Ecos Alumni Newsletter

Inside this Issue

Alumni River Trip

Hydro-Political Discourse

Online Giving

Class Notes

CESLL

A Glimpse of Alaska

Job Announcements

WFR/WMI Certification Class

The Office of Alumni Relations Wishes
Everyone a Safe and Happy Holiday

Hydro-Political Discourse and Enviro-Cultural
Transformation in the Middle East 

by Cara Michelle Silverberg, RDP '08
(Competence: Bioregional Studies, ES Emphasis)

“A central tenet of bioregionalism is that arbitrary political boundaries should be replaced by natural boundaries, which consider topography, watersheds, and floral and faunal distributions.” -Cara Michelle Silverberg, RDP ‘08

Cara Michelle’s competence integrates environmental studies, education and the arts because she believes that place-based community development can only occur through the integration of political, ecological and artistic experiences and perspectives.

For her senior project, Cara Michelle will travel in Israel through the winter and spring filming a documentary about water politics and people displacement. She will work with environmental justice and environmental science organizations interviewing farmers, hydrologists, policy makers, educators, artists, villagers, settlers, indigenous Bedouins, and many others. She intends to document the stories of people who are rooted in the land of Israel and explore how human and natural systems are changing with continued development in arid regions. She looks forward to using her film as an educational tool to not only address the necessity of bioregional consciousness in the peace negotiations process in the Middle East, but also as an example of common adaptive management issues and enviro-cultural transformation in diverse communities.

If you are interested in learning more about Cara's project, how it might be pertinent to your own work or community, or would like to assist with your support, please contact her at michelle.cara@gmail.com. 

Season's Greetings

Granite Basin Lake in Snowstorm ©2008 Walt Anderson

We at Prescott College wish you peace, hope for an enlightened world, and optimism that positive change is near.

Before moving on to a new year, I wanted to take a moment to let you know how much we at Prescott College appreciate your support of our school, and particularly our students. Because of friends like you we had a very successful 2008 Annual Fund.

If you have not yet made your 2008 gift, there is still time. You can give online through December 31, 2008.



We look forward to another successful year with your continued support.

Thank you,
Judy Lewis, Annual Fund Manager

Have you considered a Planned Gift?
Planned Gifts create opportunities for Prescott College and our donors. Determining what gift is right for you is just as important as making the gift. For more information about planned giving, contact Joel Hiller at (877) 350-2100 ext. 4501 or (928) 350-4501, jhiller@prescott.edu

Ecos Submissions

I hope that you enjoy this month's enewsletter. If there is something you would like to see in next month's issue or if you would like to submit an article, please let us know. Thank you for your continued commitment to and support of Prescott College.

Please send your submissions to:

alumni@prescott.edu


 

Ecos Newsletter was named in recognition of both new beginnings and past memories of our "Home" in Prescott. Reconnect with Prescott College and join us in celebrating the building of new relationships!

New 2008
Alumni Directory

The new 2008 Prescott College Alumni Directory is in!  If you placed an order and have not yet received your book, please feel free to contact Harris Connect Toll-Free:
1-800-877-6554.

Class Notes

Congratulatons

Dan Bigley, RDP '01

Dan Bigley received the Alaskan of the Year Award which honors a person with a disability whose achievements are an inspiration to others. Dan suffered a complete loss of his eyesight by an attack of a grizzly in the summer of 2003. He is being recognized for his strength, courage and unending spirit.  For more information go to:  http://labor.state.ak.us/news/2008/news08-72.pdf

Tom Udall, RDP '70 
Tom was elected as the junior United States senator from New Mexico on November 4, 2008!   He will be taking office on January 6, 2009.

Mary T. Yelenick, RDP '74
As Board Chair of NETWORK, the National Catholic Social Justice Lobby, Mary T. Yelenick was a speaker at the national "Convention for the Common Good" in Philadelphia in July. Mary, a litigation partner at Chadbourne & Parke LLP, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, was named a New York Super Lawyer (2007 and 2008), and is cited for professional excellence in Chambers USA and the Legal 500.

