Western Slope Conservation Center (WSCC), along with Valley Organic Growers Association (VOGA) and other community members, will be participating in the 14th Annual North Fork Valley DC Fly-In later this month. The trip’s purpose is to advocate for conservation, public lands, farm policy, renewable energy, and rural resilience.
What is a “fly-in”?
A “fly-in” is an organized event where individuals travel to Washington, DC to advocate for specific issues. Over the years more than 70 people from Delta County have participated in the North Fork Fly-In. Even during the pandemic, a delegation met virtually with our representatives.
Impact:
Since 2012, WSCC has co-led this meaningful trip that offers a unique opportunity to develop relationships with our Colorado delegation and raise awareness of the issues important to us and those that impact our lives and livelihoods.
Although we are a small delegation of just five or six individuals each year we go, we give voice to the entire Valley and work to influence legislation on particular topics that represent our shared Western Colorado values.
Important to note is that over the years, our representatives in DC have come to expect our visit, too. They appreciate hearing from us. Last year we were able to meet with all three of our members of Congress, Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper and Congressman Hurd, and we look forward to a similarly impactful trip this year.
The Issues:
This year we will once again tackle the big issues in DC. Our conversations will focus on:
- Passing the Gunnison Outdoor Resources Protection (GORP) Act;
- Economic impact of public lands in our rural communities, specifically as it pertains to agriculture, outdoor recreation, agritourism;
- Economic uncertainty caused by undermining land management plans; and
- Securing the highest protections for our public lands through responsible agency leadership and sustainably funded federal land management agencies.
Help Us Meet Our Goal of $3,000:
Our delegation represents our diverse Western Colorado community, and we need your support to get to DC. WSCC and VOGA will be paying for half the cost of the trip, but we are fundraising to cover the costs of additional community members.
Help us raise $3,000 by:
- Making a donation. Make sure and include “DC Fly-In” in the note, and remember, every bit helps!
- Join us at our Pints & Public Lands fundraiser on Thursday, March 12 from 5-7 PM at The Pub in Paonia. Hear from past trip participants, learn about the issues relevant to Western Colorado that we’ll be bringing to DC, and make a donation, if able.
Questions on how you can support the DC Fly-In? Contact Melissa Newell, WSCC advocacy coordinator.