Update and Actions to Help Pass the Farmer Protection Act:

Monday April 18th, 6:30 PM
Genetic Engineering in Vermont - a Panel on the Farmer Protection Act
St Johnsbury Unitarian Universalist Church (corner of Cherry and Eastern)
For more information, directions and more: www.vpirg.org/gmoforum or call Drew Hudson at 802-223-8421 x4787
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The Farmer Protection Act has moved to the House and will be taken up by the House Agriculture Committee on TUESDAY. We'll be at the statehouse - showing this committee and the whole House of Representatives that we want Our Farmers Protected. JOIN US for this day. WE NEED YOU!

This day will be the beginning of a BIG BATTLE in the HOUSE to get our bill passed. We have strong support from many representatives, but EVERY VOTE WILL COUNT in the House of Representatives. This process could take several weeks, and we will need your ENERGY, HOPE, and especially your ACTION to get our bill enacted into law. If our bill passes, Vermont farmers will have more protection against biotechnology lawsuits than any other farmers IN THE WORLD. Many are watching us, with hope and solidarity. If we can stand strong and stand together - WE WILL WIN!!

Meet on
Tuesday, April 19th,
at Christ Church on State Street (next to Northfield Savings Bank)
at 9:30 am for a march to the statehouse and a day of action.
Wear RED and dress for a day indoors.
Bring quarters to park.
You can get lunch in the statehouse for about $7.
Plan to stay until about 2 pm.
Agriculture Secretary Steve Kerr will be testifying against our bill on this day. COME OUT and let the legislators know that Secretary Kerr is not representing YOU.

Contact Linda Setchell for more info at 223-7222 or linda@sover.net. The house will be considering the healthcare bill on Wednesday and Thursday, but our bill will be back on the docket on Friday, with farmers from around Vermont testifying on the bill. We'll post details at www.ruralvermont.org and on our voicemail at 223-7222 as they become available.

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TAKE ACTION

Please JOIN US for the day of action above, and on Friday for our farmers' testimony on the Farmer Protection Act. Also, please TAKE ACTION from your home. Please call YOUR representative if you haven't already heard how they stand on the bill. Call them at the statehouse this week - 802-828-2228 and ask them if they will support S.18 the Farmer Protection Act. Every representative has received a packet of information on this bill, including the language that was passed by the senate. When you call the statehouse, leave your name and phone number and say you would like your Representative to call you back. The person who answers the phone can tell you who your Representative is. If you get an answer from your Representative, or they say they need more information, please let Amy know what they said: amybeth@together.net or 223-7222. This feedback is CRITICAL to our success.

*VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES TO PASS THE FARMER PROTECTION ACT
Your help is needed to pass this important legislation!

Sign & Banner Making Party
Monday, April 18
Wheelock Farm - Hardwick, VT
7pm -9pm
Materials will be provided - just bring your creative juices!
From the South
Take Rt 15 East out of Hardwick - proceed several miles to the Junction
of Rts 15 and 16. Take Rt 16 North, (to the left coming from Hardwick) - Proceed north on Rt 16past the turns to East Hardwick, Greensboro, and Greensboro Bend - amile or so after the turns to Greensboro Bend, watch for a pale yellow house on the right, and a pale green house on the left - just after thepale yellow house there is a dirt road, and on the opposite side of that road (also on the right side of Rt 16) there is a house with silver insulation siding - take that right hand turn onto the dirt road which is called Gonyaw Road between the yellow and silver houses - this will come to a "T" in several miles at which you turn left onto West Wheelock Road- ours is the first house you come to, a rambling red farmhouse.

From the North
Proceed from Glover down Rt 16 South. Just before reaching Greensboro Bend watch for a house with silver insulation siding on the left, and a pale green house on the right.  Just after the silver house, there will be a dirt road to the left, and across that road from the silver house is a pale yellow house. Take that left hand turn onto the dirt road called Gonyaw Road, between the yellow and silver houses - this will come to a "T" in several miles at which you turn left onto West Wheelock Road- ours is the first house you come to, a rambling red farmhouse.

Farmer Protection Act Phone Tree Volunteers Needed
For the next month, we will need to make urgent calls to activists across the state. We are looking for volunteers who are willing to make calls to 16 activists (or more if you are willing) from your home. We will provide the list of numbers for folks living in your area. We will also provide scripts via email as calls are needed to be made. We are especially in need of volunteers in Chittenden, Washington, Orange, Franklin and Orleans counties. If you are willing to make calls, call or email Linda Setchell at 223-7222 or linda@sover.net

posted: 04/15/2005 04:54:31