PROTECTORS OF TULE SPRINGS NEWS RELEASE
August 31, 2017
Former North Las Vegas City Councilwoman Anita Wood Joins Protectors of Tule Springs Board of Directors
LAS VEGAS – The Protectors of Tule Springs, a nonprofit organization that supports the Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument, has appointed Anita Wood to a position on their board of directors.
As a resident of North Las Vegas for almost 25 years, Wood brings decades of local work experience and deep community relationships to the board. She has been involved with the Protectors of Tule Springs since 2007, advocating for the monument to be created. Since passage of the legislation in 2014, she has supported the Mammoth Penny Push educational and fundraising campaign and helped to form the exchange agreement between the City of North Las Vegas, National Park Service and the Villages at Tule Springs, which will include development of the first trail within the monument.
“When I first got involved with the Protectors, I was passionate about protecting this land and preserving these important resources,” said Anita Wood. “Now that we have a national monument, I can help build a network of support for the important work that still lies ahead.”
The Protectors of Tule Springs board consists of President Jill DeStefano, Vice President Sandy Croteau and eight other directors who work together to build awareness, provide educational opportunities and raise funds to support the National Park Service. When a position on the board opened up, the existing members voted unanimously to invite Wood. Her focus will be on public school outreach in North Las Vegas to engage more principals, teachers, students and parents in learning about and protecting the national monument in their own back yards.
“We are really excited to welcome Anita to the Board of Directors,” said POTS president Jill DeStefano. “She has been a big supporter of our mission since the very beginning and was truly instrumental in helping us navigate the process to get this monument created. Having her assistance as we move forward will be a tremendous asset to our organization.”
Wood will be on hand for the next Protectors of Tule Springs membership meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 24, at 6 p.m. in the Sun City Aliante clubhouse at 7390 Aliante Parkway. Members of the public are invited to attend.
Speakers will include the new Superintendent of Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument Diane Keith and Girl Scout Tahoe Mack, who will share her Gold Award project, the “Monumental Mammoth;” a life-sized Columbian Mammoth sculpture featuring up-cycled metals collected from cleanup efforts in the monument.