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Kathleen
has a unique message for many markets.
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PARTNERSHIP
FOR THE WEST
A Breath
of Positive Fresh Air
The power
of positive thinking is a welcome energy source, especially if you live
in a part of the nation which is constantly labeled as a place living
in the past or as place being redesigned for the future.
Each of these labels
carries a negative connotation to many of the Americans living in the
west. There is a negative tone of condescension that now accompanies
each of these terms. The overused mantra’s of The Old West, or
The New West ignore The Real West.
Fortunately, a large
and varied group of elected officials, business interests and individual
citizens have joined together to launch a positive force for the West
of Now, the West of today.
Partnership for the West was launched September 26 in Denver,
Colorado. It is not an exclusive club. The mission as stated on the
website is:
Members
of the Partnership work to support public policies that seek to restore
a common sense, balanced approach to economic growth and environmental
conservation in the West.
The refreshing thing
about Partnership for the West is its obvious lack of guilt about utilization
of natural resources and the families and communities that are part
of that picture. Additionally, it recognizes that much of the land in
the west is public and that involves sharing.
Take time to review the website: www.partnershipforthewest.org.
It is a welcome relief from the constant gloom and doom of environmental
extremists and social engineers that are making a career out of trashing
Western lifestyles, enterprises and the people associated with them.
This Partnership
is not about worshipping at any alter of guilt for earning a living
via natural resource utilization. Nor is it about rape and pillage and
anything goes. This effort reflects the quiet recognition that the West
is proud of its current responsible utilization of natural resources
and the benefits that brings to our nation.
Partnership for
the West is an effort to help American citizens be more effective in
maintaining, improving and having more of a direct effect on public
policies and laws.
Partnership
Tools
The Partnership
will help each of its member organizations ‘turbo-charge’
its own issue advocacy and grassroots networks. For example, the Partnership
will provide its organizational and corporate members with the following
tools and resources:
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A
specialized web site - branded for each organization that wants one
– containing a powerful array of information and online lobbying
tools that can help employees, association members and citizens reach
out and lobby Members of Congress, Governors, State Legislators and
other elected officials.
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In-depth
information on a wide variety of policy issues, including backgrounders,
white papers, talking points and draft letters and op-eds.
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Training
for grassroots activists and operational manuals for field personnel.
A common complaint
of many average citizens is that folks inside the Beltway or on The
Hill don’t listen to them. They complain that lobbying their elected
officials achieves little or nothing to rectify problems or improve
situations. There is some accuracy in this statement. However, there
is more accuracy in the statement that citizens have a habit of thinking
that their civic duties begin and end at the voting both. They seem
to see their citizenship role in between elections as that of martyr
and complainer.
Electing folks to
office is just the beginning of the work. Once in, it is up to citizens
to find ways to be heard, to learn to listen better themselves, and
to help to educate political friend and foe alike. The tools of the
Partnership are mechanisms to make reaching your elected officials more
easily, less intimidating, and more effectively.
What we have here
is a genuine attempt by people who are within The Beltway, and on The
Hill to establish and improve networking with the private citizens of
this nation. It is not an effort showcase themselves. It is about having
government work for the people of this nation.
Partnership for the West reflects Americans who are proud of what they
do and how they do it. These are citizens who are not willing to stand
around and watch as their world is taken away from them.
This is a Partnership
worth an American’s time and trouble. So…..saddle up partner!
~ America's
Voices - October 2003
Permission granted
to reprint in full or part with full credit given to author.
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