Several charities set up text-messaging systems to allow people to give micro donations, in which $5 or $10 goes directly to the charity, if people type in certain key words. Ask your local church or newspaper how can you help. I have compiled some links to different organizations that can be contacted directly. Please DO NOT contact us since we can help but to spread the word and keeeping people informed. Thank you and God Bless you!

Happy New Year from Back to Natives! We’ve thought long and hard, and we’ve
come up with this list of suggested New Year’s Resolutions for you!

1. Give Mother Nature a hand – volunteer at least once a month (with
Back to Natives!)

2. Get in shape – spend time in Nature (volunteering with Back to
Natives!)

3. Make new friends/meet cool new people (while volunteering with Back
to Natives!)

4. Donate funds to help Back to Natives (every little bit helps keep
our programs going!)

2009 will be a Year of Volunteering with Back to Natives. Here are the
dates of our upcoming HABITAT RESTORATION volunteer events (weeding,
planting, and seeding):

1-11-09, 9AM – 12PM, at Caspers Wilderness Park in San Juan Capistrano

1-12-09, 9AM – 12PM, at Jeronimo Creek in Mission Viejo

1-12-09, 12:30 – 2:30PM, at San Juan Elementary’s Habitat Garden

1-18-09, 9AM – 12PM, at Mason Regional Park in Irvine

1-26-09, 9AM – 12PM, at Jeronimo Creek in Mission Viejo

1-26-09, 12:30 – 2:30PM, at San Juan Elementary’s Habitat Garden

2-8-09, 9AM – 12PM, at Caspers Wilderness Park in San Juan Capistrano

2-9-09, 9AM – 12PM, at Jeronimo Creek in Mission Viejo

2-9-09, 12:30 – 2:30PM, at San Juan Elementary’s Habitat Garden

2-22-09, 9AM – 12PM, at Mason Regional Park in Irvine

3-8-09, 9AM – 12PM, at Caspers Wilderness Park in San Juan Capistrano

3-22-09, 9AM – 12PM, at Mason Regional Park in Irvine

4-12-08, 9AM – 12PM, at Caspers Wilderness Park in San Juan Capistrano

4-26-09, 9AM – 12PM, at Mason Regional Park in Irvine

5-10-08, 9AM – 12PM, at Caspers Wilderness Park in San Juan Capistrano

5-24-09, 9AM – 12PM, at Mason Regional Park in Irvine

RSVP for any of these events to volunteer@backtonatives.org or 949-509-4787,
and we will send directions and more info. ALWAYS bring gloves, sunscreen,
a re-useable water bottle, snacks, a hat, and closed toed shoes.

And if you’re up for a long term commitment:

Restoration Volunteer Training Program
Back to Natives has partnered with the US Forest Service to provide a 9
month restoration volunteer training program. BTN will educate volunteers in
dry restoration practices within the Cleveland National Forest. For more
information and to sign up for this FREE training program please contact
restoration@backtonatives.org. The 2008/9 class has already begun, but we
welcome participants to join in at any time. Remaining dates are: January
17, February 21, March 21, April 25, & May 16 .
Click here for a registration form, and an event waiver.

Back to NativesRESTORATION
(949) 509-4787 voice/fax
(949) 335-8656 cell
Saving Habitat One Person at a Time
www.backtonatives.org

An all media national juried exhibition

September 4 to 27, 2008
117 N. Sycamore, Santa Ana, CA
714.667.1517 www.occca.org
Opening Reception September 6th, 6 PM to 10 PM

Juror:
Mat Gleason, editor and publisher of
Coagula Art Magazine

Recently praised by the British critic Julian Stallabrass in his book, Art Incorporated, The Story of Contemporary Art, Mat Gleason has a keen eye for quality and authenticity, ferocious wit and an intimate knowledge of the jungle.

Animals, real and imaginary. We fear them, pamper them, tame them, trap them, eat them, lobby on their behalf, experiment on them, strut them as status symbols, and exterminate them. How do contemporary artists represent them?

From the caves of Lascaux, to the halls of the Louvre, there is no escaping them. With their long pedigree in the history of art, they prowl the great museums of the world. And today, animals leap from the work of contemporary artists, symbolically expressing their ideas and emotions. OCCCA’s terrific exhibition space will showcase a menagerie of superb examples of this trend, from the traditional to the avant-garde, from the realistic to the fantastic, in painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, video and new media

A catalog of accepted works will
accompany this exhibition.

