Fellow Extravaganzers:
Consistent with the age-old sage advice that “it is better to give than to receive”, I reach out to each of you, post Extravaganza 2012, to follow up on my closing day remarks to each Group and to ask for your donation to the blessed Montana Matters (www.montanamatters.com ) of the Montana Wildlife Federation. MWF is the oldest conservation preservation organization yet active in the Treasure State and, because of its 77 year legacy of proper activism to preserve access to hunters and fisherfolk to the natural resources of Montana, much of what we saw and enjoyed during this year’s most extravagant event was available to us for our use and enjoyment.
As I mentioned to each group, if we all donated “a latte a day” for the preservation of Montana’s natural resources that joining of arms and wallets would immeasurably contribute to the protection of Montana’s natural resources. What Montana has is very, very rare in this day and age, to wit: one of the country’s largest geographical states with one of its smallest populations (yet under 1 million folks).
The ongoing fight to preserve Montana, through the “Collaboration for Conservation” theme of the Montana Matters campaign, is one that must be levied on an unrelenting basis to assure that those who would chose to privatize Montana’s natural resources and bountiful wildlife, both footed and finned, (and that threat is a very real, living one, btw) are thwarted in their footsteps and that the legacy of all that we witnessed during E-12 is preserved for the generations that are to follow us.
You as Extravaganzers know better than most just how much Montana matters: You saw its vistas, you smelled its flora and fauna, you touched the wild wonder of its pectoral offerings, and, for that, you left that great state a better place than in which you found it. Your continued engagement, both as WLC members of MWF (for which I thank you) and financial and personal contributions are key to this state’s future condition and assure your legacy as participants in Montana’s legacy.
In each of your E-12 gift bags I gave you, in addition to our most recent Montana Matters cd, one of our MM brochures with donation information. For those who have misplaced theirs, another copy is attached for your usage.
Here is what I ask on behalf of the natural resources of Montana: Look back on your E-12 experience, quantify it (if you can!) and then get out your checkbook or credit card information and give back to Montana in proportion to what you received. We already have one Group Three gift of $7,500 from one of our most geographically distant E-12 participants—a great personal friend who also has developed a life-long bonded relationship with our Montana. You can now visually see what Montana matters to him.
That precise dollar amount is not what I am asking of each of you, however.
What I am asking is that you each use the donation form(s) that I have give to you and to each make a contribution to this wonderful campaign in at least three digits (i.e., count in hundreds of dollars) with an initial integer being one that you deem appropriate and do it NOW. There is a new legislative session upcoming (the MT legislature meets every other year) and MWF is gearing up to fight the literally hundreds of bills that are forming to interfere with all that we value. Your donated funds will be used to hire the (expensive) legislative consultant that is needed to wage this war, so please be a generous as you possibly can for, indeed, we are amidst a war with adverse interests who are competing and vying for access to Montana’s natural resources, rivers and forests to your future exclusion.
Thanks in advance for working with us to become part of the solution to preserve all that we collectively witnessed together during Extravaganza 2012 for Montana Matters!!
Thanks again for doing it NOW.
On a go-forward basis, there are also other ways to contribute: (a) any order of a(nother) Sweetgrass Rod (www.sweetgrassrods.com ) within the next year will find Sweetgrass (one of our MM corporate sponsors) donating 25% of your rod purchase to MM; (b) our Fourth MM Napa Concert fundraiser will be held on Saturday, November 3, 2012, and your attendance is encouraged; and (c) 24/7 the MM website (www.montanamatters.com ) is open for your retail therapy enjoyment and donation ease (yes, you can even avoid filling out the form by going on line this very moment to make your donation!) with the advanced knowledge that the blessings of your givings be returned to you multifold!
Best to all in the yet glowing aftermath of it all,
Rock Creek Ron
