Archive for January, 2009
The Barry County Chapter
Thursday, February 5th, 2009
For more information call 417-835-5036
Thank You
Tuesday, January 20th, 2009Thank you to you who have signed up on the Ozarks PRC Website. We are working to figure out this whole process. We want to use the site to the best advantage of getting the word out. If you know folks who have email, encourage them to sign up.
Don’t forget the PRC Meeting in Mountain Grove at the Hayloft at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 22.
As it has always been, your email address is not passed along. If we could get the whole list online, it would be wonderful both in saving money and the labor intensive physical newsletter.
Thanks for your support.
The price of freedom is eternal vigilance!
Carolin
January 2009 Newsletter
Friday, January 16th, 2009This Newsletter is available to download in PDF
January 2009 Newsletter
[just Right-Click and Save-As]
Property Rights Meeting – January 22
Hayloft Restaurant – Mountain Grove – 7:00 p.m.
Come early, if you care to eat, as no food is allowed in the meeting room due to limited restaurant staff.
• • • • • • •
President’s Message by c. Russell Wood
SOME GOOD NEWS AND SOME RESHUFFLED NEWS
There is some good news mixed in with what some want to look like good news but is just the same old reshuffled stuff.
The good news first. It certainly looks like we`ve come out on top so far as the new director and personnel at the state Department of Agriculture is concerned regarding NAIS. The new director, Dr. Jon Hagler is someone I`ve had contact with (as have some others in our group) prior to his appointment and he has expressed opposition to the approach the department has taken with NAIS. I think we can expect a complete house cleaning with a new deputy director and state vet who will be more favorable to the public needs rather than the wants of USDA and their cronies.
Let`s hope we can give Dr. Hagler, etal., the kind of support they will need to keep them from being turned around by USDA and the “Industry”. I don`t think these new people are going to bow down to the “Industry” lobbyist who have been ruling the roost. We`ll see.
The Conservation Department quickly dropped most of their proposed changes in hunting regulations, but they did not withdraw their intention to require you to register your land with them in order to obtain a no cost deer or turkey tag to hunt on your own land. They did postpone implementation of the new rule and softened their language, but their intent remains the same. I guess they think we`ll let it slide. They couldn`t be more wrong.
Another agency slight of hand has been pulled off by USDA. They issued a memo in December which purported to cancel a previous memo which instructed animal health personnel to assign NAIS premise identification numbers to cattle owners whether they agreed or not. (They call them PIN now instead of premise identification numbers) However, the second memo restated what the first one had said and in fact cancelled nothing. Those government employees really do think we are a nation of idiots and that they can slip anything past us. (See page 2, R-CALF)
R-Calf USA is all over this and is doing a good job hammering away at USDA. Doreen is on the R-Calf NAIS committee and is providing a lot of leadership to the group.
These subjects will be discussed along with other rapidly changing, but never ending challenges in the defense of private property rights at our meeting Thursday night.
Hope to see you there.
• • • • • • •
Upcoming PRC Meetings
- February 5 – Barry County Chapter
For location & details call 417-835-5036 after 7 pm;
or email paulbingham44@yahoo.com
- February 10 – Far Southwest Chapter
New-Mac Community Center Building – Anderson, Missouri – 7 p.m.
417-435-2661 – wagg@leru.net
- February 12 – Gainesville at Vaught’s Family Restaurant – 7:00 p.m.
Restaurant services available from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- February 26 – Mountain Grove – Hayloft Restaurant – 7:00 p.m.
• • • • • • •
R-CALF USA Accuses USDA of Continued Illegal NAIS Activity
Seeks Help from Congress to Protect Producers from Agency’s Unlawful Actions
Billings, Mont. – In a letter sent today (January 12, 2009) to USDA and Congress, and copied to state veterinarians in all 50 states, R-CALF USA alleges illegal activity on the part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) with regard to the agency’s Dec. 22, 2008, memorandum that canceled Memorandum 575.19 originally issued on Sept. 22, 2008. The original memorandum would have forced mandatory premises registration under the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) upon livestock producers who participate in federal disease management programs.
“We are pleased that USDA canceled the September 2008 memo on the basis that the agency recognized it was improper to establish a standardized premises identification number as the sole premises identification number under the agency’s proposed NAIS without first conducting a rulemaking, as required by the Administrative Procedure Act (APA),” said R-CALF USA President/Region VI Director Max Thornsberry, a Missouri veterinarian, who also chairs the group’s animal health committee.
