Farewell, 2018!

As another year draws to a close, we want to THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU for your support, your kind messages, your membership, your donations and your commitment to our mission.  As we face a future full of uncertainties, we are honored to have you on our side—on the right side—of what is best for our community and our country.

Environmental education and conservation are critical to our survival as a species, and to the future of our planet; a future we hope will be filled with beautiful butterflies, colorful birds, fascinating bugs, and so much more.  Please know that your participation in our project is multiplied many times over by the impact we make on every visitor, every school child, every person who discovers the National Butterfly Center and says, with awe, “I never knew…!”

The remarkable plants and wildlife that inhabit our little patch of paradise are worth preserving, simply because they are; not to mention the valuable purpose they serve. The living creatures and features found here sow seeds of stewardship, pollinate good ideas, ignite an interest in Science, and grow productive gardens of their own, throughout the nation and the world.

As we embark on 2019, remember we are your project, your little patch of paradise, and a reflection of your purpose, too.

With gratitude to you for Growing Connections,

Marianna, Max, Luciano, Stephanie, Nestor, Patti, Omar, Adriana and Marcelo

Checkpoint Carlos

The National Butterfly Center is proud to exhibit the work of weaver, Doerte Weber, whose 17’ tall ‘iron curtain’ currently bisects the Chrysalis Visitor’s Pavilion. This large-as-life tapestry, representative of the border wall, has arrived before the bulldozers, which are scheduled to show in February or early March.

Border Wall Update

Dr. Jeffrey Glassberg & Marianna Wright meeting on the levee with representatives of Border Patrol & the Office of Border Wall Management.

At this time, our lawsuit (filed Dec, 2017) against the federal government, is still awaiting some decision by the judge concerning the government’s petition for summary dismissal and our response in opposition to this. In the meantime, the land surveyors, “environmental” surveyors, “archeological” surveyors and appraisers have all come and gone.  

We imagine you, like we, wonder why the environmental and archeological surveys were conducted, given the waiver of laws related to these issues. The answer is: They weren’t. Each was a sham, lasting less than one hour; adding the proverbial insult to injury, as one might expect at this time.

Meanwhile, many of you continue to ask, “What can we do?” and “When do we form a human chain to stop this insanity?”

Here is our formal statement on the matter:

We are grateful to everyone who has offered support to help stop construction of the border wall through the National Butterfly Center in early 2019.  

We are currently evaluating the best options for making a stand as the time draws near, and we look forward to sharing our plans soon. 

In the meantime, please call your senators and representatives, starting January 3, 2019.

1. Demand they call for a moratorium on construction of border wall funded in the 2018 appropriation.

2. Demand they vote against any additional border wall funding, anywhere. 

3. Demand they stand strong against this administration’s malevolent form of governance by extortion.

Switchboard Operator for the US House of Representatives: (202) 224-3121

In addition, if you have friends, family and neighbors who are furloughed and in need of assistance, please extend it as you are able. Together, we are stronger. Together, we shall overcome.