SFWDA and BRC go to Washington - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

k9crazy · 03-25-2009, 07:05 PM

An update from Jay Bird, the Rescue Tellico Chairman.

Mr. Bird goes to Washington

On Monday and Tuesday of this week, I meet up with Greg Mumm Executive Director of the Blue Ribbon Coalition to go to Washington DC and talk to some of our elected officials.

Our first meeting was with Perrin Cooke, the Legislative Assistant to Senator Key Hagan from North Carolina. The meeting went well. They were engaged and had heard from many people about the issue. We went over the economics and the alternate science and gave them a copy of the Caliber report.

Next we went to Representative Tom Price’s Office of Georgia. He is my representative. We met with Legislative Correspondent Courtney Austin. Again she was aware of the issue. They had received calls and letters from many people. We gave them the Caliber reports and asked for help to keep the area open.

We then meet up with Brian Duggan. He is the Director, Congressional Affairs for SEMA. We went with him to Senator John Testers Office of Montana and met with Jason Rosenburg. This was more a SEMA call on another matter than a Tellico call but we did share our plight.

Our last meeting that day was with the Forest Service. We gave them a copy of the Caliber Report. We talked about the process and let them know why we were in town. Meeting with our congressional leaders to see what we could do to keep Tellico open.

Tuesday we were up bright an early for a meeting with Margaret Brooks of Senator Richard Burr from North Carolina’s Office. Again we spent time going over the economics and gave them the report. They are engaged and have been hearing from folks.

We had some time before our next meeting and we were not able to schedule a meeting with Rep Duncan’s office from Tennessee. So we decided to just drop by. They still were not able to see us but we did drop a copy of the Caliber report off for them.

We meet back up with Brian from SEMA and we went to visit Representative Heath Shuler’s office. This meeting was the main reason we were in DC. They had called and asked to meet with us. Unfortunately, the person we were to meet had a death in the family, so Ryan Fitzpatrick, Legislative Assistant met with us. He told us that he personally called Marisue Hilliard, Forest Supervisor, and gave her a copy of the Caliber report and asked her for a report on the difference between the science from the EA and the Caliber report. We talked about the economics and solutions. Tellico being in Rep Shuler’s district, they are taking a very keen interest.

All in all, I think it was a trip well worth it. The office got a visit and not just Letters and Phone calls. They have the report in hand.

Brian Duggan from SEMA was a great help. I had never done this kind of thing before and he had good tips. He also volunteered to follow up with anything we might need.

We have got about a week left. Get those comments in to the Forest Service. Continue to write or call your representatives. We are working the process and we need your help to make sure people hear our voice.

Keep writing and calling and see below for a message from Gary Parsons.

Jay Bird

AND, from SFWDA President, Gary Parsons:

To all Southern Four Wheel Drive Association Members and Supporters:

Thanks to all of you for your support as we continue our efforts to keep the Upper Tellico OHV Area open. The letters and calls to our elected officials are having a positive effect as you can see from the information from Jay. We must not let the pressure up however. Use the letter generators or write your own letters to the Forest Service to voice your comments. Remember, they are looking for substantive comments but any comment opposing the proposed April 1st closure and on the Environmental Assessment is a comment they would not have had if not sent. Also, continue your calls to your congressmen and representatives. Even though they have heard the message and are responding, it still needs to be ringing loud and clear in front of them.

Gary Parsons
President
Southern Four Wheel Drive Association

CMF · 03-25-2009, 08:56 PM

That's awesome !!! Keep up the good work and THANKS !!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by k9crazy

We have got about a week left.

By my calculations, we only have until Saturday (3 days) to postmark the letters.

EDIT: This was in the letter, which was released to press on the 27th. 30 days from the 27th is Sunday, but the mail don't run on Sunday

Quote:

Comments must be postmarked or received within 30 days beginning the day after publication of
this notice in The Asheville Citizen-Times.

