{"id":8637,"date":"2017-02-13T08:37:20","date_gmt":"2017-02-13T13:37:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/?p=8637"},"modified":"2017-02-15T13:42:04","modified_gmt":"2017-02-15T18:42:04","slug":"action-alert-trailside-needs-your-voice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/action-alert-trailside-needs-your-voice\/","title":{"rendered":"Action Alert: Trailside Needs Your Voice!"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Norman Smith, director of Blue Hills Trailside Museum, with his granddaughter and a snowy owl.<\/p><\/div>\n

Once again, Blue Hills Trailside Museum<\/a> in Milton needs your help.\u00a0Governor Baker recently cut the $500,000 committed\u00a0to Trailside for its current fiscal year. On top of that, he did not <\/span>propose<\/span> any money <\/span>for<\/span> the museum to operate for the next year.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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We are not giving up\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
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We’re working to restore funding b<\/span>ut we need your help to do it.\u00a0Call your local state legislator<\/a> and tell them what Trailside means to you. Better yet, write them a letter. We\u2019ve been told that a handwritten letter is even more powerful than a phone call!<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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It can say something to the effect of:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Dear _______,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

My name is ________ and I live in ________. I was very disappointed to hear that funding has been cut for the Blue Hills Trailside Museum.\u00a0[Include personal story here, for example, My daughter went to camp for years and learned to appreciate nature because of their program. Or I remember visiting Trailside as a child, and now I look forward to bringing my children to watch the otter and\u00a0see a snowy owl up close.]\u00a0<\/i>Please restore full funding for Trailside Museum so they can continue their important efforts.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sincerely,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

_______________<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Once you’ve done that, we’d love it if you would share your personal connection, photograph, or drawing and tagging our Facebook<\/a> and\/or Twitter<\/a> accounts using #fundtrailside.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Why this matters<\/span><\/h3>\n

The museum, owned by the state of Massachusetts and managed by Mass Audubon, relies on the Commonwealth for a large portion of their operating budget. With proper funding, Trailside:<\/span><\/p>\n