The Sedona-based Red Rockers Meetup group is all about outdoor fun and making new friends – from kayaking, hiking and yoga to alfresco wine or beer tasting at local venues. For the uninitiated, Meetup is an online service used to create groups that host local in-person and virtual events. The platform has been around since 2002. As of 2017, they report 35 million users worldwide.
The local Red Rockers is a public group (anyone can join) with close to 2,800 members. Local residency is not required and many members live elsewhere but enjoy jumping into the activities when in the area. The common denominator is an interest in enjoying outdoor recreation in Red Rock Country in the company of others.
In February, as a give back to the trails that deliver so much enjoyment, the Red Rockers organized a fund-raising campaign for the Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund. One member offered to match dollar-for-dollar every donation collected in February and March, via a private website donation page that was set up by the Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund staff.
On at Meetup event on April 27th at Vino di Sedona, representatives of the Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund honored and thanked the group and their founder, Mike Coltrane, for bring in a total of $5,690. While most of the donations were from members in the Verde Valley, some came in from other states, including Illinois, Minnesota and Montana and California.
Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund Director Dick Williams congratulated the members for their successful campaign. “Our 400+ mile trail system couldn’t be what it is today without support from generous donations from people like you. The heavy toll that the winter weather wrecked on the forest and trails added to the maintenance tasks for the trail crew – your contribution will help the US Forest Service trail crews with the cleanup.” Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund President Kevin Adams, VP Sandi Heysinger, and Program Director Camille Cox were also present to thank the members
