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Home My WebLink AboutEl Correo_Vol1_No1 1 El Correo Newsletter of A non-profit 501(c)3 Association Volume I, Issue 1: January 2010 In this issue: • Association hires its first executive director – Page 2 • 2009 Annual Meeting Update – Page 2 • Executive Director goes on Media Tour across El Camino – Pa ge 3 • What is it like to be an up-and-coming Trail Association? The Tale of El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail Association – Page 4 • Milam County announced El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail rededication at Apache Pass Prayer Circle – Page 5 • Upcoming Events – Page 5 • List of Board Members and Associate Members – Page 6 • Submittal Information – Page 6 2 Association hires its first Executive Director El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail Association hired its first executive director in the autumn of 2009. On September 1st, Steven Gonzales officially became executive director of the association. Steven has been working on researc h about El Camino Real de los Tejas since the beginning of 2007 and has worked for the association as a regular employee since January 2009. A native of Texas, Steven obtained his bachelors degree in Cultural Geography with a minor in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Texas at Austin in 2003. His studies focused on Spanish missions and presidios on the Northern Frontier of New Spain. He worked closely with professors Mariah Wade, William Doolittle, and Richard Flores during his studies. Steven later earned a Masters degree in Geography from Texas State University at San Marcos. His research focused on case studies of nationa l scenic and historic trails from across the country and measures they took to get their trails on the ground. His research was supervised by Jim Kimmel, director of the Research Cente r for River Recreation and Tourism (formerly the Center for Nature and Heritage Tourism), which promotes stewardship through appropriate recreation and tourism. Steven looks forward to the opportunity to serve the association and communities along the trail, and believes that “we can have a greater appreciation for the places we live in by understanding the cultural and natural history of the area.” Steven Gonzales can be reached at (512) 850-9073 or stevenegonzales@msn.com Annual Meeting Held in Castroville, Texas On October 16, 2009, the association held its annual meeting in Castroville, Texas at the Landmark Inn. Board members, association members, researchers, historic enthusiasts, and National Park Service and Texas Historical Commission members came together at the historic inn on the banks of the beautiful Medina River. Board business took place in the morning, which included reports from the Nominating and Chapter committees. Dan Utley was appointed as the nine teenth member of El Camino’s board. The afternoon consisted of the membership meeting. The meeting included presentations from Upstream Communications and RSD Designs on the redevelopme nt of the association website and logo; Jeff Williams and his GIS/Remote Sensing work on the trail; and Francis Galan’s presentation on El Camino as a military highway. Overall, the meeting was a success and the association came away with a list of goals to strive for in the coming year. These include the formation of a Strategic Planning and Vision Committee to guide the association on its way; a Bylaws Committee to revise the association’s bylaws to better suit us; and a Membership Committee to help garner membership and corporate sponsorship, so that our association has the necessary means to continue its growth. Without a doubt, 2010 is going to be a year of phenomenal development for our association and the trail! 3 Executive Director goes on Media Events Tour across the Trail In November and December 2009, Steven Gonzales conducted a media events tour across the trail. The purpose of the tour on El Camino was to inform areas along the trail about the association and how it can help local communities to preserve and interpret El Camino Real in their area, including how they can market it for herita ge tourism. The tour began in Goliad, Texas at Presidio la Bahía on November 10th. In the following weeks Steven traveled to Carrizo Springs, Eagle Pass, Cameron, Nacogdoches, San Augustine, Many, and Natchitoches. Steven even traveled into Guerrero, Coahuila with board member John Stockley to visit the ruins of the San Juan Bautista missions and the Presidio del Río Grande. Guerrero is the site of the original crossing to found missions in east Texas. All along the trail, people and communities were exc ited to hear about the advancements of the association and the developments occurring within the National Park Service toward the finalization of the comprehensive management plan for the trail. It gives people pleasure to know that this irreplaceable resource that we all cherish is finally being recognized for the treasure it is. A news-clip of the media event in Nacogdoches, Texas that aired on KTRE television can be seen here: http://www.ktre.com/global/video/flash/popupplayer.asp?ClipID1=4373095&h1=El%20Camino%20Real&vt1=v&at1=News&d1=51900&LaunchPageAdTag=Search Results&activePane=info&rnd=150310 Media Event at Apache Pass, Texas. Left to right are Executive Director – Steven Gonzales, Board Member – Dr. Lucile Estell, and Apache Pass owner – Kit Worley. 4 5 Milam County announced El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail Rededication at Apache Pass Prayer Circle In February 2006 the Kit Worley family, owners of Apache Pass River crossing, sponsored a formal Apache Indian Ceremony to rededicate the San Gabriel River crossing that dates back to the 1600s. Kit and his family are proud owners of the pass and have a park setup for camping, picnicking, and leisure. El Camino Real de los Tejas Nationa l Historic Trail Association will have part of its 2010 annual meeting at Apache Pass and we look forward to the Worley’s wonderful hospitality. Also, in February 2010 Milam County will announce its Milam County, Cities and Gause Community Map. It is an undertaking that board members Lucile Estell and Joy Graham have been working on for quite some time. In order to produce the map, Joy and Lucile had to consider how to market a county that steeps in early history. It is a county that contains sites of three missions, a presidio, and Apache Pass (the San Gabriel River Crossing). The map will be distributed across the state to market history, places of interest, buildings, eateries, accommodations, and events to attend. Milam County was once one-sixth the size of Texas and to this day it remains filled with early Texas history. Upcoming Events • February 20-26, 2010: Hike the Hill in Washington, DC • April 30, 2010: Semi-Annual Meeting in Goliad, Texas • May 12-14, 2010: Partnership for National Trails System Works hop in San Antonio, Texas • July 23, 2010: Quarterly Meeting in Nacogdoches, Texas • October 21-22, 2010: Annual Meeting in Rockdale, Texas Please check our website and future newsletters for specific locations and times. Apache Prayer Ceremony at Apache Pass. Photo by: Lucile Estell 6 List of Board Members and Associate Members • Sally Buchanan – San Antonio/Goliad Region • Linda Curtis-Sparks – East Texas/Caddo Region • Chief Rufus Davis, Vice-President – East Texas/Caddo Region • Frank de la Teja – At Large • Gary Dunnam – San Antonio/Goliad Region • Lucile Estell, Vice-President – Brazos Region • Joy Graham, Secretary – Brazos Region • Duke Lyons, Treasurer – East Texas/Caddo Region • Carl Mica – Brazos Region • John Oglesbee – East Texas/Caddo Region • Melissa Sanford – At Large • Andrew Sansom, President – At Large • Richard Santos – South Texas Region • Raymond Starr – San Antonio/Goliad Region • Mark Stine – Brazos Region • John Stockley – South Texas Region • Dan Utley – At Large • Ricardo Villarreal – South Texas • Kay Wesson – At Large • Mariah Wade – Associate Member • Jeff Williams – Associate Member Submittal Information Would you like to submit information about El Camino Real de los Tejas to us? If so, contact Steven Gonzales at (512) 850-9073 or stevenegonzales@msn.com. Submissions must be received by the 10th of the month and will appear on a space-available basis.