Summer 2023 Newsletter

FRIENDS OF THE HUACHUCA MOUNTAINS

SUMMER 2023 NEWSLETTER

Message From the President

It is almost SUMMER, and we are off and running. The oak trees are retaining a lot
more of their leaves this year and we are weeks away from the hopeful start of a
generous monsoon season. Fire activity has been light in the area but the next couple
of weeks will be precarious.

Our visitation numbers are trending upward from last year. Weekend visitor counts
have been good, and we’ve hosted a fair number of special groups. We have seen a
huge increase in our Sunday afternoon program attendance. The Biological Riches of
Bahia de Kino presented by Dr. Steve Merkley Cochise College students was awesome.
This activity was able to happen due in part to the FOHM scholarship funding. Mark
Hart’s Mountain Lion presentation was standing room only and we found out we could
park 38 vehicles in our small parking lot!

Much of our visitor success can be attributed to Jane Chambers’ speaker coordination
and Carolyn Santucci’s coordination with the Sierra Vista Herald and SSVEC Currents
magazine. Eric Petermann, SSVEC Public Relations Manager, with the assistance of
Carolyn and Pat Dillingham, developed a major three-page article on the Carr House
and its activities which was sent to over 40,000 homes in SE AZ.
A new activity started this year is the Saturday morning walk or program. The FOHM is
sponsoring a walk or program each month starting at 9 a.m. featuring a focused theme
of the area. On May 13, Steve Merkley led a walk looking for birds in the area around
Carr House. On June 24 Rebecca Hodgeson from the U.S. Forest Service will be doing
a Firewise program. A list of remaining programs and walks for this year can be found
below.

On the business side we are in the process of wrapping up FY23 and developing a
budget for Fiscal Year 24, which starts September 1, 2023. As part of this process, we
will be developing project estimates and prioritization.
To be candid we have had some challenges with our website, and we are in the process
of negotiating an agreement with a new provider. More to follow.
This year we have one position on the Board that is up for reelection, Board
Member/Public Involvement Officer. Be on the lookout for an email in July regarding
the reelection process.

Not to be too self-promoting, but we do have an opportunity to showcase Carr House in
the SV Herald Best of Cochise County 2023. The nomination period ends June 14.
Please consider nominating Carr House under the recreational activity category.

Click on this link to nominate us.

This is indeed a busy time around the Carr House. Thank you for your continued
support and for making Carr House a place 400 people wanted to visit last month.

Eric Andersen

President, FOHM Board of Directors

Programs for the remainder of the year:

Sunday, September 10, 1:30 p.m.
Nature Sketching and Journaling

Saturday, September 6, 9 a.m.
Hike with Mike

Sunday, September 24, 1:30 p.m.                                   Following the Footsteps of The Forgotten Botanist: A Visual Journey:
Sara Plummer Lemmon’s Life and Work

Sunday, October 15, 1:30 p.m.
History of Brown Canyon

Saturday, October 21, 9 a.m.
Early Pioneers in Carr Canyon, optional
walk to ruins

Sunday, October 29, 1:30 p.m.
Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos)

Friends of the Huachuca Mountains Board of Directors:

Eric Andersen, President

Dwight Hoxie, Vice President

Linda Stitt, Secretary

Pat Dillingham, Treasurer

Jane Chambers, Director

Steve Merkley, Director

Carolyn Santucci, Director