Subject: Register for the Forest Protection Week in DC, June 1-6 Make a Real difference in Forest Protection! Meet like-minded, passionate forest lovers from across the country! Learn the “ropes” on the Hill in DC – meeting with your elected representatives! Meet E.O. Wilson! Plan to “be there or be square” this June! You are invited to attend the annual Forest Protection Week in Washington, DC, June 1-6. This is a very important opportunity to educate Members of Congress about the Bush Administration's attacks on our National Forests and urge your elected officials to help stop these attacks. With the Bush Administration working to gut environmental rules through their Healthy Forest Initiative and new National Forest Management Act regulations, with Congress pushing legislation to log 1000 acres at a time without environmental review with the excuse of insects or fire, and with new subsidies for logging being proposed to kick-start a new forest destruction industry - biomass, it is imperative that Members of Congress hear from you. This week is an excellent opportunityto demonstrate to your Members of Congress how their national policy decisions affect our local forests. We are facing a number of serious challenges, but we are also creating opportunities for forest protection and better stewardship by the Forest Service. In addition to local issues you are working on such as stopping a particular timber sale or other harmful projects, some of the issues that we will be taking to the Hill during the Forest Protection Week will include: * Countering the Bush Administration's "Healthy Forest Initiative" * Stopping bad fire policy * Promoting sound fire policy through Home and Community Protection Efforts * Generating support for roadless area protection and ending the commercial timber sale program Register for the Forest Protection Week You can make a big difference by coming to Washington. In addition to educating Members of Congress, you will gain valuable experience and contacts with key decision-makers that could prove beneficial in the future. To attend the Forest Protection Week, please e-mail the below registration form to one of the contacts below, depending on your location. You will be coordinating with them to schedule meetings. In addition to your participation, other local voices who care about forests and maintaining public input would be valuable additions. If you work with city council members, county commissioners, faith groups, fishing groups or others who may be interested in attending, please invite them. We need to demonstrate that there is broad public support for these issues. We will help you with logistics, scholarships etc. Issue Briefing June 1st Please plan to arrive in Washington D.C. on the evening of Saturday May 31st, or in the early morning on Sunday June 1st. On June 1st there will be an issue briefing from 12 - 5 p.m. Location to be announced. We urge all participants to attend, as this is the time to get a briefing on the issues that we will be working on for the week. Forest Protection Week Schedule >From June 2 - 6 activists will educate Members of Congress and their staff as well as Forest Service personnel and Administration officials. We ask that you work with other activists coming from your state to schedule meetings with your entire Congressional delegation - both House and Senate. We will be in contact with you to help you get started. On June 4th, the National Forest Protection Campaign will be launching their 10 Endangered Forest Report at a press event with E.O. Wilson. We encourage everyone to attend. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evening at 5:30 p.m. we ask everyone to join us for a debriefing meeting so we can give you updates, share information from our meetings. Location to be announced. You will receive meeting locations, directions and other important information by mid-May. Thursday evening: We will have a party to celebrate our efforts. Scholarships Travel scholarships are available for half the cost of your airfare (up to $200) for those with financial need. In order to receive a stipend, activists must be in DC for three full days including the lobby training on the Sunday before lobby week. Other travel scholarships may also be available (e.g. gas and bus ticket for Eastern activists). Housing Home stay options are limited and it is strongly encouraged to find a place to say in advance. We may be able to assist you in finding partners to share a room in a guest-house. Local guest house options for your stay in DC will cost around $20-80 a night please see <<A HREF="http://www.americanlands.org/dc_hotels.htm">http://www.americanlands.org/dc_hotels.htm</A>> To register, please fill out the registration form and email it the organizer listed below. We look forward to seeing you in June. FOREST PROTECTION LOBBY WEEK REGISTRATION FORM NAME: ORGANIZATION (If any): ADDRESS: PHONE: EMAIL: STATE: CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE: DO YOU NEED A TRAVEL SCHOLARSHIP? : IF SO, WHAT IS THE COST OF YOUR AIRFARE, IF YOU KNOW IT?: ARE YOU INTERESTED IN A SHARED ROOM AT A BED AND BREAKFAST: DO YOU NEED A HOME STAY (THESE ARE LIMITED)?: If you are from one of the states listed below, please send you form the organizer for those states. If not, please send your form to: Anne Martin, National Field Director, <A HREF="mailto:[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]</A> <<A HREF="mailto:[log in to unmask]">mailto:[log in to unmask]</A>>, 509-624-5657 MA, NH, VT, NY, RI, CT, MASS, PA: contact John Demos, Northeast Organizer, at 207-384-0175 or <A HREF="mailto:[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]</A> WI, MN, IA, SD, ND: contact Lois Norrgard, Upper Midwest Organizer, at 952-881-7282 or <A HREF="mailto:[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]</A> IN, MI, OH, IL, MO, KY: contact Joshua Martin, Midwest Organizer, at 812-333-5456 or <A HREF="mailto:[log in to unmask]">mailto:[log in to unmask]</A> Erin E. Jordahl Director, Iowa Chapter Sierra Club 3839 Merle Hay Road, Suite 280 Des Moines, IA 50310 515-277-8868 [log in to unmask] www.iowa.sierraclub.org