“However, USDA has again violated its own regulations in the December 2008 memorandum by unlawfully mandating the use of a standardized PIN (premises identification number), which is actually an NAIS PIN, in the administration of federal disease programs,” he continued. “This action is unlawful. Until and unless the agency promulgates a rule to require the use of a standardized NAIS PIN, the agency has no authority to mandate that state animal health officials comply with the December 2008 memo.”
Thornsberry explained that USDA issued a final rule on July 18, 2007, to allow the use of a numbering system such as the standardized NAIS PIN to identify premises where animals are managed or held. However, the agency has not promulgated rules to implement the NAIS, and further, the agency expressly states in its final rule that use of the new numbering system (standardized, NAIS PIN) is not required by this final rule.
“This action (December 2008 memo) effectively converts USDA’s so-called ‘voluntary’ NAIS program into a scheme that mandates strict compliance with NAIS,” he said.
In the letter accusing USDA of illegal activity, R-CALF USA requested that the December 2008 memo “…immediately be canceled by the Administration, either on its own or by congressional action…and that (USDA) be directed to immediately inform each state animal health official that the agency no longer is requiring the use of the standardized NAIS PIN as a condition of producer participation in regulated animal disease programs, or for any other purpose.”
Note: To view/download R-CALF USA’s letter, please visit the “Animal Identification” link at www.r-calfusa.com.
R-CALF USA (Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America) is a national, non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring the continued profitability and viability of the U.S. cattle industry. R-CALF USA represents thousands of U.S. cattle producers on trade and marketing issues. Members are located across 47 states and are primarily cow/calf operators, cattle backgrounders, and/or feedlot owners. R-CALF USA directors and committee chairs are extremely active unpaid volunteers. R-CALF USA has dozens of affiliate organizations and various main-street businesses are associate members. For more information, visit www.r-calfusa.com or, call 406-252-2516.
• • • • • • •
New Missouri Senate Bills of Interest
SB 5 – Griesheimer
Creates the Missouri County Planning Act (Editor’s note: Senator Griesheimer (Franklin and Warren, and west St. Louis County)has introduced this bill for the past several years and fortunately it has not passed)
SB 10 – Champion
Allows Missouri residents who own or lease at least 5 acres of land to hunt or fish on such land without a permit or in certain circumstances with a permit that is free-of-charge.
[Editor’s Note: This bill fails to address the property registration portion of the Missouri Department of Conservation’s proposed rules. This needs to be added.]
Check out the Senate Bills at www.senate.mo.gov click on Session Information then on List of 2009 Senate Bills
Find the House Bills at www.house.mo.gov click on Bill Information
• • • • • • •
Buzz Line Topic
No No To Con Con
by Virginia Waggoner (Far Southwest Chapter Newsletter “Ozarks’ Property Matters”)
Since the 1970′s 32 states have passed resolutions for a Constitutional Convention (Con Con). It takes 2/3 of the 50 states (34) to pass resolutions to force a Con Con.
The Ohio legislators held a surprise hearing in December 2008 on a resolution calling for a National Constitutional Convention, then canceled a vote after dozen of citizens showed up to speak against it.
Once a convention is called Congress decides how the delegates are chosen. Those delegates will possess more power than Congress and could declare our Constitution null and void.
In 1983 Missouri was the 32nd and last state to pass a resolution. Ten states have rescinded their resolution Alabama (1988), Florida (1988), Louisiana (1990), Idaho (1999), Utah (2001), North Dakota (2001), Arizona (2003), Virginia (2004), South Carolina (2004), Georgia (2004) and the Nevada House has purged theirs. Whether the Courts will uphold the rescissions is unknown and we must assume that only two states are needed.
Other states that have passed a resolution are Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming.
While our Founding Fathers were not perfect they had our freedom and liberty as their foremost consideration. Our Constitution has lasted for 220 years. How can we allow it to be jeopardized by special interest groups wanting to rewrite it in different ways?
It is imperative that we let our Legislators know that Missouri must rescind this resolution. Arizona is talking secession if martial law or confiscated guns occurs. Many officials and citizens will say “we can’t do that, think of all the Federal money we will lose.” I say “oh yes we can.”
• • • • • • •
Far Southwest Chapter
January Meeting Report
By Arthur Waggoner
The Far Southwest Chapter of the PRC’s first meeting of 2009 was held on January 13th at the New-Mac Community Room in Anderson. We were fortunate to be able to reserve this fine facility for the rest of the year for our meetings, free of charge. This should result in an increased attendance because of the more central location.
The current economic situation is also increasing the interest in our group.
