By WESLIE STRATTON
Moapa Valley Progress
The regional Friends of Gold Butte organization celebrated the grand opening of a new office located at 12 W. Mesquite Blvd, Unit 106 in Mesquite on Thursday, September 13. Festivities included a ribbon cutting and refreshments as supporters of the organization viewed the facility.
According to Friends of Gold Butte Community Outreach Manager Justin van Wijk, the organization has been in Mesquite since 2003 and does most of its work in the outdoors. He said that the presence of a physical office provides a better opportunity for community members to get involved.
“(The office is) a quasi-visitor center for people to learn about Gold Butte and it helps attract volunteers,” van Wijk said.
He was pleased with the overall attendance of the event.
“There was a better turnout than expected,” he said regarding the overflowing office space at its grand opening.
The mission of Friends of Gold Butte is to promote the responsible enjoyment of the Gold Butte National Monument through education, stewardship, advocacy and preservation of natural and cultural resources.
According to organization’s website, Friends of Gold Butte strives to create education and outdoor recreation programs that support the use of Gold Butte. Van Wijk said that having the physical office will help facilitate this goal.
“It’s a place for people to come in and learn,” he said. “We can fit about 20 people in at a time.”
Van Wijk said that the organization plans to host many educational activities at the office that is open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Van Wijk said that the public is welcome to visit the office. “Come and stop in anytime,” he said. “We’ll send (visitors) off on a wonderful adventure.”
Upcoming events and additional information on the organization can be found at www.friendsofgoldbutte.org.
