(DURIER VOL. 35, NO. 1 JANUARY 1990 (DURIER COVER NEWSMAGAZINE OF THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Steve Fuller has the kind of Volume 35, Number 1 January 1990 personal relationship with winter that the rest of us tend to have only with the remainder of the year. His photographic impressions of a Yellowstone winter are rich with the textures of the season - shapes rather than colors - the bones of the earth. Recently returned from a trip to Nairobi where the plight of the African elephant was the subject of his work, he last shared his photographs with the Courier in the December 1988 issue. FEATURES STAFF THE INVINCIBLE CONSENSUS — 6 Mary Maruca — Editor Ricardo Lewis — Art & Production CASTING A VOTE FOR POSTERITY — 12 BRIGHT FIELDS OF STONE AND TUNDRA - BERINGIA AS ADVISORS A LINK BETWEEN EAST AND WEST — 16 George J. Bcrklacy — Associate Publisher INTERNATIONAL PARK WITH USSR EXPLORED — 20 Theresa Wood — Executive Director, E&AA Naomi Hunt — E&AA Editor AN OBJECT LESSON IN PLANNING VIP EVENTS — 22 Duncan Morrow — Contributing Editor SPEAKING OUT: JUST ANOTHER VISITOR Editorial Offices —202/343-4996 "OUT TO LUNCH" — 24 National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior DEPARTMENTS COMMENTARY — 2 PARK BRIEFS — 27 NPS PEOPLE — 28 E&AA — 32 The Director's Report THE PARK SERVICE WAY! "...uncontrolled outbursts of varmint danc­ this march. However, as a private citizen, I in­ ing..." certainly caught my attention right away as tend to lend it my personal support, and I hope I read through my program while waiting for that, if you have the interest and time, you will "Riders in the Sky" to begin their show. I had too. never seen this Nashville-based, western group A third effort I'd like to tell you about con­ before, and until recently wasn't that familiar cerns recycling. Although it is still in very pre­ with them. But after listening to Ranger Doug liminary stages, Dow Chemical has expressed an yodel, hearing Woody Paul fiddle, and watching interest in sponsoring some demonstration recy­ Too Slim perform a pretty mean armadillo dance, cling programs with parks. Dow's primary ob­ I became a new fan! It's a great mixture of good jective is to demonstrate and heighten public music, zany humor, and wholesome fun. awareness of the recyclability of plastics. They I wanted to see "Riders" perform when they also have agreed, however, to cover the full spec­ were in town earlier this month because they had trum of solid waste management issues including expressed their interest in assisting the Service. source reduction in the public information mate­ They approached us wanting to "do something" rials to be developed. They have already visited to help preserve park areas. Who could resist several parks and we are both excited about the such a fun idea? We are now working with them to identify some edu­ potential benefits of this project. cational/media possibilities, including radio and television public ser­ These three efforts give you an idea of how diverse the offers of sup­ vice announcements and park-specific projects. Keep in mind that these port and the supporters are. They all have one thing in common are busy guys with a weekly NPR radio show and a heavy performance though—a desire to help support the parks. We're doing our part to en­ schedule, but if you have any general ideas or specific proposals for courage these efforts; we don't know what will be accomplished—only "Riders," please send them to the Courier. time will tell. I guess, however, the measure of success isn't just the fi­ While "Riders in the Sky" may be the most colorful group to ap­ nal outcome. In many ways, their approaching us is a kind of success; it proach us recently, it isn't the only one. This month, I thought you continues to demonstrate to me that there are many Americans who care might be interested in hearing about some of these offers not only to very much for the national park system. help us, but to help us in new and creative ways. That's not to say that it's all easy. There's no free lunch, as they say, One of these efforts is "March for Parks," and by now I hope you're and it takes some energy and creativity to respond to these kinds of di­ already familiar with it. Giving all Americans the opportunity to show verse proposals. But, the kind of interest and support demonstrated in their support and concern for this country's natural, cultural, and rccTca- these few examples, and die desire to really do something that matters, lional resources is an innovative and very productive program being or­ reminds me of an expression "Riders in the Sky" uses a lot. When you ganized by the National Parks and Conservation