WE ARE NOT ALONE IN THIS FIGHT!

Today we received a copy of an Email that was sent out from The Twin Harbors Fish and Wildlife Advocacy, (THFWA) to it’s NOF Interested Party Contact List.

THFWA has been involved in the betterment of our fishers for many years, and has spearheaded many important initiatives. AND they have gotten good results! They are ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE CLOSED MEETING ISSUE.

The combined efforts of THFWA, along with your signatures and support on this petition has truly created a force that cannot be ignored!

Here is a copy of the THFWA email, which address’s Dir. Unsworth letter, and links to their web site where the full letters and more information on their actions can be read.


January 10, 2017
To:    NOF Interested Party Contact List
Recently, the Twin Harbors Fish & Wildlife Advocacy shared a letter addressed to WDFW Director Jim Unsworth and Lorraine Loomis of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission.  The letter ask the two comanagers to cease the practice of meeting behind closed doors when setting fishing seasons in the North of Falcon process.

WDFW Director Jim Unsworth has responded to the Advocacy's letter and the NWIFC did so with the media. The Director states that the meetings are closed by the tribes due to "mischaracterization" of the tribal positions by observers allowed to sit in on meeting in the past.  He goes on to state "Unfortunately, this means the general public has not direct access to the negotiations without an invitation from the tribes."
The Advocacy has issued a response to the Director.  The response outlines how the Advocacy will never accept the notion that citizens can only participate in governmental processes by invitation from the tribal comanagers. Then, only if the citizens agree to give up their constitutional rights to free speech.  In doing  so, the Advocacy explains the case law and application of the Open Public Meeting Act (OPMA).  In an effort to avoid the need for intervention in the courts, the Advocacy asks the WDFW Commission to take actions during its meeting in Vancouver this weekend to insure the Department operates within the state's transparency laws.  The Advocacy response is available on the Advocacy website here.  The Director's letter is also available here. THFWA HOME PAGE
When the Advocacy originally published the initial letter, Perry Menchaca of Tacoma took the initiative of creating an electronic petition of support for opening up the secret meetings between the state and tribal comanagers.  In a truly remarkable show of unity, over 1,000 citizens have signed the petition with more coming on each day.  The petition is available on this link to the change.org website.
More to come.....
Respectfully,
Tim Hamilton, President
Twin Harbors Fish & Wildlife Advocacy