Back-to-back workshops, productive conversations and air-conditioned conference rooms are all good. But by the last day of the recent Friends Rendezvous in Indian Wells, CA, people were more than happy to take those conversations outside and move some muscle. The occasion was a stewardship project, organized by local hosts Friends of the Desert Mountains, in [...]

One of our favorite moments at the recent Friends Rendezvous in Indian Wells, CA actually consisted of several moments—when individual people stood up and told stories about their organization’s recent conservation successes, in one minute or less. Some of them were funny, poignant, even raucous. All were inspiring. They were also a breath of fresh [...]

Yes, the two go together- as the two most requested for sharing slide presentations from the 2011 Friends Rendezvous. Much appreciation to the Bureau of Land Management and Asking Matters for permission to post both of these presentations. Enjoy… Bureau of Land Management, National Landscape Conservation System, 15-Year Strategy: 2010-2025. Presented by Carl Rountree, Assistant [...]

The following is a guest post from Tom Reeve, Islanders for the San Juan Islands National Conservation Area. As Pat Williams said, Ed Zahniser’s talk last night on the huge impact that can be made by “the power of one” was an inspiring tour of many of the wonderful parts of the American landscape that [...]

The following is a guest blog post from Pat Williams, Friends of Red Rock Canyon Heard a wonderful presentation from Jim Kenna, California State Director for the BLM, on the importance of partnerships and the intrinsic value of Friends groups. Very much appreciated and such a delight to hear. Ed Zahniser, retired National Park Service [...]

The following is a guest blog post from Pat Williams, Friends of Red Rock Canyon. 2 PM – Just checked in for my fourth Friends Rendezvous in Indian Wells, CA. Chuck and I drove over this morning from Las Vegas and, after a relaxing 5 hour drive, we arrived at the Miramonte Resort. Incredibly smooth [...]