Ironically, at the arbitration hearing, one of the Tribe’s own expert witnesses praised Havasu Palms’ management and development of the resort, noting how they had maximized its earnings for the Tribe, in spite of the limitations it had operated under. He actually seemed surprised that we had done so well. 
            It left some wondering why the Tribe had chosen to give a new lease to a new entity, rather than rewarding Havasu Palms for its decades of hard work and effort in developing the lease land. 
            Another one of the Tribe’s own witnesses gave surprising testimony. He was an attorney, who had worked for the Tribe early on, and participated in lease negotiations with Havasu palms, he testified that it was never the Tribe's intention to grant Havasu Palms a long term lease.  This contradicted the Tribe’s assertion that they had worked in good faith in attempting to negotiate for a long term lease.
            The Arbitration ruled in favor of Havasu Palms, and an settlement was awarded. As of today, it has not been paid. (sometime after this speech, Havasu Palms was notified that the Federal Government was setting aside the judgment, as it felt it was not in the best interest of the Tribe.)
            My mother, Caroline Johnson, lives with my husband and I in Lake Havasu City.  Since the last mobile home was confiscated by the current management, she has not been back to her former home of more than 30 years.
             Occasionally I pass the park, via water.  I can see some of the changes. One of the most heartbreaking for me is the “landscaping”.  The hillside, from the restaurant, down the embankment to the road leading to the marina,  has been scraped clean of the natural flora and fauna, brought to dirt and covered with colored rock.  I wonder, what in the world were they thinking?
            They have removed the intriguing natural rock, desert foliage, including sage, creosote,  Brittlebush, assorted flowering cactus, mesquite, and desert wild flowers that bloomed throughout the years, a sight which delighted my family for over three decades. Some plants, that are considered illegal to transplant, much less destroy, are no longer there. It was a natural desert habitat that provided home for desert creatures, while the human visitors could relax nearby, and enjoy the spectacular desert landscape. 
            Across the lake, in Lake Havasu City, a homeowner will pay a professional landscaper thousands of dollars to recreate what was once on that hill.  Several weeks ago we drove through the park for the first time in over 5 years, and I noticed Mother nature must be agreeing with me.  With these recent rains she is already pushing aside the colored rock, and bringing her desert foliage back to life.  I imagine it will take some time for the hill to regain its former beauty,  at this point it is a bit scraggly, like an untended yard with intruding weeds.
            But, we have many wonderful memories of our time there, and understand that our future is now on this side of the lake. Today, My husband, Don, and I are REALTORS with Coldwell Banker McCulloch Judd Realty. (In 2010 Don is with Heirloom Realty, where Don is the Designated Broker. Bobbi is a freelance writer.)
            Over the last few months we’ve read numerous letters to the editors in our local newspaper, complaining about the winter visitors.  I imagine, in a few weeks the letters will shift, and someone will be complaining about those darn Californians…and the summer visitors.
             Personally, I believe each of those groups have played a historic role in the growth of our city.   When Robert McCulloch began planning this community, Lake Havasu already had a snowbird visitors population….they were the fishermen and retirees that camped in places such as Roads End Camp, Black Meadows, Havasu Landing or Havasu Springs.  I remember some of those earlier people…most have long since passed, yet their children still come to Lake Havasu, as do their grandchildren.  And many live here.
             The same is true for the spring breakers… we meet so many people who used to spend their spring break on Lake Havasu, and are now looking to buy  retirement homes here. 
             I know there will always be people who want to keep the snowbirds out…or the spring breakers out…but the fact is,  they, along with the developers like my parents, early pioneer entrepreneurs who ventured to both sides of lake Havasu, risked it all by bringing their families to this remote wilderness in search of their dreams….those people, the snowbirds, spring breakers, risk takers, adventurers…they are us….they are what makes Havasu City unique.
            Perhaps their dreams were not as grandiose as a man who transported a historic bridge across the ocean, they may have come with nothing more than an Amway distributorship, a brand new teaching credential or a willingness to build something new….collectively, they are what allowed  Robert McCulloch’s dream to become a reality…and without them... all of them... we would not be here tonight. 

Photo: Havasu Palms store docks and Scott Holmes, circa late 1990's