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Show History Association Manager Gets New Insight at Sessions BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK LaKay Quilter, who acknowledges she has "one of the most interesting jobs in the area" as business manager of the Bryce Canyon Natural History Association recently returned from a five-day seminar held in the Albright Training Center a Grand Canyon National Park. The seminar was designed to familiarize history association managers with the concept of working with the National Park Cooperating Associations. The NPSCA has as its primary function to aid in. the interpretation of the park to visitors and provide related visitor services of the National Park Service. Quilter said, "the classes were stimulating and we all learned a great deal." The Natural History Association at Bryce, one of 63 in the United States, ranks somewhere between 12th and 15th in size and volume of business. It will gross close to $250,000 this year said Quilter and all monies will be directed back into the association. The organization which is housed in the visitors center at the park supplies maps, information and pictorial and factual knowledge of the park and its environs. It operates a museum, sound and color slide show, provides posters for sale and brochures in foreign languages, and even serves as a message center for visitors. Quilter and one other employee are on full time status. During the heaviest part, of the tourist season, she is assisted by two and sometimes three others. Members of the board of directors of the history association come from 'all iover-Utah Current chairman Is Kent Wintch from Tropic. Other local people serving as board members are Patrick Nolan, Garfield County Attorney, Panguitch; John Yardley, Garfield ' LaK j County Justice of the Peace, Panguitch and Mayo Rich, owner of Bryce Pines Motel, Bryce. Out-of-area members are James Bowns, James Miller and Leslie Jones of Salt Lake City;. S.J Crawfqrd, George; Gloria Wurst andHale" Buchanan, Weber State College and Morris Buchanan, Cedar City. The Natural History Association is an autonomous unit which assists the park service in the dissemination of information. Operated by an unpaid board of directors, it endeavors to cooperate fully with the NPS and NPSCA, a fact which was borne out and emphasized at the recent NPSCA meet in Grand Canyon said Quilter. The first day's subject matter at the seminar dealt with cooperating associations and the law, the National Park Service, concessioners, and the public. The next day, the history association managers added to their knowledge of finances, personnel, operations and publications management. The following day, they learned the latest information in bookstore management purchasing, sales, inventory, and interpretive materials. Day four was taken up in field trips and team projects and the last day of the seminar was reserved for evaluations and team reports. At Bryce Canyon National Park, Ranger George Buckingham serves as liaison officer between the NPS and the history association. The history association aids the park service and park visitors by selling or distributing appropriate federal government, trade, and association published books, folders, maps, photographic slides, posters, and postcards. It sponsors or co-sponsors the publication of appropriate printed materials by developing, producing, selling, and distributing appropriate crafts and other theme-related objects au oi which dirtly or indirectly increase the understanding and appreciation of Bryce Canyon National Park in particular of NPS values and purposes in general. Other aids to the public are the acquisition of historical objects and other display materials, equipment or other items necessary to the education and visitor-service functions of the organization. The first history association was started at Yosemite National Park in California by Ansel F. Hall, a park ranger, In 1920. Its purpose was to develop a museum and visitor contact station in Yosemite Valley. An 104,000 public and philanthropic gift established the first museum and set In motion the work of coofrating associations that exist today. |