<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div><br class=""></div><div>Hi everyone,</div><div><br class=""></div><div>This arrived in the church-lady’s email today, so she forwarded it to me. All in favor of the GSC signing onto this campaign to protect mature and old-growth trees and forests on federal land, please say “Aye.”</div><div><br class=""></div><div>Feel free to send a letter individually to the BLM by June 20, and/or to the USFS by July 20. Reply to me with your vote by 9 p.m. Sunday, June 18. The FUUSM office will be closed on June 19 off, so I can get some stuff done that day. </div><div><br class=""></div><div>—dawn</div><div><br class=""></div><div><br class=""><blockquote type="cite" class=""><div class=""><div class="WordSection1" style="page: WordSection1; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><div style="border-style: solid none none; border-top-width: 1pt; border-top-color: rgb(225, 225, 225); padding: 3pt 0in 0in;" class=""><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border: none; padding: 0in;" class=""><b class="">From:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b><a href="mailto:mhughes@environmentamerica.org" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;" class="">Melinda Hughes</a><br class=""><b class="">Sent:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b>Tuesday, June 13, 2023 7:06 PM<br class=""><b class="">To:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b><a href="mailto:mhughes@environmentamerica.org" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;" class="">Melinda Hughes</a><br class=""><b class="">Subject:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b>Climate Forests Campaign - Help Us Save Old Mature Forests</div></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></div><div class=""><div class=""><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></div><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" class="">Hello! You may or may not have heard about our <a href="https://publicinterestnetwork-dot-yamm-track.appspot.com/2TKoE1ihJb3HD6DajUl3y2iRTMg8GDwEBCBzXxQWB60Oc8te4hwHkhj4R00q3hUfwZimTY8hKS9wTE1yAKizrst8BDv-SdzJyxXv8fVsm4uYyjMbq1-HClqSf8RMkZs4uQ5SsD4XwbG8d_y0ogtihq2rXMh1YYj_HJQu2s4HT-CLSn3Yb-ugcZNHdk0FTXpzTog" target="_blank" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;" class=""><span style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);" class="">Climate Forests Campaign</span></a> and the push for<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><b class=""><u class="">500,000 public comments</u></b> to convince the Biden administration to permanently protect mature and old-growth forests (50+ million acres) on federal lands. Both the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the US Forest Service announced that they are initiating rule-making processes and both have kicked off public comment periods to get public input on what they should do to protect our forests. <b class="">The comment period for BLM ends<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><u class=""><span style="color: red;" class="">June 20th</span></u>, and the comment period for the Forest was just extended until<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><u class=""><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">July 20th</span></u>. </b></span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" class="">We do have a<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RLC1Tz4-CsTSC8tPqTZR8ea70VLG0vDqH6fjTlsAKuE/edit" target="_blank" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;" class="">toolkit</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>with sample language with those that can write longer comments, and it also contains talking points, social media graphics, etc.</span></div><div class=""><div class=""><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></span></div></div><div class=""><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">Is your organization participating, and if yes, please answer the following by emailing me back with answers or <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1wydUKgTu7l1oP8bL67AlwFYH75OPxKUAz7aiXM45pxY/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;" class="">please fill out this form</a> so that we can track our efforts.</span><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class=""><o:p class=""></o:p></span></div></div><div class=""><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 47.25pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;" class=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class=""><span class="">·<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";" class=""> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 31, 31);" class="">Are you submitting an organizational comment to the Forest Service? to BLM?</span><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class=""><o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 47.25pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;" class=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class=""><span class="">·<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";" class=""> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 31, 31);" class="">Have you sent a request out to your constituents or partner groups, and if yes, about how many comments (individual or other organizational comments) do you estimate that will generate? Note that we'd love to see broad outreach to other sectors such as faith-based communities or jurisdictions, really anyone that cares about trees.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class=""><o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 47.25pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;" class=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class=""><span class="">·<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";" class=""> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 31, 31);" class="">Beyond asking for comments, how about have tried getting petition comments and if yes, how many?