People are asking what to do, how to influence the river rights challenges.
The answer is we influence it — all of us. Not just people who claim membership in CWO, but everyone. It’s our government. It has a duty to protect our rivers, for us, the people. We need to make sure it happens.. There is not someone else to fix this for you, there is you. You can do it.
You and the people you reach, and the people they reach, and the people they reach can make this happen. They can secure your river rights. So first, we need to reach out and find other people.
Have a get together in your community. Set a place and time to have beers, coffee, breakfast, pizza. And meet the other people that care about this issue. Meet the people who will help you in your community. Meet a rafter, a fisherman, a Scouting leaders, a kayaker, a birdwatcher, a person. Meet them.
And then…..
Handout them the river rights brochures, the bumper stickers, and the petitions. And then everyone talk some about where and how, they will get these out there. Ask each other questions about how to explain this. Hop on-line and come back here and ask your questions. Get talking, get active.
But wait, you say, “I don’t have that stuff!”
Well…that stuff will be ready by March 7th. If some of you step up, we’ll get them spread around the state via a volunteer pony express. It’s wacky how well this has worked in the past. All sorts of rendezvous among strangers that become friends while handing off information and getting the chance to meet each other. People traveling on business and for pleasure, pick up a packet and carry it to boat shop, a fly club, a coffee shop and meet someone who hands them out locally.
This takes people who will say “I will.”
So, on March 7th and 8th I’ll have the big stash of brochures & petitions in Albany. I’ll do a presentation on river rights at the FFF show at the Albany Fairgrounds. If you’re going to the show and have a ticket, that’s great, come find the CWO sign and introduce yourself. If you’re not a fly fisher and don’t want to pay to get into the show, send an e-mail and I’ll meet you at the doors with the information you need.
Here’s how this works…
Post a comment. (See that “red link” at the lower right corner of the screen? Click on that and you’ll get a form on how to post a comment.)
– Say where you are at (city only),
– Say realistically how many you can distribute within a couple of weeks (we can get you more, we just hate to have them end in the trash though, so be realistic)
– Say if you need a delivery to you.
– If you can deliver from point A to point B, please say it.
If you’re comfortable using your name or your business, then please do so. It really helps people to know who they can turn to in their community. If you’re not comfortable posting your name in your comment, we can reference your e-mail behind the scenes and get in touch to help you make it happen.
If some of you old timers that did this the last time around want to pipe in with how this works, I’d appreciate it.
So, list out those cities, lets see where this stuff needs to go. And stay tuned into this blog for more information.
– by Heather McNeill, Pony Express Station Manager
