Signature Gathering for the California State Park and Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund Act of 2010
Trainers from the California State Parks Foundation will be in our area on January 5, Tuesday, to teach us how to gather signatures to get the California State Park and Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund Act of 2010. The meeting will be held at the Inn at Morro Bay, January 5, 6-8 pm. Statewide, we need to gather 700,000 signatures. As you know, we played a significant role last summer gathering signatures for the Save Our State Parks Campaign, and I know we will do our part to gather signatures this winter and spring. Signature gathering is a bit more formal this time which is why trainers are coming. We will gather signatures January-April in order to have the Trust Fund Act on the November ballot. Part of the Act is the California State Park Access Pass which will be a non-voluntary $18 fee on every non-commercial vehicle which will be paid at the time one renews yearly vehicle licensing. The Access Pass has been polling very high for three reasons: it is a set amount; one gets something in return for the $18 -- free daily use of all 279 State Parks; and well, it's State Parks -- what's not to love? Current day use fees average $8-$15 per day per park. Although most of our parks are currently free, those days are clearly numbered.
THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO AFFECT LASTING CHANGE FOR CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS. If passed, parks will be adequately funded for operations including staff and work can begin on the backlog of deferred maintenance projects. Currently, California State Parks are listed in the top ten of endangered historical places due to chronic underfunding and deferred maintenance. We can restore our park system to the its rightful place -- a glorious system of protected land and cultural resources which provide needed solace, education, recreation and economic engines for our local economies. It also takes State Parks funding out of the General Fund. This is a non-partisan issue. This about our rights as California citizens. We can take action to save our parks.
Please consider coming to this training and volunteering to help gather signatures. Also, please pass this on to anyone who might be interested. We will make this happen. A huge thank you to the Inn at Morro Bay for donating the meeting space. If you have any questions, please call me, 528.1397 or 458.9597.
For further info contact: Rouvaishyana, Museum Manager at (805) 772-2694 ext. 105.
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