Georgia Wildlife Federation

The Georgia Wildlife Federation has been known over the years for effectively leading some very important conservation work. However, the GWF would not be effective without our activist members. As conservationists, we are called on every day to take some kind of immediate action on issues involving wildlife and other natural resources. I would like to suggest that you continue to be a good responsive conservation activist, but that you respond without declaring an emergency for every issue.

To be sure, there are situations that require immediate action when unanticipated events occur or decisions are made that result in an imminent threat to our natural resources. However, because I am one of the guys who sometimes declare such an emergency, I would like to suggest that the best response regarding any issue is not necessarily the "emergency" response. Rather, the best response is prompt but thoughtful, long enough to state the basic facts and the specific requested action but otherwise as short as possible, and always courteous regardless of how you feel about the recipient.

We can all be more efficient with our responses to a given issue, without declaring an emergency. One of the best ways is to join the GWF Camo Coalition. Just go to www.camocoalition.org and follow the buttons to sign up. It's free!

Another way to do this is to make some preparations now -- before the next call to action. Make a list of all your politicians and other public officials. Include your U.S. and state senators and representatives, county commissioners, state and federal agency directors, corporate executives, and members of boards that regulate issues in which you have a strong interest. Spend some time now to get addresses, e-mail, fax, and telephone numbers of all these folks in the place where you write your letters or send your e-mails. Make a list of staff members who handle environmental issues for the person who may be the target of your response. Some times a telephone call to a tuned-in staff member is the best immediate response you can make.

Regardless of how you accomplish the task, the GWF cannot be effective without the communication of our members to those political, government, or business leaders who make decisions impacting our natural resources. So before you feel pressured by a call for an emergency response, buy yourself some time by making enough advanced preparation that your next conservation action response will be prompt and effective, but not an emergency because you were ready for the call. Effective conservation action does not happen without you.