CHAIRMAN'S COLUMN               Trudie Hunt

At the February business meeting, Phantom Ranch was voted down as a qualifying Desert Peak by a narrow margin. But it was agreed that desert peakers should be encouraged to visit this area in the bottom of the Grand Canyon. To encourage this type of desert travel, it was decided to set up another list of unusual desert areas, worthy of visitation. The management committee was instructed to draw up standards. We invite your suggestions as to criteria for inclusion. This is going to be a hard problem for desert lovers who find beauty and interest in so much of the desert.

HIGHILGHTS OF FEBRUARY 6TH BUSINESS MEETING     Hugh Parshall

The meeting at Angeles Chapter headquarters in Los Angeles was called to order by Chairman Trudie Hunt at 7:30 p.m. The Secretary-Treasurer's report was given showing a bank balance of $135.58 on February 5th.
Banquet Chairman Neko Colevins announced that the Annual DPS Banquet will be held at Rudy's Cafe on April 1, 1964, time 7 p.m. Price $2.65.
It was voted to donate an additional $20.00 to the Desert Protective Council.
The following peaks were added to the list of Desert Peaks: Mt. Stirling (8183') in Nevada, Spirit Mtn(5639') in Nevada, Navajo Mtn. (10416') in Arizona, and Eagle Mtn. #2 (3506') in California. The total number of listed peaks is now 62.
It was voted that the 1964-65 Management Committee start the formation of a list of scenic places and areas (other than desert peaks) to where trips may be made. This List could include Phantom Ranch in the Grand Canyon.
Nominations were made for the 1964-1965 Management Committee of the section, eight persons being nominated. Ballots will be mailed out with the next DPS Newsletter to all members who should vote for five of the eight nominees.
The Section voted to go on record as approving the naming of a Sierra Peak for Chester Versteeg, the founder of the DPS.
The June meeting will be scheduled later.

FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK                   JWR

1964 begins the fifteenth year of publication for the Newsletter. Started by then-chairman Bill Henderson as a chronicle of the section's varied activities and interests, the Newsletter has, in these last few years, been expanded to include more route descriptions, reports on non-scheduled desert outings, maps, and occasionally, cartoons.
This year we are trying to make your Newsletter even more newsworthy. Our goal is to make it entertaining, informative, and provocative. So far it has mainly been in the entertainment category, which is fine, but not much good for a prospective climber who wants to know exact route descriptions on some of our better desert peaks. From now on, we're going to try to make the Newsletter not only a chronicle of section activities, but also a practical guide for desert climbing and exploring and, also, a forum for ideas to improve the section. To implement the latter, Andy Smatko has written a thought-provoking letter (see below) questioning the section's policy on adding peaks to the list. Other members are invited to write their opinions on issues that affect the section.
Trip leaders are urged to assume responsibility for getting trip write-ups and route descriptions to the editor soon after the outing. Some leaders are conscientious about this, white others seem to comply only after repeated urgings. There were two trips last year from which writs-ups were never received.
 
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