Sedona AZ (April 29, 2015) – The following is a letter to the SedonaEye.com editor:
Arizona Verde Valley highway litter
Dear Camp Verde Mayor Charlie German,
Thank you, Mayor German, for taking the time to develop the following “Draft Proclamation” for your Town Council to consider and to present to the other mayors of the Verde Valley and hopefully all Yavapai County mayors.
As you know, the efforts of all Adopt-A-Highway groups in Yavapai County has an impact on the image and economy of the Verde Valley, Yavapai County and Arizona.
Hopefully the Verde Valley, Yavapai County and Arizona will start a anti-litter movement that will ripple through Arizona and America.
Gary Chamberlain
America the Beautiful & BagReadyJobs
Empowering our nation’s youth
Folksville USA
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DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT
“America the Beautiful & BagReadyJobs”
Empowering our Nation’s Youth
PROCLAMATION
DESIGNATION OF THE 3RD SATURDAY OF FEBRUARY, MAY, AUGUST AND NOVEMBER
FOR VERDE VALLEY COMMUNITIES TO PROMOTE AND PARTICIPATE
IN LITTER REMOVAL EVENTS
(DATE)
WHEREAS, the Mayors and Councils of the Verde Valley recognize the value of keeping our streets and highways free from litter, do hereby encourage each community to promote and participate in litter removal events at least 4 equally spaced times each year.
WHEREAS, the benefits of having multiple partnerships at focused times throughout the year are duly noted and encouraged.
WHEREAS, it is recommended the recognition rewards system be utilized by using the ADOT Activity Reports requested by individual communities. These reports are issued by ADOT Risk Management verifying the level of participation by the various ADOT Adopt-A-Highway groups.
WHEREAS, it is intended to encourage the attendance at council meetings by all of the ADOT Adopt-A-Highway groups at the end of each year to receive recognition for their efforts and impact upon the local economy and bring the ongoing education of the benefits of such a litter removal program.
WHEREAS, enlisting local businesses to encourage their local youth groups to use the “America the Beautiful & BagReadyJobs” opportunity to earn their funding needs or to perform a community service requirement.
WHEREAS, that all Mayors and Councils hereby join together within the Verde Valley in declaring that Litter Removal events be held at least 4 times per year beginning on the 3rd Saturday of the following months: February, May, August and November. S
WHEREAS, that all Mayors and Councils of Yavapai County, Arizona and America join this effort to restore the true and pure beauty to Arizona and America the Beautiful.
________________________________________ ______________________________________
CHARLES C. GERMAN, MAYOR TOWN OF CAMP VERDE, AZ/DATE SANDY MORIARTY, MAYOR CITY OF SEDONA, AZ/DATE
___________________________________________________ _________________________________________________
LEW COURIER, MAYOR TOWN OF JEROME, AZ/DATE DIANE JOENS, MAYOR CITY OF COTTONWOOD, AZ/DATE
______________________________________
DOUG VON GAUSIG, MAYOR CITY OF CLARKDALE, AZ/DATE
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May 16, 2015 is the next scheduled America the Beautiful & BagReadyJobs litter recovery event! Let’s see you there!
Reese’s Tire & Automotive Tire Pros is again providing free coffee and doughnuts for all of our local Adopt-A-Highway groups that participate in this event. To help us better serve your Adopt-A-Highway group, please call us and let us know what your group name is and how many doughnuts you need to pick up at our Cottonwood store.
We wish to continue our support of this effort since we believe that the image and economy of our community partially depends on the efforts of the ADOT Adopt-A-Highway groups that keep our highways clean.
Reese’s Tire & Automotive Tire Pros will continue to provide free coffee and doughnuts to the Verde Valley, ADOT Adopt-A-Highway groups that clean our highways on the third Saturdays of February 21, May 16, August 15 and November 21, 2015. Our Saturday store hours of operation are from 8am-2pm.
We at Reese’s Tire & Automotive Tire Pros hope that other Verde Valley businesses will join us in our efforts to thank and reward the many Adopt-A-Highway groups that make the Verde Valley and Yavapai County more appealing to our local residents and visitors.
Neil Dixon, Owner Reese’s Tire & Automotive Tire Pros
2435 East State Route 89A, Cottonwood, AZ
(928) 634-5243
Go Reese Tire!!
