"I've been around this lab since it was all farmland, and I can't
remember a crisis of this severity."

          -Leon Lederman, on the FY2008 budget passed this week


"If this doesn't motivate everybody to write Congress, then we deserve
what we get."

          -anonymous, on the FY2008 budget passed this week

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High Energy Friends,

  As you now know, Congress passed an FY08 omnibus budget bill this
week.   The result was an appropriation for DOE high energy physics that
is more than 8% below the FY07 level.   Fermilab received an allocation
that is 20% below the expected FY08 level.   The field as a whole is hit
very hard by this, and it is clear that we will *all* share the burden
of this reduction.


Even though the FY08 budget is now a done deal, there are still several
important reasons for us to let our representatives know exactly how
disastrous this is for our field:

  1.  If we don't make the ramifications of this budget clear, we stand
      to see the same type of cuts in the future.

  2.  Planning for the FY09 budget is underway now.  Given that we are
      coming into an election year, we can expect another showdown.  If
      we don't make our case strongly, we could again end up on the
      short end of the budget.

  3.  There is some discussion of resuscitating the FY08 budget with a
      supplemental appropriation.   We have to let Congress know now how
      important it is to restore FY08 funding.


There are several things you can do.   It's ok if you choose not to do
all of these things, but AT LEAST DO ITEMS 1 and 2!!!

  1.  Write your representatives.   We provide sample letters and
      step-by-step instructions below and at:
          http://www.hep.uiuc.edu/home/kpitts/uec/letters.html
      This is not a difficult or time-consuming process.  If you have
      never written to your representatives, I can't think of a better
      time to start.   ALL LETTERS COUNT!  Students and postdocs, this
      is your field and your future.   Please take a bit of time to
      contribute to this effort.

  2.  Get your colleagues to write letters to Congress.  This message is
      going out Fermilab users.   Please forward this letter to
      university friends and colleagues and encourage them to write
      letters as well.

  3.  Visit your representatives.  The Fermilab UEC, in conjunction with
      the UECs of other laboratories, have been organizing visits to
      representatives while they are home for the holiday recess.   We
      have been in contact with many of you already.  If you like to
      participate in these local visits, please contact Sacha Kopp
      (kopp@hep.utexas.edu).  Information is here:
            http://www.nufo.org/local-visits-2007-2008.html

  4.  Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper explaining
      the importance of funding for high energy physics and the problems
      produced by the FY08 budget.   If you are interested in doing
      this, please contact me (kpitts@uiuc.edu).  We are currently
      working on some sample letters that you can start from.

  5.  University people contact your Vice president/vice chancellor for
      research and make sure they are aware of the funding situation.
      Encourage them to work with institutional administration to
      congressional representatives.

I can't emphasize enough how important it is for all of us to
participate in this process.   This is the time to make ourselves heard.
 Please consider sending letters to your elected representatives.

     regards,
        Sacha Kopp and Kevin Pitts
        Fermilab UEC


=============================================================
Go to http://www.hep.uiuc.edu/home/kpitts/uec/letters.html

Instructions on writing letters to your representatives:

0.   Please note.  You cannot use Fermilab resources (computers, fax
     machines) to write or send these letters.   University computer
     accounts can be used for this type of work.

1.   Find out who represents you.  Go to www.congressmerge.com and
     either click on the map or enter your zip code.   By clicking on
     the name of the representative, you can find their mailing address
     and fax number.

2.   Our sample letters can be found here:
          http://www.hep.uiuc.edu/home/kpitts/uec/letters.html
     both in MSWord and text form.  Download and modify the sample
     letter, or write your own letter.  Be sure to include your name
     and address in the letter.   Do not feel obligated to write a
     unique letter.  The fact that you are sending the letter is
     what carries the weight.

3.   You should send out three letters:  1 to your representative in
     the House and 1 to each of your two senators.   Students, if you
     can lay claim to residence in two districts (e.g. a home district
     and a school district) please write letters to representatives of
     both locations.

4.   It is preferable if you fax the letter to the representative's DC
     office.

5.   Feel good that you participated in this process.  Encourage your
     colleagues to do the same.

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