Our
Mission
Denali Citizens Council works
to promote the integrity of Denali National Park and Preserve by supporting
the ecological and wilderness values for which the Park was established
and by fostering responsible planning in the greater Denali community.
We accomplish our mission through advocacy with the National Park Service, state and local government and other public agencies, education in bimonthly newsletters and a website and citizen mobilization in forums, conferences and email updates.
Our Board of
Directors
Our Staff
A
Brief History
Denali
Citizens Council is a 501(c)(3)-membership organization incorporated in
1974 to provide citizens' conservation voice in the management
of Denali National Park. Much of the inspiration for the founding of DCC
came from longtime local residents and business owners Celia Hunter and
Ginny Wood. One of the first areas of concern for DCC was the development
of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, which was signed
by President Carter in 1980, and added valuable animal habitat and wilderness
scenery to the then Mt. McKinley National Park.
Over
the years DCC has been active on many Denali issues, particularly those
related to management of the park road, development in the park entrance
area, concessions contracting, and private inholdings in the Kantishna
area. Presently DCC has close to 200 members, the majority of whom are
in Alaska. Until recently, the volunteer Board members performed virtually
all the organization's work. DCC presently publishes a regular newsletter,
participates actively in park planning processes, and articulates a vision
for the park to state and local agencies and the general public. DCC organizes
an Annual Meeting every summer, providing networking opportunities for
its members, fostering discussion of important issues, and presenting
speakers and forums on current issues of concern.
Denali Summit
In March of 2001, DCC convened a Denali Summit, composed of activists
from DCC and other concerned environmental groups to address a sense of
impending crisis for the park. At the conclusion of the Summit there was
a general recognition that the number and gravity of issues facing Denali
were outstripping the ability of the member-funded, all-volunteer organization
to effectively respond. DCC thus launched the Denali Campaign in conjunction
with another Summit participant, the Northern Alaska Environmental Center,
which lobbies on public lands conservation issues in Alaska north of the
Alaska Range. It was at the Denali Summit that participants crafted a
Vision Statement for Denali over the next 20
years.
The Denali Campaign
DCC launched the Denali Campaign in the Fall of 2001. The Campaign is
a three year enhancement of DCC's program to confront the issues identified
at the Denali Summit. One of the key elements of this program was seeking
increased funding to hire our first employee, a community organizer. We
also began to organize and office at Denali, purchased computer equipment
and began to recruit members twice a year.
Through a generous grant from the Alaska Conservation Foundation, DCC
acquired funding to hire our first part time Community Organizer, Jeff
Yanuchi. Jeff worked for DCC from April 2002 until November 2002, assisting
with local outreach and administering three major events, our Spring Dinner
and a Borough Candidate Forum. Thank you, Jeff ! !
In November 2002, using a grant from the Acorn Foundation, DCC hired our
first winter community Organizer, Sue Deyoe. Sue worked for Denali Citizens
Council through mid April 2003. She kept in touch with the community,
attended meetings, recruited members, wrote newsletter articles and helped
to organize our Spring Conference.
In April 2003, using a grant from the Ben and Jerry's Foundation, DCC hired Leslie Adams as our third Community Organizer. Leslie used her graphic talents to redesign our logo, enhance our Website and publish a flier on Coalbed Methane development in the Denali Borough.
A donor drive in the fall of 2003 allowed DCC to continue the Community Organizer position, again hiring Sue Deyoe. With donations and grant support, DCC hopes to continue this position beyond the initial three years of the Denali Campaign. The volunteer Board of Directors continues its necessary involvement in the organization's activities.
