Thanks, Dave, Cyndi, Rachel, Terry, Rhonda, Greg, all of you
who have kept pushing the need to support public trust bill,
now!.
This is the plan. As acting chair, I'm asking each of you to
comment, sign up for one of the tasks, and let's get this going,
today.
I talked with Dan Scripps office, and Dan will advise me today what
time he can make a press conference in TC, Mon. Mar. 22d, world water
day. he and House and Sen dems, and the public, need our help.
The only voice out there in the vaccuum this Winter are the well drillers and
Chamber, Mackinac Center.
We need a place, time, for the press conference, likely
here in TC at the open space on bay (If bad weather,
then Horizons' books, need to confirm), gather supporters, and then
simultaneously or the day before ( or this Friday) issue our press
release. Let's try to get 50 to 60 people there on World Water
Day, Mon. A.M. forget tax on tea and tea parties, we're concerned
about stopping the sale of water out of the Great Lakes, the "water
party."
On Thursday, Mar. 18, a notice action alert of press conference,
etc. goes out, and action alert to write no flood the legislature with letters
and emals on March 22nd W Water Day, and flood newspapers with letters to
the editor.
This has got to happen!! Here's what I
suggest for assignments:
Dave work on press release and circulate it to us. It should
message what we've developed to date with Hugh and comments following, and
direct as you say a reframing to preventing the private takeover of
public water, our water, from a public takeover of groundwater. The only time
tested way to do this is the Scripps public trust bill HB 5319. I'll get
you details on place etc.
Cyndi, make contacts in Lansing, to coordinate this with House
leadership, adn Committee, Rep Warren,
Terry, Rhonda, MCWC, Linda Sommerville, Greg, Brian,
others, help coordinate rally at open space. I'd say we can do it
near the marina hospitality building right on water.
Jon Keesecker, kick in action alter for FWWatch letters/emails to
Michigan legislators, leadership, calling for enactment of HB 5319 public
trust.
Brian and Rachel wrap up letters to editors and
legislators, and attach them to action alert
package.
Brian, through Patty, and her connections with
Farmers, you'll get someone to speak for farmers at press conference, and some
farmers to write letters to legislators, saying "we need water to farm as we
always have, not sold out from underneath the roots of our orchards and
crops." "The only way to protect farmers private use of gruondwater is to make
sure water is in public trust by passing HB 5319. We dont'
want large special interests claiming private ownersihp of our
groundwater selling it out of the Great Lakes
basin."
Jim (me) - call Scripps office, set up
place for event, confirm it.
- circulate email to our coalition ,supporters,
and press release to Record Eagle and WTCM to announce the rally
for Public Trust Bill 5319, preserving "Our
Waters" from sale, export, and abuse.
- draft cover letter/email for action alert
with Brian and Rachel.
Rachel or Terry write an op ed for G R
Press.
Jim or Dave
write op ed for Det News and Freep, Cyndi to State Journal.
Brian to TC R
Eagle.
Someone for
Birmingham Oakland County paper, someone for Bay City paper.
We can do this, let the momentum build, and let's
then meet with House leadership (Cyndi to arrange) and get this up for hearing
in House, and vote, and onto the Senate.
I realize we identified problems with the timing
etc. at Public Trust Summit, and long range probability. But, we never
said we shouldn't do this as a tactic short term, and who knows, with
election year, we might find out the public wants "water friendly"
legislators, not ducks-in-tow for the Chamber of
Commerce.
Please
excuse the rough outline, but time is of the essence.
Thanks,
Jim
Chair, Flow
for
Water