Hello and Happy Saturday!
It has been an absolutely insane couple of days that followed an insane of week, that followed an insane couple of months, followed by an absolutely insane YEAR!
The last few weeks have been incredibly hectic and there is A LOT I have not been able to share because of the sheer insanity!
After The Wall Street Journal article was published, I did what I asked all of you to also do: I sent about 200 emails out to national media organizations. The Washington Post and a few others responded.
The Washington Post let me know that they would be interested in having us write an Op-Ed for them. They said there was no rush, this could be done whenever we wanted. These wacky holiday weeks are always a good time to get news in print. I started right away writing the piece that was published this week. REMEMBER: TIMING IS EVERYTHING!
There was a lot of back and forth between editing and questions for clarification. Then I was introduced to the visual editor and photos were submitted and chosen. What you read this week started on December 22, 2023.
The editor I spoke with let me know that she knew who I was. She has been reading about the wild horses through the Associated Press articles that have been written. Her boyfriend also visited the Park and witnessed the wild horses for himself. He said they were the best part of his time here!
Friday, The Washington Post featured us on their social media pages! One of the editors took note of people upset that the story was behind a paywall. She sent us this link so that everyone can read the article FOR FREE! https://wapo.st/48yQydS
While all of that was happening, other newspapers also contacted us. We shared the article written by The Towner County Record Herald. Dakota Horse Magazine also did an article about the horses, asked us questions and sent us their final draft to edit for them. We met with someone from the North Dakota News Cooperative this past week as well. He is working on an article about the horses. Last week we met with a reporter working on a big story for a Billings County Pioneer newspaper.
This week, a local news station, KYFR TV, asked me for an interview to talk about the national media coverage and updates from the Park. That aired Thursday night and their Facebook post about it has over 200 comments on it so far, overwhelming in support of keeping the horses!
Yesterday morning I received a message from Jay Thomas from WDAY Radio. He wanted to know if someone was available to talk on his show at 3 pm MST that day. We talked briefly on the phone, and he said he would give us a full hour on his show!
TIMING!
Did I plan to talk to Jay on air yesterday? NOPE! Did I have other plans for the day? ABSOLUTELY!
I have learned over the last year that life works best when you go with the flow and take advantage of every single opportunity that comes our way to talk about the TRNP wild horses. These opportunities are not just falling on our lap! They are coming from the work being done by every single one of you! Every share, every email – IT ALL MATTERS!!!
I want to also insert in here that I feel like I am so behind on things I NEED to do in my work and personal life that I feel like I will never catch up! We are ALL busy – but we can ALL do something!
We have quite an arsenal that we need to use to our advantage!
Please remember – EVERY LITTLE THINGS MATTERS! We gave some calls to action the last couple of weeks. We will list them here again. We also have some NEW ones for you. We hope that you will take a few moments this weekend, FOR THE HORSES, to do as many of these as you can!
CALL TO ACTION #1: SHARE SHARE SHARE SHARE SHARE!!!!!
- The Wall Street Journal: https://www.wsj.com/us-news/wild-horses-remove-theodore-roosevelt-national-park-north-dakota-e12d5fd6
- The Washington Post: https://wapo.st/48yQydS
- KFYR TV report: https://www.kfyrtv.com/2024/01/05/trnps-wild-horses-gain-national-attention/?fbclid=IwAR3Ab9uglOa59QtSOHImp5N7sgVIjRV1G4f0gWbKGJgZufxXmHLPWF3E5a4
- Jay Thomas Show: https://www.wdayradionow.com/show-episodes/71695-jay-thomas-show-housing-ordinances-skating-on-crime-and-wild-horses-1-5-24?fbclid=IwAR3IhtIv4GDdcTjWOhUnVZGqyVXoCFJ_cqJ5-UCyW6c-lQVbzH4v-bfBxOE
- Towner County Herald: https://chwha.org/2024/01/05/towner-county-record-herald/
Call to Action #2: CONTACT NATIONAL MEDIA OUTLETS!!!
- We do not have contact information, but simple web searches can help you find contact information. Be sure to send them the links above!
Call to Action #3: EMAIL THE ‘POWERS THAT BE’!
- This can be a simple email sent to Superintendent Angie Richman: Angie_Richman@nps.gov NPS Regional Director Bert Frost: Bert_Frost@nps.gov NPS National Director Sams: charles_sams@nps.gov Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland: exsec@ios.doi.gov (you may have to copy and paste these into your email!)
Your letter can say something like:
I am sure that you are aware that mainstream media has picked up on the story of your intentions to eliminate the 200 wild horses that call Theodore Roosevelt National Park home!
Readers/viewers/listeners from far and wide are outraged that the National Park Service would be planning something so destructive to the wild horses entrusted in their care!
TRNP’s own reports show that visitors are coming to the Park FOR THE HORSES! Local small businesses are rightfully concerned that removing the horses will have a negative impact on their business.
