Backcountry Parachutists July 2008

[BackcountryParachutists]

http://www.backcountryparachutists.o...tist_JUL08.pdf

THE CONVENTION IS UPON US!


What: The ABP Annual Convention Where: Moab, Utah When: Aug 1-3, 2008 Why: Formalize the ABP structure; organize for

Phase II access operations; jump!

Who: ABP staff, advisory council, allied companies, BLM/NPS officials, and everyone interested in gaining and maintaining fair access to jumpable cliffs on public lands.
The Alliance of Backcountry Parachutists get in a few jumps, but its main purpose is to will hold its first annual convention in less gather together for the first time as many than two weeks. If you are serious about people as possible who are in fact serious gaining fair access to jumpable cliffs on about gaining access and willing to commit public lands – and you aren’t out of the time and energy to executing the ABP country jumping, or weaseling out coming access plan, which is: because of a forgotten prior commitment – then you should be in Moab August 1-3.access based on the backcountry
This is not a boogie. It is serious business. management model, not the special use It’s for people who want to commit time and permit management model. Routine energy to the serious business of working backcountry management is the key to fair with the National Park Service to create access and responsible use, for jumpers, and access plans that blend backcountry for public lands agencies. ABP seeks the parachuting into the population of same routine, recurring recreational access responsible public lands recreationists. enjoyed by climbers, hikers and other
Sure, we’re holding it where you can also backcountry visitors in a given NPS unit.



And get this, everybody: The National Park Service is serious about our access efforts too; Southeast Utah Group superintendent Kate Cannon has accepted ABP’s invitation to be its featured Convention speaker.



Superintendent Cannon will be there to talk with us about the NPS backcountry management planning process and how we can most effectively local community and its stakeholders as well as the talented staff at the South East Utah Group,” she said then. “Together we can manage these extraordinary resources and protect them for future generations.”



With her acceptance of ABP’s invitation, the superintendent shows that she means what she says, and that NPS itself is truly turning the page from an adversarial relationship with the jumping community to one of open dialogue and good faith efforts to find solutions that work for jumpers, other users, the NPS and the natural resources its manages.
So this is where things stand – and we remind you again that we stand at the threshold of a hopeful tomorrow because dozens of you joined us or sent money, and
work within it. This process is important to protect our national resources for everyone to enjoy. She will also be there to listen and learn about backcountry parachuting so the NPS can better understand how to work with us as a backcountry sport and recreational community.
Superintendent Cannon is a serious NPS player, too. She started 31 years ago as a “seasonal” at Isle Royale National Park, and worked in multiple units in Alaska, Michigan, Washington and Arizona as a park ranger, resource manager and concessions manager. She became a superintendent in 1990 at Jewel Cave National Monument in South Dakota, and before coming to Utah was the deputy superintendent of Grand Canyon National Park, and interim deputy regional director for the Intermountain regional office.
As southeast group superintendent, Superintendent Cannon oversees two jumpable units, Canyonlands National Park and Arches National Park, and two national monuments, Natural Bridges National Monument and Hovenweep National Monument.
When she was appointed in May 2006, Superintendent Cannon stressed the importance of collaborating with backcountry and other unit users.
“I am eager to join and work with the hundreds of you wrote letters to Congress.
Your support was critically important to ABP’s quiet campaign to rewrite NPS parachuting policy, which resulted in:

a) The end of blanket prohibition;

b) the reversion of backcountry

parachuting decisions to individual
unit superintendents; and the
c) listing by name of parachuting as an
activity that can be an acceptable
park use.
So if you want fair access and want to do more than just talk about it, be in Moab August 1-3!




GARDNER SAPP MOVES ON
It is with deep regret and profound appreciation that we report the retirement of Gardner Sapp as our illustrious executive director. Gardner dedicated an enormous amount of his time, energy and expertise to ABP and its goals for almost three years. His deep understanding of the political process coupled with his incomparable negotiating skills were instrumental in both getting ABP organized and focused, and achieving the NPS policy change that now makes access possible.
We thank Gardner and his family for everything they did on behalf of ABP and its mission, and wish him the best as they move on to other challenges and pleasures.

Legislative Director and Colorado Chapter manager Jason Dawson is acting executive director until a successor is named.



