VWC Newsletter - June 2004
Annual Meeting - 2004
The VWC Annual Meeting will be an occasion for celebration. Our good friends Congressman Rick Boucher and Senator John Warner have introduced the Virginia Ridge and Valley Wilderness and National Scenic Areas bill (HR 4202 and S 2342) into the108th Congress. Let's all get together on July 10th in Blacksburg to savor the moment and work on the campaign for passage of the bills. David and Lindsay West have very kindly offered their garden for the meeting. Be there at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 10th. Bring a lawn chair and a bag lunch. We will bring a cooler of drinks. We hope especially to see all members of the Radford Group.
Directions to the Wests': From the center of Blacksburg proceed west on Main St. past the VPI campus till you see Giles Rd. on your right. Follow Giles Rd. for several blocks till you see their historic brick house on the left (607 Giles Rd.). Across the street is a large church parking lot, where you may park
Agenda items at this time include reports on the progress of our bills, grassroots work on the GW, and wind-power in Virginia, a financial report from the Treasurer, election of officers, and a discussion of membership in the Virginia Conservation Network. Let us know if you have other items.
Urgent Letter Required
It is very important for us to try to get Senator Allen on board as a co-sponsor of S 2342. We remember that he went to Congress to testify for the 1984 wilderness bill, at a time when he was serving in the Virginia legislature. He needs to be encouraged with letters and phone calls (The Honorable George Allen, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. 20510; 202-224-4024). Emphasize clean water and recreation, especially hunting and fishing, as benefits of wilderness.
As for the House, there are now four co-sponsors of HR 4202: Rick Boucher, Jim Moran, Tom Davis, and Bobby Scott. If you can help with any other members of the Virginia delegation, please write or call, urging them to sign on as co-sponsors of HR 4202. Also, Congressman Goodlatte needs to be urged, especially by his friends, to schedule hearings on HR 4202.
Hope for the Tongass
As you will remember, the Bush Administration has withdrawn the Tongass National Forest from the protection provided by the Roadless Rule. The result is that the Forest Service will be spending millions of dollars on road building as a subsidy for the logging industry. Representatives Chabot (R-Oh) and Andrews (D-NJ) are offering an amendment to the Appropriations Bill for the Department of the Interior to end subsidies for road building on the Tongass. Contact your Congressman to vote in favor of the Chabot/Andrews amendment.
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Finally, check the date stamp on your label. That was your last contribution or copy of a letter to your congressman. Are you up to date?
President: Jim Murray, 1601 Bentivar Farm Rd., Charlottesville, VA 22911 (434-973-6693)
Vice-Pres: John Rice, [email protected]
Treasurer: Juliana Simpson, 11 E. Monmouth, Winchester, VA 22601 (540-662-7043)
Secretary: Mark Miller, 62 Big Hill Rd., Lexington, VA 24450 (540-464-3110)
Field organizer: Don Giecek, 19484 Running Cedar Ln., Maidens, VA 23229 (804-749-1992)
The VWC Annual Meeting will be an occasion for celebration. Our good friends Congressman Rick Boucher and Senator John Warner have introduced the Virginia Ridge and Valley Wilderness and National Scenic Areas bill (HR 4202 and S 2342) into the108th Congress. Let's all get together on July 10th in Blacksburg to savor the moment and work on the campaign for passage of the bills. David and Lindsay West have very kindly offered their garden for the meeting. Be there at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 10th. Bring a lawn chair and a bag lunch. We will bring a cooler of drinks. We hope especially to see all members of the Radford Group.
Directions to the Wests': From the center of Blacksburg proceed west on Main St. past the VPI campus till you see Giles Rd. on your right. Follow Giles Rd. for several blocks till you see their historic brick house on the left (607 Giles Rd.). Across the street is a large church parking lot, where you may park
Agenda items at this time include reports on the progress of our bills, grassroots work on the GW, and wind-power in Virginia, a financial report from the Treasurer, election of officers, and a discussion of membership in the Virginia Conservation Network. Let us know if you have other items.
Urgent Letter Required
It is very important for us to try to get Senator Allen on board as a co-sponsor of S 2342. We remember that he went to Congress to testify for the 1984 wilderness bill, at a time when he was serving in the Virginia legislature. He needs to be encouraged with letters and phone calls (The Honorable George Allen, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. 20510; 202-224-4024). Emphasize clean water and recreation, especially hunting and fishing, as benefits of wilderness.
As for the House, there are now four co-sponsors of HR 4202: Rick Boucher, Jim Moran, Tom Davis, and Bobby Scott. If you can help with any other members of the Virginia delegation, please write or call, urging them to sign on as co-sponsors of HR 4202. Also, Congressman Goodlatte needs to be urged, especially by his friends, to schedule hearings on HR 4202.
Hope for the Tongass
As you will remember, the Bush Administration has withdrawn the Tongass National Forest from the protection provided by the Roadless Rule. The result is that the Forest Service will be spending millions of dollars on road building as a subsidy for the logging industry. Representatives Chabot (R-Oh) and Andrews (D-NJ) are offering an amendment to the Appropriations Bill for the Department of the Interior to end subsidies for road building on the Tongass. Contact your Congressman to vote in favor of the Chabot/Andrews amendment.
******************************************
Finally, check the date stamp on your label. That was your last contribution or copy of a letter to your congressman. Are you up to date?
President: Jim Murray, 1601 Bentivar Farm Rd., Charlottesville, VA 22911 (434-973-6693)
Vice-Pres: John Rice, [email protected]
Treasurer: Juliana Simpson, 11 E. Monmouth, Winchester, VA 22601 (540-662-7043)
Secretary: Mark Miller, 62 Big Hill Rd., Lexington, VA 24450 (540-464-3110)
Field organizer: Don Giecek, 19484 Running Cedar Ln., Maidens, VA 23229 (804-749-1992)