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Class 42 State Government Seminar
Many members of Class 42 arrived in Olympia feeling intimidated by the legislative process. By the end of the seminar, they expressed newfound confidence and readiness to join in!
 
Mark Doumit, Executive Director of the Washington Forest Protection Association, kicked off the seminar with a warm and inviting welcome to Olympia. The class visited with legislators, agency leaders, association directors and lobbyists throughout the seminar. The consistent message from all speakers was that we must maintain honesty, integrity, and collaboration in the public policy process. WFPA Director of Forest and Environmental Programs Doug Hooks, Class 36, closed out the seminar with a passionate call to action!
 
While the class reflected on their experience in Olympia, the room was buzzing with energy and ideas about how each of them is planning to step into the public policy arena. 
We would like to extend a huge "Thank you" to Washington Forest Protection Association for sponsoring the Olympia Reception an d arranging this incredibly impactful and eye-opening experience for another AgForestry Class!
What class members said about their experience:
"The legislative process is intimidating. This seminar made the process seem accessible and made me feel more comfortable engaging in the process."

"This seminar changed my perspective of who the folks are sitting in the seats of state government. I was delighted to understand they are normal people."

"I feel like I understand the ecosystem of Olympia enough to have the confidence to engage."

"This seminar inspired me to seek out elected office someday, starting at the local level."

"This was my first time to Olympia. The experience went against my naive and limited state government experience and showed there are a lot of people wanting to actually do good things."
Doug Hooks’ answers the question "What's this all about?"
Class 42 got a behind the scenes look at the Supreme Court.
Tom Strong and Justin Parker discuss work being done by Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission.
Consultant Dan Coyne, Class 4, and Carl Schroeder explain how a bill becomes a law.