Thanks Reese
Dear Mr. Neil Dixon,
It was nice speaking to you today at the Yavapai County Fair in Cottonwood, AZ and hearing about the many comments your “Tire Pros” business has received locally and nationally from your efforts to support the local Adopt-A-Highway groups.
It would be my hope that you encourage those with an appreciation for your efforts to consider sending their comments to the Publishers of the Verde Independent, Camp Verde Bugle and the SedonaEyE.com (email addresses above).
Many media groups across the nation have published the story about “America the Beautiful & BagReadyJobs” as a teaching, learning and earning opportunity for our nation’s youth.
The hope of encouraging other businesses and “Tire Pro” organizations to join in your efforts by modifying your “letter to the Editor” and sending it to their hometown media organizations (newspaper, radio and television) would be very beneficial to their community.
I would encourage those that follow in your foot steps to encourage those that want to help local Adopt-A-Highway groups or local Adopt-A-Highway groups needing help to make their contact information available through your organization or their local news media.
Working together means less work for those that clean our highways and a better chance for success in having an “America the Beautiful”. I hope that you will forward this email to those that may wish to join you.
Gary Chamberlain
“America the Beautiful & BagReadyJobs”
Empowering our nation’s youth
FolksvilleUSA@gmail.com
(928) 202-1186
Where is Cottonwood in this effort?
Dear Malcolm and Arizona residents,
Solving the litter issues in Arizona and America must involve our elected leaders, educators and Governor Doug Ducey. Most importantly, it must start with our residents, for if our residents don’t care then why should our leaders?
The disgraceful condition of our three Arizona veteran’s highways should embarrass all of us! An anti-litter effort could begin with residents of Arizona contacting their mayors and Governor Doug Ducey regarding your highway litter concerns. The following information is provided for some of our Yavapai County mayors, elected officials and Governor Doug Ducey:
If you have a complaint and a solution that involves your participation, then I’m sure these mayors and elected officials would like to hear from you. I would suggest that the residents of Arizona contact their mayors since all of those noted are aware of the effort to restore the natural beauty to “America & Arizona the Beautiful”. Camp Verde Mayor Charlie German has developed a “Draft Anti-Litter Proclamation” that has now been distributed to the eight mayors noted for their consideration.
Office of the Governor
Arizona Governor Mr. Doug Ducey
Executive Tower
1700 West Washington Street
Phoenix, AZ 85007
AZGOV@AZ.gov
(602) 542-4331
Mr. John Halikowski Director ADOT
206 South 17th Avenue
MD-100A
Phoenix, AZ 85007
JHalikowski@AZDOT.Gov
(602) 712-7227
Camp Verde Mayor Charles German, ljcGerman@msn.com, (928) 567-3596
Clarkdale Mayor Doug Von Gausig, Dougvg@commspeed.net, (928) 639-2400
Cottonwood Mayor Diane Joens, Mayor@Dianejoens.com, (928) 634-5526
Dewey- Humboldt Mayor Terry Nolan, Mayor.Nolan@DHAZ.gov, (928) 632-7362
Jerome Mayor Lew Currier, L.Currier@Jerome.AZ.gov, (928) 634-7943
Prescott Mayor Marlin Kuykendall, Marlin.Kuykendall@Prescott-az.gov, (928) 777-1270
Prescott Valley Mayor Harvey Skoog, HSkoog@PVAZ.net, (928) 759-3000
Sedona Mayor Sandy Moriarty, SMoriarty@Sedonaaz.gov, (928) 204-7127
These eight Yavapai County mayors along with many other leaders should have a common goal consisting of economic development in their community. They would be wise to encourage their existing businesses, tourism organizations and residents to participate in an effort to improve the image and economy of their community and Arizona.
Malcolm, will you and others at least call your local mayor and encourage them to join you in this effort?
Gary Chamberlain
“America the Beautiful & BagReadyJobs”
Empowering our nation’s youth
Cornville, AZ
FolksvilleUSA@gmail.com
(928) 202-1186
FolksvilleUSA@gmail.com
Dear Readers,
Don Hanks and Neil Dixon are both tire store owners in our area and they both have contributed greatly to our efforts.
Gary ChamberlaIn
“America the Beautiful & BagReadyJobs”
Empowering our nation’s youth
American Heritage Academy (AHA) in Camp Verde will be out on Finne Flat Road picking up litter on May 14, 2015 at 8:30 am.
