"Todd,

So what complimentary group should I *also* join which covers:

a) clear focus on habitat and hatchery related issues
b) has a similar approach to the political issues/process?

I'm very interested in supporting people on multiple dimensions of the problem, but I really don't want to support folks who don't have a realistic view of how many members, and how much $$$ it's going to take to get ourselves to the table on these issues."

Irish Rogue,

A similar approach to political issues/process to what?

What's a "realistic view"of how many members and money it will take?

With less than 500 members, and using very little money, the Wild Steelhead Coalition was one of the few authors of the new Statewide Steelhead Management Plan...and was the group that forced the State to even come up with a new plan to begin with.

The fact of the matter is that there are times when confrontation is inevitable...and there are times when working cooperatively will get a lot more done, at much lower cost.

Working cooperatively, however, requires actually having an idea what the issues are, and having ways to deal with them...that's how you get a seat at the table, by knowing what you are talking about.

It doesn't matter how many members you have, or how big your war chest is, if the method you choose to shove down peoples' throats is wrong, and the goal you are after is impossible to meet even if you achieve your "win".

In spite of what Gary says, a "win" is not a win...aiming at an issue that is relevant to the situation, and making change there...that's what win looks like.

This is going to sound like a broken record, but since you asked, you get wins by being educated.

If you're looking instead to join up with a group and let them handle it for you, that's fine, too...but then they have to be educated; they need to know what the issues are, and how changing them will affect the fish and fisheries. They also need to put their resources to bear on issues and activities that do affect the fisheries in a meaningful way...and then get wins.

Fish on...

Todd