Cascade Volcanoes • Entered by Linda Buckley on March 28, 2023
advocacy-meeting with Congresswoman Marie GUsenkamp Perez
March 14, 2023
Participants and Hours
| Pre Planning hours | 0.5 |
| Post Admin hours | 0.5 |
| Activity Hours | 0.75 |
| Participants | 2 |
| Total Hours | 2.5 |
Key Issue: Public Lands Health & Protection
Activity Type: Advocacy (rallies, lobbying, meeting decision makers, letters/calls/emails)
Key Partners: Citizens Climate Lobby
Landscape/area: Gifford Pinchot National Forest (1312274 acres)
Measurable Outcomes
Outcome 1: Event Attendees (12 people)
Short Description of Activity
this was a relational meeting with our local congresswoman Marie Gusenkamp Perez, who is new as of Jan 1, 2023. The questions we asked her were of an advocacy nature. My question dealt with her position on preserving/protecting old growth forests. Gave her reasons for importance to both GOB and Citizens Climate Lobby (one of their 4 priorities). Her response was vague. SHe acknowledged her own family is from logging industry. SHe believes divisions need to be resolved first, from timber wars dating 30 years ago, between loggers and environmentalists. WE will continue to advocate around these and other issues. Two of us were GOB and others from CCL. next meeting with MGP is in 3-4 months.
Reflection/Evaluation
Since the meeting was slated to be primarily relational, it was a good start. Congresswoman is a moderate Democrat and may require some more education and advocacy, along with showing her we are allies with partners that may represent divergent viewpoints. We must show her movement towards coalition building, and common goal of healthy forests.