<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html charset=us-ascii"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""><b class="">For The Children</b></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">The rising hills, the slopes</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">of statistics</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">lie before us.</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">the steep climb</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">of everything, going up</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">up, as we all</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">go down.</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">In the next century</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">or the one beyond that,</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">they say,</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">are valleys, pastures,</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">we can meet there in peace</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">if we make it.</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">To climb these coming crests</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">one word to you, to</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">you and your children:</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""><i class="">stay together</i></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""><i class="">learn the flowers</i></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""><i class="">go light</i></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- Gary Snyder</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">Dear friends,</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>In the aftermath of the election and witnessing the alarming appointments to key positions in the next administration, I know that many of us are feeling disheartened and frightened about the future of our country and of our world. The determination of the President-elect and his appointed EPA administrator, Scott Pruitt, to undo all our efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is particularly alarming.</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>But this is not the time to be discouraged. It is the time to stand up and take positive action. It is clear that, for the next four years at least, the federal government will not be leading the fight against climate change. This makes our local actions all the more important and necessary. </div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>As some of you may know, I serve on the board of directors for the Center for Climate Protection, a northern California based organization which has been working to develop and promote local policies to address this critical issue. If you are looking for a way to help ensure a viable future for our children and for their children, I invite you to visit our website (<a href="http://climateprotection.org/" class="">http://climateprotection.org/</a>) to learn more about our work and how you can get involved. I also hope that you will consider making a financial contribution to this important work.</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>May we all stay safe through these interesting times.</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">Larry</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""><br class=""></div></body></html>