AHA has been cleaning a one-mile plus section of road for over one year and working with their students on this effort has been very rewarding.
If your news media organization would like to cover this effort, please contact school Principal Mr. Darrell White at 928-567-0462 for more information.
These images show how far we’ve come in solving the litter issues in the Verde Valley, Yavapai County and Arizona but we still have a long way to go.
https://www.google.com/search?q=images+folksville+usa&sa=N&biw=1366&bih=523&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&ei=Kb5GVaXmO4j9oQTjgoDYCQ&ved=0CBwQsAQ4Cg
Gary Chamberlain
“America the Beautiful & BagReadyJobs
Empowering our nation’s youth
FolksvilleUSA@gmail.com
(928) 202-1186
For those wanting to know, Governor Doug Ducey’s email address is Engage@AZ.Gov and this is the return message.
The Arizona Governor’s Office is in receipt of your email communication. Thank you for taking time to contact the Governor’s Office. Governor Ducey welcomes input on public and social issues that affect the people of Arizona. Your comments are appreciated and will be kept on file as a matter of public record.
We receive a high volume of email messages through this email address. Due to the high number of emails, we are unable to respond to your message. If you seek a response or require assistance, please submit an email through our online form at: http://www.azgovernor.gov/governor/engage. This allows us to review and prioritize the many requests for assistance and comments received through our online contact form. Thank you for your cooperation.
Regards,
Doug Ducey
ARIZONA GOVERNOR
Gary Chamberlain
“America the Beautiful & BagReadyJobs”
Empowering our nation’s youth
Grab a plastic or paper bag and fill it on your next neighborhood walkabout, everyone’s responsibility to clean up. Don’t wait for an event, do it everyday. Make your kids do it. Schools can have a clean up activity around their grounds or nearby open spaces. Give kids and teachers bags and tell them to collect stuff. Sort it at school or walk it to the recycling center and ask them to explain recycling to kids, a field trip, and have kids sort it. Have kids write a paper on why we keep the desert environment clean and recycling statistics. Teach good habits! Common sense approach to teaching works best.
Bob
Sedona 86336
Dear Bob Sedona 86336,
You have great ideas about what “Kids” could do but the weak link is getting the parents and teachers to become engaged.
Anti-littering messaging must become a community wide “participant” activity if we are ever going to change the habits of those that damage the image and economy of our communities! There is something for everyone to do and that goes for our elected officials.
I have made multiple inquiries with two Superintendents in the Verde Valley about what they are doing in the schools to teach anti-littering and recycling messages and I haven’t received one response.
On May 14, 2015 at 8:30am, American Heritage Academy will conduct another of their Finne Flat Road cleanups. These students have picked up the messes left by others four times per year for over a year and have written reports. These students have skin-in-the-game and are great role models for the Verde Valley.
I received an email from the Dewey-Humboldt Mayor Terry Nolan today (May 6, 2015) and this was his message to me regarding the anti-litter “Draft Proclamation” developed by Camp Verde Mayor Charlie German:
” Mr. Chamberlain, There will be recognition of these organizations on our first meeting in August. We are in the process of developing a proclamation for that meeting. Thank you, Terry”.
Could you imagine the results that could be had if the elected officials, residents, businesses and schools got involved in the effort to remove the litter from our highways?
Reese’s Tire in Cottonwood will be providing refreshments for all of the Adopt-A-Highway groups picking up trash on Saturday, May 16, 2015. It will be interesting to see who shows up to help these groups.
Gary Chamberlain
“America the Beautiful & BagReadyJobs”
Empowering our nation’s youth
Folksvilleusa@gmail.com
(928) 202-1186
Three down and four to go!
Dear Prescott Mayor Kuykendall,
Thank you for the following email today (May 7, 2015):
“Gary, Prescott, Prescott Valley and Dewey-Humboldt will be presenting the proclamation at their August City Council meetings.”
It now appears that the efforts of the Adopt-A-Highway groups on Highway 89A, Highway 169 and Highway 69 will be well represented by the efforts of the Mayor’s of Prescott, Prescott Valley and Dewey-Humboldt.
Mayor Charlie German and Camp Verde will be a great advocate for the Adopt-A-Highway groups on Highway 260.
If we are ever going to change the habits of those that litter, we need to encourage our educational system to revive anti-litter messages and teach our young folks that they hurt their future and the future of their communities by littering and that there is a cost to picking up other peoples messes that the taxpayers pay for that includes highway signs, safety vests, litter bags, litter disposal and administrative costs to manage the program.
