Blazing the Trail
A clean sweep at Chase Field.
The Diamondbacks game on Saturday, June 24, was more than just another day at the ballpark for Arizona’s Adopt a Highway (AAH). In fact, it was a first in terms of recognizing outstanding volunteers and corporate sponsors. On the field and off, participants were acknowledged for their contributions to AAH.
Complimentary tickets were provided to a number of group representatives, including Mr. And Mrs. Michael Allen of Safford, Bill Jeffers and his wife of the Holbrook/Painted Desert Kiwanis, and representing the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge group, were Deborah Pike’s son, Jonathan Stine and his friend Travis Southaw.
On the field, in a special pre-game ceremony, Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin, along with Gail Lewis, representing Governor Napolitano and Victor Mendez, Director of the Arizona Department of Transportation, presented AAH corporate sponsor Jobbing.com with a certificate for their service. Jobbing.com sponsors over 45 miles of highway in Phoenix and Flagstaff. Receiving this certificate were jobbing.com Senior Vice President Brian Moore, along with market managers Matthew Moses and David Dickens. After the presentation, this group took their seats in the Batter’s Box suite, where they were unexpectedly greeted by Governor Napolitano herself, who happened to be attending the game.
The game was also a great opportunity to promote visibility of AAH. Our public service announcement was played on the stadium big screen. In addition, AAH and Arizona Clean & Beautiful representatives worked in Chase Field’s Community Corner booth handing out litterbags and Pitch In, Pitch Out flyers.
In the end, although the D-back lost in extra innings, it was a clean sweep for AAH. Volunteers gained recognition. Corporate sponsors received acknowledgement. And the public at large learned more about our outstanding program.
It’s quick as a click: AAH activity reporting goes online.
Beginning this summer, Adopt a Highway groups will be able to report their pickup activity online instead of by mail. This will save a stamp and the walk to the mailbox, and will make the job of tracking AAH activity a lot more efficient for ADOT. If you don’t have computer access, don’t worry. You can still mail in your activity report as you have in the past. For more information, please contact Stephanie Brown, Statewide Adopt a Highway Coordinator at: CORRECT CONTACT INFO.
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Proposition 400 Funds in Action.
Proposition 400 provided additional financial support for more litter prevention in Maricopa County. Allocated through the Maricopa Association of Governments’ Regional Council and Transportation Policy Committee, these funds are already being applied by ADOT to make the Regional Freeway System cleaner.
11 litter pickup crews are active, with authorization to hire an additional crew, if necessary. Two crews are poised for same-day response and more frequent or one-time pickups at hot spots. In addition, three new inspectors have been hired.
Lane sweeping is being increased in urban and some suburban areas. Two additional PM-10 sweepers were acquired this year. Also, to get the word out, messaging on electronic freeway signs (DMS) are promoting cleaner habits by drivers and reminding them to secure loads they are carrying. Working together with existing government programs, volunteer efforts, and greater cooperation from the public at large, these Prop 400 enhancements should significantly boost highway litter prevention in Maricopa County.
What’s in a name?
Even One Lamp Dispels the Dark, SR64: The Zen of litter removal.
Our AAH volunteers are obviously inspired people, or they wouldn’t be out working so diligently to keep our roads clean and cared for. Often this inspiration is reflected in the unique names people pick for their groups. In this newsletter, and in issues to come, we will share with you the creative and personal ways people have found to add meaning to their AAH activity through the names they’ve chose.
Bob Audretsch is a National Park Service Ranger living in the Flagstaff District. He based this group’s name on a traditional Zen teaching, that says: "Even a single lamp dispels the darkness."
Audretsch modified it due to limited space on the sign, but his message comes through with crystal clarity. As he puts it:
“I feel like I make a difference by picking up trash and I love being able to see the results of my work immediately. How many jobs can give people that immediate gratification in this modern age?”
Audretsch is responsible for two additional sections of Hwy 64 near the Grand Canyon. In case you were wondering, the other two have slightly more obvious names: Ranger Bob and Sierra Club.
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Volunteer Spotlight:
Southeast Clean and Beautiful – The Volunteering Spirit Soars.
In Safford, just about everyone benefits from the good work done by Southeast Clean and Beautiful (Seacab). They regularly pick up litter between milepost markers 135 – 136 on SR 191, but that’s only the beginning. From Bureau of Land Management (BLM) cleanup projects throughout Graham Country, to beautification efforts for the streets and roads in the local communities, Seacab is a powerful force for fighting litter all over the region.
This dynamic grass roots organization was founded by Jay Rasco, who was inspired by a group of Boy Scouts doing an Eagle project to clean up a favorite local area called "Red Knolls", which had been used as a dumpsite. Jay was so impressed, he decided a permanent group was needed to keep up the good work.
Clel Flake, Graham County CFO, helped Rasco and others start Seacab. Volunteers were solicited from the local communities, Federal, State and local agencies and businesses. Rachael Walker, City of Safford, has served as Secretary. From BLM, first Bonnie Winslow and now Deborah Morris have served on the Board. John Bonafas, retired Safford School Principal, was also a great asset to the organization.
“There are some who think volunteerism is dead,” says Jay Rasco, “I certainly hope that is not true.”
