On September 18, 2008 Blue Earth Alliance will hold its fourth-annual lottery-style fundraiser. Held this year at Tom Douglas’ Palace Ballroom, the event is a unique twist on auction fundraisers. Only 65 tickets will be sold and each ticket-holder is guaranteed to receive one of the 65 donated prints. A drawing is held within each of the four ticket prices starting at the $1000 level. As a ticket is called the holder can select any unchosen print on the wall and take it home that night. It’s as exciting as a live auction and everyone wins!

   We’ve donated a reindeer on a boat print from our Nordic collection for this event. View complete details at www.blueearth.org. You can also learn more about about our Nordic print series.

After a recent lightning storm left its mark on the North Cascades we joined the Forest Service’s Type II Methow Valley Hand Crew for a few days of initial attack. It was a busy week for them and we were dispatched to three fires in three days. Below, Patrick Button digs a fire line around the burning tree on the Summit Fire near Hearts Pass.

Stay tuned for more photos and audio clips from our summer wildland fire field work.

Sara and I spent three days collecting photographs and audio during one of North Cascades Institute’s popular Family Getaways. We’ll soon post a multimedia piece of this material. Until then, here’s a photo of one of the participants. Anya had just checked in and, with her name tag and map in hand, was ready to get started!