Grazing Team
Proposal from Mike Hudak, Team Leader
1. What measurable outcome do you want to achieve in the world?
a) Educate the public about the need to reduce ranching on public lands,
b) Recruit new leaders to this educational effort,
c) Through public pressure, increase the number of cosponsors of the Rural Economic Vitalization Act (REVA) (HR 3432),
d) Enact REVA.
2. Why?
Ranching on federal public lands is the most pervasive and arguably the most destructive of the multiple uses managed on these lands. The longer current practices continue, the longer the recovery once those practices cease. We desire therefore to see those practices terminated in the shortest time in a way that is fair to all parties as REVA provides.
3. What activities or tactics will you do to make this happen?
Utilizing the resources of the Activist Network and the large membership of the Grazing Team in addition to contacts outside of the Sierra Club, I will schedule house parties at which I will give a live presentation about public lands ranching and REVA. Although these could be recorded presentations, I believe that the importance of personal contact with people new to this topic cannot be underestimated. I propose that an average of 10 presentations per month be given over a period of 3-4 months throughout the eastern U.S. and that I travel among these presentations for the duration by bicycle (actually a recumbent tricycle). The locations of these presentations will be focused on the congressional districts that we have determined are most likely to cosponsor REVA. Attendees of presentations will be encouraged to contact their congressional representatives about the legislation.
4. How will you engage new people and grow them into leadership positions?
The first step to gaining new leaders is though the personal contact described in my answer to Questions #3. And by giving these people something important they can easily and immediately do, such as contacting their congressional representative about legislation.
I also plan to blog about my adventures on the road both inside and outside the Sierra Club.
5. How much do you anticipate spending and what would the grant funds be used for? (Estimate is fine. More detailed budget in part 2.)
All expenses incurred while traveling.
Lodging: $0
Transportation: $0
Cell phone: $280 ($70/month x 4 months)
Miscellaneous expenses: $220 estimate.
6. Are you applying for c3 (educational/administrative) or c4 (legislative/advocacy) funds? Not sure? Find out here.
Looks like c4 to me.