SGR Visits DASIA

IN ROTARY we met with Ken Sizemore, Executive Director of the Dixie Arizona Strip Interpretive Association for the past 2 ½ years.  Not a federal agency – although they share space with the BLM - DASIA is a cooperating agency which depends of sales of merchandise, grants and cooperative arrangements with other organizations to keep the doors open, although in just one year after taking responsibility for DASIA, “we were operating in the black!” said Sizemore of the organization founded by Bette Arial with Lyman Hafen and other strong supporters advocating for its future.  

DASIA – whose name was changed from the Arizona Strip Interpretive Association when the Dixie National Forest joined its ranks – operates retail outlets in the St. George office, in Pine Valley, a contact station at Paria and a fourth such outlet in Kanab. 

DASIA has had success toward its mission to “enhance the understanding of the Arizona Strip and Southern Utah region, its history and resources,” with their Brown Bag lecture series where interested individuals can meet together to learn about a great selection of topics every Friday at noon during the time period of October to April.  Field trips – limited to not more than 25 – are held monthly.  In January, those who sign up will explore Silver Reef and the Red Cliffs Recreation Area and in March, participants will travel to the Bar 10 Ranch on the Arizona Strip.

Ken hopes future fundraising and grantwriting will result in the construction of a new building.