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ECOSERVANTS UPDATE, JANUARY 2013.
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EcoServants, a 501(C)(3) nonprofit in Ruidoso, New Mexico, has helped the U.S.
Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Village of Ruidoso with
recreational trail building and restoration, as well as improvements to local parks,
provided educational programs to students in grades 6 through 12, and helped nu-
merous young people in the community through work experience and scholarships.
From 2008-2011 EcoServants has dedicated 53,279 service hours to Lincoln and
Otero County projects and awarded $159,599 in scholarships.
EcoRangers, a yearlong AmeriCorps community outreach program now in
its second year, aims to continue the mission of directly engaging the community
through service. Many new and ongoing projects include participation in White
Mountain Search & Rescue and American Red Cross, developing youth education
programs at Ruidoso Middle School, promoting responsible land ethic and invasive
plant management, increasing Lincoln County recycling efforts, increasing Fire-
wise education and awareness, volunteering with local community garden efforts,
and increasing involvement and awareness in regards to community service in gen-
eral.
This year’s crew consists of three members. Recently a graduate of Ruidoso
High School, Brian Blake is a member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe who has
lived in this area all his life. He is the youngest EcoRanger and joined to leave a
lasting impact in his community.
Streisand Webb, who was born and
raised in Ruidoso, joined because she
wants to be part of something posi-
tive and to possibly open up doors
for a career. Nicholas Giusti, a second
year AmeriCorps member, joined to
continue serving the community
through direct action. For the next
year as EcoRangers, we will work to-
gether to fulfill our mission as mem-
bers of the community.
EcoRangers 2012-2013 Press Release
Winter 2012-2013
Volume 2, Issue 1
Reflections from EcoRangers
2 & 3
American Red Cross
2
RMS Afterschool Program
4
Trail Restoration 4
Guide To Writing Letters to Public Officials
5
Thank You 6
Inside this issue:
EcoServants, estab-
lished in 2004 to
support cave preser-
vation, has been in-
volved in many pro-
jects serving the
Lincoln County com-
munity. These pro-
jects include men-
toring Ruidoso’s
youth, providing
summer work, build-
ing and maintaining
trails with Lincoln
County, supporting
community clean-
ups, aiding disaster
relief efforts, recy-
cling education,
community gardens
and helping other
local nonprofits.
EcoServants Update
Hi, my name is Strei-
sand Webb! And to answer your
question, yes I am named after
Barbara Streisand. I was born
and raised right here in our
beautiful mountain town
Ruidoso, New Mexico and have
lived here for twenty-five years.
Fifteen of those years I compet-
ed in gymnastics all over New
Mexico and a few other states. I
am now a coach for the gym-
nastics team and enjoy every
minute of it. I am a proud ma-
ma for two years now. I will
definitely say that my son is my
world and whom I want to set
positive examples for in life.
Here is a quote from Brandi
Snyder that is one of my favor-
ites, “to the world you may just
be one person, but to one per-
son you may be the world.” It
has always motivated me to
keep striving for the best in
myself. This brings me to
why I chose to work for
EcoServants. I wanted to be
a part of something positive,
and to possibly open up
doors for a career.
EcoServants is a new chapter
in my life and I am proud to
say I am part of something
positive and really fun.
What is an EcoRang-
er you ask? Well, we directly
engage the community
through volunteer service.
While I am serving my year
commitment with
EcoServants and Ameri-
Corps, I have a few personal
goals I aim to accomplish. My
first goal is to have what we
do more known in the com-
munity. I would love to see
more community involve-
ment. My second goal is to
get our schools involved
with recycling, and to get
our youth (our future lead-
ers!) more educated in re-
gards to our environment.
EcoServants has
started a new after school
program at Ruidoso Middle
School every Wednesday.
We will be teaching the kids
about using a map and com-
pass, recycling, teambuild-
ing, and much more. By the
end of the school year our
goal is for the kids to have
raised their self-confidence,
awareness, involvement, and
for them to know that they
all American Red Cross chap-
ters. These values consist of
ensuring the shelter is a safe
place, respecting all clients,
providing services fairly and
consistently, enabling clients
to make other living arrange-
ments, and using resources
wisely. These values are at
the heart of each decision and
action.
