Waterpup

Thanks to ZenSpearo over at BloodyDecks.com

There is a general feeling that it’s more important to show up at meetings personally than to attend the webinars and call in for public comments or write your comments.

NOT SO.

They are all important venues for the public to communicate with the MLPA people. I know that this process has not been public-friendly (more from being a clusterf&ck and incompetence than from design–I speak as someone who runs his own business for over 10 years). The law was passed in 1999, and after doing the Cencal process, so many months with the SoCal process, you figure they’d have it straighten out (it’s less than 48 hours to the SAT May 5th meeting and they still haven’t posted the materials to review. Most public members work full time tomorrow–when can we have time to review the science materials? And of course there are no hints as to how long you can speak, how you can cede time or even you can cede time, etc.).

But hang in there guys. It’s our right to speak up, and we need to or they will simply say after the fact “how come you didn’t say anything when the process was underway?” We consumptives and small groups like kayak fishermen in particular need to be informed and our voices need to be heard loud and clear or we’ll be swept under the rug.

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Tuesday, May 5, 2009
9:30 a.m.
via teleconference and online meeting
Toll free phone number: 800.697.5978
Pass code: 8527564
Presentations via GoToMeeting. Reserve your reservation now at
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/411343984

Public Participation: Members of the public are invited to participate in the meeting using the toll-free phone number and to watch presentations via the GoToMeeting webinar, or may join staff at one of the offices listed above. In addition, the meeting is being simultaneously webcast for viewing only; see the MLPA website (California Department of Fish & Game, Marine Life Protection Act Initiative) for more information.

Public comment: The public will be invited by the co-chairs to offer comments on agenda action items. General comments on the work of the MLPA Master Plan Science Advisory Team (SAT), not directed to specific agenda items, will be taken after lunch at approximately 1:00 p.m. Note that the general comment period is for public comment specific to the SAT; comments related to the regional stakeholder group, Blue Ribbon Task Force or other MLPA Initiative activities should be directed to those bodies or MLPA staff.

Meeting materials will be posted to this page as soon as they are available.

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Friday, May 8, 2009
12:00 p.m.
via teleconference call and webinar
Toll free phone number: 800.697.5978
Pass code: 5499680
Presentations via GoToMeeting. Reserve your reservation now at
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/389320216

Members of the public are invited to attend the meeting in person or view and listen to the meeting via simultaneous webcasting on the Internet, and may view an archived version approximately two days after the meeting. Please visit the MLPA website at California Department of Fish & Game, Marine Life Protection Act Initiative for more information. Meeting materials will not be provided at the meeting but will be posted to the MLPA website as soon as they become available.

Public Participation: The public will be invited to offer comments on the work of the MLPA Blue Ribbon Task Force (BRTF) at approximately 3:00 p.m. on Friday, May 8, 2009. Note that the public comment period is for comments specific to the MLPA Blue Ribbon Task Force; comments related to other MLPA Initiative activities or groups should be directed to those bodies or MLPA staff.

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What can you speak about?

1) For SAT: The science is the grading criteria. Others may chime in regarding specific issues with the science but issues regarding kelp, water quality, habitat representation, spacing, etc., are all fair issues to discuss.

2) For BRTF: Socio-economic issues regarding specific closures. By socio-economic issues, we are talking about how a closure will affect your usage, your business, the general business of marinas, tackleshops, tourism. Address issues regarding process as well (what you observe to be good/wrong about this process).

General suggestion: Be courteous. You don’t have to be perfect. Speak from what you know/see/believe. Don’t insult and don’t make it personal.

We need a huge turnout of consumptives to ensure that we make our concerns known. Remember that those who cower and stay silent usually have their rights trampled.

This is a very easy meeting to make. You can work and have a window open on your computer to hear the meeting in the background. No travel involved. You can write your speech in advance and just read it (my strong recommendation–don’t try to wing it. Read it from a prepared statement works very well for those who are not used to public speaking).

There are no excuses for not dialing in and speak your alloted minute. Don’t fall short on the easy ones by skipping these equally important meetings. If you work anywhere near a desk or a phone on Tuesday May 5th or Friday May 8th, you need to sign up and tune in and speak out for your area!

P.S. I’m a spearo and we are organizing spearos to attend and speak. They told me not to bother with BD since BD’ers are all talk, no action but I don’t believe it. Let’s have 100 BD’ers showing up on the phone and speak for your fishing rights. Let’s do it guys.

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