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class=""><o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div class=""><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class="">There are also some super easy things your organization could do as well, which is great for all organizations regardless of capacity. </div></div><div class=""><ul type="disc" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class=""><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Sign (and share) the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><b class=""><u class="">organizational sign-on letter</u></b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>which can be found<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd-ZHrXbRAr1RO09OML0IqAAy0Wopj0mODuFAml9p6ixRTV3Q/viewform" target="_blank" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;" class="">here</a> that <span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;" class="">calls for protections for mature and old-growth trees and forests. The comment is addressed to both the BLM and Forest Service. <b class="">We will deliver it to the BLM on June 20 and the Forest Service on July 20</b>. The letter will close on July 19 (groups that sign on after the morning of 6/20 will not be included in the submission to BLM). This comment letter is led by Environment America, NRDC, Earthjustice, and Standing Trees.</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;" class="">We also have<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><b class=""><u class="">our own petition</u></b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" class=""> where folks can click just one</span><a href="https://www.climate-forests.org/take-action" target="_blank" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;" class=""><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" class=""><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>link</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" class=""><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>to send a note to both the BLM and Forest Service. If nothing else, we'd love it if you sent our<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="https://www.climate-forests.org/take-action" target="_blank" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;" class=""><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" class="">petition link</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" class=""><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>to your constituents as every comment helps. </span></li></ul></div><div class=""><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" class="">This is a once-a-generation for us to really make a difference for forest protections at the federal level. Please do as many actions as your organizational capacity allows. </span></div></div></div><div class=""><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></span></div></div><div class=""><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><u class=""><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">Please reply to me individually at <a href="mailto:mhughes@environmentamerica.org" target="_blank" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;" class=""><span style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);" class="">mhughes@environmentamerica.org</span></a>.</span></u><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class=""> Also, if you're not the person to talk to about this, please feel free to pass me along to whoever is. I look forward to hearing from you and working with you to save our forests. </span><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class=""><o:p class=""></o:p></span></div></div></div><div class=""><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></span></div></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">Sincerely,</span></div><div class=""><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">Melinda</span><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class=""><o:p class=""></o:p></span></div></div><div class=""><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></span></div></div><div class=""><div class=""><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="color: rgb(80, 0, 80);" class="">*********************************<br class=""></span><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">Melinda Hughes</span><span style="color: rgb(80, 0, 80);" class=""><o:p class=""></o:p></span></div></div><div class=""><div class=""><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class=""><a href="mailto:mhughes@environmentamerica.org" target="_blank" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;" class="">mhughes@environmentamerica.org</a><br class="">(360) 977-1509<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div></div><div class=""><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">Connect with me on LinkedIn at <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/melinda-hughes-melp" target="_blank" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;" class=""><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;" class="">www.linkedin.com/in/melinda-hughes-melp</span></a><o:p class=""></o:p></span></div></div><div class=""><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></span></div></div><div class=""><div class=""><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">Environment America is a national network of 30 state environmental groups. Our staff work together for clean air, clean water, clean energy, wildlife and open spaces, and a livable climate. Our members across the United States put grassroots support behind our research and advocacy. Environment America is part of The Public Interest Network, which operates and supports organizations committed to a shared vision of a better world and a strategic approach to social change. <o:p class=""></o:p></span></div></div><div class=""><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">Visit <a href="https://environmentamerica.org/" target="_blank" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;" class="">Environment America</a> and <a href="https://environmentamericacenter.org/" target="_blank" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;" class="">Environment America Research and Policy Center</a> on our websites.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></div></div><div id="DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;" class=""><br class=""><table style="border-top-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(211, 212, 222);" class=""><tbody class=""><tr class=""><td style="width: 55px; padding-top: 13px;" class=""><a href="http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient" target="_blank" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;" class=""><img src="https://s-install.avcdn.net/ipm/preview/icons/icon-envelope-tick-green-avg-v1.png" alt="" width="46" height="29" style="width: 46px; height: 29px;" class=""></a></td><td style="width: 470px; padding-top: 12px; color: rgb(65, 66, 78); font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;" class="">Virus-free.<a href="http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(68, 83, 234); text-decoration: underline;" class="">www.avg.com</a></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div></blockquote></div><br class=""></body></html>