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WLWCA Legislative Committee

The WLWCA Legislative Committee conducted its first meeting on September 15, 2005, in Stevens Point.  The chair is WLWCA Board member Jack Van Dixhorn.  Other members include Connie Seefeldt, Dave Ferris, Jim Hebbe, Dale Hanson, Allen Carothers and Julian Zelazny. 

The following is a brief report on what occurred at the meeting and requests for action.  Please contact Julian for additional details or if you'd like to participate in future discussions. 

WLWCA Legislative Committee Mission

The Legislative Committee will initiate and track important resource conservation issues to the benefit of counties through the state legislative process. 

WLWCA Legislative Committee Vision

The Legislative Committee will be a source of quality information which may result in defining a uniform position on important resource conservation issues to be shared with legislators, agencies and others. 

Action:  Legislative Updates for Your LCC Committee

Each county has been asked to reserve a space on their agenda for legislative issues.  It will be up to each county to decide what to discuss, but in WLWCA's Thursday Notes, there will be a “Legislative Update” section that can be help drive the discussion.  Additionally, the committee voted to focus on one important conservation issue at a time.  They want to start small and build on the effectiveness of a well-organized committee as an important information source. 

1^st Issue:  Funding for Aquatic Invasive Species

The first issue will be securing a dedicated funding source for aquatic invasive species.  It was agreed that this is a good first issue since a resolution was passed at WLWCA’s 2003 conference to this effect.   Vilas County has been working on this issue continuously for years and compiled Talking Points on the subject.  All counties are requested to contact their legislators explaining why this issue is important to the future of Wisconsin.  Please include details on why this issue is relevant to your county.  A form should be filled out each time a legislator is contacted and include the result(s), if any.  These forms will be collected by WLWCA to track the issue and number of contacts. 

Why Should My County Participate?

Unity drives the strength of any organization.  A collective effort brings forth those most knowledgeable about the issue and helps educate others who may not be as informed.  Aquatic and terrestrial invasives are only the first two issuesl.  If invasives are not your county’s main focus, your county or area’s primary issues can be brought to the committee through your representatives.  In the future, other counties will be helping you by educating their legislators on your issues. 

Establishing legislative contacts will open the door to discuss other issues in the future.  Our goal is to be more proactive than reactive and to be respected as an information source.  These legislators cannot know the details on each issue that comes through the door.  They look to others well-versed in the subject, and who better than conservation staff and supervisors. 

Your Help is Needed

WLWCA is only as strong as its members make it.  This is your opportunity to get on board and help the legislative process.  Make it your goal that your legislators will become educated in today’s vital resource conservation issues and know why conservation is important for the future of Wisconsin.  The Legislative Committee is the tool to help us get there.  Please choose to be a part.