January 12, 2010

Hot Topic...

 

A Membership Call to Action!!!

 

 

 

THE GREAT NEWS IS:

 

1.  On behalf of tree farmers, House Bill 2505 was introduced yesterday in the state House of Representatives on the first day of the 2010 Legislative Session.

 

2.  HB 2505 is already scheduled for a Committee hearing and it will be THIS WEEK!

 

READ ON FOR DETAILS AND ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE...

 

 

 A Message from the WFFA Executive Committee...

 ATTEND THE HEARING!

 

THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2010

OLYMPIA, WA

 

House Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee meeting

Thursday, January 14th

Begins at 8:00 AM (arrive at 7:45 AM)

House Hearing Room B

John L. O'Brien Building

State Capitol Campus, Olympia, WA
 
At the hearing, please:
1.)    sign in.
2.)    sign up in support of this bill.
3.)    leave a copy of your written testimony.
 
Please Join Us!
 
Bob Brink - President
Sam Comstock - 1st VP
Steve Stinson - 2nd VP
Michelle Blake - Secretary
Bill Scheer - Treasurer
Don Theoe - Past President
Ken Miller - Past Presient
Bob Playfair - Past President

 

Here are some resources for planning your visit to the Capitol Campus:

 

http://www.leg.wa.gov/legislature/pages/visitingthelegislature.aspx

 

http://www.leg.wa.gov/legislature/Pages/Parking.aspx  (includes a campus map)

 

http://www.ga.wa.gov/visitor/index.html

 

 

 

Please contact your legislators in support of HB 2505!

 

To find your legislative district & contact info for your Senator and Representatives:

 

1.  Visit http://www.leg.wa.gov/pages/home.aspx

Click on "Find Your District" and enter your address, or

 

2.  Via Phone - call the Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000.  You may also send a message to your legislators through this service - all with ONE phone call!

 

 You now have all you need to make your voice heard!!

 

HB 2505 is WFFA's attempt to make Forest and Fish Rules work for tree farmers.  HB 2505 simply expands existing rules to let any Small Forest Landowner who harvests less than 20 acres, to utilize smaller buffers.  This option will allow you to cut more of your timber and, in exchange, does NOT allow you to use the Forest Riparian Easement Program (FREP) with that harvest.

 

You may read HB 2505 by clicking on

this link 

or visit the Legislature's website directly at

 http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo

and enter "2505" for the bill number.

 

Please note:

This bill has an error that will be corrected by amendment on the house floor.  The error is on page 2, Line 14. Sec 2. (1) (a), It now reads: "On parcels of twenty..."  The amendment will correct it to read: "On harvest areas of twenty..."

 

 

*** Please get involved on behalf of WFFA.***

 

We need a grassroots outpouring to be effective in our democracy and NEED YOUR ACTION NOW!

 

This is the most difficult work of democracy... YOU...taking time from your already busy schedule to add your voice.