assessment: Executive Summary). in April 2014. The NPS has periodically assessed its various occupational specialties by examining the training centers continue to collaborate in the Also in attendance for key portions of developmental needs of its employees. Typi- development of the NPS Career Academy for the workshop was Cameron Sholly, associate cally this has been accomplished by analyzing VRP. director for VRP. He shared with the group the competencies important to successfully In order to have a more manageable and priorities that align with the NPS director’s addressing specific job duties, then assessing focused survey instrument, the complete list of Call to Action and the VRP Organizational how prepared employees are in fulfilling those competencies was condensed and refined from Priorities and Actions from his directorate. The duties. Any difference between the two is called spring of 2012 to fall of 2013. The online survey advisory group identified many areas that were a developmental gap. The needs assessment instrument, called VRP Needs Assessment, was common threads and that lend themselves to clarifies the most important developmental sent to all employees having VRP duties identi- collaboration between WASO, regions, parks, gaps and assists managers on where to spend fied by the NPS human resource database. The and the NPS Learning and Development precious funding and other resources for em- survey was conducted from Sept. 3 to Oct. 2, Branch. ployee development. 2013. It included a list of 87 specific technical In processing the immense data provided This effort has the additional value of having competency items depicting various aspects in the report, many of the results crossed into employees examine the competencies needed of being a professional VRP employee. The multiple areas of responsibility, including hu- in a changing organization under constantly survey consisted of 135 questions, including man resources, supervision, succession plan- evolving societal, environmental, fiscal and open-ended and demographic questions. The ning, and topics outside of the Learning and political conditions. response rate was 36.4 percent, and as a census Development’s responsibility or accountability. The Learning and Development branch, in rather than a sample of employees, provides There is clearly an opportunity to collaborate partnership with VRP subject matter experts, highly reliable data. From my perspective as between the various branches of NPS to ad- completed a comprehensive effort to review, a training manager, we asked, the field spoke dress concerns and findings. update and sometimes develop for the first and we are listening. Contributions to this effort have come from time the competencies needed to perform As part of the listening to and interpretation many fronts, all of which support building clear VRP jobs at the highest levels. of the responses, the VRP Advisory Commit- and viable pathways for success. Many thanks In May 2012, subject matter experts from tee met in April at the National Conservation to all who have supported this effort, including across the NPS joined professionals from Training Center. The primary objectives of the those who responded to the survey. the Stephen T. Mather Training Center and workshop were to: You may contact me at Demica_Vigil@nps. Clemson University to begin assembling the 1. review and understand the report gov or 304-535-4023. This updates informa- comprehensive list of technical competencies findings. tion to the article on the Visitor and Resource for the nine overarching groups under the 2. identify high priority developmental or Protection Career Academy in the Spring 2012 VRP branch. These competencies describe training gaps. issue of Ranger, Vol. 28, No. 2. USNPS what is required to successfully perform the 3. cross reference developmental training variety of jobs within the VRP ranks. Primary gaps with organizational priorities. Demica Vigil is the training manager for Visitor and responsibility for performance related to law Dr. Brett Wright and Ph.D. student Gina Resource Protection at Mather Training Center in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. enforcement, wildland and structural fire, Depper from Clemson University helped and wilderness management lie with sister interpret the data from the needs assessment Websites for more information: training centers, i.e. the Federal Law Enforce- and answer questions as the members of the VRP InsideNPS site: http://inside.nps.gov/waso/ ment Training Center, National Interagency group worked to prioritize those areas that ap- waso.cfm?prg=141&lv=2 Fire Center and the Arthur Carhart National pear most critical for increased developmental NPS Learning and Development site: Wilderness Training Center. These sister opportunities. www.nps.gov/training/LD/html/index.html

10 t ANPR • Association of National Park Rangers ANPR has ‘given me my career’ Ranger Wendy S. Lauritzen: An interview with historian Lu Ann Jones

Careful planning and serendipity account me this training.” And since they didn’t for Wendy S. Lauritzen’s National Park give it to me, I’m letting them stop my Service career. After her introduction to the Service in 1975 when she worked on a entire career? No. (laughs) So I would say Student Conservation Association summer ANPR has been extremely important to trail crew in Rocky Mountain National Park, me. she went on to become an interpreter, park ranger, chief of education and visitor Jones: So could you talk some about just services, and management assistant at sites as disparate as Independence that role of mentoring in your career? Or National Historical Park and the Northwest do you see yourself as a mentor to other Alaska Areas. In 2003 she was named people? superintendent at Washita Battlefield National Historic Site, and five years Lauritzen: To me, ANPR as an organiza- later she was tapped to lead Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. Along the tion has done more in mentoring than way she detoured to the U.S. Fish and specific individuals. Sometimes I have Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Land sought out specific people because I want Management. She has been a delegate to learn a particular skill. But for me it’s to International Ranger Federation been more serendipitous than it has been congresses. How did Lauritzen build a successful “this is my mentor.” Sometimes you hang career from one position to the next? onto your mentors too long. There have That was among the first questions I been times that I also realize that they asked during an interview conducted in were a good mentor for maybe a couple 2013 for the ANPR Oral History Project. of years for these particular reasons, and Lauritzen gave ANPR much of the credit, and recalled attending her first Ranger there’s a time to let go. So it’s realizing Rendezvous in 1982 while a seasonal when those breaks are. ranger at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. She’s been a regular ever since. Jones: If younger rangers talk to you now about trying to build a career in the Park Service, what kind of advice do you give Lauritzen: I got involved with ANPR them these days? because we’d been doing a lot of overtime but the park couldn’t pay overtime. So even maintenance because that’s where the money Lauritzen: First of all, I ask them what it is that though you worked lots of overtime cases, you is and that’s where the problems are. So know they’re wanting. One of the gals who’s here, just didn’t get paid for it. administration, know budget and know main- she had somebody who advised her to call me. And one day my boss said, “Hey, there’s a tenance. But the truth is, you need to know all And I was trying to ask her what it was that whole bunch of rangers getting together. Fill the divisions’ work.” He wasn’t even directing she was wanting. And at the same time, I was out a leave slip and I’ll sign it. Make it for the that conversation to me; I just overheard it. trying to look at the picture of how hard is it whole week, because it’s a weeklong thing. If (So I started) digging into all that stuff. I got to get into the agency, what’s happening with we get back and nothing happens, I’ll tear it up. into everybody’s business at points along my downsizing and all that. So my role was to ask (laughs) But if we get hurt, you’re covered.” career. enough questions that she knew that she was So 22 of us left the Smokies and went to a ANPR is what’s given me my career because assessing risks. And while I advised her one Ranger Rendezvous near Shenandoah. There of what I’ve learned to read between the lines, way, she took another. I take no offense in that were all these people in Park Service, and dif- because of the conversations you have at events because she was assessing it for her needs. But ferent grade levels. But at the time, most of us like this (Ranger Rendezvous). If I were to look I feel like she had an informed decision. So I were lower graded. There were seasonals; there at the training the Park Service has provided do get into career advice. But I don’t expect were people who were permanent. And it was for me, that would not have done it. It’s only people to take the same path I did. USNPS just a really good time. because I knew what to pursue because I’d been At a Rendezvous somewhere along the coming to these events (Ranger Rendezvous). Wendy Lauritzen serves on the board of ANPR. Lu Ann line, I heard Mike Finley — he had become And if somebody in the Park Service told Jones is a staff historian with the NPS Park History superintendent at Yellowstone — talking me “no,” then I’d find a way to do it with or Program in Washington, D.C. about, “Well, if I’d known all the stuff that the without them. ANPR has taught me you can superintendent needs to know, I would have do it inside or outside of the boundaries. But The oral history project is financed by the Rick learned more about this (field of expertise).” don’t let “no” stop you. Keep going. Gale Memorial Fund. You can continue Rick’s And he said, “You need to know about hu- Too many times now I see people who get legacy with a tax-deductible donation. Please man resources, and you need to know about stuck because, “Well, Park Service didn’t give visit www.anpr.org/donate.htm.

