George: Thanks for posting this. I've been getting posts almost every day
from New England TU people pushing for attendance at a regional meeting
real-soon-now (I'd have to look it up). I've been deleting them because my
schedule is so packed I didn't think I had time. I'll make time now that I
know this. My personal opinion is that we need to fight to keep the rights
that we have (and as far as I know, the info on the NORS web site has it
pretty clear: http://www.adventuresports.com/river...w-who-owns.htm)
but these folks point out how expensive that can be. My own little group
has decided to make our own efforts part of a larger lobby - we've had scary
lawyer threats already (a guy who would be happy to make things as expensive
for his client as for us). I suppose I'm on the side of avoiding the fights
under the aegis of TU because that would hurt the progress we're making
locally. We are more likely to influence local people by trying cooperation
and education. Stream access hasn't been tried in the Massachusetts courts,
so it would be a very expensive thing to get involved with. The law is on
our side, and we would ultimately win, but it would be a long, hard, and
expensive battle. I have heard very clueless responses from all levels of
State people when confronted about how to deal with a couple of access
issues... I know things in Montana and Wisconsin are different - you've won
some good ground already. That's the key to grassroots - every local
situation is different. I have come very close to quitting TU completely
over the past few years because of things I consider to be interference in
local issues by TU National - things they should at least know to contact
the locals about before stepping in, if you know what I mean.

--
Stan Gula


"George Cleveland" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 16 Mar 2007 00:50:29 -0500, George Cleveland
wrote:

http://www.newwest.net/index.php/top...ebate/C41/L41/

The NLC is meeting in the very near future concerning this. Send the
folks at National an emaill and tell them what you think.

http://tu.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/tu.cf...duser/home.php




Here is a post on the Wisconsin Flyfishing Page message board from a
member of the National Leadership Council on this:

"Folks:

The volunteers of TU are its most important asset and a huge voice
that needs to be heard. This proposal would, in my opinion, gut a
policy and a process that we took 15 months to develop. The policy
and the process have worked. But those who oppose TU being involved in
ANY stream access dispute where a private landowner claims any rights
to control public access are pushing hard to prohibit the organization
from challenging that claim in any way. There are big landowners who
make noises like potential donors who are behind the push, and the
acting chair of the board has introduced a proposal that includes the
prohibition. He wants us board members to vote on it by 3/29, but no
sooner than 3/19. The National Leadership Council will meet 3/19 by
phone. It's made up of volunteer leaders from all states where we
have councils. A 15-month process to develop the policy, and 10 days
to gut it?

Nobody in the grassroots is advocating for taking away any rights of
private landowners, but it's a valid goal to work to protect and
maintain existing public access rights, and to develop programs for
purchase of public access rights from willing sellers.

There is room to work, and room to let the policy show its worth. If
you wish to express yourself on this, email tu.org; Tu PResident
Charles Gauvin ), or Acting Board Chairman Robert
Teufel ), and ask that your email be forwarded to all
board members."

Please let Mssrs. Gauvin and Teufel hear from you.


g.c.