Next week we’re having Membership “Town Hall” meetings in Beckley (Monday) and Morgantown (Friday) to brief our members on the status of issues confronting our industry today as well as the candidates endorsed for the November 4^th election.  We’ve titled these meetings as “Actions not Words” to indicate a frank and open discussion about issues, candidates and matters that keep our production costs high.  We hope members in each of these regions will join us, because your input guides the issues that need addressed.  

*- indicates incumbent

Early Voting is open during regular business hours at each county courthouse from October 22 to November 1. Early Voting is also available each Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Click here to view early voting hours and locations by county.
http://www.sos.wv.gov/elections/voterinformation/2014Election/EarlyVoting/Pages/default.aspx

The West Virginia Coal Association and Friends of Coal have set membership, “town-hall-type” meetings in Beckley and Morgantown for later this month.  The focus is “Action Not Rhetoric,” and our goal is to bring attention to the issues surrounding the state’s coal industry as we head into the 2014 general election. At the meetings, we will discuss the current status of the coal industry in the state, the factors that are impacting the industry, the importance of the upcoming election as well as our political endorsements and why we chose these candidates. We urge those who are concerned about the future of coal mining in West Virginia to make plans to attend the meetings.

Meetings are set for Oct. 27^th at Tamarack at 4:30 p.m. for the Beckley/Bluefield area and October 31^st at the Waterfront Hotel in Morgantown at 3:00 p.m. for the Morgantown/Fairmont/Clarksburg areas. We are also attempting to schedule visits in other cities across the state between now and Election Day.  Details will be provided as soon as the coordination is complete. 

The next year is critical to the future of our industry. And the upcoming election will play a central role in determining the course we will take. There are a lot of people out there who claim to be ‘friends of coal,’ and we need all of them who will do what it takes to help us meet and overcome the challenges we face.

The online tool allows you to file your comments calling on EPA to rescind its job-killing regulations that are halting the construction of new coal-fired power plants and essentially forcing the closure of existing plants.  The letters are sent directly to the EPA's official comments e-mail address. You have until December 1, 2014 to register your comments, which means you have about 40 days left to make your voice heard on this important issue.     

If you have not already done so, we ask that you visit the online petition and add your support. You can do so at www.friendsofcoal.org/soundoff<http://www.friendsofcoal.org/soundoff>.  Do it today!