As we reported, when we testified before the WDFW Commission on the 4th and 5th of August, we asked the Commission to appoint a committee to begin working on a solution to end these secret meetings. We have followed up with a formal letter to the Chair of the WDFW Commission, Mr. Bradley Smith. I ask all of you, take a moment and send Chair Smith an email. Let him know how you feel about being locked out of these important meetings. Ask him to appoint a committee to begin working on ending these destructive meetings. He can be reached through the Commissions email at: commission@dfw.wa.gov ----Here is a copy of the letter we sent to Chair Smith, WDFW Com.--- August 16, 2017 Chair Bradley Smith WDFW Commission PO Box 43200 Olympia, WA 98504-3200 Dear Chair Smith, We are writing to highlight the issue of the closed door meetings in theTribal/WDFW North of Falcon (NOF) process and to express our desire to have this issue addressed formally by the Commission. As I testified to at the Commission meetings on August 4 and 5, your stakeholders are very concerned that they are being systematically removed from any meaningful role in the fisheries management programs of our state. Having the public barred from real time oversight of the proceedings in the Tribal/WDFW NOF negotiations is contrary our democratic principles and is damaging to the stakeholders trust and confidence in our Department and the co-management process. Further, it results in speculation and suspicion that the Department is being placed in a subordinate position and not being an equal “Co-manager” in these negotiations. As the Chair of our Fish and Wildlife Commission, we feel it is incumbent on you to hear the pleas of your stakeholders and address this issue. We are asking you to form a committee of Commissioners to begin working on a solution to this issue, and to communicate with your stakeholders on the progress. The NOF process will begin soon. If previous years action are any indication, we believe the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, the treaty tribes, and the Department will again start their meetings early and without any public notifications. We find this back room collaboration absolutely unacceptable from the government agency that is supported by our license purchase dollars. Please, listen to the collective voice of your stakeholders. Begin efforts to end these secret meetings once and for all. If there is truly nothing to hide, then let the live stream video cameras show the citizens of this state how all parties are working for the conservation of our collective fishery resources in a real and open co-management process. Respectfully, Perry Menchaca On Behalf of Washington Citizen Sportsmen and women, Open North of Falcon