If Seacab is any measure, Rasco has nothing to worry about. But they are always looking for more people to help. Catch Seacab’s spirit of volunteering and help keep the Safford district clean and beautiful. For more information, please call Jay Rasco at 928 428 2820.
CORPORATE SPOTLIGHT
Rocky Mountain Marketing and Promotions: They give a hoot.
For the franchise operator of Hooters restaurants in Phoenix and Tucson, clean roads and good business go hand in hand. That’s why Rocky Mountain Marketing and Promotions sponsor AAH areas near each of their eight restaurants. As Regional Marketing Manager, Melanie Gulmetti put it: “who wants to eat in a messy area? The first thing you look for as a consumer picking where you’re going to eat is a clean facility, and the second is a clean location.”
Rocky Mountain Marketing and Promotions’ commitment to AAH is consistent with their overall strategy of linking promotions to community and charitable causes. It doesn’t hurt that in addition to enjoying tidier surroundings, the AAH signs have boosted their name recognition through the millions of impressions made on an annual basis. How do they know people are really seeing the signs? Because if anything is amiss with either the sign or the area, people don’t hesitate to call Melanie and let her know.
Rocky Mountain Marketing and Promotions has recently opened a new restaurant in Peoria called the Moon Saloon. In keeping with their policy, they have sponsored an AAH area nearby as well. Good luck with the new restaurant and thanks for giving a hoot!
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DISTRICT NEWS
Roundup from around Arizona.
On the roads again in Flag.
Chuck King reports that Flagstaff volunteers are starting to hit the roads for cleanup now that the cold weather is past. The AAH phone line there is warming up as well, with two to three calls per day coming in from people interested in volunteering. According to King, everybody seems to have a hand in creating the litter including truckers, travelers and locals. So it makes sense that more people are pitching in to help. Two groups in particular stand out for their stellar efforts. They are El Christo Rey Catholic Chapel-Grand Canyon on SR64 and Keep Sedona Beautiful on SR89A. Here’s to a job well done.
Double duty in Prescott.
In Prescott, special recognition goes to Richard and De Maloney who pull double duty for AAH. They have participated with the Payson United Methodist Church AAH program on SR 87, MP 252-253 since 1998. In addition, Richard and De Maloney have had their own AAH location on SR 87, MP 258-259 since 2001. Between these two locations, they pick up trash an average of 8 times per year. Richard also does volunteer work for the Forest Service and on behalf of Habitat For Humanity. Thank you for caring so much.
Sold out in Safford.
Here’s a problem we love to write about. In fact, we wish every district had the same difficulty. Armando Membrila tells us that AAH is so popular in Safford there are simply no more miles available at this time. Typically, if an area does becomes available, it’s usually snapped up pretty quickly by someone else. Now that’s community spirit in action. Congratulations to Safford. Enjoy riding those well-kept roads, and the satisfaction of knowing that you are making the difference.
Holbrook: Kiwanis make cooperation their priority.
The Painted Desert Kiwanis has been dedicated to AAH in the Holbrook district since 1989. That in itself is a solid track record of consistency. But they’ve also been extremely accommodating of the community at large. Twice they have relinquished mile sections in order to allow others to participate. The first time, in 2000, was for a family who had lost their mother in a fatal accident, and so felt a particular connection to that stretch of road. Then again, in March 2006, the Kiwanis moved to accommodate the widow of a Superior Court Judge who wanted a section for its proximity to the county court house. So kudos to the Kiwanis for doing a great job, while considering the priorities of others as well.
Holbrook has 168 groups who cover 402 miles of road. But without a doubt the most popular section of road is SR 87 South between Winslow and Clints Well, preferred for the cool shade of its tall pines!
Triple team in Yuma.
Ladd Bouts reports that pickups are slowing down for the summer in Yuma. Nevertheless, he does want to recognize the good work of all 89 AAH volunteer groups in the district, covering a total of 151 miles. In particular, he gives special notice to three groups. The first is Vietnam Veterans of America, who are always out there, in any weather, picking up trash. They work a particularly challenging stretch of Interstate 8, where litter from produce haulers abounds. The Bahai of Yuma also do great work, picking up three to four extra times a year. In addition, the employees of the Imperial National Wildlife Refuge are extremely effective, not only picking up trash but hauling it away with them.
Phoenix: Innovation worth mentioning.
Any invention that can make picking up litter more efficient is a welcome development. In Phoenix, Jeff Knapp and Ken Klippert offer the Klippert 1600. It’s a PVC pipe with rubber foam grip used to hold your trash bag open, even in windy weather.
They pick up on SR 87 at milepost 216. Their group works in memory of Knapp’s daughter, Tarina Brooke Knapp who passed away in 2003. Klippert at first used a stick to hold his bag open, but the PVC is lighter and won’t tear the bag.
“I got flustered with the wind out there, and thought there has to be a better way,” says Klippert. “People are doing a good thing picking up trash, so why not make the job a little easier.”
You can make your own Klippert 1600 with materials from any hardware store. Or you can have Knapp and Klippert make you one for the minimal charge of $1.00. For more information, call Jeff Knapp at: 480-827-2166