Invitation to join the Southern Arizona Climbers Coalition
1st Meeting: May 28th at 6:00PM
Martha Cooper Branch Library 1377 N. Catalina Ave.
You are cordially invited and encouraged to attend the meeting of the Southern Arizona Climber’s Coalition, as this advocacy group reestablishes itself as the locus of community information and activism in southern Arizona. The Southern Arizona Climber’s Coalition (SACC) was first established over a decade ago in response to increasing pressures on climbing resources around the Tucson area. An original climber’s group, known as the Catalina Climber’s Coalition (CCC), predated SACC, but lack of regular meetings and transitory membership caused it to lose momentum and become ineffectual. Fortunately, the 1990’s were not as fraught with access issues, nor inter-community problems, to require regular meetings, so the CCC went without any voice for a number of years. Likewise, the SACC has been virtually dormant for the past half dozen years or so, without any formal membership, or organized activities.
The present need for southern Arizona climber’s to regroup and form a cohesive community is twofold. Having a unified presence in dealing with access issues that will arise in the future is the primary reason to join SACC. By having a large membership with informed participants, climber’s can advocate for resources and rights on public lands. It is well established that land managers will listen to organized interest groups over an individual, and in the historical past, climber’s concerns have been diminished or outright ignored due to a lack of a unified voice. Another need for southern Arizona climber’s to establish an organization, is to air community issues that directly affect local crags. With literally hundreds of climbers in the Tucson area, it is time to unite our local climbing community.
Of course, the SACC will have numerous other ramifications in its scope as well. Climber clean-ups of public land, proactive stewardship projects with land managers, partner database, and free clinics are all directly attainable with proper organization through coalition members.
Speaking of organization, SACC will now have a custom website where members can find out about current issues, organize community events, locate partners, and introduce discussion topics for future meetings.
Please make time for this foundational meeting, and encourage your friends to attend. The more involved you are in your local climbing community, the more you will see what amazing offerings southern Arizona has for you!
For further information call: Scott Ayers (520) 795-2008