Valerie Cassity-Special to the Sun

This Saturday morning, you have an opportunity to have a positive effect on the future of the Kern River Valley as the Community Recreation Commonwealth (CRC) asks the residents of the valley to embark on a journey to retain and improve the campgrounds around Lake Isabella through the Community Crossroads Project. The meeting will take place at the Senior Center in Lake Isabella at 9 a.m., and coffee and donuts will be graciously provided to anyone who is willing to take this first step to enhance the Kern Valley's economy.

This project is in response to the recently-released plan by the U.S. Forest Service to close and reduce services at several campgrounds in the Sequoia National Forest, including 14 of the Kern Valley's 16 campgrounds, which will leave them open to the public on a first come, first serve basis. CRC spokesman Rick Dancing fears that this will create increased trash and human waste in our campgrounds, which will in turn depress the local economy. In response, he and the rest of the members of the CRC plan to engage the community in taking control of the campground situation by creating a team to complete the several tasks necessary to complete a bid and gain local control of our campgrounds. Three main tasks are needed to complete that goal. Task 1 is to establish a complete Company, which involves everything from identifying the best bookkeeping systems, reservation systems, computers systems, banking connections and phones to the proper trucks and tools at the best prices.

Task 2 is to package the bid to manage the Valley's Campgrounds, which includes everything from scanning and copying to editing and writing skills.

Task 3 is to survey all the campgrounds, which includes determining what needs to be done to get them in the best shape possible to provide a clean, safe, and attractive camping experience for our visitors and residents.

The CRC knows that this is too much work for four or five volunteers, but hope that they can divide these three Big Tasks into hundreds of little tasks that 100 or 200 people (out of 17,000 in the Valley) can do easily; it is something that can be accomplished.

The reward for taking part in this process is the knowledge that you have helped enhance your community and a party at the end when the bid is accepted. The most important reward for involvement, is knowing you have taken part in a true democratic process instead of just getting angry at the closure of campgrounds, which is happening because of budget cutbacks in Washington, D.C., and is beyond the control of local Forest Service personnel.

Whatever your strengths, there is a task for you in the Community Crossroads Project. Everyone is welcome and whatever talents you are willing to offer will be put to good use.

Even if you don't think you have anything to contribute, there is something you can do, if only taking attendance or helping with set up and tear down of the meeting room.

So if you are upset by the proposed closure of campgrounds in the Kern Valley, and have a desire to create a better community, come to the meeting this Saturday.

And make sure to look your best; the entire process will be filmed for viewing on national television.