Birmingham Show Attendees - READ PLEASE - RE HR669

[rabernet]

I will have my laptop with me this weekend. If I can catch a signal in the show, I will gladly donate to the cause.

That would be awesome! Judy's bringing hers too, if they both can catch a signal, that's 2 times the people we can service - or even use one to show Brian's video.

We're going to be located next to you and Sean, so we won't be far from you!

[mxrider42]

I contacted the school this morning and they have wireless internet in the building. But you have to be a student or faculty member to access it.
Trey

[rabernet]

I contacted the school this morning and they have wireless internet in the building. But you have to be a student or faculty member to access it.
Trey

That stinks! Did you ask if they'd grant you access as a visiting student for the weekend? What's the name of the school? Maybe we can luck out and someone on here goes there?

[mxrider42]

University of Alabama Birmingham

[Beardedragon]

Noted!

Just printed up 690 copies (30 sets) and that's about all I can afford to print right now. If anyone else coming can print up some sets of 23 to bring it would be appreciated, even if it's just one set. Every bit helps.

Here's what I printed (from Yotaman - thank you!)

Printed with Arial 11 point font, the subject was bolded:
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April 18, 2009

Subject: No on HR669

Dear Committee Member,

Please oppose HR669. It is a fundamentally flawed Bill written by a radical environmentalist group that seeks to end the ownership and trade of all non-native animals. There is not a shred of scientific evidence to justify the destruction of a Reptile Industry that leads the world in producing and exporting high quality captive bred reptiles. With the stroke of a pen thousands of small American family businesses would be bankrupted overnight. With no quantifiable benefits, what could be the justification to destroy a viable sector of the American economy in a time of hardship?

What will the additional drain on taxpayer dollars be to grow USFWS at unprecedented levels in order to destroy American small business? These are not the "Too big to fail" corporate titans, but small family businesses with their entire net worth wrapped up in their Reptile breeding projects and ancillary supporting businesses. A 3 billion dollar a year industry would be wiped out by HR669. Thousands of American families would suffer losing everything.

- Trade in Reptiles and ancillary businesses are estimated to be a 3 billion dollar a year industry.
- More than 9 million Reptiles are exported from the US annually.
- More than 11 million Reptiles are kept as pets in the US. That means 1 in 25 households have 1 or more Reptiles.
- The US accounts for 82% of the worldwide trade in Reptiles.
- At least 500,000 Americans would be negatively impacted by HR669. Thousands of small family businesses would be destroyed.
- There are approximately 4 million boas & pythons, as well as more than 7 million geckos, lizards turtles & other Reptiles in captivity in the US today.
- The United States Association of Reptile Keepers Opposes HR669.

Please oppose HR669! The costs to American Families would be enormous. The benefits are both questionable and non quantifiable. NO ON HR669.

Sincerely,

Are you not going to mention also all of the mammal pet owners that would be affected and the stats behind them?

[rabernet]

Are you not going to mention also all of the mammal pet owners that would be affected and the stats behind them?

I see your point - a little late now that I've printed all those copies. However, if the letter writing campaign goes as we hope, the should have THOUSANDS of letters to sort through, and many of those letters will also touch on the mammals, birds and fish!

[kc261]

The fact that the letters only mention reptiles isn't great, but it probably doesn't matter in the long run. Very few, if any, of these letters will actually be read word for word, from my understanding. They just look at them long enough to see if they are "for" or "against" and add a tally to the column.

The people who are able to bring their laptops should download a copy of Brian's video so that it can be played even if you can't get internet access.

[rabernet]

OK folks, thanks to our friend Rich (Spainard), who donated some money to help pay for printing, I've printed off 250 more http://www.nohr669.com flyers and 230 (10 more sets) of the letter! Thank you Rich for your help! Wish you were close enough to join us!

Leaving work at 10 a.m. and Karl wants to hit the road by 12:30, so I imagine we'll be the first one's checking in at the hotel!

I think everyone going has my cell number, if you don't - please PM me!

Can't wait to see everyone!

Tim, I believe Judy is taking Casey's suggestion and downloading Brian's video to the laptop that she's bringing, if you have time, would you mind doing that also?

[Custom Exotics]

OK folks, thanks to our friend Rich (Spainard), who donated some money to help pay for printing, I've printed off 250 more http://www.nohr669.com flyers and 230 (10 more sets) of the letter! Thank you Rich for your help! Wish you were close enough to join us!

Leaving work at 10 a.m. and Karl wants to hit the road by 12:30, so I imagine we'll be the first one's checking in at the hotel!

I think everyone going has my cell number, if you don't - please PM me!

Can't wait to see everyone!

Tim, I believe Judy is taking Casey's suggestion and downloading Brian's video to the laptop that she's bringing, if you have time, would you mind doing that also?

See you there Robin!! But not til 6:30 or 7 pm

[JLC]

I've got 3 sets of letters printed out (a different version that I got from the NoHR669 site...but same concept as Robin's)...and 1000 envelopes to stuff them into.

I won't be rolling in until sometime between 9 and 10 pm though. Can't wait to see everyone!!