I thought as we head to the festival it would make sense to have a little information about the people who are putting it together. Aside from the fact that we’re dedicated to beavers (and a little insane?) what else is there to know about us? Allow me to introduce the cast of characters and come meet us Saturday in person.

I assume you know me, Heidi Perryman, president and founder of Worth A Dam. I started watching the beavers last summer, wrote some articles about them for the Gazette, and put videos of them on Youtube. When the beaver subcommittee was formed I was invited to be a member. I started thinking about the group when I was still on the subcommittee and there were discussions about watershed grants and available monies only open to non-profits. I talked with Igor Skaredoff of Friends of Alhambra Creek and he explained to me how he uses the existing non-profit Muir Land Trust as a receiving organization, they do the paperwork and have the legal status and take a small book-keeping fee, and Igor just gets to focus on the creek.

After some initial false starts I connected with Bill and Helen Feil of Land for Urban wildlife. Bill is also the president of the “Friends of Pleasant Hill Creeks” and he invited me one night to give a presentation on the Martinez Beavers. Bill is an enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and generous fellow and he agreed to have LUW be the receiving organization for Worth A Dam. We had a few meetings at my house and one at the bank to take care of the paperwork (somewhere in all the confusion I was drafted secretary of Land for Urban Wildlife but I didn’t mind.)

With clearer ideas about how this would work I began to think about putting together the team. Cheryl Reynolds had been watching and filming the beavers with me for several months, and I knew she was an avid birder, prior vet tech and former volunteer for the Lindsay Museum. Not a Martinez resident, she was nevertheless committed to our beavers and made the trek in the wee hours to see them. She agreed to be VP of wildlife. Cheryl worked evenings as a bartender and waitress for Left Bank, and she convinced our first web volunteer to come on board. Bruce set up the original blog back in January, and helped us get words and pictures on the web.

Cheryl was fearless at snapping the right picture or getting the right information, but she said she wasn’t much for writing things down or making persuasive speeches. For that I needed to ask Linda Meza aboard. The idea of co-VPs came to me at 3:30 in the morning again, and made me very happy, as I was struggling to decide which one area was more important, and happy to give them equal weight. Linda’s interest in the beavers had been more recent but she was a solid new-believer. She came to subcommittee meetings and was often at the dam site. At the time, Linda was in a marketing job in San Ramon, and I saw she was bold enough for the both of us. She agreed to be VP of public relations and her unfolding story is still being written.

The obvious choice for treasurer was the very respectable Donna Mahoney, who I remember speaking about feeding the deer at her Orinda home from the November 7th meeting. Donna had the great combination of compassion and business experience, and I noticed her words held weight with the Council. She’s VP of Title Financial Company and had many insights into setting up contracts and getting things done. Donna approached me early in the subcommittee meetings, when I had made a beaver brochure, and asked me if I wanted help printing them. She donated funds and made up a couple hundred.

Around this time, the newly forming Worth A Dam came into some bumpy road and we lost our Bruce and the webpage. Donna suggested we ask her friend Michael Cronin, who had designed a website for her in the past. I knew Michael on sight because he had approached me after a subcommittee meeting and thanked me for the work I had done. Michael became our new web guru and took us from the “typical-looking” blog to the unique webpage we have now.

Early on Bruce had the foresignt to register both martinezbeavers.org and martinezbeavers.com, and now that we were an official nonprofit I cajoled Michael to make the switch. It involved backing up all the information and reloading it, and meant the sight had to be down for 8 hours. I was in New Orleans at the time, but it went off without a hitch. We were www.martinezbeavers.org, associated with Land for Urban Wildlife, and the rest is history!

After a couple of Worth A Dam meetings I began to get anxious that we were having too many ideas that were getting forgotten, and we decided to add a secretary. Catherine Larson agreed to take on the role and this will be helpful. Kit is one of those very rare things: a beaver convert. She began asking me about them last year, initially concerned about downtown flooding. The more we talked and the more she saw of them, the better she started to feel. Now she is a firm supporter and the secretary of Worth A Dam.

