Sedona Cares Pledge
AS SEEN IN THE RED ROCK NEWS
November 1, 2019
It was a lighthearted moment with a point, as 200 people raised their right hands to take the Sedona Cares Pledge at the Chamber’s Annual Partner Meeting on October 16.
It is another step forward in Sedona’s new tourism management approach, with three objectives.
The first is to reinforce that residents and visitors alike can act sustainably. Many of us, including visitors, want to minimize our environmental impact, and the Pledge is a great way to do it. Secondly, the Pledge lays out specific actions to take (or avoid). Knowing you are making a difference is a good feeling and can lead to additional sustainable habits. We hope signers feel proud and share the Pledge on social media, bringing the message to like-minded friends.
Which brings us to the third objective – using the Pledge to help spread Sedona’s new sustainability mission. As visitors and residents share the Pledge with friends, over time our image as a destination prioritizing our quality of life and the environment will spread far and wide.
You can take the Pledge today at SedonaCares.com. We developed the ten commitments with input from residents during last year’s Sustainable Tourism Plan surveys:
> The rocks are red and the silence is golden. I vow to respect the natural quiet of Sedona’s open spaces and neighborhoods.
> I will be mindful of Sedona’s arid environment by minimizing water and energy use and I will be extremely careful with fire.
> I’ll make my own memories but not my own trails.
> I won’t risk life or limb – human or sapling – for more likes. I won’t get killed for a killer photo.
> When playing outside, I’ll be ready for rapid changes in the weather and random episodes of magic.
> I’ll leave no trace and pack out all my trash. That includes TP and pup poo!
> I will discover art in Sedona’s galleries rather than making my own. Carving on trees or rocks, stacking stones, or defacing the environment tarnishes nature’s art.
> If I can’t find a parking space, I will not invent my own. I will go with the traffic flow, using my turn signal often and my car horn seldom.
> I will be caring and considerate wherever I go, because that is the Sedona way.
> I promise to fulfill the commitments of this Pledge, thereby doing my part to keep Sedona the most Beautiful Place on Earth.
The Pledge concept is proving popular around the West. Big Sur, California and Bend, Oregon get thousands of enthusiastic responses with their Pledges. Bozeman, Montana and South Lake Tahoe added an optional donation to nonprofits doing sustainable work, such as wildlife protection. To the best of our knowledge, Sedona is the first Arizona destination with a Pledge.
After you sign the Pledge at SedonaCares.com, be sure to share it with friends. Encourage them to join us in making the Sedona the best place to live, work, play and visit.
–Jennifer Wesselhoff, President/CEO