Spring 2001 Bulletin

Membership News

Member's Notes

Membership ups and downs. Our membership has continued to slowly climb to slightly over 1500 at present. Perhaps this reflects a "backlash" of environmental support in response to the challenging political climate and attempts to roll back environmental gains of the last two decades. Whatever the reasons, the need for protection of our watersheds in the Southwest has never been greater and we appreciate all you members, new and old. For Amigos Bravos, membership is critical. It gives us legitimacy to participate in and represent you at public hearings on water usage, mining issues, and the use of toxic herbicides. Strong membership levels also help us to gain foundation grants to help pay for our projects, and the grassroots voice we need to lobby effectively in the state legislature. One of our challenges at Amigos Bravos is that not everyone renews. On the average, in the world of non-profit membership organizations, only 65% renew and that’s true at Amigos Bravos as well. That means that each year we lose about 35% of our membership base as those members fail to respond to renewal notices. To merely stay at the same membership as last year we must find new members to replace those who didn’t renew. "But what does this mean to me?" It means that you are needed and valued as an Amigos Bravos member. We hope that you take your membership seriously as a meaningful commitment to protecting and restoring the watersheds of the Río Grande basin. And when you receive an annual renewal notice, please remember that staying with us helps us to continue this important work. Shirts and posters With a run on t-shirts during the holidays, we ran out of the most popular sizes. They’re back in stock now. The front displays the beautiful Angie Coleman woodblock print of the Río Grande gorge reproduced below. The back has the Amigos Bravos name and logo. So far this fiscal year, your purchases have brought in about $2000 to fund Amigos Bravos watershed conservation programs. Thank you! The Amigos Bravos calendars and posters are selling well. They have a beautiful 360o panoramic color photo by Gus Foster of the headwaters of the Río Grande. The calendars are now discounted to $5. That’s a bargain with most of 2002 yet to come. The posters are $20 plus shipping. To order, visit www.amigosbravos.org, or call us at 505-758-3874 Attention: Business Supporters In the spring, a new edition of the Amigos Bravos Business Directory will be published. It will be sent to all 1500-plus members asking them to patronize you, our business supporters. In addition, for the first time, the directory will also be displayed and available in over 50 public display cases in Taos county. This will be valuable advertising to you business members. Business memberships start at $120 annually. Already over 50 businesses have qualified to be in this directory. If you’d like to know whether you’ve qualified, or what additional contribution would allow us to add you to this directory, please contact me by email at chubbuck@amigosbravos.org, or phone at 505-758-3874.

Calendar of Events

February 1-May 31	Tango in Taos VI fundraising period
March 6 (Wed.)	Middle Rio Grande Water Assembly Community Conversation, Sandoval County: Rio Rancho City Council Chambers, 3900 Southern Blvd. SE, Rio Rancho, 6:30-9:00 pm
March 12 (Tues.)	Middle Rio Grande Water Assembly Community Conversation, Valencia County: Fred Luna Senior Center, 315 Don Pasquale, Los Lunas, 6:30-9:00 pm
March 12-13 (Tues.-Wed.).	Water Quality Control Commission hearing on new human health (priority toxics) standards, Bataan Building, Santa Fe. See Environment Dept. website for details: http://www.nmenv.state.nm.us/swqb/swqb.html
March 19 (Tues.)	Taos County Weed Control Committee Meeting, Taos County Agricultural Center, 5:30 pm; Dr. Robert M. Dixon will discuss alternative methods of weed control at 7:00 pm
April 5-6 (Fri.-Sat.)	Fifth Annual New Mexico Watershed Coalition Meeting and Field Trip
April 6 (Sat.)	Middle Rio Grande Water Assembly’s Annual Assembly, UNM Anthropology Hall, Albuquerque
April 22. (Tues.)	Drawing for Amigos Bravos’ 7th annual Raffle for the Río
April 22. (Tues.)	Earth Day River Cleanup sponsored by Amigos Bravos and Rocky Mountain Youth Corps. Meet at the east side of the John Dunn Bridge at 9:00. For more information, call Linda or Pat at 758-3874
May 17-21 (Fri.-Tues)	River Network’s National River Rally 2002, Asherville, North Carolina

Amigos Bravos’ Cash Reserve Fund is Amigos Bravos’ insurance against hard times. The Cash Reserve Fund is money set aside to ensure that the organization can survive cash flow shortages in the annual operating budget. It can only be accessed for certain purposes, such as meeting payroll or for emergency capital outlay. There are strict guidelines on when and how money from the fund can be used. Any use of money from the Fund requires approval from the Board of Directors. This Fund is a hedge against hard times, ensuring that Amigos Bravos will stay healthy and able to pursue its mission. Our Cash Reserve account was opened in March 1998 with a $15,000 grant from the Ruth Mott Fund. Thanks to generous contributions of our members, the $5,082 proceeds of Brian Shields, Unframed, and the net cash flow surplus from FY 1999-2000, the interest bearing account now has a balance of over $36,376. Our goal is to bring the balance up to $50,000.00. Please consider making a contribution to the Amigos Bravos Cash Reserve Fund.

Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way By including Amigos Bravos in your will.... ...you could protect a river for years CONFIDENTIAL REPLY To explore a bequest to Amigos Bravos, please complete this form and return it, marked confidential, to Brian Shields, Executive Director, Amigos Bravos. _____ I have included Amigos Bravos in my will. ______Please send information on how to include Amigos Bravos in my will. Name________________________________________ Address______________________________________ City, State, Zip________________________________ Telephone______________ __Best time to call_______

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