And yes, I did worry that our executive was too female. We are always looking for new ideas. If you’d like to be included in upcoming Worth A Dam meetings, send me an email at mtzbeavers@gmail.com. For right now we’re the right team for the job, and I couldn’t be happier. Come Saturday and see how the team does in action!

In case you missed our sudden flurry of activity, check out this report from Dave Padilla or this report from CBS 5 or this from SF Gate. How about today’s KGO report? Our media Princess Linda Meza has been working non-stop spreading the good news and councilman Mark Ross has helped funnel interest our way. This morning a little bird told us that abc is looking to film our four newbies Saturday, the CC times called to check in on the event, and when we stopped at Amtrak to ask for help spreading the word, the gruff conductor smiled under his mustache and barked, “eh, we were warned about You!”

Yours truly designed the flyer, our treasurer Donna Mahoney printed that flyer, Financial title donated the Paper for the Flyer, and we had great help from Wild Birds distributing it to every customer for the past two weeks.

Off to cut out tail shapes for Saturday’s contest…

(200 tail shapes later…)

This morning we can add the gazette and the CC times to our media friends, as well as KTVU.

Andrew Mason is a local musician that is passionate about music that makes a difference. His bio says he has been influenced by musicians like Woody Guthry and Bob Dylan, and the connection is easy to see. This is a young man who uses his art to express concern for what he cares about, check out his song of our well known Alhambra Way. Mason has been seen performing around the Bay Area and beyond. He’s a familiar performer at the Hotel Utah in SF, and Freight and Salvage in Berkeley.

Enter the Martinez Beavers: Andy was inspired to follow the story back when they were up for execution. His familiar “don’t kill them beavers” appeared on CBS and others stations, and even made it into the recent Fox news clip. His voice was one of those that made people stop and think there were things here worth keeping.

One of the amazing things about that dynamic period of time is that people took dramatic steps independently to advocate for these beavers. There was no Worth A Dam and no webpage to organize anyone, people just acted on their own behalf. At the time I said it was like a “beehive” but I think now it was more like a “Beaver Colony”. No one was in charge, everyone did the work they were suited to, and it all came together without much planning or oversight. I’m grateful everyday for the people involved in that movement that I will never see or meet again. And I’m grateful for those that stuck around and became my friends.

I’m betting Andy will be in the second group. His CD, “Songs from Town”, is available now from Itunes. Why not check out his webpage or become a friend on his Myspace so we make him feel welcome!

If you aren’t familiar with Saturday’s music providers, you are in for a pleasant surprise. Long time residents whose original music reflects our unique town but whose broad appeal has been heard and appreciated far and wide. Check out this local tune by artist Lynn Quinones, bemoaning the absence of Willow trees on Willow Pass Road. I know 8 beavers that would immediately understand the loss.

I contacted Lynn last month to ask the band aboard and she was excited about the project. She expressed herself to be a beaver supporter, but said she wasn’t sure where other band members fell on the issue. No matter, I’m sure that after a few hours passed among our beaver-loving congregation they will be reminded of the small town community spirit about which they sing.

Our opening act, Andy Mason, hails from Martinez as well. Don’t be deceived by his sophisiticated and glossy website; this is a small town troubador with a big city talent. Tomorrow I’ll tell you more about him.

Phil Price, who does the excellent bay area bird blog, was kind enough to do a generous piece on the beaver festival this morning. (Okay, he’s not actually a stranger, since he’s sent benevolent readers our way before and we have been in contact, but I don’t think we’ve ever actually met.) He suggests coming to the event and staying for dinner, mentioning the beavers as your destination pointedly to the business owners. He recommends arriving by Amtrak and sitting to watch the beautiful scenery before being delivered right to the festival park. What a great idea! I agree whole-heartedly. Thanks Phil, and if you make it out here we’ll be sure to point out all our new feathered residents at the dam, including the osprey on the hills whose loud chirp you can hear from the waters edge.