RANGER • Summer 2014 u 11 PERSPECTIVE ‘Well, I’m Here. What Should I Do?’ Some thoughts on the occasion of Grand Canyon’s 95th birthday, Feb. 26, 2014

By Ron Brown, Grand Canyon have always been interested in the role that Ithe first people who brought “tourists” to the Grand Canyon played in its preservation. It could be argued that the actions of Captain John Hance and the others who made their living by making sure that visitors were com- fortable and had an enjoyable experience laid the foundation for preservation. They were living examples of what Freeman Tilden later described as the link between appreciation and protection. The people who had good experiences here were the ones who often took the lead in protecting the canyon. Our own Foundations of Interpretation makes it clear that “visitors who discover personal relevance and meaning will be more inclined to participate in conserving a site’s resources so that future generations can enjoy them and that the National Park Service can’t preserve these national treasures forever without the public taking an active role in their preservation.” Longtime NPS interpreter, ANPR member unveils new venture Today we find ourselves in a similar situ- ristin “Kale” Bowling has founded Urban to individual youth interest. ation. Our own role in facilitating access to KNature Partners PDX to match under- The pilot project begins this summer with park resources offers valuable experiences for served youth with mentors to explore urban 4th and 5th graders in the Portland school visitors and fulfills the NPS mission. In fact, greenspaces in Portland, Oregon. where Kale has been coordinating an after- it seems clear to me that the most important A longtime interpreter and ANPR member, school program. You can help her achieve her contact we ever make is the one at the front Kale left the National Park Service 3½ years goals in several ways: desk of the visitor center. Because the main ago to pursue a master’s degree in education at • Forward this information to those you visitor center is the first point of contact for Portland State University. Her new nonprofit, know in the Portland area who could become many people, our most critical audience is the Urban Nature Partners PDX, combines the mentors and to others conducting outdoor person who says, “Well, I’m here. What should best practices of experiential education and programming with urban youth so she can I do?” mentoring to build relationships and increase connect with them. These are usually the people having their self confidence in ways that are personally and • Help find relevant grant opportunities. first experience with national parks. It is quite culturally relevant to kids. • Donate basic gear, especially raincoats and likely that more people get their first impres- Mentor-youth activities take place in easily hiking boots, for children ages 9 to 12. sion of all national parks in the few moments accessible outdoor areas in and around Portland, • Donate basic field guides (of birds, trees) at our visitor center than they do in any other and are driven by the interests and abilities of focusing on the Pacific Northwest. place on earth. These are often not experienced each youth. They are relevant to a young person’s • Make a donation to kickstart her venture. travelers. They don’t know how to plan a visit culture and background, and sometimes include All donations are tax deductible through and frequently don’t even know what to ask. family members and peers. the sponsoring organization, Impact NW. We are the experienced ones. We know Participants will have access to basic per- Visit http://urban-nature-partners.org to reach from something as basic as (Abraham) sonal outdoor gear, increased self confidence the donation page. Maslow’s theory that the physiological needs and problem-solving skills, and scholarships Kale can be reached at for a restroom, water and food are the most to summer camps, internships, and other po- urbannaturepartnerspdx@ important and should be met first. A little tentially career-related opportuities according gmail.com. deeper understanding might show us that

12 t ANPR • Association of National Park Rangers once those physical needs are satisfied, the individual’s safety needs take precedence and often show up as the need for reassurance and direction. Even beyond the canyon’s threat to their physical safety, the overwhelming pres- ence of the canyon itself, combined with the discomfort of a new experience, means that visitors may need the reassurance that comes from having someone take the time to help them plan their day. When visitors ask the “What should I do?” question, we can really make a difference by being comforting and helpful. We can take the map in hand and mark the places where they can find the food, views, lodging and fantastic experiences they seek. By using such basic tools of influence as the human desire to repay a favor and respond to the authority they perceive as coming from our uniform, there are countless ways we can help visitors find ways to enjoy their park. We can respect and encourage the wide range of experiences visitors are seeking. All we have to do is hand them a map, offer them direction and help them plan their day. They will respond by showing their appreciation for the park and the NPS. It doesn’t matter why visitors come to a park. It doesn’t matter how experienced they are. As long as they aren’t breaking the law or damaging the resource or harming the experience of other visitors, we should take the time to help them. We have more opportunity to ensure the future preservation of all national parks by how we treat the inexperienced visitors in their first few moments at the desk than we do with all of our interpretive programs combined. If a DON’T KEEP visitor’s initial impression of any national park is a smiling and helpful ranger handing them THE GOOD NEWS a map, directing them to a clean restroom and helping them plan an enjoyable rest of their TO YOURSELF. day, we have started them on the path to appreciation. USNPS

Ron Brown, a Benchmark Ten interpreter on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, has worked at the park Share Ranger magazine for nearly 15 years. with your friends and co-workers.

Shop online & earn Leave it in your park’s break room or buy a friend a gift membership. money for ANPR Link to iGive.com from the ANPR website, Check online for special gift rates: then go to your preferred shopping sites. A portion of your sales will go back to ANPR. www.anpr.org/join.htm Nearly 700 brand-name online retailers are rep- > resented. Start at www.anpr.org/fundraising.

RANGER • Summer 2014 u 13 • Fee Program (cash register and road audits, • Aviation (annual review of park aviation The Professional Ranger honor system compliance, internal review, management plan) change fund, credit card acceptance as- • Environmental (schedule environmental Administration sessments) audit once every four years) It’s time for the annual park certification of • Housing (rental income spending, hous- • Cultural Resources (Archeological Site management controls — It is that time of the ing condition assessments) Management Information System fiscal year when parks are being asked to complete • Human Resources (employee exit clear- year report certification) the annual park management control assurance) • Facilities (asbestos data cleanup and ance statements. • Undelivered Orders (annual certification structure audit) This annual reporting requirement is of contract obligations) • Law Enforcement (Firearm and ammu- mandated by the Federal Managers Financial • Dam Safety (Bureau of Reclamation nition inventory, EMS, LE, and Search Integrity Act of 1982 P.L. 97-255 -- (H.R. reviews parks every other year) and Rescue reports, compliance with job 1526). This Act amended the Accounting • Radio Program (annual preventive main- requirement certifications) and Auditing Act of 1950 to require ongoing tenance review) • Information Technology (annual risk evaluations and reports of the adequacy of the • Occupational Safety and Health (techni- management review and contingency systems of internal accounting and administra- cal facility inspections and safety/health plans) tive control of each executive agency, and for program evaluations) There is an extensive list of program areas other purposes. • Concessions (annual public health service that each park management team is responsible The administrative staff plays a major role evaluation and risk management plans) for evaluating the effectiveness of internal in completing the assurance statements as • Dive Program (equipment inspection, controls. The spotlight is never far away when several program areas fall under administration fitness tests, certification of divers, refresh- it comes to internal control procedures, and in most parks. The following is the list of all ers, emergency plan) this assurance statement certainly helps park program areas that must be certified in these • Structural Fire Program (alarms, sprin- managers outline a compliance plan. These annual assurance statements. klers, firefighters meet standards, plans, assessments help to ensure that we are doing • Charge Card (one-third of all park card- local fire agreements, fire extinguishers, good business as a federal agency. q holders must be audited annually) condition assessments) — Michelle Torok • Property (annual inventory of property • Wildland Fire Program (reviews of all Saguaro and Tumacácori including personal, real and museum) plans, firefighter fitness)

Interpretation inform and reveal who we are. At its most pure, ability to prevent bias and ego from turning Mirrors, Mirrors, Everywhere — Our na- the profession of interpretation is in charge of these mirrors into circus mirrors that distort tional parks are mirrors. Mirrors that reflect protecting the quality of those reflections. the very things they reflect. back to the nation and its citizens the history At the end of the day, the quality of the Perhaps the most challenging of these three of where we came from and where we may be reflections is tied to three basic things: basic things listed earlier, eliminating ourselves headed. These mirrors produce reflections that 1. Our knowledge of the audience. from any part of the reflection, is essential to 2. Our knowledge of the resource. being successful. Interpreters only hold and 3. Our acceptance that the visitor is aim the mirrors; we do not tell people what sovereign. to see or how to interpret their reflection. We Join ANPR on Knowledge of the audience boils down to should never invalidate those that find the the ability to simply aim the mirrors in such miraculous in the explainable or deny the ties social media a way as to ensure that both the resource and that have bound people to places for millennia. visitor can be seen at the same time. Facilitating We should never push an agenda or try and connections between people and parks is the convert anyone. The dialogue between person www.facebook. chief aim of interpretation and best done face and place does not include our voice. facebook ® com/parkrangers to face, with eye contact between person and I was once told that the perfect program was place. To accomplish this, interpreters must one in which everyone in the audience con- pay attention to the ever-changing needs of nected to the resource, yet not a single person • visitors and adjust accordingly. could remember your name. That program is Linked in ® Knowledge of the resource is simply the perfect because it is the mirror working, not ability to polish and perfect the reflection. the interpreter. Mirrors vary in quality. Ask any astronomer. As we enter the second century of the twitter The more we are able to learn about our re- National Park Service, it is vital to remember @anprranger sources and use them during our interactions that it is the resources that possess the power. with the public, the clearer the reflection. The We simply protect their ability to speak. q Hubble Space Telescope can see back in time. — Josh Boles Search for Association of National A perfectly polished park mirror can reveal the Wright Brothers Park Rangers on any of the sites. depths of our souls and the meaning of life. Accepting that the visitor is sovereign is the

