I wanted to wait until I had something substantial to present before updating again. The meeting in February didn't go well, but better than expected. I was able to establish a line of communication with Brock Jones, and from there I've been contacting other members to talk to them one on one in order to gather information to improve my strategy. I'm still unsure whether or not the board can amend the code themselves or if we need to get the state legislature involved. Once I find out, I'll update the petition accordingly. If the board can get it done internally, all we'll need is a two thirds vote to get it done. 

The next meeting is next week (May 18th), at the Pelham civic center at 9am. I'm going to try to get on the agenda, but even if I can't I'm still going there to speak again. If anyone would like to come and show their support, I'd be happy to have you there, but I will ask that you be polite and do your best to leave a good impression. We want to convince these people to do something for us, not intimate or harass them. The board members I've talked to have been very friendly and supportive and have helped a great deal to advance this campaign. 

I want to take a moment to acknowledge our supporters. To everyone who has signed, shared, and donated, thank you. Seeing this outpouring of support drives me to do things I never would have been able to do on my own and gives me hope that together we can forge a better future for alabamians and our native species. That being said, if we want this movement to succeed, we need to get serious about spreading the word and drawing attention to our cause. I need each and every one of you to gather as many signatures as possible and contact your local representatives. Imagine the impact we'll have if an undecided influential figure gets hundreds or even thousands of calls and emails in support of this movement and I am able to show up to a meeting with a stack of signatures that has to be wheeled in on a hand truck. We can make that happen, but we need your help. Every person you know or meet could be a new signature, and so could everyone they know, and so on. You can copy the link on this petition and text it to people in your contacts, share it on your social media, put it on a poster along with the QR code, even written with window paint on your tailgate. I myself gathered over 100 signatures by asking random people if I could text them a link. 

If anyone wants to contact me directly, especially if you have any skills or information that might be useful, I can be reached at npialabama@gmail.com. I check it as often as i can, but it may be a few days before im able to get back to you. 

Thank you all for all your help and support. -Brent