TUWC Annual Membership Meeting & Board Member Elections

Wednesday December 14, 2016

6:30pm CST

Westside YMCA Gymnasium

5400 S. Olympia Ave. Tulsa, OK 74107

Please join us for the annual TUWC membership meeting and board member elections on Wed., Dec. 14th.   We are now accepting nominations for three (3) TUWC board member seats and nominations can be submitted via email to tyler.hanes@tulsaurbanwildernesscoalition.org; nominations must include nominees name, position nominated for and nominees contact information.

You must be a current TUWC member in good standing in order to attend the annual membership meeting, submit board member nominees and to vote.  You can renew your membership here https://www.tulsaurbanwildernesscoalition.org or if your unsure about your membership status please feel free to contact us directly at tyler.hanes@tulsaurbanwildernesscoalition.org.

Available Board  Seats

The five TUWC board members are elected for two year terms; however, the seats have alternating term dates so that the entire board does not turn over at one time.   (There are no term limit restrictions.)   The general membership votes on the Board of Directors at the annual end of year meeting.

• Trails & Volunteer Director

o    Term ends Dec. 2016, current seat held by Tyler Hanes

• Education & Preservation Director

o    Term ends Dec. 2016, current seat held by Marci Hawkins

• Government Affairs Director

o    Term ends Dec. 2017, however current director Colin Tawney will be moving out of state.

Thank you for all you do and have a happy holiday season!

-The TUWC Board

We felt the need to mark the passing of a friend today. To echo the words of former Mayor Terry Young

“In 1977, at the urging of Tulsa Tribune editor John Drummond, I initiated the effort to acquire Turkey Mountain to preserve and designate as an urban wilderness park. The effort would not have been successful if it had not been for Chris Delaporte, former state parks director. Chris was serving as President Carter’s head of the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation and approved a federal grant to match our local county money.”

Over the decades Chris has kept a watchful eye on Turkey Mountain from a distance. Each time a threat of development would emerge he would be in contact with friends here in Tulsa helping us to brain storm on the best ways to meet this challenge. Chris has been a long time friend to parks and wild spaces and his voice will be sorely missed.

Chris was the head of Baltimore’s Parks & Recreation department and was a noted and respected advocate for public space and outdoor recreation. He died recently of cancer.

To read more of this native Oklahoman’s life and legacy please visit his obituary in the Baltimore Sun

Mooser Creek at the north boundary of Turkey Mountain has been able to remain in reasonably good condition despite encroaching urbanization.  How do we know?  Mooser Creek is monitored by devoted Blue Thumb volunteers.  Several of Turkey Mountain’s trails twist and turn and progress north to tie into areas along the southern bank of Mooser Creek.

Tulsa’s RiverParks Authority is pleased to announce Monarchs on the Mountain, a new festival celebrating the vital role Eastern Oklahoma plays in the Monarch Butterfly migration will be held September 24th, on Turkey Mountain. The festival will take place from 10:00 am, until 2:00 pm in the pavilion area of the Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness Area near the main trailhead, 6850 S. Elwood Ave.
The day will be filled with fun and educational activities highlighting the life cycle of the Monarch Butterfly, the Great Monarch Migration and the habitat of Turkey Mountain which supports a myriad of wildlife. Information will be available and plants may be purchased to help establish your own Monarch Waystation. Visitors can even make a seed ball to plant this fall. Monarch tagging will be demonstrated and butterflies will be released to join the southward migration to the Oyamel fir forests of Central Mexico. This free festival will appeal to all ages and food trucks will be on site. Come spend the day with us celebrating our unique place in the life of the Monarch!
This event is hosted by: RiverParks Authority in partnership with the Tulsa Urban Wilderness Coalition, the Tulsa Audubon Society and The M.E.T. and supporters; Sustainable Tulsa, Blue Thumb, The Tulsa Zoo, City of Tulsa, Monarch Initiative of Tulsa, Westside Y and the USFWS.
Please help us spread the word by distributing the promotional flyer and sharing our event on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1049153295167427/