The American Red
Cross was established in 1881
by Clara Barton. During the
Civil War, an organized effort
created a program for locating
men listed as missing in ac-
tion. As Barton expanded the
original mission to include
When large groups of people
are temporarily displaced
from their homes, the Ameri-
can Red Cross responds by
opening and operating shel-
ters. Providing a safe and
pleasant environment for peo-
ple who leave their homes
during and after a disaster can
be challenging. For this rea-
son, EcoServants recently
attended a course designed to
prepare volunteers on how to
effectively and sensitively
manage shelter operations as
a team in order to help people
displaced as a result of a dis-
aster. Shelter workers commit
to uphold the shared values of
assisting in any great national disaster, the first
local chapter was formed in Dansville, New York,
soon after the initial meeting. Some of the group’s
first major relief efforts include responding to the
Great Fire of 1881 and the Johnstown Flood in
1889.
Ready When the Time Comes (RWTC), is
a program in its eleventh year designed to use cor-
porations expertise and desire to help where it is
needed. The American Red Cross trains members
and mobilizes them as a community-based volunteer
force when disaster strikes. RWTC currently has
14,000 trained volunteers in 54 cities and has been
established in all critical disaster zones across the
country. As part of RWTC, EcoServants will now
be able to more effectively assist in disaster relief
efforts and shelter operations when it is needed in
the community.
Reflection By Streisand Webb
Ready When the Time Comes
By Nicholas Giusti
Page 2 EcoServants Update Volume 2, I ssue 1
too can make a differ-
ence in the community.
Streisand Webb,
25, was born and
raised in Ruidoso.
Joining to make a
positive impact in
her community,
her skills in youth
outreach and in-
volvement will
help build our af-
terschool pro-
gram at Ruidoso
Middle School,
“EcoStudents”.
To get involved go to redcross.org or con-
tact the Roswell Office at (575) 622-4370
Reflection By Nicholas Giusti
Reflection By Brian Blake
I moved to Ruidoso from Cali-
fornia in 2006. When I came to
New Mexico I was in this tran-
sitional point of my life, and it
was then that my passion for
wilderness was first stirred. I
do not know how to explain it,
but I swear the sky is bigger in
New Mexico than it is in other
places.
Starting EcoServants,
as a YCC crew member, I saw
it as a way to combine my love
of the outdoors and my need
for a consistent paycheck.
Somewhere in that time of hot
sun and harsh wind I gained an
appreciation for the work, and
with it, a confidence in my abili-
ties. Something about back
breaking work really makes one
think about the importance of
really earning your paycheck, and
without sounding too preten-
tious, there is definitely an argu-
ment to be made about earning a
paycheck with your own two
hands instead of by any of the
sometimes more abstract means
of doing so, but being able to
literally measure the day’s work
by how many feet you built.
When the opportunity came,
joining the AmeriCorps crew
seemed like the right thing to do.
This will now be my
second year of service through
AmeriCorps with EcoServants.
During my first year of service
I was able to focus what were a
multitude of various interests
into a passion, public service.
As AmeriCorps members we
are dedicating ourselves with
the mission statement of
“directly engaging the commu-
nity through service.” I have
always felt that an important
part of creating community
was being a direct participant
of it. Leo Tolstoy wrote, “I
have lived through much, and
now I think I have found what
is needed for happiness… the
possibility of being useful to
people to whom it is easy to do
Getting the community
involved by learning things
like recycling will help us
become a more sustainable
community. Raising aware-
ness in Fire-Wise educa-
tion will help the commu-
nity of Ruidoso be more
prepared when another fire
may occur. Engaging the
youth of Ruidoso schools
will help us share these
skills and knowledge with
students, while giving them
something new they can
take with them and teach
their parents and families.
Whether big or
small, I will try my best to
make a lasting impact and
to leave you all with not
just a memory of what we
EcoRangers did, but a way
of life which you can em-
brace and continue individ-
ually. As EcoRangers, we
sacrifice our time, money,
and personal lives for our
community which we sup-
port and live in. I want to
tell you that we do live be-
low poverty line and are
volunteers working full-
time, devoting a year of
service to our community.