14 t ANPR • Association of National Park Rangers Seasonal Experiences be aware of the group’s home country, and the his bossy manner throughout, he seemed like Interesting experience with Soviet group naturalist explained that the bus would come the Communist-in charge. These were gradu- — It was the early part of the season at West by to pick up the on-duty naturalist the next ate geology students on a tour of some of the Thumb Geyser Basin in Yellowstone, 1962 or morning and drive a short distance to the end world’s thermal areas. All of my communica- ’63. There were three of us seasonal naturalists of the regular tour path. The naturalist would tion would be through the interpreter since standing on the sidewalk, looking down at lead the tour backward to minimize merging “none of the students spoke or understood the paint pots gurgling and popping, wait- with regular visitors coming from the opposite English.” ing for the first early visitors to come by for direction. The tour went surprisingly well. The group a tour of the geyser basin near Yellowstone I would have hated to be put on display like acted like regular visitors and asked surpris- Lake’s shore. that with all that responsibility, but I didn’t have ingly simple questions, such as “does anyone Our routine was for two of us to wait for to worry because the next day was my day off. fall into these?” and “what about animals? (I enough people to gather to provide walking I was relieved and walked away to start a tour pointed out some visible bones). tours of the geyser basin, while the third would while the other guys were provided additional We ended up at the paint pots, the bus patrol in areas not covered by the tours, along details. waiting with door open. The Russian inter- the lakeshore, and then we would rotate. I don’t remember what I did the next day, preter-leader was urging his charges to hurry Only a few visitors had gathered when an but I traveled out of the park, either to the onto the bus. Was he afraid of a defection? NPS vehicle showed up and the South District’s Tetons or to West Yellowstone and didn’t get Only one student had not yet boarded the chief naturalist gathered us away for a private back until dark. bus. He was next to me at the rail looking over conversation. After an early breakfast the next day, I the paint pots, taking one last photograph. As He wanted to know which of us was showed up on the sidewalk near the paint the leader yelled at him to board the bus, he scheduled to be on duty the next day. A spe- pots, hauling my bulky portable loudspeaker. quietly said to me, in near perfect English, “I cial group of about 15 geology students from None of the other seasonals had shown up wish that more of my people could see this the Soviet Union would be visiting the park, yet, and suddenly a yellow schoolbus arrived, place.” with the West Thumb Geyser Basin as one of the door opened and a ranger signaled me to I stood shocked and speechless as he boarded its first stops. come aboard. To my dismay, I found out that the bus, which quickly pulled away. God bless We were somewhat in shock because the the Soviet tour was delayed a day, and it would America! q Cuban missile crisis had recently occurred, and be my responsibility to give the tour. We drove — Jerry Kasten as a consequence, no Soviet citizens were being the short distance to the path’s end where the Dallas, Texas allowed into the United States. He explained tour was to start. that this trip was science based and approved As the group alighted from the bus, the State NOTE: Are you a seasonal or former seasonal by the U.S. State Department long before the Department official explained that he would with memories to share? Send them to the missile crisis. translate whatever I had to say, but that the editor at [email protected]. The Park Service didn’t want the public to Russians had their own interpreter too. From Sign up for email list If you haven’t received periodic email up- ANPR launches 3-2-1 membership drive; dates from ANPR, please join our email list. Subscribe by sending a blank email to an- incentives run through July 31 [email protected]. Upon receiving A summer membership drive has kicked off and will go through July 31. ANPR is offering the opt-in confirmation email, follow the link significant incentives to annual and prospective members. to be added as a list subscriber. Contact Teresa Ford, [email protected],with questions. Let’s u If a current member refers three people to become members at the regular (not gift) keep in touch. rate, his/her annual membership for 2015 is free. If a nonmember refers three people to become members, this year’s membership is free. Mentors needed We need mentors for our popular mentoring u If a member is responsible for two regular members registering to attend this year’s program. It involves a more experienced Ranger Rendezvous (Supernaugh scholars do not count), his/her 2015 membership person serving as a role model and teaching, is free. sponsoring, encouraging and counseling a less experienced person (protégé) to u If a member is responsible for one person becoming a life member, his/her annual promote the latter’s professional and personal development. membership for 2015 is free. This informal program has a flexible time commitment of approximately three to six u Dues for seasonal members are reduced to $35 (a $10 savings) for the duration of phone calls. The two individuals can determine the membership drive. the next steps for themselves. Visit www.anpr. org/mentoring.htm for details. To volunteer, A membership flyer that outlines specific membership benefits is www.anpr.orgat . Please contact Roberta D’Amico, joro.boise@gmail. post the flyer at your parks to increase awareness and promote ANPR membership. com, or Ken Bigley, [email protected].

