The Save the Colony Farm Orchard Rally sponsored by the Asylum Lake Preservation Association was held Tuesday evening 8 November in Van Deusen auditorium at the Kalamazoo Public Library.  ALPA vice president David Nesius said that 53 people signed in and his total head count was 67.

One highlight of the session was a screening of Matt Clysdale’s fine documentary film “The Colony Orchard: Here We Go Again.”  The Here We Go Again refers to the fact that this all played out once before in the early 1990s, when Western Michigan University tried to include the orchard property in an earlier stab at a business park.  WMU was beaten back then, but the current attempt has yet to play out, so the film will need a second act, for which Matt continues to assemble footage.  (Contributions [non-deductible] to support the effort would be gratefully accepted.)

Curiously, in the filmed interview with Bob Miller, a WMU vice president well known for his conversations with the Asylum Lake neighborhood groups, Miller seems to be denying knowledge of the earlier conflict. That’s my impression; you can judge for yourself by watching the film on You Tube.

The film provides a quick and painless way to get the essentials of the current attempt by WMU to strip away the open space/public use restriction on the orchard, seemingly as a prelude to using it to expand its existing BTR Park. Included is the developing realization of WMU’s intentions and the early stages of the opposition to it.  This film was completed about the end of September.  The only updating really needed at the moment is that the original version of HB 5207 said that WMU was required to use the land to expand its BTR park.  That restriction is gone in the bill that reached the Senate.  Now, if the bill should pass, WMU can use the land for anything.

The other highlight of the evening was the opportunity for attendees to ask questions and get answers to them, mostly from ALPA president Amy DeShon, but occasionally from others involved with planning the event and also from other members of the audience.  I didn’t count, but there must have been forty questions, plus as many comments in which attendees shared their ideas of what was happening and what ought to be done.

We heard a little about what the affected neighborhood groups are thinking and doing. Several students from the Students for a Sustainable Earth (SSE) at WMU were there.  They have adopted the Colony Farm Orchard question as a project.  Co-chairman Andrew Weissenborn told about their activities, some of which are listed on the Save the Enchanted Forest group page (under Events, on the left, and on the Wall) on Facebook).  Their hard work was warmly received.

Just after the film, I spoke for five minutes or so on the conservation values of the Colony Farm Orchard.  I was glad to have the opportunity to talk to somebody about conservation values, because WMU seems to find the subject uninteresting. When the subject of conservation comes up, they talk about what great things the BTR Park has done.

I don’t know yet how much media coverage the event got, but WMUK, the

NPR station at WMU in Kalamazoo had a story on the early news Wednesday morning during Morning Edition.  I think it was good, but I wasn’t quite awake when it came on.  This was not, however, WMUK’s first coverage of the matter.  In September, they had a story about the House Commerce Committee passing the bill.

The Kalamazoo Gazette ran a front-page  article Wednesday by Paula Davis, who has covered the topic since it first came up.  Kalamazoo AM radio station WKZO also had a very brief story on the rally.

Another useful feature of the meeting was a hand-out sheet on what supporters of retaining the orchard property as public open space can do.  The version at the meeting by Lad Hanka was crisp and punchy.  I couldn’t quickly get it into this post, so I had to fall back on the following version.

What You Can Do
to Save the Colony Farm Orchard (=Enchanted Forest)

The bill passed the House after being introduced by and has been reported out of the Appropriations Committee in the Senate with Sen. Tom George (R-Kal) voting for it.  The only Senator on the Appropriations Committee who voted against it was Sen. Liz Brater (D-Ann Arbor).  The Senate has delayed taking it up for two months, perhaps partly in response to hundreds of calls and letters; however, it could be brought up at any time.

Contact key players in state government and educate them about the facts and your position on the stripping of restrictions from the Colony Farm Orchard in Bill 5207. Ask them either to keep the bill from being considered or to amend it to remove the section on the Colony Farm Orchard.  Ask them to vote against the bill if the Colony Farm Orchard provision remains. Phone calls, personal visits, and letters sent through the mail are most effective; however e-mails are also useful.  P.O. Box 30036, Lansing, MI 48909-7536 is the US Postal Service address for all Senators.

Senate Majority leader Mike Bishop controls the scheduling of bills. 517-373-2417. Senator Alan Cropsey, majority floor leader, works closely with Bishop in scheduling votes.  517 373-3760.

Senate Minority leader Mike Prusi should know how strongly the citizens of the Kalamazoo area feel about the bill. 517-373-7840 (Toll Free Phone Number: 866-305-2038).

Sen. Tom George (R–Kalamazoo has said he supports the bill and trusts WMU to do the right thing. He declined to meet with ALPA recently, saying he might have time in January. Separately, he also declined to met with the student representatives of SSE.  As the Senator from this district, the position he ultimately takes may be influential. 517- 373-0793.

Sen. Liz Brater has said she will oppose the bill. She deserves support.  517-373-2406.

Rep. Robert Jones (D–Kalamazoo) is the sponsor of HB 5207.  He could withdraw it or withdraw the section that involves the Colony Farm Orchard.  Let him know what you think. 888-833-6636.

Gov. Jennifer Granholm will need to make a decision to veto or sign  the bill  if it passes the Senate.  Let her know  your position.  517-373-3400, 517-335-7858.

WMU President John M. Dunn needs to be more aware of community sentiment than he now is:  john.dunn@wmich.edu, 269-387-2351, Office of President, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo MI 49008.

Some WMU Board members may be somewhat isolated from Kalamazoo events. A letter or email to Board of Trustees c/o Secretary of the Board Betty Kocher, with the request that your complete message be distributed to every Trustee would probably suffice. Email: betty.kocher@wmich.edu

And it is still very much worthwhile to continue sending letters and Viewpoints to the Kalamazoo Gazette.  Go to   http://www.mlive.com/mailforms/kzgazette/letters/