Meeting Notes: February 7, 2017
Goal:
Identify volunteers who are willing to monitor key environmental websites with a focus on state legislation, recognizing that bills can come up for a vote within a short timeframe, so vigilance is required. (Debbie Birch)
Action Step:
Monitor the General Assembly website for unscheduled committee meetings. www.ncleg.net/LegislativeCalendar
Goal:
Identify and track the websites of environmental groups such as:
* The Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation, a water conservation and advocacy group; follow them on social media
* The North Carolina Conservation Network (NCCN), a statewide network of environmental groups involved in air and water conservation efforts; sign up for action alerts
* Clean Air Carolina , a nonprofit organization that advocates for healthy air www.cleanaircarolina.org
*American Rivers, a national advocacy group that combines advocacy with field work in key river basins
Goal:
Become effective lobbyists on environmental issues.
Action Steps:
Write handwritten letters to legislators (most effective). (June Lambla)
Call legislators and show up at their offices, etc. (Emilee Syrewicze)
Develop lobbying skills; Jane Patterson to forward Advocacy Tool Kit,
Barbara Speir to forward outline on effective lobbying.
Create a contact list of NC state legislators.
Look for action alerts that appear at bottom of websites and use them to formulate succinct talking points.
Become better educated – How do we find and contact scientists?
Calls to Action :
Lobby state legislators to confirm Michael Regan to lead NC Department of Environmental Quality (vote scheduled for March 8).
Join Catawba Riverkeeper; they need new members.
Join the March for Science – April 22 Washington, DC; younger people especially needed. (Crystal James)