Welcome New Board Members

The Ivins Night Sky Initiative is excited to announce the addition of two new Board members, Sue Gordhammer and Kai Reed. Both have made significant contributions to our community through their involvement in other organizations and they are passionate about our mission.

Mission

To educate and inform on improving, preserving, and protecting the night sky over Ivins Utah and our heritage of dark skies through environmentally responsible outdoor lighting, and to serve as a resource for City officials, residents, and businesses.

Kai Reed – Director & Vice President

Kai has been involved with grassroots advocacy in southern Utah since she first moved to Ivins in 1998. She was the Administrative Director of Citizens for Dixie’s Future (now Conserve Southwest Utah), a local citizen’s advocacy group focusing on smart growth and sustainability issues. In 2011 she was one of the founding board members of Friends of Snow Canyon State Park dedicated to protecting and preserving the Park and in 2012 she helped create the Southern Utah Bicycle Alliance which works to make cycling safe and enjoyable for all cycling enthusiasts. She’s now very excited to be working with the Ivins Night Sky Initiative with the goal of achieving the International Dark Sky Community Designation.

Sue Gordhammer – Director & Secretary

Sue has been a dark sky advocate since her first canyoneering trip in the San Rafael Swell 20 years ago.   The incredible image of the night sky without any artificial light is still seared in her mind.  Sue is an avid hiker and mountain biker and enjoys getting out on the trails with family, friends, and her dogs as often as possible.  She made Ivins her home in 2017.  One of the primary reasons she chose to live in Kayenta is because of how the community embraces dark sky principals and she wants to ensure that all of Ivins can enjoy the beauty of the night sky.

… but wait, there’s more

In addition to expanding our Board, we are expanding our team of advisors and volunteers, starting with a meeting on Wednesday March 6th. You are invited. Click here for more information.

If you can’t attend this week’s meeting but you would like to get involved, please let us know using our Contact Us page.