At the meeting Paul Bingham, who is bringing the newly-formed Barry County Chapter up to speed, recounted his experience as an attendee at the “How to Lobby the Legislature” seminar held in Jefferson City last week. He reported that the highlight of the session was when the Legislators present in the workshop swooned when John Ashcroft stuck his head in the door and spoke “for about 15 seconds.”
The gist of the seminar seemed to be that the demeanor of the Citizen Lobbyist should be one of hat-in-hand subservience. The reaction of the attendees at our meeting was, predictably, not positive. Our consensus was that, since these people work for us, our attitude toward them should be friendly, but firm.
The need for property tax relief was discussed relative to the declining prices of real estate. It was suggested that a protest to the appropriate board was the best way to get relief.
A short, but spirited, discussion of the “good-‘ol-boy” situation of the McDonald County Government closed the meeting.
Next month’s meeting will be on February 10th at the New-Mac Community Room, 7:00 p.m.
[Editor’s Note: Arthur didn’t tell you, but Bruce Arnold, one of their members has helped them put together a fine newsletter, Ozarks’ Property Matters. They put out their second issue with about a 300 print run. They are using Willis Printing in Neosho to print. Bruce also is the fellow who does their website OzarkVoter.info.
The Far Southwest Chapter is very active in developing a relationship with their legislators and making their presence felt in the communities in MacDonald and surrounding counties. They are very pro-active in setting up informational booths at area Fairs and Festivals during the season. They even had several representatives at Larry Dablemont’s meeting in Mountain Grove concerning the MDC’s hunting regulations.]
• • • • • • •
Ozarks Property Rights Congress’
NEW OFFICIAL WEBSITE
www.ozarkspropertyrightscongress.com
www.ozarksprc.com
The website is up and running. Thanks to Jazz of ByteMeGeeks.com! Jazz heard Russell on the Alex Jones radio show, called and volunteered to set-up a website for us. We are working with her to get the information flowing on a regular basis. More content will be added as we go along.
If you have email or Internet access, I recommend that you subscribe (Click on the Subscribe by Email link and fill in your email address) because we will be posting the newsletters on the site and that way you will have an email of them.
Already Jazz has put up a audio/video presentation of Russell on the Alex Jones show.
Keep in mind, Russell and I are just learning, so bear with us as we begin this new phase of getting the word out.
• • • • • • •
Websites of Interest
Freedom Organizations
Federal Bills and Legislators
Missouri Legislators and Bills
National Animal Identification System Sites
- USDA Website: http://animalid.aphis.usda.gov/nais/
- www.r-calfusa.com
- www.libertyark.org
- http://xstatic99645.tripod.com/naisinfocentral/id69.html
• • • • • • •
Barry County Chapter Meeting January 5
Paul Bingham, coordinator of the newest PRC chapter filed this report, “Our meeting was modestly attended by about ten folks. We talked about premise registration and making efforts to expand our membership. The meeting lasted about forty-five minutes, as folks were tired.” This meeting had to be moved from its regular 1st Thursday date because of New Years. See Contact’s box below for info.
• • • • • • •
Common Sense Conservation Meeting
Outdoor writer, Larry Dablemont will host a Common Sense Conservation meeting at the Douglas County Livestock Auction on Tuesday, January 27, at 7 p.m. He will be discussing the Missouri Department of Conservation issues that are being discussed around the area.
• • • • • • •
Attention!
If you move please notify me of your new address. If you simply don’t want to get the newsletter anymore, please, let me know and I will remove your name from the list.
• • • • • • •
Email Addresses
If you have an email address and are currently getting the newsletter in snail mail form, please email me at info@ozarksprc.com so I can send you the newsletter by email and save postage.
• • • • • • •
Election of PRC Officers and Board Members will be held at the Meeting on January 22!
• • • • • • •
Ozarks PRC Contacts
President – c. Russell Wood – 417-948-2379
Vice Pres. – L. D. (Dave) Davis – 417-284-3742
Sec/Treas/Newsletter – Carolin Burch – 417-668-5977
Email – cburch@ozarksprc.com
Website: www.ozarkspropertyrightscongress.com | www.ozarksprc.com
Arkansas Info: Mary Rivera – 870-458-217
Far Southwest: Arthur Waggoner – 417-435-2661
Email: wagg@leru.net
Barry County: Paul Bingham – 417-835-5036 (after 7 p.m.)
Email: paulbingham44@yahoo.com
Russell Wood on Alex Jones Show
Thursday, January 15th, 2009Alex Jones welcomes Russell Wood of the Ozarks Property Rights Congress (Ozarks PRC) in Missouri who is fighting property registration, hunting permit restrictions and the National Animal Identification System (NAIS).
