Annual Meeting Celebrates "Crow Canyon Community"
Presentations, Silent Auction, Tour, and Awards Dinner Are Highlights
Under azure blue skies and surrounded by autumn colors at their peak, members of the Crow Canyon Board of Trustees, Chairman's Council, Native American Advisory Group, and staff gathered to celebrate the "Crow Canyon community" at the Center's annual meeting, October 15–17. Committee meetings, presentations, and meals were carried out without a hitch—thanks to the efforts of Crow Canyon development department staff Melinda Burdette, Audrey Coleman, Alicia Holt, and Amy Skaggs, along with chef Jim Martin and the entire kitchen and campus services staff.
The three-day event kicked off Thursday with a full day of Board of Trustees committee meetings. At the end of the day, all attendees relaxed at a welcome reception, and then gathered for Crow Canyon President and CEO Ricky Lightfoot’s state of the institution address.
 The following day, the bidding was spirited during two silent auctions: a special auction with pottery pieces by the legendary Maria Martinez (donated by Sally Monk, see previous eNews article) and the annual Native American Advisory Group auction with a myriad of items donated by Native American Advisory Group, staff, and Chairman's Council members. Later that day, research and education staff members presented a Pueblo Farming Project update and a laboratory "show and tell." In the afternoon, staff members and Native American Advisory Group members conducted a mission symposium—"How Research, Education, and American Indian Activities Are Integrated at Crow Canyon." Then everyone enjoyed "A Day in the Life of Crow Canyon," a lively PowerPoint presentation narrated by board member Leslie Cohen and Chairman's Council member Carole Gardner. The presentation followed Crow Canyon staff members through their workday—and provided a few insights into their outside interests as well. That evening, keynote speaker Dr. Peter Nabokov, anthropologist and writer at UCLA, presented "Where the Lightning Strikes: The Lives of American Indian Sacred Places."
Annual meeting attendees started their morning on Saturday with a tour of the Goodman Point Unit of Hovenweep National Monument. In the afternoon, Native American Advisory Group member Herman Agoyo presented the film In The Spirit of Po'pay, a moving narrative of the unveiling of the statue of Po'pay at Ohkay Owingeh and the installation of the piece at the United States National Statuary Hall in Washington, D.C. (View a promotional short video for the film titled Po'pay, A True American Hero.) A presentation by Acting Director of Research and Education Scott Ortman followed —"Why Archaeologists Disagree About the Mesa Verde Migration." That evening, an appreciation and awards presentation wrapped up the meeting (see related story for award winners).
The Crow Canyon staff thanks all the board, Chairman’s Council, and Native American Advisory Group members who traveled from areas both far and near to join us for this annual event!
Photos—
Top of page: During the annual meeting mission symposium, Educator April Baisan explains how students learn to excavate in Crow Canyon's simulated dig sandboxes.
Right: At the Saturday-evening dinner, many staff members helped serve the meal and several attendees couldn't resist tucking dollars into the servers' garters. Pictured are Explorations Coordinator Sarah Payne and Laboratory Analysis Specialist Fumi Arakawa.
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