The Visitor Center is a good example of what -=isn't=- happening. Someone brings it up and it sounds like a bolt from Zeus that is about to ZOT and make it happen next month. This sets off everyone (like me) and wonders how to stop such an abomination.
If there has been a committee working on this for years, where are their reports? Where are the reports of any of the committees, ad-hoc or otherwise? If the Friends want some cred for all their projects, it would be good to have a place on their web site where a blog-type update happens for -=all=- of their interests. That is the way to improve communication. If these blogs also allow input from others, that is a good way for the committees to get info from these others (members or not) about what they are doing or attempting. If there were such a venue, a lot of what happens here on the NGDF would make a lot more sense. Maybe things get predigested or tossed about here and the good ideas get added to the blog - whatever, but there is a place for current info on the project status and a chance to comment on it or contact someone about it for more information.
I understand the projects that have delicate negotiations going on, or other needs for discretion, but they too can be sketched out on a committee level forum and perhaps a key player outside the committee finds where they can assist the project and contact someone backchannel about it. There is a communication channel available is my point, even if it needs to be kept low key.
The bigger issue is the crying need for a play book that everyone can read (Long Range Plan and Preserevation Standards). This thing about certain views being reserved and the rest tossed is bogus. People (like me) take scads of photos in every direction, and I just don't want to "Photoshop out" a McDonalds like happens in Durango. I am also not too thrilled about the building put up in Antonito. It may be serviceable, but it looks like hell. If that is what the 'can-do attitude' produces, I'd just as soon pass on it.