In Memoriam

Danny Lopez, MAP '98
Danny was a beloved Tohono O’odham elder and educator, traditionalist for the T.O. Nation and a great asset for the tribe in his inspiration to the T.O. people young and old. Danny had a wonderful ability to pass on the T.O. culture and language.

  

If you would like to update your contact information and submit
your class notes, please click here:

Update

If you know a Prescott College alumnus or alumna whom you would like to nominate as a Desert Star, please use the online nomination form at:

http://www.prescott.edu/alumni/desertstar_nomination_form.cfml

or contact the Alumni Office at 877-350-2100 x4502

 alumni@prescott.edu 

 Treat yourself this coming year

Unwrap Discoveries To These Exciting Destinations

The Rain Forest of Mexico: Entering the Maya Mysteries:  January 22-February 1, 2009

Costa Rica Service and Adventure Program: March 20-28, 2009

Northern Arizona Hiking and Photography Tour:  April 6-11, 2009

Wine Country - Immersion with a Wine Maker:  May 4-9, 2009

Peru - A Journey to Ancient Sacred Sites:  June 10-23, 2009

Tanzania Migration Safari with PC Faculty Walt Anderson:  July 8-23,2009 and January 2010

Discovering the North Cascades: Old Growth Forests to Alpine Meadows:  July 19-23, 2009

Alaska Discovery August 1-7, 2009

Mongolia Traveler for Prescott College:  August 24-September 8, 2009 

For more information contact:
Jill Hewins, CESLL Director
Prescott College
Center for Extended Studies and Lifelong Learning (CESLL) (928) 350-4110
jhewins@prescott.edu, www.prescott.edu/cesll 

Center for Extended Studies: A Glimpse of Our Trip to Alaska 

by Jill Hewins,
Director of Center for Extended Studies and Lifelong Learning

Alaska Travelogue: Tuesday, September 23, 2008
We wake to overcast skies and dead silence. Matt, the trip cook, has early morning coffee ready and the Captain is en route by 7:30 a.m. Matt serves an "open" breakfast from 7 to 9:30 a.m., and it’s great; fresh breads, fruits, cereals, and special quiches.

We head through Knight Island Passage and Dangerous Passage towards Icy Bay. Captain Dean slowly navigates us through Icy Bay and into Nassau Fjord. Our boat creeps into the bay with ice chunks everywhere, and as we enter deeper places the water becomes ice “soup.” At the edge of the cracking and calving face of Chenega Glacier, named after the local native community of Chenega, the captain turns off the engine, and we just float in the ice. The massive 200-square mile Sargent Icefield funnels ice down a wide mountain valley, forming a mile-long, 200-foot high wall that topples giant blue chunks into the sea. Harbor seals use the floating ice as resting platforms and safe places. They are curious about us at first, and then they just go back to their work of absorbing sun and resting.

After what seems like hours of listening to the cracking glacier, we are summoned to onion soup, salmon orzo salad, and more fresh bread. We head back out of the ice soup to explore the coast where we walk among toadstool tussocks and grassy muddy bogs. The area is filled with evidence of bears, salmonberries, and blueberries, and we enjoy some steep hillside hiking to overlook waterfalls.

Humpback whales are spotted this afternoon. We spend an hour drifting around the whales. We can hear the spouting and notice that one of them has a sinus condition. Our evening talk from Tom is about the retreating glaciers in southern Alaska. We do learn that there are a few advancing glaciers as well. We learn about the moraines and talk a bit about global climate change and the effects it will continue to have on the glaciers. Tonight we enjoyed a delicious dinner of fresh salmon and of course, bread and dessert, while the captain motored us along Knight Island for the evening's anchorage in Lucky Bay.