Admission Free

Film, Concerts and Other Events @ OCCCA During September 2008:
First Friday Films: September 5: 8pm
Winged Migration (2001)
Director: Jacques Perrin

EMC Concert no.26: September 13: 8pm
Happy Dwarf
Deal by Dusk
B-side Effect

Get Back to Natives for the Holidays!
There is NOTHING the staff at Back to Natives hates more than the commercialism and materialism associated with the holidays. One way to avoid the malls and make a difference with your holiday gift giving is to give gift memberships to your favorite environmental non-profits, and give “green” gifts! We plan to do all of our holiday shopping at our favorite store, the Road Less Traveled – where you can now buy Back to Natives label native plant seeds! They make an awesome stocking stuffer, or a great insert in your holiday cards (as long as they are being mailed locally, of course!). Back to Natives also offers gift memberships! For just a few dollars more than a regular membership, we will send the recipient a Back to Natives “Care Package” with native wildflower seeds, organic coffee or tea, and organic chocolate. Membership forms can be downloaded at www.backtonatives.org/Donations.htm

Very Important Planet Event
Saturday, November 3, 2007, 1 – 3 p.m.
Back to Natives will have a booth at the Very Important Planet Event at the Placentia Town Center. The event will feature activities to educate people about protecting our environment. The Placentia Town Center is located at Kraemer & Yorba Linda Blvd., in Placentia.

Volunteer Restoration Training Program
Saturday, November 10, 8AM – 12PM
The United States Forest Service & Back to NativesRESTORATION presents a Volunteer Restoration Training Program on 9 Saturdays in 2007 & 2008. If you were unable to attend the first Restoration Volunteer Training Class on September 15, it’s not too late! The introductory class will be repeated in the future on a date to be determined. You can still join us at the second class, scheduled for 11-10-07 in Casper’s Park (the October class was cancelled due to the fire). Feel free to invite others, as well. Our next class will focus on restoration methodology and some of the invasive species we will be encountering. Then we hope to spend a couple of hours removing small herbaceous weeds.

The url of the Biodiversity presentation we viewed in class is http://www.backtonatives.org/btn_biodiversity.pdf
To view photos of the first class, visit http://backtonatives.blogspot.com For more information or to RSVP call 949-509-4787 or restoration@backtonatives.org This training is free.

Jeronimo Creek Restoration Day! – VOLUNTEER!
Saturday, November 17, 2007, 9AM – 12PM
Join Back to Natives in assisting the Earth Resource Foundation to restore native habitat at Jeronimo Creek, in Mission Viejo. Everyone is invited – children below high school should be accompanied by a parent. We will be weeding. Bring gloves, sunscreen, water, snacks, hat, and closed toe shoes. Where to Park: Park at Pavion Park, 24051 Pavion, Mission Viejo, CA, located off of Jeronimo. From Marguerite Pkwy turn east onto Jeronimo, go almost 2 miles and take a right into Pavion Park. Walk south along the trail to the restoration site. For more information or to RSVP: 949-509-4787 or restoration@backtonatives.org

Buy Nothing Day Hike in the National Forest
Friday, November 23, 9AM
Join Back to Natives for a walk up Silverado Motorway in the Cleveland National Forest in celebration of Buy Nothing Day — an informal day of protest against consumerism on the day after American Thanksgiving. This day, often called “Black Friday,” is one of the busiest shopping days of the year. Participants will wear off their Thanksgiving meals when they climb two thousand feet in three miles. The Silverado Motorway runs its narrow course up the north wall of Silverado Canyon. The path twists past fascinating strata until it arrives at Bedford Peak where we will enjoy panoramic views extending to Catalina Island and Mount Baldy if it’s clear.

Bring plenty of water, energy food, and a hat. Be prepared for narrow sections and rocky slopes. A Forest Adventure Pass is required in this area and can be obtained at the Silverado Canyon Market at 28192 Silverado Canyon Rd. Call 949-509-4787 or email education@backtonatives.org to RSVP. Meet at the Maple Springs Parking Area. This event is free.

Full Moon Walk at Crystal Cove
Saturday, November 24, 4:00PM
Join us for a quiet, slow paced walk to enjoy the “Beaver Moon.” We’ll stroll through the backcountry listening for the song of tree frogs and nocturnal insects. As the sky fades to black, we’ll search for the darker silhouettes of bats and owls, as they soar across fields of stars. Call 949-509-4787 or email info@backtonatives.org to RSVP. Meet at the CCSP Ranger Station. This event is free.

