New book to be released Jan 3, 2011: The First Maya Civilization. Ritual and Power before the Classic Period, by Francisco Estrada-Belli (MAI co-founder). Available now with 22% discount at Amazon.com
MAI advisor Roger Lyon killed in tragic crash
Roger Lyon, an advisor and supporter of the Maya Archaeology Initiative, died October 16 in a small plane crash while ferrying a team of doctors to a remote village in Mexico. Besides being instrumental in the development of MAI, Lyon was active in numerous charitable causes. He was a founder of the Cayucos Land Conservancy, an NGO which preserved land on the California coast from development. He regularly flew doctors to Mexico through his support for the Flying Samaritans. A highly successful rancher, conservation attorney and athlete, Lyon leaves hundreds whose lives he has impacted for the better. In June, he visited Guatemala to find mechanisms to support MAI as well as health and education initiatives. To cherish his memory and contribution, make a gift to the Cayucos Land Conservancy at 151 Cayucos Dr, Cayucos, CA 93430, or follow this link: www.cayucoslandconservancy.org. More on the tragedy here.