Will the Yavapai County mayors and elected officials be the trendsetters for a litter-free Arizona?
Gary Chamberlain
“America the Beautiful & BagReadyJobs”
Empowering our nation’s youth
FolksvilleUSA@gmail.com
(928) 202-1186
Sedona and Camp Verde “Tire Pros” supports Adopt-A-Highway groups
May 16, 2015 “America the Beautiful & BagReadyJobs” litter recovery event.
Tire Pro Automotive Camp Verde and Sedona would like to join our local businesses and provide free coffee and doughnuts for all of our local Adopt-A-Highway groups that participate in this May 16, 2015 event.
To help us better serve your Adopt-A-Highway group, please call us in advance and let us know what your group name is and how many doughnuts you need to pick up at our Sedona and Camp Verde store.
We wish to support of this effort since we believe that the image and economy of our community partially depends on the efforts of the ADOT Adopt-A-Highway groups that keep our highways clean.
Tire Pro Automotive will continue to provide free coffee and doughnuts to the Verde Valley, ADOT Adopt-A-Highway groups that clean our highways on the third Saturdays of February 21, May 16, August 15 and November 21, 2015. Our Saturday store hours of operation are from 8am-2pm.
We at Tire Pro Automotive hope that other Verde Valley businesses will join us in our efforts to thank and reward the many Adopt-A-Highway groups that make the Verde Valley and Yavapai County more appealing to our local residents and visitors.
Don Hanks, Owner Tire Pro Automotive
671 Finne Flat Rd, Camp Verde, AZ
3035 West Highway 89A, Sedona, AZ
(928) 567-6338
I really Governor Ducey’s non-response.
IMO it’s so refreshing to know that volunteer contributions are alive and well without the need to stand in line at City Hall to beg for financial assistance as is so frequently the case in incorporated Sedona. Hats off to those who really care and prove it by standing on their own two feet. Nice!
Dear Ms. Maddock,
Most volunteers don’t expect financial support but wouldn’t that be nice in some form or another but a “Thank you” goes a long way especially from our community mayors, elected officials and community leaders. You would think that these folks could put a inspiring “Thank you” message in our local papers so the Adopt-A-Highway groups might feel more appreciated..
Volunteers, though many are burned-out due to lack of support and participation in their efforts by others, are still the best groups in our communities.
We seem to be making some headway with our anti-litter messages and Adopt-A-Highway group recognition with the mayors of Camp Verde, Dewey-Humboldt, Prescott Valley and Prescott due to the efforts and leadership of Camp Verde Mayor Charlie German. Hopefully other Yavapai County and Arizona mayors will join them since they benefit greatly from the efforts of the Adopt-A-Highway groups.
This past week we had three major groups picking up other peoples messes. Thanks to American Heritage Academy-Camp Verde, AZ Footy Soccer-Sedona and the Verde Village Property Owners Association, there are over six miles of Highway 260 and Highway 89A that are truly more pleasing to look at.
All of these groups had adult, young adult and youth participation and their stories will be made available very soon in the SedonaEyE.com and other Verde Valley newspapers.
Yesterday I spoke with the President and President-Elect of NAWBO about our Folksville USA “America the Beautiful & BagReadyJobs” effort and it benefit to our community youth, businesses and residents. I encouraged them to consider how we could work together for the benefit of all. They were a pleasure to speak with and said they will review the information I sent them.
As I always say, “Want something done, ask a woman or a veteran!”
Gary Chamberlain
“America the Beautiful & BagReadyJobs”
Empowering our nation’s youth
Folksvilleusa@gmail.com
Confidential Rumor or Fact?
Time will tell!
I have been told by a confidential source that our County Supervisors are considering a version of the “Draft Proclamation” by Mayor Charlie German for the Yavapai County “Adopt-A-Road” groups.
Wouldn’t that be something if the County Supervisors said “Thank you” before our county Mayors enacted their “Draft Proclamation”?
If the Mayors and Supervisors essentially drafted the same proclamation that would be a great example of “partnering” and working together, is that possible?
Working together to drastically improve the image and economy of Yavapai County and Arizona …… sounds nice, time for the words and actions to come together.
Gary Chamberlain
“America the Beautiful & BagReadyJobs”
Empowering our nation’s youth