Join us for a fun-filled evening to help raise funds to support our Black
River herons. This is an emergency fundraiser to help save the herons.

You?ll bid on exquisite art, including original watercolor and oil pastel
paintings donated by artists Sandra Kohler (www.watercolor.net) and Ed
Newbold (http://www.ednewbold.com/), handmade soaps, cards, photographs
by Herons Forever?s premiere photographers, CDs of the herons ? one from
Martyn Stewart of NatureSound.org (http://www.naturesound.org), and three
hours of massage from a Hellerwork master.

Join us: Save Our Black River Herons Emergency Fundraiser

When: Thursday, November 4, 6:30 pm ? 8:30 pm. Great food will be
provided, so come hungry.
Where: 7009 South 130th Street, Seattle, WA 98178. It is in Skycrest, a
Skyway/ West Hill neighborhood, located just north of our Black River
herons.
Click here for directions:
http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?country=US&countryid=US&addtohistory
=&searchtab=address&searchtype=address&address=7009+South+130th+Street&ci
ty=seattle&state=wa&zipcode=98178&search=++Search++
Or call 425-277-2565 for directions.


We need your help
Herons Forever must raise funds to protect the magnificent heron colony
in Renton?s Black River Riparian Forest. The City of Renton is in the
process of overturning the Hearing Examiner?s recent decision that
required further study of the impacts of a 65-house development next to
the herons? home.

With your help, we will raise the $35,000 required in order to challenge
Renton?s decision in Superior Court. We learned last week that we needed
to raise our goal from the original $25,000. The lawsuit will cost
approximately $25,000 and we expect an appeal from the developer once we
win that will cost another $5,000 to $10,000, which we need to plan for
now.

Our goal is to ensure that the Examiner?s decision is upheld. We have an
outstanding chance of winning according to our attorney. Our time is
short ? we must raise these funds by February. If we fail to accomplish
this, we will be stuck with Renton?s decision, which will be disastrous
for the herons.

We need significant donations to accomplish this. Our hope is that some
of you will consider making $500, $1,000, or larger donations.

Every donation, every penny counts. Your donations of $25, $35, $50 will
go a long ways toward helping us defend the Examiner?s decision.

If you have friends who love birds, salmon, red fox, and the myriad of
other wildlife that call Black River their home, who may be interested in
supporting us, please let them know we need their help.

This invitation is by email only. As you know, we don?t have a large
budget. We ask for your understanding and support for this approach. It
may not be pretty but make no mistake, if you value the Black River heron
colony, making a donation is the most important thing you can do to
support our herons right now.

Herons Forever is 100% volunteer based. Every penny goes toward direct
support of this effort. There is no paid staff or overhead. We do this
work because of our commitment to the herons and to our community. We
want these majestic birds to continue to thrive in this place they have
chosen as their home. We want our children and grandchildren to always be
able to enjoy this spectacular place.

The Black River heron colony is one of the Puget Sound regions greatest
natural treasures. And right now, its survival is entirely in our hands.
If this colony does not survive, the herons don?t simply leave and find
another location. Black River is the best of what?s left. Most of these
herons will not find another place to nest.

To date, Herons Forever has had terrific success. Over the past 15 years,
we have worked closely with Renton to attract $8 million in public funds
to acquire the Black River Riparian Forest, home to our Black River heron
colony. The decision a few months ago by Renton?s Hearing Examiner
represented a significant win for Herons Forever. It was the most
stringent decision that could have been rendered, leveling the playing
field and giving the herons a fighting chance to survive here. Now we
need to make sure the Examiner?s decision is upheld.

Please donate now ? in honor of your love for the Earth, as a gift
honoring someone you love, as a token of thanks for all that the herons
do for our ecosystems and our soul. We will keep you informed as this
process unfolds.

Isn?t it remarkable what a few people can do to make a real difference.
Together we can save our Black River herons.

Thank you for your contribution and continued support. Nothing we have
done to date would be possible without you. Your support now is crucial
to saving our Black River herons.

The herons thank you.

Suzanne Krom, President
Herons Forever


Other Ways To Help

Donate Now: Contribute by Mail
If you can?t join us this Thursday for our fundraiser, please give what
you can. And ask your friends and family to help the herons too. No
amount is too big or too small. Together, we can protect the largest
heron colony in the region.

Please complete the form that follows. Your donations are tax-deductible.
Many companies match their employees? charitable gifts to nonprofit
organizations ? ask your employer if they will match your contribution.

Please feel free to contact me if you would like.


***********


Contributing by Mail
You can help by sending your contribution to Rainier Audubon Society in
care of the Black River herons. Please complete this form and include it
with your contribution.

Dear Herons Forever,
I do not want poorly planned development to destroy the Black River heron
colony, and want to do what I can to make sure it is protected. My
tax-deductible contribution toward paying for an appeal to King County
Superior Court is:


_____ $35 level

_____ $50 level

_____ $75 level: Receive "A Year At Black River" CD with a collection of
over 1,000 photos taken by photographer Michael Hamilton at Black River
over the past three years.

_____ $125 level: Receive "A Year At Black River" CD and the audio CD of
the "Black River Heronry" by Martyn Stewart, of
http://www.naturesound.org

_____ $250 level: Receive both gifts above, plus a personalize tour of
Black River for your family, friends, coworkers, and anyone else you
would like to include. Children are welcome. Black River is wheelchair
accessible.

_____ $500 level or greater: Receive all gifts and field trip.


_____ Or enter your own amount: $______________

My employer will match my gift. My employer is
____________________________.

To contribute to Herons Forever, make your check or money order payable
to Rainier Audubon Society/Black River and in the memo section, write
Black River. Send your check to: Jim Tooley, Treasurer, Rainier Audubon
Society, P.O. Box 778, Auburn, WA 98071. You will receive a receipt from
Rainier Audubon.

Your name: ___________________________________________________________
Address: _____________________________________________________________
City: ________________________________ Zip: ____________________________
Phone including area code: ____________________ Email:
____________________


*Rainier Audubon Society is a 501c3 organization.

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