Remember, it is not for
our personal gain but for
the community, and I hope
you will cooperate and
help us help you with
whatever we throw your
way. Thank you.
My name is Brian Blake
and I am a member of the
Mescalero Apache Tribe
who has lived in this area
all my life. Recently a grad-
uate of Ruidoso High
School, I am the youngest
member of the EcoRang-
ers AmeriCorps crew. I
hope to make a difference
in the community while I
strive towards several goals
I have already set for my-
self personally. A goal this
year would be to get more
involved in the community
by giving classes, teaching
through hands-on activi-
ties, and working to build a
cleaner, healthier place for
us and our yearly visitors.
Page 3 EcoServants Update Volume 2, I ssue 1
good, and who are not
accustomed to have it done
to them… such is my idea
of happiness.”
Brian Blake, 19, is a
recent graduate of
Ruidoso High School
is a Youth Conserva-
tion Corps veteran.
He is our youngest
EcoRanger this year,
and brings a wealth
of knowledge in the
local area, as well as
GIS data collection
and mapping. His
skills will help
EcoServants collect
and build our own
database of Lincoln
County trail systems.
Nicholas Giusti,
21, moved to
Ruidoso in 2006.
As a second year
member, he looks
forward to contin-
uing and enhanc-
ing projects start-
ed last year.
This year EcoServants has started an
after school program at Ruidoso Mid-
dle School every Wednesday. During
our time we will be sharing knowledge
about recycling, how to use/read a
map, and much more, as well as teach-
ing teambuilding skills. When we start-
ed the program a majority of the stu-
dents mentioned they do not feel they
are a contributing part of the commu-
nity. Our goal for this program is to
show these students that they can be
involved in the community despite
their age. Also, we will help direct them
in putting their ideas into action.
In November, EcoServants vol-
unteered for Challenge Day at Ruidoso
Middle School. Challenge Day is a day
where kids are not students and teach-
ers are not teachers, but everyone is
to be seen as a person. This anti-
bullying day is very fun, but also very
emotional for all participants. Since
Challenge Day, EcoRangers discussed
what we learned from the program,
and that no matter where we are in
our lives, or how old we may be, we
can always make a positive impact.
Our next classes will be dedi-
cated to allowing the students some
time to share their ideas for commu-
nity projects with us. As a group, we
will discuss their ideas to be more in-
volved and find ways they can put it
into action. Whether it be helping
wildlife habitat, picking up litter, help-
ing raise funds for causes, or anything
their little heart’s desire, it will only
improve our community,
but also help them grow
into the strong, confident
individuals that they are
more than capable of
being.
After-School at RMS: EcoStudents By Streisand Webb
Restoration After Little Bear Fire
Page 4 EcoServants Update Volume 2, I ssue 1
Since Little Bear Fire, the trail systems
throughout Lincoln National Forest and
White Mountain Wilderness have with-
stood some considerable damage. To help
in the efforts of a quicker restoration, For-
est Service has given us a list of trails to
focus on. Most trails will require clearing
the corridor (down trees) and some will
require tread work where needed. We are
excited to help get people back out on
trails as soon as possible! These trails in-
clude:
- BIG BONITO TRAIL
- LITTLE BONITO TRAL
- ARGENTINA TRAIL
- TURKEY CANYON
- TRAIL 38
- CREST TRAIL (from
Tanbark to Turkey)
- CREST TRAIL (from
Monjeau to Scenic)
- MILLS/DRY MILLS
- ASPEN TRAIL
- SCENIC (to Ice Springs)
- TORTALITA
- GAYLORD
- NORMAN
EcoServants, as part of
our weekly RMS after-
school program,
strives to strengthen
our community by en-
hancing and enriching
our youth through
learning activities set
towards common
goals.
Crosscut saws have been in
use around the world since
historic times. First use of a
crosscut saw dates back to
the Roman Empire. In 1880,
loggers began using saws for
felling trees instead of the
primarily used axe. Despite
the modern chainsaw, they
are still widely used today,
specifically in designated
Wilderness areas.
Guide To Writing Letters To Public Officials
A well written letter may be the most effective way to let public officials know how their constitu-ents feel about issues. A well-written letter describing your ex-periences, observation, and opin-ions may change an official’s mind. An effective letter builds your reputation as a thoughtful person and increases your influ-ence. 1. Open the letter. If writing to an elected official, show respect for the position by using “Honorable,” the title of the of-fice, and the official’s full name. In other letters, use familiar term “Dear,” the title Mr., Mrs., Ms., or Dr., and full name. Examples: “Honorable Mayor Robert A. Hersch,” or “Dear Dr. Frederick Marsh,”
2. Describe yourself. Example: “I am an art lover. However, I have never been able to get my wheel-chair into the city Art Museum.”
3. State reason for letter, why you are concerned or pleased about a particular issue. Example: “I am writing to let you know how pleased I am that you are consid-ering using revenue-sharing funds to make the museum accessible.”
4. Summarize your understanding of issue being considered. State the general impact you expect, if a particular decision is made. Ex-ample: “I believe that this change will make it easier for many peo-ple in our community to enjoy art.”
5. State why you think a decision should occur. Describe in detail why you feel the decision made will lead to the impact you foresee. Example: “The proposed installation of wheel-chair ramps for the front entrance of the museum will make it possible for me to get into the building to enjoy the exhibits and plays.”
6. Tell what any changes mean to you personally. Describe the decision’s positive or negative effects for you. Example: “These changes will make me feel that I am truly a part of our community.”
7. If you think others will also be af-fected, identify them. Tell the official who and how many other people will be affected in the same way. Exam-ple: “The latest census statistics indi-cated there are over 1,200 people in our community with mobility impair-ments. All of these individuals are similarly affected.”
8. Acknowledge past support. Tell the official about appropriate actions and decisions she or he has made in the past. Example: “You have always been sensitive to the needs of all community residents.”
9. Describe what action you hope the official will take. State specifically what action you hope the official will take – what you would do in his or her place. Example: “I urge you to vote in favor of using revenue-sharing funds to improve accessibil-ity.”
10. If you have written a letter that opposes some action, offer an alter-native. Tell the official what decision
Page 5 EcoServants Update Volume 2, I ssue 1
or action you believe would be best. Example: “The zoning in our neighborhood should remain as it is . Those wishing to build apart-ments rather than new homes have many alternatives more appropriate than this from which to chose.”
11. If you have time and you are committed, ask how you can help. Tell the official that you would be willing to volunteer your help. Ex-ample: “If there is any way I might be of assistance, please don’t hesi-tate to call on me.”
12. Close your letter. Thank the official. Example: “Thank you for your thoughtful consideration of this important matter.”
Sign the letter. Sign your full name and write your address.
© 1984, Tom Seekins and Stephen B. Fawcett, Research & Training Center on Independent Living, University of Kansas. (http://rtc.ruralinstitute.umt.edu/advocacy/letters.htm)
Public officials, whether local
or in Washington, are your
voice in government. It is im-
portant to let them know how
certain issues affect your
community, your workplace,
and your family. Getting at-
tention of public officials with
quality letter writing is one
effective way to get your
opinion heard.
Primary Business Address
1204 Suite #3 Mechem Dr.
Ruidoso, NM 88345
Mailing Address
PO Box 1723
Ruidoso, NM 88355
We’re on the Web!
ecoservants.org
facebook.com/ecoservants.nonprofit
Dear Lincoln County Community:
Thank you so much for your support and involvement.
Our EcoRanger mission statement is to directly engage the com-
munity through service towards a more sustainable future.
Through our many projects we strive to focus on that mission
statement.
With the generous support of the people from the community,
we will be able to work toward a brighter future with programs
such as disaster relief efforts, fire restoration, GPS mapping and
of course recycling, gardening, and continuing to build trails.
For more information on how your donation can help to make a
difference in the lives of so many in our community, we invite
you to visit our website at www.ecoservants.org and follow us on
Facebook @ facebook.com/ecoservants.nonprofit and Twitter
@ twitter.com/ecoservants. You can also find information there
on upcoming events and volunteer opportunities. Please feel free
to contact us at [email protected].
Thank you again, and we look forward to your continued
support.
Sincerely,
EcoRangers 2012-2013
Thank you to our supporters!
Phone: (575) 808-1204
E-mail: [email protected]
“Directly engaging the community through
service towards a more sustainable future.”