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Native Forest Council
PO Box 2190
Eugene, OR 97402
(541) 688-2600
fax 461-2156 or 689-9835
email: ZeroCutl@aol.com
June 24, 1996

URGENT NOTICE - NFC FACING POSSIBLE CLOSURE

In the eight years of our existence, we have taken unprecedented risks to
assure that future generations will still enjoy the full benefits of
life-sustaining native forests. From the start we risked taking the
controversial, but necessary, stands. We were the first to advocate an end
to all logging on public lands and called our position Zero Cut. We were
called "politically unrealistic" and "naive" but, eight years later, the
Oregon Natural Resources Council and the Sierra Club have both adopted
Zero Cut for public lands. And dozens of grassroots organizations
throughout the nation have also understood that, given the state of our
forests and how little remains intact, an end to logging, not better
logging, was what they really wanted.

Now, one of our staff members, Chad Hanson, is in Washington DC and has
received a commitment from several Representatives to introduce Zero Cut
legislation in the Congress.

They said it couldn't be done. But we did the tough work, we took the
heat, and helped reframe the forest issue.

And so now, we are taking yet another unprecedented risk by publicly
disclosing the financial status of the Native Forest Council. Simply
stated, we are in imminent danger of closing our doors. We realize that
this kind of disclosure flies in the face of basic fund-raising principle.
But
at this late hour, we are driven to extraordinary measures.

WE ARE IN THE MOST SERIOUS FINANCIAL CONDITION IN THE HISTORY OF
THE NATIVE FOREST COUNCIL.

Many of you know our work, but for those who do not, we include a short
list of current projects vital to our continued fight to save America's
native forests.
*    Publishing the Forest Voice - high-impact visuals and text. It is not
the usual newsletter. It promotes the issue not the Native Forest Council.
It has been used by activists all across the nation and in places as
distant as Siberia. We have been told it is the single most vital
publication in the forest movement.
*  Getting "Zero-Cut" legislation introduced for public lands. This will
dramatically improve the parameters of the political debate. For the first
time, it will allow us to go on the offensive, not just react to
industry's political maneuvering.
*  Providing a powerful information clearing-house for activist and media
contacts. We share the latest relevant articles from dozens of different
sources each day with hundreds of people across the nation. By phone,
print, and through our 2,500 broadcast FAX-Net, we help provide those in
the movement and the media with the "bigger picture".
*  Building a strong winning coalition for a "non compromising" economic,
social, and environmental message.
*  Producing@ and distributing@ exceptionally hard-hitting@, dynamic
videos as educational and organizing tools. The most recent was "Born in
Fire," (a video about the destructive nature of "salvage logging" and the
Warner Creek arson sale), and we are currently working with others on
another Zero-Cut video to raise the issue of who owns public lands, who
pays for their destruction, and who benefits from the liquidation of our
national heritage?

Throughout the years, people have told us that we are like John the
Baptist crying for fundamental reform in the wilderness. We pave the way
for others to come after. We raise the bar. OUR WORK IS ESSENTIAL AND
SHOULD CONTINUE! Wether or not we can continue depends upon the quick
response of individuals and foundations that see value in what we do.

IF YOU CAN HELP, NOW IS THE TIME.

There are several ways to help -
1)  Direct contribution of money, securities, real property
2)  Being a liaison to other individuals who may be interested and able to
invest
3)  Providing creative ideas for funding and campaign efforts

We can provide quick brief proposals, weekly financial statements and have
five years of audited financial reports. Our past three annual budgets
range from $265,000-$410,000.

Once again, we understand that this is an unprecedented risk. But, we will
persist in taking risks for any chance to continue fighting for the
protection of our precious native forests. As rapidly as our planets
life-support systems appear to be unraveling, we believe our children's
survival may well depend on it.

On behalf of our staff, Deborah Ortuno, Victor Rozek, Chad Hanson, Phil
Nanas, and our 200 volunteers across the nation, thank you for your time
and consideration.

For the forests,
Tim Hermach
Executive Director