1603 Capitol Ave . , #325 Cheyenne, Wy 82001 18 May, 1981 Vv'^OMlNG NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY NEWS LETTER, Vol 1 #1 As of this date, the following 23 people are paid members of WNPS: Ann Aldrich Francis Current June Haines Larry Morse Theresa Rooney Richard Scott Jenifer Whipple Ray Umber Patrick Boles Erwin Evert Robert Lichvar Burrel Nelson Phyllis Roseberry Don Shute Philip White Andrew Youngblood Tim Clark & D. Casey Ronald Hartman Dave Martin Maribeth Patrick Mary In J. Samuel Mark Stromberg Linda Williamson This will be the last newsletter sent to those who have not paid membership dues. In the recent election, all proposed by-laws changes were approved. The following people were elected as officers and board members: da prez: Robert Wayne Lichvar 1216 W. 31 St St, Cheyenne, WY 82001 Vice-Prez Ronald Hartman Botany Dept,, Univ, of Wyoming Laramie, WY 82001 Secretary -Treasurer Don Shute 1815 Seymour Ave, Cheyenne, WY 82001 2-year Board Member Dick Scott ■ Central Wyoming College Riverton, WY 82501 1-year Board Member Mark Stromberg 1517 E. 16th St. Cheyenne, WY 82001 Our articles of incorporation are being rewritten by Phil White. Be reminded that the TrfflPS first annual meeting will be held on the 27th and 28th of June at Castle Gardens, Fremont County. The meeting will begin at 3pm on Saturday the 27th. If you plan on attending this rendezvous, don't forget to bring along water, food, and camping gear. The privies and picnic tables are provided. One of the nain points of discussion will be the goals and direction of our society.' Please come with suggestionsas to what type of involvements the society should pursue. After we reach a concensus, we will put together a one-page promotional description of the society for potential members. PLANT NEWZ On the 18th of March, 1981, five botanists from Wyoming and one from Colorado sent two petitions to the Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Endangered Species (FWS-OES) in Washington, D.C. Both Sphaeromeria simplex and Agrost is rossiae were candidate species listed in the recent Federal Register of December 15, 1980, as category 1. This category is the FWS-OES highest ranking for species to be considered for listing. A response from FWS-OES on May 1, 1981, replied that they intended to proceed with proposing these species for listing (?). The rulemaking packages needed to list these species were prepared for these species one year ago. Hopefully, something will happen in the near future. The Natural Resources Defense Council recently sent us a memo on proposed changes in the Lacey Act, which protects wildlife. The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works recently passed an amendment changing the criminal penalty provisions to insure that minor or inadvertant violators are not penalized too scvtrely. These portions apply to plants as well* This ^ men L has vot: the support of all major conservation organizations, state fish and game ag^incies and the National Rifle Assoc., and deserves our support as well. The next hurdle is the Senate Judiciary coTTnn.it t ee , which must consider the l.acey Act .Amendments before 11 June. Opponents feel that the penalties are still too strong. Quoting from the NRDC memo; "It would probably be best to support the bill in general and not to emphasize the new plant provisions in order to avoid creating controversy over them. It is crucial that this (Judiciary) Cor^ittee report the bill out promptly with ‘no changes . Please write to^members of the Committee, listed below, in support of the bill. Once again, it is probably best not to draw attention to the plant provisions, with one very ^ important exception. DeConcini, who is co-sponsoring the bill because it will assist Arizona s cactus cops, should be warned that an amendment proposed by Symms (Idaho) yesterday would have the effect of eliminating Ariz ona ' s (and neighboring states') cactus permit vrograms fr^Tn La’ce’y Act p’rot ec t ion . These programs are not endangered species acts, so t'ney are currently included only because cacti are on the CUES app^^^nd i ces . Svmms proposed that Lacey not cover species portected by other Federal law, incUiding CITES. Senator Thurmond may offer a similar amendment in the Judiciary Coimiiittee. Snr-son and Baucus have alrWdy supported the bill in the Environment and Public R'orks Conimittee; you may wish to urge them to remain steadfast." Western states' senators in the Judiciary Comir.ittee: Paul Laxalt, Nev; Orrin Hatch, Utah; Alan Simpson, Wyo; Dennis DeConcini, Ariz; and Max Baucus, Mont. They can all be addressed at the Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510. Don Shute Bob LichvaT 10028 AM -m^i ‘-aAY lOajdEO g091 Alamos auaxd nAiijejj SuiujoAyi