A CALL TO ACTION FOR THE OUTDOOR SPORTSMEN AND WOMEN OF WA

The Unified Sportsmen of Washington would like to take this opportunity to invite you to come to Olympia and join them in the first ever Sportsmen Legislative Day.

This event will give us: the opportunity to let both the public and the legislature see and hear the true opinions of the Washington Sportsman, to show the public our proud heritage and to stress the high standards of the ethical sportsman, how important we are to tourism particularly in socio-economically struggling areas of the state, and a chance to remind our legislators of our positive effects on the conservation of public lands.

Points of interest to be discussed will include:
• Recognizing that hunting and fishing is an expression of our cultural upbringing and respect for our heritage. We do these things to honor our forefathers and to teach the values passed to us to our children and their children.
• Protecting the game animals. Currently the WDFW has a minimum number of positions to protect our wildlife. Yet much of that minimum number goes un-funded. The ethical WA Sportsmen demands that our game animals get that protection from those who break the law by protecting these animals and that stiffer penalties are levied to those who intentionally break these laws.
• Putting the highest priority and concern for the WDFW scientific management of our game animals. Opinions are expensive and in weeding through the opinions and spending money on defensive science, not enough money is going to the game animals we revere.
• Recognizing the important tourism dollars spent in economically challenged areas of the state by sportsmen. Many small and suffering Eastern, and Western, WA communities are being kept afloat by tourism dollars spent by sportsmen. These dollars are vital for their survival and all efforts should be made maintaining and increasing hunting and fishing opportunities to keep these tourism dollars flowing.
• Valuing the traditional uses of public lands. We feel that no greater dishonor can be done to our forefathers, who gave their hearts and souls to creating these areas for generations, than to have it be washed away by public opinion. Cultural tradition and our heritage should not be compromised by public opinion. New concerns should be dealt with by new lands and not destroying our heritage.

Rally at Tivoli Fountain on the Capitol Campus from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m., followed by individual meetings with your legislators. We will also be collecting non perishable food items for donation to Hunters for the Hungry. Show your support and bring a can, better yet, two!

If you are interested, mark March 20th on you calendar and set up an appointment to meet with your legislators for that day for after. Also tell them that you are with the Unified Sportsmen Of WA as they may have already allotted time for you. After you have done this please contact one of the people below for maps and more material on the event. If you cannot attend, please show your support by sending an email to your legislator and CC a copy to the address listed below.

Westside contact: Robert1970@hotmail.com
Robert Joanis 253-370-6885

Eastside contact:
Chris Dorow 509-488-5216


This is being set up by some guys at WA forum at duckhunter.net

Anybody going?

Bump

http://www.refugeforums.com/refuge/showthread.php?s=&threadid=101536

Your reps have set time aside to meet with you that day. Thanks

Bruce, thanks for posting this.

I qoute Robin from WFF:

"This Washington based forum has over 1,000 fairly active members who post frequently. Out of that number how many would be willing to keep the pressure on? Out of that pressure how many are registered voters, who in fact can make a change. Even if you are not registered to vote, your letters, emails, telephone calls, and presence at these meetings is really noticed. Now if it were possible for 90% of our forum to show up at one of these meetings, what an impressive showing that would be. But 10% of our forum isn't unrealistic either, and that too is impressive numbers to a bean counter. I used to be a Congressional liaison, ( nice way to say lobbyist) I have watched as one tiny -- but very active group became the catalyst for change and a new way of thinking. It can be done here. We need to apply constant pressure. Not just when the issue is hot-but year round.
Support the Coalition in what ever way you can if it means so much to you. Do it when you can, it will become effortless to you, and in the long run it will make a difference.
Robin

As Always ...."