Wednesday, January 21st
Our January meeting will feature the club's annual Photo Contest, and Board Elections.
If you'd like to enter the contest, simply come to the meeting with a photo of a reptile or amphibian that YOU have taken. You can enter as many as you'd like. Winners will receive a year's membership.
Meetings start promptly at 8pm in the Alumni Room of Medaille College.
DEC Decisions Will Be Made in the Future Without Benefit of Research
Below is a letter from a DEC Wildlife researcher. The DEC is planning on moving the wildlife researchers away from the Delmar research center. This could possibly affect decisions on how to best protect reptiles and amphibians in New York State, as well as all other wildlife.
My friends.... For those of you who have offered to help our DEC wildlife research staff in our darkest hour... as we are being forced in 3 weeks from our research laboratory facility and into a cubicle maze in a downtown Albany office building... here's how you can help:
1) We need a blizzard of e-mail messages asking Governor Pataki to please step in and stop the forced transfer of DEC's only wildlife research staff away from DEC's only wildlife research center. We need as many messages as possible. One every few days from each of you would be great. We have many dozens of others writing already. Please ask your friends to write. The Governor's e-mail address is: gov.pataki@chamber.state.ny.us
2) It would be helpful if you could send "CC" copies of your Governor message to any or all of the following when you send it:
- letters@nytimes.com
- alan@WAMC.com
- editor@timesunion.com
- feedback@thewire.ap.org
- editor@legislativegazette.com
- newsdirector@WGY.com
- speaker@assembly.state.ny.us
- bruno@senate.state.ny.us
- Your Local Newspaper(s)
3) Points to make in your e-mail to the governor.
a. Keep it brief. Get to the point quickly in the first few sentences.
b. Use a firm but civil tone.
c. Tell the governor that New Yorkers want wildlife conservation to be guided by wildlife research... not by cubicle bureaucrats. Ask the governor to make this situation right by having wildlife research staff remain at the Delmar wildlife research laboratory where researchers can continue their population stewardship activities.
In theory, there is some number of e-mail messages which will convince the governor that there is irresistible public demand which must be honored.
Please help us reach that number.
Please remember to include your home address in all of your correspondences and if you are not registered to vote, then please get registered and vote in every election!Your vote can make a difference!
To find out who is your local Assemblyman or how to contact your Assemblyman please visit the New York State Assembly's home page. For more information about other actions of our Governor and State check out New York State's web page. If you would rather mail a letter to the Governor the mailing address is:
Governor George E. Pataki
State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224
Help reptiles in need by donating to our Adoption Fund! Your donations will help feed and house reptiles waiting for adoption.