GSW · 03-26-2009, 07:55 AM

US Congressman Heath Shuler's Contact Info. You can email him from here: http://shuler.house.gov/content/contact/

Washington D.C. Office
422 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-6401
Fax: (202) 226-6422

Asheville Office
356 Biltmore Ave., Suite 400
Asheville, NC 28801
Phone: 828-252-1651
Fax: 828-252-8734

Murphy Office
75 Peachtree St., Suite 100
Murphy, NC 28906
Phone: 828-835-4981

Sylva Office
125 Bonnie Lane
Sylva, NC 28779
Phone: 828-586-1962 Ext. 223

03-25-2009, 07:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
k9crazy Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Member # 92338 Posts: 412	SFWDA and BRC go to Washington An update from Jay Bird, the Rescue Tellico Chairman. Mr. Bird goes to Washington On Monday and Tuesday of this week, I meet up with Greg Mumm Executive Director of the Blue Ribbon Coalition to go to Washington DC and talk to some of our elected officials. Our first meeting was with Perrin Cooke, the Legislative Assistant to Senator Key Hagan from North Carolina. The meeting went well. They were engaged and had heard from many people about the issue. We went over the economics and the alternate science and gave them a copy of the Caliber report. Next we went to Representative Tom Price’s Office of Georgia. He is my representative. We met with Legislative Correspondent Courtney Austin. Again she was aware of the issue. They had received calls and letters from many people. We gave them the Caliber reports and asked for help to keep the area open. We then meet up with Brian Duggan. He is the Director, Congressional Affairs for SEMA. We went with him to Senator John Testers Office of Montana and met with Jason Rosenburg. This was more a SEMA call on another matter than a Tellico call but we did share our plight. Our last meeting that day was with the Forest Service. We gave them a copy of the Caliber Report. We talked about the process and let them know why we were in town. Meeting with our congressional leaders to see what we could do to keep Tellico open. Tuesday we were up bright an early for a meeting with Margaret Brooks of Senator Richard Burr from North Carolina’s Office. Again we spent time going over the economics and gave them the report. They are engaged and have been hearing from folks. We had some time before our next meeting and we were not able to schedule a meeting with Rep Duncan’s office from Tennessee. So we decided to just drop by. They still were not able to see us but we did drop a copy of the Caliber report off for them. We meet back up with Brian from SEMA and we went to visit Representative Heath Shuler’s office. This meeting was the main reason we were in DC. They had called and asked to meet with us. Unfortunately, the person we were to meet had a death in the family, so Ryan Fitzpatrick, Legislative Assistant met with us. He told us that he personally called Marisue Hilliard, Forest Supervisor, and gave her a copy of the Caliber report and asked her for a report on the difference between the science from the EA and the Caliber report. We talked about the economics and solutions. Tellico being in Rep Shuler’s district, they are taking a very keen interest. All in all, I think it was a trip well worth it. The office got a visit and not just Letters and Phone calls. They have the report in hand. Brian Duggan from SEMA was a great help. I had never done this kind of thing before and he had good tips. He also volunteered to follow up with anything we might need. We have got about a week left. Get those comments in to the Forest Service. Continue to write or call your representatives. We are working the process and we need your help to make sure people hear our voice. Keep writing and calling and see below for a message from Gary Parsons. Jay Bird AND, from SFWDA President, Gary Parsons: To all Southern Four Wheel Drive Association Members and Supporters: Thanks to all of you for your support as we continue our efforts to keep the Upper Tellico OHV Area open. The letters and calls to our elected officials are having a positive effect as you can see from the information from Jay. We must not let the pressure up however. Use the letter generators or write your own letters to the Forest Service to voice your comments. Remember, they are looking for substantive comments but any comment opposing the proposed April 1st closure and on the Environmental Assessment is a comment they would not have had if not sent. Also, continue your calls to your congressmen and representatives. Even though they have heard the message and are responding, it still needs to be ringing loud and clear in front of them. Gary Parsons President Southern Four Wheel Drive Association

03-26-2009, 07:55 AM	#3 (permalink)
GSW Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Member # 40411 Location: NC Posts: 449	US Congressman Heath Shuler's Contact Info. You can email him from here: http://shuler.house.gov/content/contact/ Washington D.C. Office 422 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-6401 Fax: (202) 226-6422 Asheville Office 356 Biltmore Ave., Suite 400 Asheville, NC 28801 Phone: 828-252-1651 Fax: 828-252-8734 Murphy Office 75 Peachtree St., Suite 100 Murphy, NC 28906 Phone: 828-835-4981 Sylva Office 125 Bonnie Lane Sylva, NC 28779 Phone: 828-586-1962 Ext. 223 Last edited by GSW; 03-26-2009 at 07:56 AM.

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