Association. Through do something the right way, because it's the right thing to do, they say marches organized at the local level, those participating on March 24 "it may not be the easy way...but it's the cowboy way." Well, it's die and March 25 will be helping to raise funds for national, state, and local "Park Service way" too. parks. But this is much more than just a fundraiser. It's a way for peo­ ple to demonstrate their commitment to parks and recreation, and it should help raise public consciousness about park issues. The public needs to become more informed and knowledgeable about parks so that they will be able to participate in decisions not only impacting parks but the environment as a whole. Because it is a fundraising event by a pri­ vate organization, we cannot officially endorse or provide support for James M. Ridcnour January 1990 COURIER 1 COMMENTARY FROM THE EDITOR mission of the National Park Service in as much a time of waiting as it is a time this their birthday year and to rededicate of new beginnings. It is a time that allows I hate parties. A kind of visceral themselves to the original intent of that each of us to contemplate our own dread sweeps over me whenever I so mission. unseen springs and summers and what much as hear the word. Indeed, if it were But what does this mean, this may lie ahead. And yet, is not this barren physiologically possible for hands and feet remembering of who they are — and. season one of opportunity? Is not this to turn to ice when the chance for a party indeed, of who we are? What does it the time, beloved of those who seek to presented itself, mine would. I suspect I mean in this very old world that looks understand the earth they walk on, when was born genetically disinclined to toward another cycle of renewal this the possibility for real intimacy begins — socialize. Yet communities of every kind January, and, should we be so blessed, when the contours of the ground are find in winter a time to band together, to toward that cycle repeated in Januarys yet uncovered at last, when much that can be beat back the barrenness of the year with to come? Do we remember who we were known of the identity of a place is then feasting and celebration. What does and, in remembering, recollect the revealed. In winter, both nature and someone with an introspective bent do diversity of life that once existed humanity are exposed to each other. with this...this season of unfathomable worldwide but that now is threatened on Sometimes this is accompanied by terror. festivity? How does such a creature fit every shore? In the months that lie Always it is accompanied by in? Once, dreading a gathering that took ahead, do we accept the little linguistic vulnerability —and in the acceptance of place at this time of year, I complained trick inherent in remembering who we are vulnerability respect does occasionally about my forced attendance to the only and glance backward to restore some begin. ear that happened to be available, one sense of mission in ourselves? Do we I suppose if ever there was a time that unfortunately belonged to my decide what we will compromise and. when we should seek to discover who we mother. Remember who you are, she more importantly, what we will not? Do are. it is here, now, exposed in this counseled sagely as mothers tend to do, we also decide who we will reach out to, season, because all the seasons of the and everything'll be just fine. in brotherhood, to help us down the long, future are predicated on the success of Remember who I was? Well, my rough road ahead? this solitary one (as the seasons before it philosophical mother, the point of your This month's issue of the Courier have been, because this is the way of the advice was a little difficult to discern back contains, among its other features, an world). Also —and this is far more then, but, I suppose, all in all, I have article by Jerry Rogers titled the alarming—if we don't, if we fail, those gotten better at understanding some part "Invincible Consensus." In it, Rogers who do remember who they are will of it. And, indeed, everything has been calls for renewed commitment to working continue to have their say —they will have just fine, as you predicted. with our neighbors at the local, state and their way —and we will not. I suspect that what you meant had other federal levels to fulfill what something to do with the hard thin line of Director Ridenour has termed the judgement —what I do with the raw "potential of a national system of parks." material of daily life —and, certainly, with He sets the tone for the Courier's WHAT'S WORTH SAVING choice —which side of that hard thin line exploration in the coming months of just I land on.