[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 101 (Friday, July 24, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1431]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       SALUTE TO THE ``FALCONS''

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BOB SCHAFFER

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 24, 1998

  Mr. BOB SCHAFFER of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
the efforts of some very special constituents, the Friends of Arrowhead 
Lodge and Conservators of Nature Society (the ``FALCONS''). This group 
of dedicated volunteers worked to save an historic lodge and 
outbuildings and operated the facility as a successful visitors center 
on national forest land in the mountains of Colorado for several 
productive years.
  The Arrowhead Lodge, located along the Poudre Canyon in Larimer 
County, Colorado, has a long and distinguished history. Through the 
years, church services, 4-H meetings, pancake suppers, dinners, socials 
and parties echoed from the walls of the Arrowhead Lodge. The Forest 
Service bought the lodge, but planned to tear down the buildings due to 
budget constraints several years later. Only the hard work and grass 
roots efforts of Mrs. Elyse Bliss saved the buildings from destruction. 
She was instrumental in the designation of the Arrowhead Lodge of the 
National Register of Historic places and in founding the non-profit 
FALCONS to see that it continued to play an important role in the local 
community and the state's booming tourism industry.
  Mr. and Mrs. Bliss, in partnership with the Forest Service, operated 
the lodge for several years. They, along with the other dedicated 
volunteers, were always there to welcome weary travelers, curious 
tourists and local passers by with a friendly smile, hot coffee and a 
wealth of good information. Sadly, management decisions within the 
Forest Service forced the volunteers to abandon their efforts after 
years of successful operations.
  The loss of the FALCONS is a great loss to the local community and 
the traveling public. I thank Mr. and Mrs. Bliss for their hard work 
and dedication and I thank all of the FALCONS for their efforts as 
well. Their plight has motivated me to investigate how to avoid such 
troubling consequences in the future. I plan to investigate how to 
encourage and facilitate, rather than discourage, the efforts of 
volunteers like the FALCONS. Good volunteer work creates an atmosphere 
of warmth and friendliness on federal properties. It personalizes 
visitors' experiences and adds to the wealth and identity of our 
natural heritage. Moreover, volunteers could save the taxpayers 
millions of dollars each year. Mr. Speaker, I fully support volunteer 
activities on federal lands, and again thank the FALCONS for their 
significant and lasting contribution to the community and to the 
public. I wish them well and encourage them to explore other ways to 
continue their good work.

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