[Pollinator] Action Alert!~Contact Your Senators on Wednesday, October 17--"Commit to Conservation Call-In Day"--in Support of Adding at Least $5 Billion More for Conservation in Senate Farm Bill--Including Pollinator Conservation

[R. Thomas Van Arsdall]

URGENT ACTION REQUEST!  Contact Your U.S. Senators on Wednesday, October 17
as Part of National Conservation Call-In Day in Support of Including at
Least $5 Billion More for Conservation in Senate Farm Bill.
* Two Minutes, Two Calls—one to each of your Senators’ offices. 
* It’s Easy—Dial the Capitol Operator at (202) 224-3121 and ask for each
Senator [or use your established contacts].  Identify yourself as a
constituent, and make your points with the staffer who answers the phone.
* Key Suggested TALKING POINTS:
	+ “Please support including at least $5 billion in additional
funding in the farm bill to help farmers and ranchers provide wildlife
habitat and other important conservation benefits.”
	+ Optional~”While I understand the Senate farm bill is expected to
include new conservation language that could benefit bees and other
pollinators, it will do little good if the bill falls short on conservation
funding.”
* Your Action is TIMELY!  Senate Agriculture Committee farm bill markup is
scheduled to start October 23.  The bill is expected to move to the Senate
floor the following week.  
* You can help make a difference.  Without a groundswell of public support,
the requested increase in conservation funding is unlikely to occur~and real
conservation action that benefits pollinators will be less likely to happen.

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND:
* OCTOBER 17 is a Nationwide “Commit to Conservation Call-in Day.”
* The Coevolution Institute (CoE) is teaming up with the American Farmland
Trust, the National Wildlife Federation, Defenders of Wildlife, NRDC, the
Sustainable Agriculture Coalition and other leading conservation, wildlife
and environmental groups in a unified effort to place a paid Ad on October
17 in The Hill and Roll Call--two newspapers widely read by Senators and
House members and their staff.  
       + You can view the full Ad text and logos of sponsoring
organizations, under http://www.pollinator.org/farm_bill.htm--click on
“Increased Conservation Funding Ad." 
* Each participating organization also committed to launching a ‘grassroots’
action alert urging individuals to contact their Senators.
	+ Please consider doing Your Part!
	+ We encourage you to pass this action opportunity to others who
might be interested.
	+ While contacts after October 17 will still be timely for a week or
more, you can help generate the maximum “buzz for the cause!!!” on October
17!
* CoE is e-mailing a letter today with the same message to Ag LA's in most
Senate offices, plus key Ag Committee staff.  
	+ Copy can be accessed at
http://www.pollinator.org/farm_bill.htm--click on "CoE Senate Letter
Supporting Increased Conservation Funding."
* Based on indications to date, CoE is optimistic that the Senate version of
the farm bill will include significant pollinator language in the
conservation and research titles.
	+ However, conservation needs an additional $5 billion in order for
new authorizing language to translate into conservation actions on the
ground that benefit native and managed pollinators and their habitat. 

Thanks in advance for your actions on behalf of pollinators.

R. Thomas (Tom) Van Arsdall, Public Affairs Representative for Coevolution
Institute/Pollinator Partnership/NAPPC
For More Information, http://www.pollinator.org 
   Van Arsdall & Associates
   13605 McLane Place
   Fredericksburg, VA  22407-2344
   (540) 785-0949
   tom at vanarsdall.com