VWC Newsletter - June 2005
WILDERNESS CAMPAIGN REACHES CRITICAL STAGE
It is time to pull out all the stops. The wonderful feeling of elation over the introduction of the "Virginia Ridge and Valley Act of 2005" (HR 1975 & S 942) has carried us thus far, but the real work is yet to be done. We have to persuade Congressman Bob Goodlatte, Chair of the House Agriculture Committee, and Senator Saxby Chambliss, Chair of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, to let the bill proceed to hearings. And it would be very helpful if we could get a few more of the Virginia congressional delegation to sign on as co-sponsors, especially Congresspersons Cantor, Goode, and Drake, and even Senator Allen.
You all know the arguments: (1) Clean water - our communities depend on the National Forest for their drinking water; (2) Recreation - hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, birdwatching, horseback riding, solitude; (3) Biodiversity - habitats for animals and plants that require mature forests; (4) Economics - Virginia is a tourist state and wilderness is a tourist attractor. So let's get those letters rolling to:
The Honorable _________________ United States Senate, Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable _______________ House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20515
One other angle that you should try. We hear that Mark Rey, who heads the Forest Service, may be susceptible to the suggestion that wilderness in Virginia would not greatly interrupt the nation's timber supply. Write to him:
The Honorable Mark Rey
Undersecretary for Natural Resources and Environment
U. S. Dept. of Agriculture
14th and Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20250
VWC ANNUAL MEETING - JULY 17, 2005
Once a year the VWC wilderness family foregathers to take stock of the wilderness campaign, enjoy one another's company, and plan for the year ahead. This year the Murrays will host the get-together, hoping to live up to the atmosphere of last year's gathering at the Wests in Blacksburg. We will hope to see you all on the 17th, starting at around 10:00 o'clock. Bring a lawn chair and a brown bag for lunch. We will furnish drinks and snacks enough for those for whom lunch would be a trouble.
Agenda items at this time include a discussion of how to move our bills, a report on wind-power in Virginia, a financial report from the Treasurer, and election of officers. Let us know if you have other items.
Directions to the Murrays: From Charlottesville, go north on US 29 for 4 or5 miles till you cross the South Rivanna River. (There is a traffic light there now at the end of the bridge.) Turn R at the light onto Polo Grounds Rd. (Rt 643). Go 2 miles till you pas under the RR in a dangerous underpass (Hoot!). 100 yards on, turn R onto Bentivar Drive and then immediately L onto Bentivar Farm Rd. Pass by all the McMansions of the new subdivision. Go to the end of the paving and keep straight on another 100 yds. to the old house.
Coming from the north, follow US 29 till you see the sign for the Charlottesville Airport. Turn the other way, i.e. L on Proffitt Rd. Proceed till you cross the RR on a rattle-trap bridge. Around the next S-bend, turn R on Polo Grounds Rd. Go about a mile, and as you go down hill, look for Bentivar Drive on your left. Then proceed as above.
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President: Jim Murray, 1601 Bentivar Farm Rd., Charlottesville, VA 22911 (434-973-6693)
Vice-Pres: Mark Miller, 62 Big Hill Rd., Lexington, VA 24450 (540-464-3110)
Treasurer: Juliana Simpson, 11 E. Monmouth, Winchester, VA 22601 (540-662-7043)
Secretary: Laura Neale, 423 Sheep Creek Lane, Fairfield, VA 24435
Field organizer: Don Giecek, 19484 Running Cedar Ln., Maidens, VA 23229 (804-749-1992)
It is time to pull out all the stops. The wonderful feeling of elation over the introduction of the "Virginia Ridge and Valley Act of 2005" (HR 1975 & S 942) has carried us thus far, but the real work is yet to be done. We have to persuade Congressman Bob Goodlatte, Chair of the House Agriculture Committee, and Senator Saxby Chambliss, Chair of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, to let the bill proceed to hearings. And it would be very helpful if we could get a few more of the Virginia congressional delegation to sign on as co-sponsors, especially Congresspersons Cantor, Goode, and Drake, and even Senator Allen.
You all know the arguments: (1) Clean water - our communities depend on the National Forest for their drinking water; (2) Recreation - hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, birdwatching, horseback riding, solitude; (3) Biodiversity - habitats for animals and plants that require mature forests; (4) Economics - Virginia is a tourist state and wilderness is a tourist attractor. So let's get those letters rolling to:
The Honorable _________________ United States Senate, Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable _______________ House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20515
One other angle that you should try. We hear that Mark Rey, who heads the Forest Service, may be susceptible to the suggestion that wilderness in Virginia would not greatly interrupt the nation's timber supply. Write to him:
The Honorable Mark Rey
Undersecretary for Natural Resources and Environment
U. S. Dept. of Agriculture
14th and Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20250
VWC ANNUAL MEETING - JULY 17, 2005
Once a year the VWC wilderness family foregathers to take stock of the wilderness campaign, enjoy one another's company, and plan for the year ahead. This year the Murrays will host the get-together, hoping to live up to the atmosphere of last year's gathering at the Wests in Blacksburg. We will hope to see you all on the 17th, starting at around 10:00 o'clock. Bring a lawn chair and a brown bag for lunch. We will furnish drinks and snacks enough for those for whom lunch would be a trouble.
Agenda items at this time include a discussion of how to move our bills, a report on wind-power in Virginia, a financial report from the Treasurer, and election of officers. Let us know if you have other items.
Directions to the Murrays: From Charlottesville, go north on US 29 for 4 or5 miles till you cross the South Rivanna River. (There is a traffic light there now at the end of the bridge.) Turn R at the light onto Polo Grounds Rd. (Rt 643). Go 2 miles till you pas under the RR in a dangerous underpass (Hoot!). 100 yards on, turn R onto Bentivar Drive and then immediately L onto Bentivar Farm Rd. Pass by all the McMansions of the new subdivision. Go to the end of the paving and keep straight on another 100 yds. to the old house.
Coming from the north, follow US 29 till you see the sign for the Charlottesville Airport. Turn the other way, i.e. L on Proffitt Rd. Proceed till you cross the RR on a rattle-trap bridge. Around the next S-bend, turn R on Polo Grounds Rd. Go about a mile, and as you go down hill, look for Bentivar Drive on your left. Then proceed as above.
*************************************
President: Jim Murray, 1601 Bentivar Farm Rd., Charlottesville, VA 22911 (434-973-6693)
Vice-Pres: Mark Miller, 62 Big Hill Rd., Lexington, VA 24450 (540-464-3110)
Treasurer: Juliana Simpson, 11 E. Monmouth, Winchester, VA 22601 (540-662-7043)
Secretary: Laura Neale, 423 Sheep Creek Lane, Fairfield, VA 24435
Field organizer: Don Giecek, 19484 Running Cedar Ln., Maidens, VA 23229 (804-749-1992)