Four Corners School of Outdoor Education (FCS) seeks a Bioregional Outdoor Education Project (BOEP) Program Manager to be based in Monticello, Utah. BOEP is an award-winning teacher professional development program working with teachers and schools in the four-state Colorado Plateau to create sustainable outdoor, place-based, education programs in K-8 public and BIA schools. Candidates should have at least a Bachelors degree in education (Masters preferred), teaching certification, and at least 5 years of environmental education experience and administrative/financial experience. This is a full-time, year-round salaried position with benefits. For more information call 1-800-525-4456 and request a hiring packet or download a packet from www.boep.org.

Education Program Coordinator

Location: Highlands Center for Natural History (HCNH)
Reports To: Education Director
Closing Date: Open until filled. Applications will be review as they arrive.
Start Date: January to February 2009
Salary: Full time position: Salary $28,000 to $30,000 per year plus benefits

Responsibilities
Under the direction of the Education Director, the Education Program Coordinator focuses on the development, planning and leadership of youth, adult and family programs. The position interacts with all aspects of the Highlands Center: Executive Director, staff, board, members, committees, volunteers, and community organizations. It is critical that the successful candidate fully embraces and respects the mission of the Highlands Center for Natural History (HCNH). The position will work regularly on weekends doing program leadership. The responsibilities of the Education Program Coordinator are as follow:

Program Development and Leadership

Work with Education Director to develop and expand programming offerings for youth, adults and families
Develop and lead programs for youth, adults and families
Assist with curriculum development and leadership for school-focused programs
Assist with the training and nurturing of program volunteers including school program Docents, and volunteer Naturalist groups
Oversee the management of the Grow Native! Plant Sale – plan and execute two sales per year, work with suppliers, vendors, presenters and volunteers
Participate in program planning process, make recommendations and contact potential presenters
Work with the HCNH Program Committee to evaluate and develop new program offerings
Help prepare quarterly program publications and contribute to newsletters
Give presentations at various community groups to promote HCNC
Give building tours as needed

Program Administration

Assist with management and processing of program registrations
Assist with the management of a program participants data base
Write press releases and assist with other strategies for program promotion
Assist with staffing informational and activity booths at various community events
Assist with the management of the HCNH web site keeping it fresh and up to date
Assist with the development and creation of program related grant proposals

Other Duties

Participate in staff meetings
Assist with other community, fundraising and special events
Perform other tasks as identified by Executive or Education Directors

Qualifications

BS or BA in environmental education, education, environmental studies, natural science or related field
Knowledge of and /or demonstrated ability to learn the Natural History of the Central Arizona Highlands.
At least a year previous experience leading outdoor science education or interpretive programs for adults and/or children
Must have a demonstrated commitment to the mission of the Highlands Center
Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
Strong pubic speaking and program leadership ability
Technologically literate with strong computer skills including familiarity with Microsoft Word, Excel, and Access, and other commonly used software including web page software
Good problem solving and customer service skills
Ability to work in a team environment as well as operate independently
Ability to multi-task and keep track of multiple projects in the midst of constant interruptions

To Apply:

Send cover letter, resume and three professional references to:
Dave Irvine, Executive Director
Highlands Center for Natural History
1375 S. Walker Road
Prescott, Arizona 86303
dirvine@highlandscenter.org
www.highlandscenter.org

The Highlands Center is a privately funded, member-supported, educational organization. All donations are tax deductible.  1375 S. Walker Rd., Prescott, AZ 86303 · P/928-776-9550 · F/928-776-9530 · highlandscenter.org

The New Transitions Is Coming Soon!

Check your mailbox in the first week of January for news about friends, faculty, and other information about your favorite College. You can also access the current issue by January 1 at: http://www.prescott.edu/news/transitions/index.html. 
Past issues are also available online.
 
If you’ve recently moved please send Marie Smith your new land address at msmith@prescott.edu and we’ll make sure you keep receiving Transitions. As with last year, the spring issue will be
online-only. 

Enjoy!
 
Mary Lin
Ashley Mains
Bridget Reynolds 
 
The Transitions Team