HUNT FOR A NEW E.D.
With the departure of our illustrious executive director, ABP needs a new one, so in addition to access-related activities at the Convention, we will also do one of two things:
1Establish a search committee to find a new executive director; or
2Name someone at the meeting.

If you’re interested in the job, or know someone who would be good at it, please let us know. It’s a fair amount of work, but not full-time or even part-time. And it isn’t as exciting as actually jumping, but it’s pretty darn rewarding to see a plan come together. Interested? Please email your resume to:
headquarters@backcountryparachutists.org


HUNT FOR UNIT CORDINATORS
We are on the hunt for unit coordinators to help the ABP with various on site activities.
A Unit Coordinator works with the ABP Legislative Director and the NPS backcountry plan manager to include backcountry parachuting in that unit's backcountry management plan. At its current stage of development and activity, the ABP does not require a full-time or even part-time Unit Coordinator for each park with jumpable cliffs, but does require that the Unit Coordinator be guided by the ABP mission statement, seek to achieve its goals, maintain regular contact with the Legislative Director, and perform the following duties as needed:
1Coordinate with the Legislative Director during the backcountry management plan development process.
2Gather onsite data.
3Deliver reference materials and other information and items to the unit main office.
4Attend meetings.
5Maintain project management log on backcountryparachutists.org website

Alliance of Backcountry Parachutists

1st Annual Convention, August 1-3, 2008, Moab, Utah

Friday, August 1
4pm-9pm: Early Bird Mixer

Tombstone parking lot, so people can jump if they want, as well as get acquainted.


Saturday, August 2
6am-9am: Registration and Open Jumping
Registration: Free to all.
Location (registration): Moab Valley Inn


Location: (jumping): Mulitple BLM locations



10:00– 10:30am: Keynote Speaker

National Park Service Superintendent of the Southeast Utah Group Kate Cannon will speak about the park planning process and most importantly why we do it.


10:30 – 11:30am: Founder’s meeting

ABP founder Robin Heid will host a seminar and discussion about the history of NPS-jumper relations, the creation of the ABP, and its achievements to date. Meet the ABP staff and key allies, representatives from BLM and NPS, and sign up to be a Management Plan Coordinator, Research Action Member, and/or Green Card program manager. If you’re not an ABP member, you can join at this time. Open to everyone.
Location: Moab Valley Inn





Noon-1pm: Official Convention Lunch

Eat great food, meet old friends, make new ones, and get out of the heat! Ice cold a/c guaranteed! Open to everyone who registered. Location: Moab Valley Inn


1pm-4pm: General Membership Meeting

This meeting will: 1) discuss and then ratify organizational by-laws and governance structure; 2) discuss and NPS backcountry management planning process; 3) discuss and refine ABP participation in that process; discuss and outline the ABP Green Card program. Open to everyone Location: Moab Valley Inn

4pm-6pm: ABP Green Card Seminar When you’re in the backcountry, it’s all about “be careful, be green be cool,” and that’s what the ABP Green Card program is all about: knowing how to prepare for and conduct yourself in the backcountry. Learn about wilderness ethics from BLM/NPS representatives and become one of the first jumpers worldwide to earn their ABP Green Card. Location: Moab Valley Inn



6pm-8pm: Golden Hour and Sunset Jumping
Location: Multiple sites
8pm –whenever: ABP Access Party
Location: TBD


Sunday
10am-noon: ABP Cadre Meeting

Meeting of ABP staff, advisory council, MPCs, RAMs, and GCPMs. Location: Moab Valley Inn

[hamsandwich]

How was the convention?


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[BackcountryParachutists]

Wonderful. Kate Cannon came and gave a great presentation to all who attended. We hope to have her presentation online soon. We are now getting ready to submit a use proposal in the coming months.

Were looking for Unit Coordinators to help with specific units. We only need one UC per unit.

A Unit Coordinator works with the Legislative Director to include backcountry parachuting in that unit's backcountry management plan. At its current stage of development and activity, the ABP does not require a full-time or even part-time Unit Coordinator for each park with jump-able cliffs, but does require that the Unit Coordinator be guided by the ABP mission statement, seek to achieve its goals, maintain regular contact with the Legislative Director, and perform the following duties as needed:
*Coordinate with the unit planning officer during the backcountry management plan development process.
*Gather onsite data.
*Deliver reference materials and other information and items to the unit main office.
*Attend meetings.
* Maintain project management log on backcountryparachutists.org website