ALEC, Scottsdale, & Salt River Feral Horses
Here's the latest dispatch.
Good evening,
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Quick Thoughts of the Week
I hope you had a great week. Thanks for subscribing and reading!
It’s been another busy week at IWF. Read the latest at our Center for Energy and Conservation and subscribe to our newsletter Clearing the Air.
Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, nominated by President Ronald Reagan, has passed away. May she RIP.
The House of Representatives expelled embattled New York Congressman George Santos from the chamber today.
3,000 car dealers — including Virginia-based Sheehy Auto Stores - wrote a letter to President Biden against his electric vehicle mandate.
Next week: I’ll be briefing Members of Congress and their staff on natural asset companies and attending the 20th annual Congressional Sportsman Foundation (CSF) National Sportsman-Legislator Summit in Delaware.
And on December 12th, I’m giving a keynote address in Albuquerque, NM. If you’re free around lunchtime, grab a ticket to attend.
That’s a wrap for this week. Catch you next week!
Salty and Serious in Scottsdale
I’ve just returned from a trip to the annual ALEC States and Nation summit in Scottsdale, Arizona. While in the Phoenix suburb, I packed in a lot of activities in my short three days there.
Getting Down to Business
Most importantly, I delivered a presentation on natural asset companies (NACs) on behalf of CFACT, where I serve in several capacities, during the EEA Task Force. I’m honored to bring this issue out there more, after first learning about it from American Stewards of Liberty’s Margaret Byfield.
I met with longtime friends and made plenty of new ones too.
A Dreamy Location
The summit took place in the Kierland district of Scottsdale, Arizona, at The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa. It’s a beautifully-appointed hotel viewing the McDowell Mountains—some 36,000 acres (equivalent to the size of Bryce Canyon National Park) now off-limits to development.
We even were entertained by the resident Scottish bagpipe player.
Scottsdale gets its name from one of its famous early residents, U.S. Army Chaplain Winfield Scott, who settled in the Salt River Valley. Known as The West’s Most Western Town, Scottsdale - including its Old Town District - is home to over 242,000 people and art galleries, museums, and countless restaurants. (It’s also stereotyped as a destination for bachelorette parties and world-class golfing.) One of the more famous spots is Frank Lloyd Wright’s Tailesin West- a UNESCO World Heritage site.
I first visited Scottsdale, albeit briefly, in May 2022 after filming our Arizona-themed Conservation Nation episode. This go-around, I got to explore more things and dined at the Old Town Tortilla Factory. (The mahi mahi fish tacos are a must.) And I returned to the most famous sign in town to snap a picture and walked 5th Avenue.
Pre-conference, I filmed a new episode of my soon-to-be-relaunched video series, Outsiders on the Inside, featuring Arizona Representative Quang Nguyen (R-Prescott) and several representatives from Arizona Game & Fish Department.
Without divulging our exact location, we attempted to fish the Salt River but had no luck. The trout weren’t cooperating due to windy conditions. But the wildlife managed to impress. I saw but didn’t snap footage of a bobcat and crop of quail. They were too quick for me. But I did capture plenty of pictures and video of the area’s resident feral horses.
Post-conference, I dined with Phoenix Independent Women’s Network chapter at the nearby Maggiano’s where we dined on delicious Italian food and the conversation flowed like wine.
Until next time, Arizona!
ICYMI
Articles/commentary/media appearances from the past week.
MEDIA MENTIONS
I recently spoke to the hosts of The Gun Experiment about my work in the firearms industry and conservation space.
ARTICLES/BLOGS
District of Conservation
Catch up on District of Conservation episodes below.
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—Gabriella