State Budget Hearins w/ GovThanks, Jim, for your report. Today this slightly edited message came on I-CALL from Iowa Environmental Council. I-CALL Action Alert--to alert you to a series of public budget meetings Governor Vilsack and Lt. Governor Sally Pederson are holding. They will present on current state finances and then open the meeting for public comments. This is a rare opportunity for you to be directly heard and we urge you to show up and tell stories of how natural resources state funding affects YOU. We are going to face another challenging year for natural resources spending, and we need to express our support for REAP, county conservation boards, Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship conservation programs, Department of Natural Resources water, energy, other vital programs and more. We need to tell personal stories of positive economic impacts resulting from conservation spending, highlight quality of life issues, and stress the importance of leaving our children and grandchildren a clean and safe environment. The two remaining public meetings are: Monday, December 15 5 p.m. Des Moines Area Community College Building 6, Auditorium 2006 South Ankeny Blvd. Ankeny Wednesday, December 17 6 p.m. Eastern Iowa Community College Kahl Educational Center, Rooms 104-106 306 West Third Street Davenport If you cannot make these meetings, we would urge you to send Governor Vilsack a letter or e-mail. E-Mail the Governor, Lt. Governor or First Lady by visiting http://www.governor.state.ia.us/comments/capitol_correspond/index.html. Responses to you will be by U.S. Mail. This needs to happen very shortly as the Governor is right now forming the fiscal budget for 2004/2005 to present to the legislature in January. Please inform us or your involvement and send a copy of your communication to: Rebecca Kauten Communications Director Iowa Environmental Council 711 East Locust Street Des Moines, Iowa 50309 (515) 244-1194, x13 [log in to unmask] Thank you and have a happy and safe holiday season. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp