Re: SB 566 Report./Birdwatchers United

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• Maybe in reply to: Harry Fisher: "SB 566 Report./Birdwatchers United"

Leslie's message about how much effort it was for her to get to the
Senate hearing should be inspirational to others.  If she could do it,
so can all of us!

It also points out that there is a need to train people to do these
things.  That is something I'm willing to do, if MOS chooses to accept
the proposal I'm beginning to formulate.  I'm more than willing to help
people learn how to find their legislators and learn how to communicate
with them.  I'm more than willing to help people learn how to testify at
hearings.  At the state level, it's actually pretty informal and very
easy.  The committee members are wandering around, wandering in and out
of the room, the chairman of the House committee was very genial and
joked with the witnesses.  But you do have to be prepared.  You have to
know in advance what your key points are.  You have to be prepared to
back them up.  After 20 other people have already said what you wanted
to say, you have to either add something new or recognize that the best
thing you can do (which the committee will appreciate greatly) is to
just say that you agree with what ABCDE said, you oppose/support the
bill and appreciate the opportunity to be heard.  I'm willing to
organize "visit the State House" nights for MOS and Maryland birders,
although the most effective visits in Maryland take place outside the
legislative session, which is really too hectic.  I can help organize
and train delegations of birders to visit their legislators in their
home districts.

I'm also willing to do the monitoring and tracking (if at least 2 other
people are willing to share the chore with me) and to get the info onto
MdOsprey, with details as to hearings, background info, etc.

I hope others are interested in helping to improve the system, and I
hope you'll share your ideas for doing so with me, so they can be
incorporated into the proposal I'll submit to MOS.

PS - Rich Dolesh, if you are out there - I don't have your e-mail
address and I've misplaced your home number.  Please give me a call if
you have a chance this weekend.

Ellen
-- 
Ellen Paul           
Executive Director
The Ornithological Council
Mailto:epaul@dclink.com
Ornithological Council Website:  http://www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET
"Providing Scientific Information about Birds"

• Next message: Jane Kostenko: "St. Mary's County, MD Kelp Gull Update, 3/6/99"
• Previous message: Phil Davis: "Texas Kelp Gull Update"
• Maybe in reply to: Harry Fisher: "SB 566 Report./Birdwatchers United"