Greetings,

Annie and I are in San Diego at the Association of Partners for Public Lands (APPL) Conference. This is an opportunity for us to learn from Cooperating Associations that support National Parks and other State Parks throughout the nation. This morning our respected Director of California State Parks, Ruth Coleman, will give the first Keynote Address. Her topic will be "Rising to the Challenge." Stewards certainly has been rising to the challenge of keeping our parks open and striving for sustainability during the past few years and many of you are participating fully in this effort. Thank you for your support!

In the next few E-Newsletters I will be highlighting some of our many partnerships with other nonprofit organizations and State and Federal agencies. Those partnerships are making possible some very impressive projects and opportunities restoring parklands for endangered species, collecting scientific data in order to protect federally protected species, and providing environmental education programs to thousands upon thousands of park visitors a year.

State Parks Ballot Initiative Update
Stewards volunteers have been working very hard collecting signatures for the California State Parks and Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund Act of 2010. Statewide, paid and volunteer signature gatherers have collected 210,000 signatures as of last week. Stewards' volunteers have collected almost 2,000 of those signatures. We could really use more help in order to reach that statewide goal of 700,000. Please email me at mluna@mcn.org if you are willing to staff Sonoma County locations on a regular basis during the next few months.

Finally, I want to thank Rebecca Perlroth, Geology Instructor and Department Chair at SRJC for conducting our popular Geology seminar on Saturday. Ruby reports that the seminar was very engaging and enjoyed very much by the 30 plus participants. The day began cold and rainy, but by the time the seminar was over the sun was out and it was a beautiful windy day on the coast. The group visited both Shell Beach and Bodega Head and saw rock formations that ranged from 4,000 to a million years old.

Our seminars are starting to fill up and we are having to turn people away, so if you are interested in attending one you should register early.

Have a wonderful week,

Michele Luna, Executive Director

Pinnipeds & Sonoma Coast Birdlife
Saturday, February 13, 9:00am to 11:00am

Instructor: Dr. Sarah Allen (Senior Science Advisor, National Park Service Pt. Reyes)
Learning about the pinnipeds (seals) on Sonoma Coast from Dr. Allen is always a treat. This expanded seminar with include information about harbor seals, sea lions and elephant seals.

Sonoma Coast Birdlife
11:00-12:00pm
Instructor: Mary Follis (Seal Watch mentor and trainer)
An outstanding introduction to coastal bird life.

(Lunch Break)

Seal Watch Program Logistics
1:00-3:30pm
Facilitated by Staff and Docents
Being a Seal Watch volunteer is a special calling. Learn what it takes to educate the public about the largest harbor seal rookery in Sonoma County and protect these federally protected marine mammals during their fragile pupping season. Our Pinniped Monitoring program will also be discussed.

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED ON OUR WEBSITE OR
EMAIL rherrick@mcn.org

Park Advocacy Day - March 8, 2010

The 8th Annual Park Advocacy Day (PAD) will take place on March 8th in Sacramento from 8:30am to 5:30pm.

Visit the California State Parks Foundation website to sign up for PAD 2010. Registration required by February 15th.

Also email stewards@mcn.org to let us know that you plan to attend and we will work out carpooling for this interesting and empowering event. Training is provided and you will mentor with other experienced advocates. Don't miss this great opportunity to meet with legislators in person!

Sudden Oak Death Seminar

Master Gardeners and Stewards Partner to Save Our Oaks
Saturday, March 13 at 10:30 am, FREE - no donations requested

A team of Sonoma County Master Gardener specialists are partnering with Stewards to present a free seminar on Sudden Oak Death (SOD) on Sat., March 13 at 10:30 a.m. at Armstrong Redwoods.

The Master Gardeners have received a grant from the USDA Forest Service to educate the public about the causes, distribution and treatment options of the disease.

The SOD specialists Ann Chambers, Janet Calhoun, John Chavez and Phyllis Turrill will describe the symptoms of the disease, the extent of the infection and what local oaks are susceptible.  They will also suggest ways to keep oaks as healthy as possible and demonstrate the latest preventative treatment options. The talk will also include a walk through an area in the Park that has been infected by SOD.

The specialists have recently received extensive training in SOD from experts at the University of California and other leading scientists in the field.  In particular, they have studied the pathogen, Phytophthora ramorum that causes the disease.  For more information, call the Santa Rosa Master Gardener office at 565-2608 or visit www.sonomamastergardeners.org or register online for the seminar.

Michele Luna, Executive Director
Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods