[mou] Sonoran Desert Nat. Monument Advisory Council

[Stan Merrill]

Hello EveryBIRDie!

If you ever have a chance to vist the Sonoran Desert Museum, near Tucson,
AZ, seize the opportunity to do so!!!  When my wife and I were there in
March a few years ago, in the Hummingbird section, I think there were 23
hummers representing 8 different species, including two females sitting =
on
their nests.  What a sight to behold!

Let me share the following e-mail with you, for you who may not have yet
received this. . .

Happy birding!

Stan Merrill
Apple Valley/Dakota Co., MN
***********************
Late last year, the Bureau of Land Management sent out an announcement of
the intent to establish the Sonoran Desert National Monument Advisory
Council.  The purpose of the Council is to advise the monument manager
regarding management of the monument.  This Council will be a formal =
group,
subject to the provisions of the Federal Advisory Council Act (FACA).

The Council Charter is in the Office of the Secretary of the Interior for
approval.  The Call for Nominations for membership on the Council will
likely occur early in 2005.  When the Call for Nominations opens, you =
will
have 45 days to submit nominations for Council membership.  BLM will send
out notices via e-mail or other means when the 45 day period begins.
Nomination information, forms and materials, including the Charter, will =
be
available on the Internet, at a website that will be provided in the
notice.

The following is a list of the 12 positions that will make up the =
Council.

1. Two persons who represent Native American interests and who are =
selected
   from nominees submitted by the governing bodies of the following =
tribes:
   Tohono O=92odham Nation, Ak Chin Indian Community, Gila River Indian
   Community, and Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.
2. A person who represents and participates in what is commonly called
   dispersed recreation, such as hiking, camping, hunting, nature =
viewing,
   nature photography, bird watching, horseback riding, or trail walking.
3. A person who represents and participates in what is commonly called
   mechanized recreation or off-highway driving.
4. A person who represents the State of Arizona, to be appointed from
   nominees submitted by the Governor of Arizona.
5. A person who is a recognized environmental representative from =
Arizona.
6. A person who is an elected official from a city or community in the
vicinity of the Monument.
7. A person who is a livestock grazing permittee or who represents the
   permittees on the allotments within the Monument.
8. A person who represents the rural communities around the Monument and
      who is selected
   at-large from these communities.
9. Two persons who represent sciences such as wildlife biology,
   archaeology, ecology, botany, history, social sciences, or other
   applicable disciplines.
10.   A person who represents county interests, to be appointed from
   nominees submitted by the Supervisors of Maricopa and Pinal Counties.

Nominees for membership must be qualified through education, training,
knowledge, or experience to give informed and objective advice regarding
the purposes for which the monument was established, have demonstrated
experience or knowledge of the monument, and have demonstrated a =
commitment
to collaborate in seeking solutions to a wide spectrum of resource
management issues.  Council members must reside in Arizona or those
portions of adjoining states (and including St. George, Utah) =
administered
by the BLM in Arizona.  The Council must meet at least two times per =
year,
though it will normally meet up to four times per year.

You may nominate multiple people for multiple positions, and you may
nominate yourself.  It is imperative, however, that letters of support be
acquired and included for each nominee for each position.

The BLM will recommend nominees for appointment by the Secretary of the
Interior, based on their qualifications as described above and on the =
depth
of support for the nominee as demonstrated by letters of support from the
groups or interests each nominee would represent on the Council.  The
Secretary of the Interior will make all appointments to Council =
membership.

We urge you to consider nominating qualified people to serve on the
Council.  The BLM values public participation in the management of your
public lands.  Participating in the Advisory Council process, either by
serving as a member, by nominating someone to membership, or by =
supporting
the membership of someone (through a letter of support) that you believe
will represent your group or interests, is a very good way to help manage
your public lands.

If you know of other people who would be interested and qualified in
participating in the Sonoran Desert National Monument Advisory Council in
any of the above capacities, please let them know about this process and
forward this message to them.

Eugene A. Dahlem, Manager
10
Sonoran Desert National Monument
623-580-5500
gene_dahlem@blm.gov