Hello FMLers and CA UPDATE folks, So many folks e-mailed me with their support best wishes in the days after I resigned from the board of directors of the CDFA that I may not have responded to all my mail (I was in Oregon flyfishing for 5 days following the announcement-- very beautiful, very cold and very few fish!). AOL can only hold on to so many pieces of mail before they are no longer accessible via normal channels. Anyway, many of you wanted to know more about the organization, so here it is: Californians For Ferret Legalization is an umbrella organization dedicated to seeing that ferrets are legalized in the state of California. Whether it's testifying in front of the California State Assembly or Senate policy committees or making presentations to individual members of the Legislature, my father and I feel that we are representing everyone that has an interest in seeing DFG kept to their mandate, wildlife. We've also met face to face with other branches of our government in Sacramento, such as the State Attorney General, as well as members of the press, and animal rights organizations. My father has also retained the services of an attorney to help with litigation efforts. Many of you have offered financial assistance and we encourage your financial support for our legalization efforts. Should a new legalization bill appear before the California State Legislature, Californians For Ferret Legalization, and all of you, will benefit from the representation of Bob Naylor, who is one of the most respected lobbyists in Sacramento. Bob Naylor served Californians in the Legislature for 12 years. We also are fortunate to have media and PR support from Bud Jackson of Jackson Communications. Bud was effective in gaining terrific media coverage for Massachusetts when HB295 was in front of Governor Weld. In California, Bud provided excellent coverage of the ferret issue. Our story was picked up by National Public Radio, CBS national news and a host of local TV and radio stations. Your donations will support both of the nominal fees charged us by these experts. We are in the process of setting up the articles of incorporation and by-laws, which are the essentials of a legitimate organization. We are also setting up an independent bank account for the funds received. When these tasks are finished, my father and I hope you will help support the work of our experts mentioned above, and our other very serious work on your behalf. We also plan to help reach Californians to advise them of critical opportunities to write or call their local representatives or the Fish and Game Commission. If the California Domestic Ferret Association is no longer involved in legalization, we hope that they see to it that all of the names of the 4,500-5,000 Californians who are clearly interested in the legalization effort and who were mailed the last CDFA newsletter are notified so their voices can be heard at these very critical times. If CDFA cannot do so because of their quest for 501(c)3 status, we hope they will make these names available to either Ferrets Anonymous or Californians For Ferret Legalization. We need to reach every Californian we can at the appropriate time if we expect ferrets to be legalized in California. Also on our agenda, and currently in the hands of a professional hired to set up 501(c)3 organizations, is our family foundation dedicated to ferret welfare. We plan to raise a large endowment, we already have $50,000 pledged in matching funds, that will be dedicated to educating the public about the special requirements of the ferret before purchase. Hopefully such a brochure, produced in large quantities and made available to interested clubs and shelters, can help stem the tide of unwanted ferrets that ferret rescue organizations have coming through their doors. It will also relieve them of the burden of producing such a brochure. We also plan to give to rescue operations that meet the criteria of our by-laws. We plan to solicit input from ferret folks already in rescue, and will look to the professionals we know in the humane field as a source of useful guidance. We want to know what works with the public to increase their sense of responsibility for the little lives in their hands. Dad and I are really excited about both of these organizations and hope you will support both of them. Sincerly, Jeanne Carley Coordinator Californians For Ferret Legalization [Posted in FML issue 1728]