4th Quarter 2024 

By David Carle, President

My two terms as CSPRA President are nearly complete.  I look forward to supporting a new President and new Board members as we move into 2025.  

This has been an interesting, challenging 4 years, and an unexpected honor for me, after two decades of retirement. But staying involved through CSPRA is important for all California State Park Professionals, active duty and retired. And for those of us that do stay involved after retirement - if I may speak for that group – that choice recognizes that this is a very special agency that deserves our continued support. So we “Add Our Voices” to strengthen CSPRA’s impact.  

Since 2020, we’ve addressed threats and issues to Anza-Borrego Desert SP, Big Basin SP, San Onofre SB, Los Angeles SHP, Jack London SHP, Red Rock Canyon SP and legislative bills affecting state parks. We’ve participated in the annual World Ranger Day gatherings and represented CSPRA at the IRF World Ranger Congress in France this October. And after the COVID year of 2020, we successfully brought back the annual CSPRA State Park Rendezvous each fall. We had 67 signed up for the luncheon at this year’s Rendezvous on the North Coast Redwoods.  It would have been nice if more active-duty members had shown up, but all of us attending had a great time.  I particularly appreciated the past-CSPRA Presidents being there, Mike Lynch, John Mott, Dave Nelson, Denzil Verardo, Ron Brean, and Victor Bjelajac, who I hosted for dinner on Tuesday evening.  Bill Beat’s presence was notable, as he served as the North Coast Redwoods District Superintendent back in the day when the partnership with local tribes was in its infancy. 

CSPRA functions with 4 officers and 7 Directors, plus an immediate past President advisor. We have contractors to manage dues (Betsy Anderson), the WAVE newsletter (Brian Cahill), and our internet presence (Jeff Price).  Except for those three contractors, all other positions are handled by volunteers. Thank you, VP Ann Meneguzzi, Secretary Joanne Kerbavaz, Treasurers Tom Bernardo and Ron Krueper, Advisor Mike Lynch, and current Directors Cindy Begbie, Jean Rhyne, Jon Irwin, Greg Kania, Sal Goshorn, Rich Rozzelle, and Steve Ptomey.  Previous Directors I worked with included Erin Gates, Sue Neary, Rob Pickett, Neill Fogarty and Miles Standish. We partner with and assign liaisons to a long list of organizations and have committee members that include Lynn Rhodes, Rodi Lee, John Mott, Kim Preston, and Dr. Jarrell Jackman.  If you have ever considered getting more involved with CSPRA, this list of special people should help motivate you to add your voice by running for election or volunteering. It has been an honor to be associated with everyone listed here.

We have well over 400 members, about half active-duty and half retired. That number should grow. Spread the word. Read your copies of the quarterly newsletter, then share them by leaving them somewhere visible in park offices.  

What a moment at the Rendezvous, when Ann surprised me with a plaque with many details about accomplishments of the last four years.  Thank you everyone, for allowing me to serve these two terms as CSPRA President.    

CSPRA President

Dave

President Dave Carle