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		LETTERS TO THE INSTITUTE
		Whether you currently are a member of the Institute or are thinking of becoming one, this is a forum to express your houghts, opinions, and insights. Thanks to all the following writers for taking the time to contribute their much-appreciated letters to this page.
			Protect Our Treasures Greetings! I have been reading the information that a friend of mine receives from you. He is a recent member. I think your group has the ideology and dedication to help make long-necessary changes in public thought and commercial development. Please sign me on as a member! I want to help. The Benzie area is a second home to me. I see the effects of Traverse sprawl on Honor and the many other small communities in the area. We need to join together to protect the treasures we have in Michigan. MARLENE MIELKE Grand Rapids, MI Getting the Word Out Just received the Summer/Fall '98 Bulletinand I must say that it's an excellent publication, filled with everything you need to know to understand what the Engler Administration has done to Michigan's environment. Great work! If possible, I'd love to include this issue in the packets being sent to all of our May conference attendees. This will help them better understand who you are and what MLUI is doing. Can you spare 40 more copies? ROB PERKS National Field Director Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility Washington, D.C. The Big Picture After reading one ofyour featured articlesin the Winter issue of your Bulletinwe finally decided we'd better come aboard. Although factory farming has long been high on the list for us as animal rights advocates, we now see you and environmentalists taking a strong stand against it for another reason. Patty Cantrell's article on the susceptibility of Michigan to the horrible pollution of livestock factories should awaken many to the passing of the family farm, even though it doesn't do much to emphasize the horrific suffering of the individual creatures. For whatever reason — destruction of the environment, animal cruelty, or threat to human health — we want to at least be counted in this particular struggle. We'd sure like to see the environmental community recognize that veganism (the total abstinence from animal products) is the major solution to the big picture, and maybe ease into a little less flesh eating as a good start. CHRIS ANDERLIK President, For Animals Traverse City, MI Common Sense Counts You appear to be the only community minded group working on the problems of overall land use. We have too many attorneys per squarefoot up hereto permit a common sense approach to any activities with dollar signs. Keep up the good work and please keep me posted. I should attend meetings when they are in the area and may be able to write letters regarding the Petoskey bypass alternative among other items. BILL VERHELLE Petoskey, MI This is a fine opportunity to acknowledge the Institute's General Counsel, Jim Olson and John Noonan, resplendent environmental and public interest attorneys who are unsurpassed in navigating the thicket of laws and government regulations so that fairness and common sense may prevail. ~Ed. Way to Go Arlin and Kelly wereterrific at the beltwayalternative meeting in Petoskey on April 21! In all the years of beltway meetings this was absolutely the best. I'm trying to put together a letter to the local paper because new life has been breathed into this issue and the Michigan Land Use Institute, not the taxpaper supported MDOT, is responsible. A heartfelt thank you to all of you. LINDA BADALUCCO Carp Lake, MI Kudos for the Bulletin The Winter issue of the Great Lakes Bulletinwas smashing in content and look. Jim, as a journalist, was especially impressed with the layout and quality of printing, while I remain drawn to the fine photo essay and "Cartography" poem. Our warmest greetings and pride in your most commendable efforts. SUSAN AND JIM GALBRAITH East Jordan, MI To Feel Safe in One's Own Home Thank you for all the information in theGreat Lakes Bulletin.We need to protect our Mother Earth and stop contaminating our environment. After having personal experience with the oil/gas SOURGASissue, (well drilled next to our home without mufflers for 30+ days and my family, and at the time, four-year-old granddaughter exposed to the "confidential odor" which made us sick) we have been trying to get the DEQ to help all citizens byENFORCING AND MAKING LAWS TO PROTECT US. At every meeting I've attended on this issue, industry reps have been less than professional, and the DEQ appears to back them, turning a deaf ear to the cry of the citizens harmed by their emissions, releases, accidents, etc. of H2S or whatever it is in the SOUR- GAS PROCESS! We have had and continue to have many problems in ourimmediatearea, andwe thank you for helping on this issue. SOURGAS can be processed, but it SHOULD NOT BEin residential/populated areas. Today's technology can solve this. DEL R. MIKOLAJCZAK Manistee, MI To support citizensin Manisteeand Masoncounties working to ban industrial operations involving life-threatening H S from their neighborhoods, contact Arlin Wasse rman, 231-271-3683. ~ Ed. SENDYOURLETTERSTO Great Lakes Bulletin Michigan Land Use Institute 845 Michigan Avenue P.O. Box 228 Benzonia, MI 49616 E-mail: <glb@mlui.org> Please include a telephone number so we can call to confirm that you would like us to publish your letter.