In case you missed the coverage, just in this last month, I have included the links for you:
The Wall Street Journal: https://www.wsj.com/us-news/wild-horses-remove-theodore-roosevelt-national-park-north-dakota-e12d5fd6
The Washington Post: https://wapo.st/48yQydS
KFYR TV report: https://www.kfyrtv.com/2024/01/05/trnps-wild-horses-gain-national-attention/?fbclid=IwAR3Ab9uglOa59QtSOHImp5N7sgVIjRV1G4f0gWbKGJgZufxXmHLPWF3E5a4
Jay Thomas Show: https://www.wdayradionow.com/show-episodes/71695-jay-thomas-show-housing-ordinances-skating-on-crime-and-wild-horses-1-5-24?fbclid=IwAR3IhtIv4GDdcTjWOhUnVZGqyVXoCFJ_cqJ5-UCyW6c-lQVbzH4v-bfBxOE
Towner County Herald: https://chwha.org/2024/01/05/towner-county-record-herald/
National Parks are funded by the tax paying public. The people have overwhelmingly spoken out in favor of keeping the wild horses IN Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The State of North Dakota has offered to help in whatever way they can. The Tribes have also asked that you allow the horses to stay.
The only acceptable response the tax-paying public should be getting is that you will allow a genetically viable herd of horses to remain within the Theodore Roosevelt National Park!
There is a growing number of us that will not rest until these horses are allowed to remain in the ONLY home they have ever known. We will continue to raise our voices as loud as we can to make sure of that!
It is time for the National Park Service to do the right thing and stop this attack on one of North Dakota’s greatest treasures!
I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Call to Action #4 – THANK SENATOR HOEVEN FOR HIS SUPPORT AND ASK HIM TO DO MORE!!
Senator John Hoeven has been a huge supporter for keeping the wild horses IN Theodore Roosevelt National Park. We are grateful for his support! What ultimately needs to happen is for a federal law to be enacted so that we never have to go through this again!
Federal law will take YEARS!!! This is a process that needs to start now.
Please send a RESPECTFUL letter to Senator Hoeven. You letter should be sent to: eric_gustafson@hoeven.senate.gov Your letter can say something like this:
Senator Hoeven:
Thank you for joining us as we continue to fight for the freedom of the wild horses that call Theodore Roosevelt National Park home. We appreciate your efforts to help save this herd!
As you know, the Park appears to be staying the course when it comes to their planned elimination of the horses. I believe that stronger action is needed to ensure they stay wild and free for generations to come!
I am sure that you have seen the media reports just in this past month! Mainstream media has caught wind of the story, and the public is outraged!
In case you missed them, the links are below for you:
The Wall Street Journal: https://www.wsj.com/us-news/wild-horses-remove-theodore-roosevelt-national-park-north-dakota-e12d5fd6
The Washington Post: https://wapo.st/48yQydS
KFYR TV report: https://www.kfyrtv.com/2024/01/05/trnps-wild-horses-gain-national-attention/?fbclid=IwAR3Ab9uglOa59QtSOHImp5N7sgVIjRV1G4f0gWbKGJgZufxXmHLPWF3E5a4
Jay Thomas Show: https://www.wdayradionow.com/show-episodes/71695-jay-thomas-show-housing-ordinances-skating-on-crime-and-wild-horses-1-5-24?fbclid=IwAR3IhtIv4GDdcTjWOhUnVZGqyVXoCFJ_cqJ5-UCyW6c-lQVbzH4v-bfBxOE
Towner County Herald: https://chwha.org/2024/01/05/towner-county-record-herald/
I feel that it is time to start drafting federal legislation to protect these horses. That is the ONLY thing that will ensure we never go through this again!
This has been brought to the attention of other members of Congress as well. Many are willing to co-sponsor this legislation, but rightfully believe that the sponsorship needs to come from one of North Dakota’s own federal legislators.
Thank you again for all of your hard work and dedication to keeping these horses wild and free and for your consideration in this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Call to Action #5 – GRATITUDE!
Don’t forget to say THANK YOU to all of the media outlets that have shared the story of the wild horses in TRNP! Contact info is below:
Write letters to the editor of all of the papers that have covered the story of the horses and thank them for allow their platform to be used to raise awareness about the plight of our wild horses. The Wall Street Journal: wsj.ltrs@wsj.com. The Washington Post: Jamie.RileyKolsky@washpost.com. KYFR TV: Sara.Berlinger@kfyrtv.com. Towner County Record: tcrhads@gondtc.com
Send an email: jay.thomas@flagfamily.com or DM to Jay Thomas thanking him for his support! Let him know you enjoyed the show! He said he would have us on again! Showing interest and support lets him know there is an audience for us!
Call to Action #6 – COMMENT!
Go to The Washington Post’s Instagram & Facebook pages and comment on their post about the horses: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/washingtonpostopinions Instagram: @postopinions
Call to Action #7 – HELP US REACH OUR GIVING HEARTS DAY MATCHING GOAL!
Early giving has started for Giving Hearts Day! We reached our $15,000 matching funds goal! Every $10 counts! This is our BIGGEST fundraiser of the year! With everything happening these last few weeks, we have not been able to talk enough about this! You can schedule your donation here: https://app.givingheartsday.org/#/charity/1669
Call to Action #8 – TO BE DONE AFTER ALL OF THE OTHERS ARE COMPLETED!!!
Take a much needed break! Give yourself a pat on the back! We have accomplished so much, but there is STILL so much that needs to be done! Pamper yourself this weekend and rest up! We will see you on Monday for a NEW fun post!
Thank you again for all of your help and support! Together, we are making a difference! NEVER doubt that!
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