RANGER • Summer 2014 u 15 A N P R ACTIONS & NEWS ANPR meets in Washington, D.C. mation and resources, and planning for the tions that include separating the editor and Members of the ANPR Board of Directors met Eighth World Ranger Congress in 2016. We business manager positions, delegating some in mid-April in the Washington, D.C., area are moving forward on a partnership with the duties to the board and/or members at large to discuss the business of the Association. As agency to develop dynamic programming for and potentially using Web-based membership with most activities related to ANPR, this was the event and facilitate travel arrangements for management services. done on personal time and expense. international delegates. Board members also met with Washington A subgroup of board members was con- n n n area staff of the NPS, the Coalition of National vened to examine the organization’s business Park Service Retirees and the National Parks practices and develop recommendations for Teresa Ford to depart ANPR Conservation Association. Topics included a succession plan for the business office and Teresa Ford, Ranger magazine editor/publisher workforce issues within the NPS, centennial Ranger magazine when Teresa Ford leaves in and ANPR’s business manager, will step down collaboration with the agency, sharing infor- early 2015. We are looking at a range of op- from her duties with the organization at the beginning of 2015. She has edited, designed and published our journal for more than 21 ANPR’s oral history interviews donated to NPS years, and she has managed the business office ANPR is making sure that im- and membership services for 7½ years. portant stories of its longtime Teresa is a dear friend to the organization members are recorded, preserved and many members. Her skill and dedication and protected as part of an oral will be missed. q history project inspired by the — Erika Jostad, ANPR President National Park Service centennial in 2016. Two ANPR members — Erika Supernaugh Memorial Jostad, president, and Alison Scholarship Fund Steiner, board member for strategic planning — donated 16 oral his- needs your assistance tory interviews to the NPS Park ach year ANPR hopes to fund several first- History Program. Accepting on Left to right, Erika Jostad, ANPR president, and Alison Steiner, Etime, early-career attendees to the annual behalf of the program were Robert board member for strategic planning, with Lu Ann Jones, oral Ranger Rendezvous that was well-loved by the K. Sutton, chief historian, and Lu history specialist, and Robert Sutton, NPS chief historian. late Bill Supernaugh. Can you help replenish Ann Jones, oral history specialist. from emeritus employees to the newest hires. the fund so several people can travel to this “These recordings, transcripts and support- The audio recordings and transcriptions of the year’s Rendezvous? ing materials are an invaluable addition to our oral histories will be archived at the Harpers Past scholarship winners have given the archives,” Sutton noted. “These resources will Ferry Center in West Virginia and are already gathering favorable reviews for its professional shape the kind of history we’re able to write being shared via publications and websites. and social networking benefits. about the Park Service.” ANPR’s oral history project joins a long Our goal is to raise a minimum of $2,000 In 2012 and 2013 ANPR completed two tradition in the NPS of using interviews to in order to support at least five scholarship rounds of interviews at its annual Ranger safeguard the collective memory and expertise winners. The fund by mid-May had reached Rendezvous. A team of oral historians from of those who have shaped the Service over the nearly $700. We intend to open the webpage the Park Service and ANPR has conducted years. It also advances the top priorities of for online applications by mid-summer 28 interviews with longtime employees, all NPS Director Jonathan Jarvis by passing on Go to the Donate Now tab on ANPR’s of whom helped create the modern Park important lessons to a younger generation of website – www.anpr.org – and specify your Service. These men and women joined the Park Service personnel as part of workforce chosen amount to the Supernaugh Fund. agency in the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s, and they development. Your generosity is appreciated. occupied leadership positions during decades “Our partnership with groups like ANPR of great change. During their tenure, the NPS is vital as we expand our collection of oral Life members: Please send your expanded significantly, the country adopted histories,” Jones said, “especially because we’re email address to Ranger editor laws that challenged the Service’s management at a watershed moment in the Park Service’s Teresa Ford, [email protected], to policies, and the demographics of the agency’s history.” get on ANPR’s email list. We send workforce and its visitors underwent major To read interview excerpts see www.anpr. shifts. org/oralhistory.htm. For more on oral history occasional emails to inform you By the NPS centennial in 2016, ANPR in the Park Service see www.nps.gov/history/his- about ANPR business, but we are plans to record, transcribe, archive and share 50 tory/oralhistory_NEW.htm. missing contact information for interviews with Park Service personnel, ranging — Lu Ann Jones, NPS Oral History Program about 30 percent of life members.

16 t ANPR • Association of National Park Rangers Opportunity knocks this fall at Ranger Rendezvous 37 anger Rendezvous 37 is your opportunity to do something for yourself and the two organizations that you love —R the Association of National Park Rang- ers and the National Park Service. With an exciting program, a fabulous venue, and the opportunity to meet old and new friends, this Rendezvous is shaping up to be spectacular. The theme for this year’s meeting is “Em- brace the Opportunity,” the dates are Oct. 22-26 and the venue is the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colorado. Confirmed keynote speakers include Mike Reynolds, the National Park Service Associate Director for Workforce, Relevancy and Inclu- sion, and Alan Spears, Government Affairs and Cultural Resources Director for the National Parks Conservation Association. Renowned presenter Jack Harris will provide a series of

half-day leadership trainings, and historian of the Rockies YMCA Photo courtesy of Lu Ann Jones will offer a class on conducting oral history interviews. Fielder will use the magnificent surroundings in and concluding with breakfast on the day of a half-day landscape photography workshop. your departure. Breakout sessions Additional activities include the traditional Daily room rates vary depending on the Breakout sessions will cover a variety of topics: NPS movie night, the newly instituted NPS number of people sharing a room: interpreting climate change, promoting park trivia night, regional dinners and a president’s 1 person/room: $114 partnerships, leadership and the Call to Ac- reception. 2 people/room: $70/person tion, protecting clean air, emergency medical 3 people/room: $55/person response and wilderness management. Raffle and silent auction 4 people/room: $48/person The raffle and silent auction, both important 5 people/room: $43/person Field trips ANPR fundraisers, will be back. Start working Guest rooms include two queen beds, one Ranger Rendezvous will take advantage of on your contributions! New this year is the single floor futon mattress and a full bath. All the YMCA’s proximity to Rocky Mountain first annual Used Gear Drive. ANPR will give bed and bath linens are provided. National Park by offering three field trips: a back to the community by donating gently Because the YMCA reservation structure is three-mile hike to Emerald Lake, an eight- used outdoor gear to groups that work with based on the number of people in your room, hour bus tour of the park’s east side, and an at-risk youth. Many of these children have it is strongly recommended that you find your evening visit to Moraine Park where attendees never been hiking, camping or rock climbing roommate(s) before you register for lodging. can observe the fall elk rut and hear bull elk before, and they lack the means to purchase bugling. Award-winning photographer John basic equipment. Help ensure that they are Roommate/rideshare link properly equipped for To help you find a roommate, ANPR has set their first outdoor expe- up a Roommate Match matrix that can you riences by bringing your can reach from the Ranger Rendezvous 37 used gear to Ranger Ren- Web page. You also can go green and use the dezvous. Donations can matrix to set up ridesharing. For the hardy, also be shipped. Check camping options are available in nearby Rocky our website for more Mountain National Park. information. By the time Ranger arrives in your post office box or email inbox, additional information Lodging information about the conference program, lodging and ANPR has contracted registration will be available online at www. with the YMCA of the anpr.org/rr37-2014.htm. Rockies for exclusive use They say opportunity only knocks once. of the Long’s Peak Lodge. There will only be one Ranger Rendezvous 37.

