CDEC working to raise the bar for 10th Anniversary

by: Rick LoBello, Board of Directors, CDEC Chair

The Chihuahuan Desert Education Coalition will celebrate its 10th anniversary in January 2014.   We had our first organizational meeting in the Cisneros Paraje at the El Paso Zoo in January 2004 and over the years our small group has worked to help others better understand and appreciate the Chihuahuan Desert.   We have helped to organize eight Chihuahuan Desert Fiesta events at Tom Mays Park, seven annual Poppies Celebrations at the El Paso Museum of Archaeology and a Chihuahuan Desert Conference at the Tech H2O Center.

In 2007 the IRS awarded our group 501(c)3 non-profit status.  Our current projects include helping to develop more curriculum materials on our desert, supporting upcoming outdoor events like the Chihuahuan Desert Fiesta and Poppies Celebration, supporting the new newly formed Franklin/Organ Mountains Conservation Cooperative, the City of El Paso Outside educational initiative, and improving our website at chihuahuandesert.org.  The mission of CDEC is to collaborate with educators and the public in support of programs that enhance conservation and education of the Chihuahuan Desert.  The goal of the organization is to serve as a resource for information about the Chihuahuan Desert and encourage life-long learning. Your support will help people discover and connect to our Chihuahuan Desert and improve their quality of life.

In August CDEC will elect new officers at its annual meeting and work on new plan to restructure the organization to help raise the effectiveness of our group in meeting our mission.  If you would like to help please contact any board member listed on our website at  http://www.chihuahuandesert.org/cdeccontactus.html.