Last night we put together the final touches of display at the event, and I thought i’d give you the preview.

Expect to see information about creeks, animals, birds, and of course beavers as well as a prominent native american display. You can even pick up tickets for that night to Sacajawea at the booth, and still have plenty of time to see the beavers come out. Our two musical centerpieces include Andrew Mason, the singer who will be forever membered for singing “don’t kill them beavers” all over the news, and later the Alhambra Valley Band will entertain us with much deserved local bluegrass.

When I mentioned the design your own tail contest to a family at the farmer’s market, their little girl’s eyes widened with ambition. “Can people start NOW?” She wanted to know, full of ideas. Speaking of starting now, you might be thinking bout what you’d like to say to the mayor about the Martinez Beavers and get ready for your moment on the historic video letter. There are numerous beaver-related prizes and some fancy new raffle tickets that could bring good luck your way.

It should be a dam good time!

The market today was a flurry of beaver friends and questions. Several important contacts were made or renewed, one of which was our two designers of the successful t shirt offered art in the park last year.

Remember? Well they raised 200 dollars from the sale of these shirts and donated the profits to Worth A Dam. They gave me the check the night of the April meeting. I thought I sent them a donation letter for their records, but they never received it. I was full of apologies and asked them to write it down again today, which they did on a very important card that I saved. Except I lost it.

Allow me to explain:

After they left we were visited by a member of the Martinez Arts Association and talked about Worth A Dam coming to the Art in the Park. She was a great fan of the beavers and felt they would find a space for us.  She asked about the tshirt and wondered if it was still available. She wanted my contact information and I gave her the very important postcard to write hers on. Then a stroller of three lovely triplets appeared in front of the Farmer’s Market and she wandered off in search of a camera.

Sadly the addresses did not return.

I’m asking for the help of our readers to find or alert these two very remarkable beaver supporters and get them to contact me at mtzbeavers@gmail.com so I can make sure the IRS gives them credit for their generous donation.

Your help, as always, is appreciated.

About 100 miles west of London they are celebrating their first new kits in four centuries. Beavers were hunted to extinction in England as early as the 16th century. The animals were reintroduced - not by conservationists - but by property developers! This is the first time these beaver pioneers have produced a litter. Twelve new kits now grace the english soil, and their arrival is stirring up alot of interest.

An environmental-minded property developer introduced three pairs in 2005 to Flagham Fen Lake, and has been keeping an eye on their progress. He feels strongly that beavers are an asset to the area and the habitat. His luxurious eco-estates have been pursued by the deep pockets of Brad Pitt and others. For a lovely breath of fresh read the articles and think about how nice it is to hear property developers talk about endangered species, wetlands “engineers” and kits learning to hold their breath.

I especially like the emphasis on beavers as being good for the environment and pocketbook. That’s news we can use.

Last Wednesday Worth A Dam made a guest appearance at Morello Park Elementary to give a beaver assembly to nearly 200 students.  The goal was to teach the children about the “Incredibly Adapting Beaver” and give them some insight about their behavior.  There were three groups, K-1, 2-3 and 4-5 grades respectively.  They sat “crisscross applesauce” on the floor in the assembly room and while we talked about beavers and looked at pictures.  Hopefully the slideshow will be available on the web page soon, since I worked hard to make it connect beaver behavior to children’s lives and experiences.

Lots of the children had been down to see the dam, and a few had seen the beavers.  Most knew what they ate, and where they lived, all appreciated the chance to see more about them.  I was surprised that not a single child volunteered the name for what a baby beaver is called.  No person in Martinez should be at a loss for that answer!

There was a beaver activity that got a little zoo-like with the younger group (build your own colony) and I couldn’t help but think about Igor and Shirley Skaredoff who had come to speak about creek the week before.  Were you as tired as I was after that experience?  I felt like I could sleep for a week, and my voice still sounds crackly.  It was a great opportunity, though, to see eyes light up with beaver delights.

