DPS Banquet 6 May 1992

The Desert Peaks Section celebrated another year of successful climbing at the annual DPS banquet on May 6. Eighty two people enjoyed the results of the hard work by Banquet chair Bill Gray. The banquet was held in a private room at the Pacifica Hotel near LAX. The cocktail hour started at 6:00 while people caught up with events in each other's lives: event involving peak bagging and otherwise. People also took this opportunity to view the photos on display and vote for their favorites. Bill T. Russell, the current DPS Chair, started off the ceremonies with a JOKE about a jar. If you missed the banquet, ask him for a recap sometime. He then thanked the outgoing management committee for their work during the past year:

John McCully Bill Gray Christine Mitchell Wendy Ruess Pat Acheson Patty Kline Ron Jones Ron Bartell Dale Van Dalsem Dave Jurasevich Bill T. Russell Outings Chair Programs and Banquet Chair Secretary Treasurer Conservation Chair Council Representative Desert Sage Editor Member Records Mountain Records Peaks Guide Editor Archives/History

Bill T. then led the banquet attendees in a series of calisthenics which recognized the Double List Finishers, List Finishers, Emblem holders, members, past management committee members, and last and most important, the leaders. Bill T. then introduced the incoming DPS Chair for the 1992-1993 season, John McCully. John introduced the new management committee:

Patty Kline Bill Gray Pat Acheson Wendy Ruess Pat Acheson Wendy Ruess Ron Jones Ron Bartell Dale Van Dalsem Dave Jurasevich Bill T. Russell Outings Chair Programs and Banquet Chair Secretary Treasurer Conservation Chair Council Representative Desert Sage Editor Member Records Mountain Records Peaks Guide Editor Archives/History

John then discussed his goals for DPS for the coming year. He made a request to the group for more led trips on unlisted peaks and on listed peaks by new routes. He also suggested a possible way to raise the excitement factor of trips would be by having some unplanned bivouacs. Banquet chair Bill Gray then announced the awards for the photo contest. First place was earned by Richard Carey for his photo of South Guardian Angel. He received a $25 gift certificate donated by the Sports Chalet. George Toby received second place for his picture of Red Rock Crossing in Oak Creek at Sedona, Arizona. He won a $20 gift certificate for Sports Chalet. Third place was awarded to Wendy Ruess for her picture of Ron Bartell scaling a wall on Signal Peak. She received a $15 gift certificate for Sports Chalet. Next, Bill conducted the drawing for the door prizes. Marianne Hviding won a $25 gift certificate donated by A16 and Ed Lubin nabbed the $25 gift certificate donated by REI. Maren Kennedy won a $15 gift certificate for the Sports Chalet donated by the DPS. Bill then introduced the main speaker, Clifford Walker, the author of Backdoor to California: The Story of the Mojave River Trail. In 1963, he helped found the Mojave River Valley Museum in Barstow and now serves as the Museum's president. Mr. Walker recently retired from 36 years of high school teaching. He was assisted by his wife, Barbara, in his presentation, Trails Across the Desert: the Old Spanish Trail, the Forty Niner Route, and The Mojave Road, which featured slides of Indian and pioneer trails in the Mojave Desert.

Page Index	Prev	Page 2	Next	Issue Index