Room rates include three Are you ready to “Embrace the Opportunity”? USNPS meals per full day, starting Logo design courtesy of Alex Eddy on the night of your arrival — Roberta D’Amico

RANGER • Summer 2014 u 17 ANPR Reports Update — Eighth World Ranger Congress Kudos List The dates for the Eighth World Ranger Congress, to be held at the YMCA of the Rockies These people have either given a gift member- outside of Rocky Mountain National Park, have been set. Delegates will arrive on Saturday ship to a new member or recruited a new or May 21, 2016. The Congress will run for five full days, Sunday through Thursday, and old member to return to ANPR. Thanks for most delegates will depart on Friday, May 27. your membership help. ANPR’s successful bid to the International Ranger Federation to host the WRC rested, in part, upon the celebration of the National Park Service centennial in 2016. I’m delighted Cathy Buckingham Adam Fix to say that the NPS has signed on to partner with ANPR for the WRC, and discussions Nadia Iozzo Carol Ash are underway with a team designated by NPS Deputy Director Peggy O’Dell to flesh out Dave Harmon Butch Farabee the extent of that partnership. Susan Dlutkowski Gannon Frain The George Wright Society has agreed to provide registration services for the WRC Bob Krumenaker Ken Bigley Alison Steiner and to devote all or part of an issue of the George Wright Forum to covering the plenary speeches and issues raised at the Congress. Their outstanding track record organizing Membership Services highly successful NPS-related conferences provides us with valuable experience, and their I am working with the board to review our international reputation also raises the profile and expectations. membership dues structure to make ANPR The WRC Organizing Group is still looking for someone passionate about fundraising more enticing for seasonal employees and to join our team. Contact Bruce McKeeman, finance chief, at [email protected], or interns, and to foster a lifetime of engage- me at [email protected]. q ment from all of our members. I have received — Bob Krumenaker some excellent input from the members, and I encourage others with comments to email me at [email protected]. We need new photos; please share your images — Gannon Frain Board Member for Membership Services It’s always nice to rotate photos on ANPR’s website: www.anpr.org. Will you help with this effort? E-delivery of Ranger Besides national park scenics, we’re inter- Receive the electronic version of Ranger in full ested in photos of you at your park site. In ad- color — and help save paper and postage. It’s dition, some images, particularly profile shots, easy to make the switch from the traditional are needed for the cover of ANPR’s booklet, print version of Ranger. E-mail the editor “Live the Adventure: Join the National Park E-version of at [email protected] and write Service.” These should be of adequate resolu- Ranger in the subject line. Thanks for doing tion to allow for print publication. In other your part to help us decrease the print run words, send the largest file size possible. and save resources. Horizontal format works best for the webpage slideshow, but verticals are fine for most Consider this approach other uses. to awarding gift memberships Email [email protected]. Life member Ed Rizzotto has a novel way to select deserving park employees for gift memberships to ANPR. Melissa Dalgetty He contacts superintendents or supervisors in his area (Massachusetts) and asks them to ProMotive.com offers big discounts on name brands recommend a deserving candidate for a gift Hundreds of ANPR members are signed up You are eligible to remain on the team as membership. He especially hopes to find for the pro-deal discounts membership offers. long as you continue your ANPR membership. seasonals or new employees who are doing a Are you one of them? Email [email protected] to receive sign-up particularly good job and/or have a bit of extra If you’ve taken advantage of a pro-deal information. potential for a park career and leadership. discount through your membership, let us After someone is identified, he asks the know about your experience and if you did employee for address information, fills out anything particularly cool with the gear! Shop AmazonSmile membership applications and sends in the $35 The number of brand-name manufacturers gift dues. Last year he provided memberships to associated with ANPR’s pro-deals has risen to and make $$ for ANPR staffers at Adams, Longfellow House, Boston 360, more than most other teams on ProMo- When you shop for products online at Amazon. Harbor Islands and Minute Man. tive. Join ANPR now to receive this great com, please link first to AmazonSmile. The Look for outstanding park employees in benefit, and you could make your dues back company will donate a portion of your pur- your area and give an ANPR membership. It’s in savings from just one deeply discounted chase to ANPR. Get started here: http://smile. a great way to help build our membership. purchase. amazon.com/ch/58-1494811

18 t ANPR • Association of National Park Rangers All in the Family Send your news to Teresa Ford, Ranger editor: [email protected] or 25958 Genesee Trail Road, PMB 222, Golden, CO 80401.

Sharon Ringsven (SHEN 91, ZION 92-93, HALE 93-94, BRCA 94, ZION 94-95, HALE 95-09, ZION 09-14) is the new deputy chief of concessions at Grand Canyon. Formerly she was revenue and fee business manager at Zion. New address: PO Box 276, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023-0276.

Kate Sargeant is a seasonal ranger at Acadia this summer. She worked at Delaware Water Gap last summer. Hikers and supporters of the Appalachian Trail — nearly 2,200 miles from Georgia to Maine ANPR life member Patrick Toth retired in administered by the National Park Service — flocked to the annual Trail Days in Damascus, April with more than 34 years of government Virginia. This year’s event, which attacted thousands to the small town (population 815), was service. An Ohio native, he started with the held in mid-May. In addition to the parade through town, Trail Days also included presentations, vendor booths, music, food, crafts and all-around fun for participants. Photo by Teresa Ford National Park Service in 1978 as a ranger at the then fledgling Cuyahoga Valley NRA. He also and Delaware Water Gap, and others he met Award. Director Jarvis presented him with worked as a seasonal ranger at Acadia before during training, fires and several early Ranger the Department of the Interior’s Meritorious gaining permanent status in 1981. He then Rendezvous. Address: P.O. Box 745, Calais, Service Award in 2013. He is married to Patty worked as a protection ranger at Independence ME 04619; [email protected]. Wissinger, deputy superintendent at Great and Delaware Water Gap. Smoky Mountains. q Pat transferred to the former U.S. Customs Gordon Wissinger, chief of staff and deputy Service in 1988 and worked as an inspector, regional director for Southeast Region, retired Rocky reunion planned in 2015 senior inspector and then supervisory inspec- April 3. He began his career in 1973 as a sea- Rocky Mountain National Park is planning an tor at the U.S.-Canada border in Calais, sonal fee collector at Shenandoah, eventually employee alumni reunion in 2015 when the Maine, until 2003. With the creation of U.S. moving to law enforcement and backcountry park celebrates its 100th anniversary. Did you Customs and Border Protection within the positions there. He later served as a park ranger work at Rocky Mountain or know someone new Department of Homeland Security, Pat at Colonial, criminal investigator at Cuyahoga who did? became the port director of the border station Valley, resource management specialist at An employee alumni reunion is scheduled in Vanceboro, Maine. Shiloh and district ranger at Cades Cove in for Sept. 18-19, 2015, at the YMCA of the Pat wants to stay in touch with ranger friends Great Smoky Mountains. Rockies in Estes Park, Colorado. from Cuyahoga Valley, Acadia, Independence He also served in chief ranger positions at To get on the reunion mailing list, send your Capitol Reef, Natchez Trace, Blue Ridge and email address to ROMO_100th_Anniversary@ Shenandoah. A life member of ANPR, he was nps.gov or call Barbara Scott, anniversary co- the 2007 recipient of the national Harry Yount ordinator, 970-856-1226.

