Spring 2007 - Yosemite Online

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AMERICA’S BEST IDEAA PARTNER STORYBY CHRISTOPHER E. STEINThe National Park Service has relied upon partnersto help achieve our mission since its founding in1916. Almost a century later, the story is the same.When my peers around the Service ask me, “What’s it liketo work at Yosemite?,” I inevitably invoke the word “partnership”explaining how Yosemite is “so much better”because of the great help of our partner friends. Last year,I had an experience that epitomizes the word “partner.”Please let me explain.Three years ago, Yosemite’s primary fund raising partner,the Yosemite Fund, chose to fund a national parkphotography exhibit called America’s Best Idea for theYosemite Museum gallery. This exhibit, containing spectacularlandscape photographs of the 58 national parkstaken by photographer Stan Jorstad, is very popular withvisitors. One visitor comment about the exhibit that Iparticularly like is, “Plan to travel if you come in here.”Two years ago, after receiving numerous visitorrequests of, “How can I buy some of these photographs?,”we thought it a wise idea to turn the exhibit into a reasonablypriced book accessible to most Yosemite visitors.To produce a book, we again turned to our partners.After the Yosemite Association agreed that the bookwould be a good title to sell, we turned to another oneof Yosemite’s very good partners, American ParkNetwork, to turn an idea into a reality. American ParkNetwork is a private, for-profit company that producesguides to many national parks around the System. ToPartnerships made possible the transformation of the America’sBest Idea exhibit into a book.remind you, when you enter Yosemite National Park,the green book called Yosemite Guide you receive isproduced by American Park Network.American Park Network agreed to find a sponsor forthe book. Nature Valley Granola Bars generously signedon. American Park Network published the book, also tobe titled America’s Best Idea, and donated all 5,000 copiesof the book to the Yosemite Association.On October 7, 2006 the America’s Best Idea exhibitre-opened in the Yosemite Museum gallery for a thirdyear. On that day, photographer Stan Jorstad was on handfor a book signing. One hundred and fifty copies of thenew America’s Best Idea book sold that day. All profitsfrom the sale of the book support the interpretationand education programs at Yosemite National Park.The exhibit and book called America’s Best Idea areindeed a partner story. From the Yosemite Fund, to theYosemite Association, photographer Stan Jorstad, TheMountain Institute (research), American Park Network,Nature Valley Granola Bars, and the National ParkService, the exhibit and book are a true collaborativeeffort. We thank our good partners for supporting theNational Park Service mission. We are “so much better”because of YOU! Thank you.Stan Jorstad captures the essence of our national parks in hisphotographs.CHRIS STEINChris Stein is Yosemite National Park’s Chief ofInterpretation and Education.14 YOSEMITE ASSOCIATION, SPRING 2007
PARK PROFILEDAN JENSENLAUREL REMATOREName: Dan JensenJob Title: Chief OperatingOfficer, DNC Parks and Resorts at YosemiteHometown: Visalia, CaliforniaEducation: BA Economics from UC Riverside and anMBA from UCLATotal number of years working in Yosemite: Fourteenyears, from 1979 through 1992. Started in currentposition in December 2006.What first brought you to Yosemite? I came on a daytrip/double-date (do people double-date anymore?) tosee Yosemite in 1965 with my high school sweetheartand now wife, Suzanne.What was your first job in Yosemite? Controller,Secretary Treasurer. I was with Price Waterhouse andMCA (the holder of the concession contract in Yosemitethrough Yosemite Park & Curry Co.) was one of myclients. When offered the job here, we couldn’t pack fastenough to move from LA.What were you doing while you were gone from park?We moved from Yosemite to Orlando in 1992 with ourtwo children, Ben and Amy, who were eleven and eightat the time. In Orlando, I was initially the Executive VPof Universal Studios Florida and then Executive VP ofResort Expansion when we built a second theme park,night-time entertainment complex, and hotels. From2001 to 2004 I was Executive VP and Chief OperatingOfficer of Universal Studios, Japan, located in Osaka.That was a great experience and it provided wonderfulmemories and learning. From 2004 until my return toYosemite, I was an investor in and general businessconsultant for a variety of activities, including businessventures in Orlando and Singapore.What do you enjoy most about your job? Every day isdifferent and I really enjoy the fun of being in the guestservice business. The place and the people are great andI can’t get enough of either.What is your favorite place in Yosemite? TuolumneMeadows. We began visiting each summer when wearrived and have had great experiences with friends andfamily there. We used it as a base for day hikes, climbs,fishing, and walks to the High Sierra Camps.What is your favorite Yosemite book? My Heart andHome, by Marian Woessner. It provides a great history ofthe people who couldn’t get Yosemite out of their systems.One of my favorite comments about life in Yosemite camefrom Rusty Rust, the long-time postmaster and unofficialmayor. He considered that living in Yosemite made him a“middle-class millionaire.” I agree.What is your favorite non-Yosemite book? Catcherin the Rye. I first read this book as a sophomore in highschool and I’ve read it several times since. Somehow, itsimply resonates with me.Who is your favorite historical figure? Harry Truman—he called them as he saw them and didn’t play the politics.Where do you like to go for a vacation? Suzanne andI have had the good fortune to see lots of great places inthe world, living in California, Florida, South Africa, andJapan. Anything new is of interest. For a relaxing “read abook” vacation, we prefer the beach.What do you think YA’s most important role is?Education about the park and outreach to those whomight not otherwise be exposed to Yosemite and theoutdoors.What do you hope to do in your life that you haven’tdone yet? See more of Yosemite, including Mt. Dana andClouds Rest, and go to the top of Mt. Whitney.If you could invite three people to dinner, who wouldyou invite and where would you go to eat? This questionhas too many options and boggles my mind. I couldgo from family to famous and be happy with the result.I’d go to the Curry Pizza Deck.What else do you want to tell our readers? I considermyself very fortunate to be in a position where peopleare interested in asking me these questions.YOSEMITE ASSOCIATION, SPRING 200715
Page 2: Cover: A moonbowat the LowerYosemit
Page 5 and 6: against brilliant star fields. The
Page 7 and 8: The Glacier Point lookout under con
Page 9 and 10: The Yosemite Museum againstthe Vall
Page 11 and 12: GRAND OPENING OF THE YOSEMITE VALLE
Page 13: “Cathedral Snow” by Stephen Lym
Page 17 and 18: VIRGINIA FERGUSONJuly 17, 1940 - Ja
Page 19 and 20: PARK NEWSMerced River Plan Public S
Page 21 and 22: Chiura Obata: Art of Yosemite 1927-
Page 23 and 24: ASSOCIATION DATESLegend:OA = Outdoo
Page 25 and 26: POSTERSYosemite Multi-Image Landsca
Page 27 and 28: SALEThe Joy of Yosemite—Selected
Page 29 and 30: Phillip Rocha, Therese & F. Rodrigu
Page 31 and 32: Robin Moores, Karl F. Munz, Robert

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