I didn't mean to sit down to email you just as the OCBA meeting is starting in Ocracoke, but I'm looking at the clock and see that it should be happening right about now. Thank you to everyone who helped us get over 1,000 signatures for the ducks. For an island of only a few hundred year round residents, this should speak loudly. Today, I sent the following email to Hyde County NC Commissioners Earl Pugh, Jr., Dick Tunnell, John Fletcher, and Barry Swindell. I also sent it to Bill Rich, Hyde County Manager, and William Doerfer, Special Assistant Hyde County Manager. Also on the list was the Ocracoke Civic and Business Association and Ocracoke Village. I included the general tourism emails for Dare and Currituck counties as well, because if tourism in Hyde is affected, Dare and Currituck may be as well. I CC'd local news publications The Ocracoke Observer, The Island Free Press, and Outer Banks Voice. I also sent it to Dave Hallac, Superintendent of Cape Hatteras National Seashore. No one replied. I'm just going to assume that it's because they were busy printing out our petition and reviewing it in preparation for the meeting. It's possible I may not receive a direct response and maybe we'll all find out what happened via the local Ocracoke news together. Until I hear for certain that the cull is cancelled, the petition will run. If Ocracoke continues with their plans and their permit, I will personally hand-deliver our petition to every business in Ocracoke that I can to help business owners understand how their customers feel. Until then, the list just continues to grow and awareness of their consideration continues to spread. I'm going to believe it won't come to that and that instead, there will be great success for our feathered friends at the meeting tonight! Here is exactly what I sent to all the people mentioned above. Thank you again and I hope to be back tomorrow evening with AMAZING news! Peace & Ducks, Tracy C. ------ Dear Hyde County Commissioners and OCBA, I am a Manteo resident and business owner who finds herself traveling to Ocracoke often for work and pleasure. I spend a lot of time and money there, and my business relies upon our visitors up and down the entire Outer Banks. On Sunday, the Ocracoke Observer published an article regarding your very valid and frustrating problem with the ducks. While I agree it is a serious problem, I also feel that the risks and alternatives should be properly understood. After reading the article, I created an online petition hoping to bring in around 100 signatures of residents and tourists who might agree. Three days later, as of this writing, there are 1,069 signatures and it's growing quickly each hour. The signatures include residents of Hyde, Dare and Currituck counties, as well as past and potential visitors from the rest of NC and the US. Many of them have left comments on the petition stating that anything less than humane measures may have an impact on their decision making when planning vacations to the Outer Banks. I have included on this email those in surrounding towns and counties who also may be affected by a lessening in tourism. Attached are two files. One is a longer file and is the complete petition, all the signatures, and every comment made up to the point of this email. The other file is a bit more reader friendly as it is only four pages: the petition and a compilation of some of the comments that I feel most deserve your attention. I am asking that these two files please be printed and used in tonight's meeting as an exhibit on behalf of hundreds who spend our money in your town. It is my hope that some, (or all), of the comments listed on the short file may be read aloud along with the petition so that all members of the OCBA may be fully informed. If your time does not allow, please consider passing it around for reading at the very least. If my business were located in Ocracoke, I would want to know what my customers had to say. To view the petition live, as it is still collecting signatures, go here: https://www.change.org/p/use-humane-alternative-to-euthanizing-350-wild-ducks-in-ocracoke-nc-outer-banks If you have any questions, I am available by phone all day and encourage you to call, even during your meeting if need be.