And here is a cool event that we hope to attend:

Patchwork Art & Craft Show at the Road Less Traveled!
November 4, 10AM – 4PM
This is your chance to get started on holiday shopping while supporting local, independent artists! Some of the products for sale include: amazing clothing for men, women & kids, letterpress stationary, jewelry, rock’n'roll belt buckles, edgy dolls, artsy purses, green & sustainable goods, aprons, refashioned vintage clothing, art & so much more.
www.roadlesstraveledstore.com

Back to Natives RESTORATION
(949) 509-4787 voice/fax
(949) 335-8656 cell
Saving Habitat One Person at a Time
www.backtonatives.org

Don’t ever become a pessimist… a pessimist is correct oftener than an optimist, but an optimist has more fun, and neither can stop the march of events. – Robert A. Heinlein

Thursday, November 15, 2007 through Saturday, December 15, 2007

Opening reception: Saturday, December 1, 2007, 6:30 to 10 PM

FREE ADMISSION

Gallery hours: Thursday – Sunday noon to 5PM, Friday- Saturday until 9PM

Orange County Center for Contemporary Art is located at 117 N. Sycamore, Santa Ana, CA 92701.
Directions and more information: www.occca.org

The 15 member Los Angeles Assemblage Group addresses private and public matters in this alternative art form—an art form of reference, psychological association and narration.

LAAG is a multicultural, multiethnic group. They come from diverse disciplines such as collage, painting, photography, construction, printmaking, and ceramics.

Members:
Leslie Caldera
Pat Cox
Dale Davis
Jari Havlena
Ursula M. Kammer-Fox
Eva Kolosvary-Stupler
Barbara Baker McIntyre
Lois Ramirez
Annemarie Rawlinson
Joseph Sims
Diane Stovall
Mauricio Vallejo
Joan Vaupen
Sandy Brown Wyeth
Mel Andrews

Orange County Center For Contemporary Art
117 N Sycamore. Santa Ana, CA 92701 www.occca.org
714 667 1517 • Th-Fri 12-5pm, Fri-Sat 12-9
1st Sat receptions: 7-10pm • First Friday Films: 8pm

OCCCA is located
at the corner of 2nd and Sycamore in the Santa Ana Artists Village.
There is no entrance fee. Please see the web site for more
information, www.occca.org , or call the gallery during regular operating hours.

An all-media, national juried exhibition
September 1 to September 29, 2007;

Reception: Saturday, September 1, 6:30 – 10 p.m., free and open to the public

Gallery Hours: Thurs & Sun: 11 am to 5 p.m., Fri & Sat: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Contact: Laura Hines-Jurgens: 310-544-2424,
31206 Marne Drive Palos Verdes, CA 90275-5618, LHJFineArts@aol.com

“GLOBAL WARMING: Artists Speak”, is an all media national juried exhibition inviting eco-artists and thinkers to submit work inspired by their concerned interest in climate change. Jurors Laura Hines- Jurgens, (MFA, Drawing & Painting); Rob Mintz , (MFA Cinema); Linda Southwell, (MFA, Sculpture) chose entries emphasizing the multiple ongoing aspects of Global Warming, specific or intuitive, political, ethical, technological, or social.

OCCCA’s call for entries on Global Warming garnered submissions from inside and outside the U.S. continental borders.
Entry themes include habitat stress, environmental destruction and the strain wars and overpopulation place on our planet.

September Events:

First Friday Films: September 7th, 8pm FREE: Who Killed the Electric Car?

EMC: Experimental Music Concerts: @ OCCCA, FREE
www.theeclecticcompany.com

Sat Sept 15: doors 8pm
* Dancing Lethargic
* Manhattan Murder Mystery
* Clark 8

Sat Sept 29: doors 8pm
* Per Capita
* Kickfire
* Ex-Paladin

Orange County Center For Contemporary Art
117 N Sycamore. Santa Ana, CA 92701 www.occca.org
714 667 1517 • Th-Fri 12-5pm, Fri-Sat 12-9
1st Sat receptions: 7-10pm • First Friday Films: 8pm

OCCCA is located at the corner of 2nd and Sycamore in the Santa Ana Artists Village.
There is no entrance fee. Please see the web site for more
information, www.occca.org , or call the gallery during regular operating hours.

The Road Less Traveled Store is hosting the Book Signing party for local author Patrick Mitchell for the release of his book: THE SANTA ANA RIVER GUIDE. Mitchell, who is Senior Naturalist for Santa Ana’s Parks & Recreation Department has written an extensive guide to “Southern California’s largest and most important river systems”, covering topics such as: hiking trips, historical sites, wilderness areas, parks, & general information on the 3000 square mile watershed.

The Road Less Traveled will be providing hors d’oeuvres & organic wines for the event, which is open to the public. For more information, please call The Road Less Traveled Store at:

714.836.8727
roadlesstraveledstore.com
Thursday, DECEMBER 7th, 2006
5:30-7PM