Welcome (or welcome back) to the ANPR family! Here are the newest members of the Association of National Park Rangers: Bonnie Cassel...... Clements, CA Jacob McCommons...... Erie, PA Brian Cohane...... Ludlow, VT Jack Morris...... Minneapolis, MN Clifford Collier...... Ballwin, MO Laura Neugebauer...... Halethorpe, MD A friend created Patrick Toth’s retirement party Ray Dalida...... Kansas City, KS Niki Nicholas...... Norris, TN cake with emblems made of icing. It was a fun Emma Dlutkowski...... Atlantic Mine, MI Cindy Orlando...... Naalehu, HI surprise. Kary Goetz...... Boise, ID Allison Owczarczak...... Dingman’s Ferry, PA Cindy Hagen...... Ashland, MT Bailey Palsa...... Akron, OH Professional liability insurance John Hutcherson...... Elizabethtown, KY Ronald & Sherri Ramseyer...... Sullivan, IN discounted from Wright USA for first-time Will Jaynes...... Gatlinburg, TN Wisdom Rasiel...... Honolulu, HI Debra Kees...... Missoula, MT George Robinson...... Bozeman, MT enrollees: www.anpr.org/liability.htm Sandi Kinzer...... Valentine, NE Rose Steiner...... Columbus, GA Erny Kuncl...... Mountain Green, UT Mike Stetter...... Salt Flat, TX Other insurance options Eric Lamb...... Altaville, CA Shannon & Matt Wallat...... Pacifica, CA dental, accident, vision and more: Caryn Ling...... Rochester, MN Sam Webster...... Moab, UT Tim Lombardi...... Akron, OH www.anpr.org/insurance.htm

RANGER • Summer 2014 u 19 Life Century Club Members Life members who contribute an additional $125 are recognized in the Second Century Club. Third Century membership can be attained by contributing an additional amount to bring your total life membership to $500; Fourth Century membership can be attained by contributing an additional amount to bring your total life membership to $750; Fifth Century to $1,000; and Sixth Century to $1,250 or more. If you are a life member, consider raising your contribution to the next level.

2nd Century Club 3rd Century Club Lawrence Belli Erin Broadbent Tony Bonanno Carl Christensen Jim Brady Kathleen Clossin Paul Broyles Maureen Finnerty Rod Broyles Rebecca Harriett David Buccello Steve Holder Patricia Buccello Mary Karraker Canyonlands 50th anniversary gathering in September Robert Butterfield Dave Lattimore Reunite with former colleagues and old friends Sept. 11-13 in Moab, Utah. Michael Caldwell Dan Moses The event is part of the 50th Anniversary of Canyonlands National Park Cel- William Carroll Alden Nash ebration. Cliff Chetwin William Quinn A reception and historic film festival will be held on Thursday in Moab, a Bruce Collins Teresa Shirakawa Bruce Edmonston Ron Sprinkle commemorative ceremony with cowboy dinner at the Needles on Friday, and A.J. Ferguson Barry Sullivan a picnic and dutch oven cook-off on Saturday in Moab. The Museum of Moab Mitch Fong John Townsend will have a coinciding Canyonlands exhibit and there will be opportunities to Hal Grovert Phil Young provide oral histories of your experience in the park. If you have slides or pho- Dr. Russell Clay tographs you’d like to donate to the park collection, they can be scanned and Harvey 4th Century Club digital images returned to you. Larry Henderson Deanne Adams Visit www.canyonlands50.org for information and to reserve space for you and Keith Hoofnagle & Tony Sisto your guests. Please spread the word and tell your colleagues about this special James Hummel Vaughn Baker event. We hope to see you there! Steve Hurd Dennis Burnett Anniversary events are funded by Friends of Arches and Canyonlands Parks: Craig Johnson & Ginny Rousseau Bates Wilson Legacy Fund, Moab Area Travel Council and Zions Bank, in Margaret Johnston Jonathan Lewis Ron Konklin Deborah Liggett cooperation with the National Park Service. Bob Krumenaker Jay Liggett — Tom Cox, ANPR member, 50th Anniversary Planning Committee member Mary Kimmitt Laxton Scot McElveen Tomie Patrick Lee Bruce & Georjean McKeeman John Mangimeli Edward Rizzotto Colleen Mastrangelo Jean Rodeck Sean McGuinness Rick Smith Rendezvous exhibitors help support ANPR Jack Morehead Nancy Wizner These exhibitors supported ANPR by participating in last year’s Rendezvous. Rick Mossman ANPR Aniceto Olais 5th Century Club Tim Oliverius Rick Erisman appreciates their generous contribution. Cindy Ott-Jones Butch Farabee Colorado Northwestern Community College, Seasonal Law Enforcement Bundy Phillips Training Program, [email protected], 970-675-3337 Bill Pierce 7th Century Club Deryl Stone, NPS collectibles, [email protected] Tom Richter Dick Martin EnerFusion Inc., Joe Kobus and Tom Davis, www.enerfusioninc.com, 517- Bryan Swift 783-3344 Mark Tanaka-Sanders 9th Century Club Intoximeters, www.intox.com, 314-429-4000 Dale & Judy Wendy Lauritzen Qual-Tron Inc., Dan Chambers, www.qual-tron.com, 918-622-7052 Thompson Victor Vieira R.J. Thomas Manufacturing Co., [email protected] 10th Century Club Karen Wade Stacy Allen Unicor Services Business Group , Dean Osborn, [email protected], www. Philip Ward unicor.gov/services, 202-345-9636 Kathy Williams 11th Century Club VF Imagewear, Gwen Pettiford, www.vfc.com Janice Wobbenhorst Bill Wade Voice Products, Ronda Riggle, www.voiceproducts.com, 316-616-1111

