Dear MDOSPREYer:

The Friends of MD Parks and State Forests has issued an alert asking people to contact their state legislators requesting they not cut funds for MD State Parks in the 2011 budget.  You can find your state legislators at:

http://mdelect.net/electedofficials/

Paste that into your browser, and then fill in address, click the Find Elected Officials button and your representative(s) and senator should appear in the left margin.  Click on the legislator to find e-mail links as well as phone numbers, etc.  

Friends suggests this text : 

Thanks for supporting State Parks.  Please do not cut Funding for State Parks and Program Open Space in the 2011 Budget.

I, however, used the below text  for my delegates (for some reason this district has two!) and senator.  It might help get some traction with the knuckle-draggers in the legislature.

This will take a little effort, but if it helps preserve some park funding, and keeps them out of the Program Open Space cookie jar, we all benefit.
 
Dear Senator/Delegate xxxxx:

Thank you for supporting Maryland State Parks.  Please avoid cutting funding for State Parks and Program Open Space in the 2011 budget.  Program Open Space is a self-funding vehicle and to use the funds therein for any other purpose would be a violation of the public trust.  Our parks provide our citizens with a sometimes free and always inexpensive means of relaxation and entertainment, something to be valued in these financially straightened times.  And they preserve open space, with all its benefits to wildlife, clean air, and water.

Kurt R. Schwarz
Conservation Chair
Maryland Ornithological Society