Moments that will stay with me include the wide-eyed child that looked at the beaver pelt loaned to us by the Lindsay museum and asked grimly “How’d you get that off?”  More cheerful was the little girl with the braid who, when everyone was putting together their beaver colonies, came to me and said proudly, “I’m a river otter!”  Encouraging was the serious boy who examined the beaver skull closely and asked why their teeth were orange.  He stayed long after the others left and when someone commented “you must like science a lot” he shook his head.  “No, but I like beavers”.  There was the enjoyable moment when administrator Priscilla Robinson, summer school principal and science teacher at MJHS, asked about an article way back in the fall of 2007 which was written about her class’s trip to the beaver dam.  She glanced thru the scrapbook and mentioned it wasn’t there.  I opened to page four and showed it proudly. I remember that article because I took it as an early indication that beaver support was wider than just me. My favorite image of the day was our wildlife photographer, Cheryl Reynolds, walking around snapping pictures with her camera in one hand, and a borrowed beaver skull in the other.  Alas poor Yorick—and vogue combined.

There is an article in today’s Contra Costa Times (page A3) summarizing last Wednesday’s city council meeting along with Phil Vince’s introduction to Martinez’ own special brand of politics. What the story calls routine in terms of a vote to de-silt/scrape the area adjacent to the Amtrak station may yet turn out to be business as usual - or - routine.

Up to now the city has routinely buried and or disavowed knowledge pertaining to the plausibility of successful coexistence, aka the beaver brouhaha. The fact that our new city manager recognizes policy issues pertaining to environmental stewardship will not merely fade away is refreshing.

The truth about this proposed scraping is it will leave a scar on the area for years to come. The two proposed compromises, in addition to salvaging some of the beaver’s feeding area, helps offset that loss in aesthetics. But aside from being just plain ugly the message this project sent wasn’t lost on any of us the night a passerby on the bridge gloated over it two weeks ago.

It is the hope of all of us at Worth A Dam that in the future these types of discussions do become routine, that environmental stewardship will be routinely factored into all public policies. After all isn’t the lack of this consideration at the crux of the whole global warming mess?

Now I can see this is a series that’s going to write itself for months to come. For our latest demonstration of beaver transformative powers, let’s give a huge congratulations and round of applause to our own Linda Meza, Worth A Dam VP of public relations 2008-2009. In addition to stopping at the dam nearly every evening, her advocacy to our beavers took the form of meetings with city staff, letters to the editor, and the like. Along the way she was invited to do a regular column for the Gazette, which will be appearing soon. This represents the beginning realization of a lifelong ambition for Linda. Somewhere in this process she responded to Rick Parker’s complaint about not having a fourth of July Parade, and was inspired to take the task on herself.

Now Linda is heading the campaign to set up a parade for next year. She is hard at work meeting with organizers and pursuing corporate funding. Her own son and daughter are in the Navy. Organizing this patriotic event is one of the ways she feels she can show support for their efforts. No one would argue that our local military families deserve gratitude and support. Everyone agrees with the need for a fourth of July parade, but who has the energy to make it happen? Linda does. And you can help.

Beavers change things: it’s what they do. People’s lives are a part of the habitat beavers transform. In speaking up for the beavers we hear our own voices more clearly than ever before.  We learn what’s crucial, and what’s merely irritating.  We are driven to sort through our lives and discard conventions and committments that have no meaning for us.  We take risks and we do what we love.

“Find something outside yourself that is yourself. Then devote yourself to it with all your heart”

I once thought that we were lucky if life gave us even a single passion; something worth serving, something to organize our generosity.  I’m learning now that if we embrace that gift, new doors and bridges open all around us, leading to more possibilities and pathways. What seems like a single thread is actually a vibrant tapestry. When we allow ourselves to care deeply for something and work tirelessly to serve our cause, we will find unexpected friends and fortunes along the way.

Please visit Linda’s site and help her launch this parade as spectacularly and quickly as possible, (so she has lots of free time leftover to help the beavers).