Deirdre Kann explaining the spotter network to a rancher from northwest New Mexico.

NWS Albuquerque's David Craft, Ken Drozd, Mark Fettig, Kerry Jones, Deirdre Kann, and Daniel Porter staffed a booth at the 4th Annual Quivira Coalition that was held January 14-15, 2005 at the Albuquerque Hilton. The Quivira Coalition is a non-profit institution whose mission is to foster ecological, economic and social health on western landscapes through education, innovation, collaboration, and progressive public and private land stewardship.

This years' theme was "Half Public, Half Private, One West: Innovations and Opportunity Across Boundaries." Sessions included progressive ranch management, scientifically-guided riparian and upland restoration, land health assessment and monitoring, and bridge-building among ranchers, environmentalists, federal and state agency personnel, academics, and members of the Public.

The NWS Albuquerque Storm Spotter Enhancement Team (ASSET) gave out nearly 50 brochures and spotter information cards that it had developed specifically for this event. Additionally, NWS Albuquerque's booth provided participants with an in-depth look at the vital role spotters play in forecast and severe weather operations throughout New Mexico. ASSET signed up near two dozen spotters, most of them ranchers throughout rural New Mexico.