20 t ANPR • Association of National Park Rangers MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION — Association of National Park Rangers  New Member(s)  Renewing Member(s) Date ______Name of ANPR member we may thank for encouraging you to join ______

Name(s) ______4-letter code of park / office where you work ______(Retiree=RETI, Former NPS Employee=XNPS, Student/Educator=EDUC, Park Supporter=PART) Address ______Home phone ______City ______State ______Zip+4 ______Personal e-mail address ______ANPR will use e-mail as an occasional – but critical – communication tool. We will not share your information with any other organization. It is our policy not to conduct ANPR business via NPS e-mail or phone. Payment by Visa or MasterCard accepted: Type of Membership (check one) Visa ______MasterCard ______NOTE: The annual membership renewal notification is each fall with an annual membership period of Jan. 1 to Dec. 31. Membership for those who join Oct. 1 or after will last the entire next year. Card # ______

Active Members Expiration date ______current & former NPS employees or volunteers Name on Account______Individual Joint • Seasonal/Intern/Volunteer  $45 $35 through July 31  $85 Signature ______• Permanent or Retiree  $75  $145

Associate Members Please mark your job discipline: not an NPS employee or representative of another organization ____ Protection • Sustaining  $70 ____ Interpretation • Full-time Student  $45 ____ Administration

____ Resources Life Members (lump sum payment) ____ Maintenance ACTIVE (all NPS employees/retirees) ASSOCIATE (other than NPS employees) Individual  $1,500 Individual  $1,500 ____ Concessions Joint  $3,000 Joint  $3,000 ____ Park Partner ____ Other – list: ______OR life payments made be made in three installments over a three-year period. Rates are $515 per year for individual or $1,025 for joint. If full payment isn’t received by the third installment due date, the amount paid shall be applied at the current annual membership rates until exhausted. At that point the membership will be Special Supporters lapsed. Check here if you want to make payments in three installments ______. Contact the president or fundraising board member for details on special donations. Check the website  Gift Membership $35 (please gift only a new member other than yourself, one year only) at www.anpr.org/donate-ack.htm Name of person giving gift ______

Library / Associate Organization Membership (two copies of each issue of Ranger sent quarterly)  $100

It costs ANPR $45 a year to service a membership. If you are able to add an additional donation, please consider doing so. Thank you! Return membership form and  $10  $25  $50  $100  Other ______check payable to ANPR to:

TOTAL ENCLOSED: ______Association of National Park Rangers 25958 Genesee Trail Road, PMB 222 Membership dues in excess of $45 a year may be tax deductible. Consult your tax adviser. Golden, CO 80401

Send news to: Teresa Ford, Editor Share your news with others! [email protected] or Ranger will publish your job or family 25958 Genesee Trail Road, PMB 222 news in the All in the Family section. Golden, CO 80401 Name ______Past Parks — Use four-letter acronym/years at each park, field area, cluster (YELL 98-02, GRCA 02-07) ______New Position (title and area) ______Old Position (title and area) ______Address/phone number (optional — provide if you want it listed in Ranger)______Other information ______

RANGER • Summer 2014 u 21 Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Golden, CO Association of National Park Rangers Permit No. 158 25958 Genesee Trail Road, PMB 222 Golden, CO 80401

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

Printed on recycled paper Directory of ANPR Board Members, Task Group Leaders & Staff Board of Directors President Special Concerns Eighth World Ranger Congress 2016 Erika Jostad, Sequoia & Kings Canyon Wendy Lauritzen, Tallgrass Prairie Bob Krumenaker, Apostle Islands (559) 335-2840 • [email protected] (580) 449-1132 • [email protected] [email protected]

Secretary Strategic Planning Ranger Editorial Adviser Colleen Derber, Washington Office Alison Steiner, Sequoia & Kings Canyon Kendell Thompson, Lincoln Boyhood (410) 897-7645 • [email protected] (203) 675-6646 • [email protected] (703) 927-1029 • [email protected]

Treasurer Task Group Leaders Paula Alexander, Lincoln Boyhood Business Operations (812) 937-4541 • [email protected] International Affairs ANPR Business Address Blanca Stransky, Perry’s Victory 25958 Genesee Trail Road, PMB 222, Golden, CO 80401 Immediate Past President (nonvoting member) Teresa Ford, Membership Services Director Stacy Allen, Shiloh

(731) 689-3451 • [email protected] Ranger Editor, ANPR Website Coordinator Education and Training Teresa Ford Ben Walsh, National Mall 25958 Genesee Trail Road, PMB 222, (704) 614-2958 • [email protected] Golden, CO 80401 Office & fax • (303) 526-1380 • Fundraising Activities [email protected] Seth Tinkham, Washington Office (571) 451-9627 • [email protected] Financial Operations Paula Alexander, Lincoln Boyhood Internal Communications (812) 937-4541 • Jeremy Kaufman, National Mall [email protected] (203) 809-2546 • [email protected]

Membership Services Gannon Frain (646) 707-0475 • [email protected]

Professional Issues Ken Bigley, Big Bend For more details about this (432) 477-2804 • [email protected] year’s Ranger Rendezvous, see page 17 and www.anpr. Seasonal Perspectives Lauren Kopplin, Glacier org. Logo design courtesy of (469) 831-3258 • [email protected] Alex Eddy 22 t ANPR • Association of National Park Rangers