WHY YOU AND YOUR COMPANY SHOULD JOIN AND PARTICIPATE IN THE NORTHWEST MINING ASSOCIATION

• NWMA is an association of people and companies working in or for the mining industry, who have on-the-ground expertise and get things done.
  • NWMA's members are the leaders, movers and shakers of the mining industry. Our members are making it happen on the ground throughout North America!
  • NWMA has the largest individual membership of any U.S. based mining industry trade association.
  • NWMA's newsletter, the Bulletin, keeps you informed with what's happening in the mining industry and what is occurring on the legislative and regulatory front.
  
  
• NWMA's Annual Meeting and Exposition is the second largest annual mining industry meeting in the U.S. and the U.S.'s premier annual exploration conference.
  • Outstanding technical program and short courses to hone your skills, increase your knowledge and keep you abreast of what is happening in the industry.
  • Networking and business contact opportunities with explorationists, geologists, operators, consultants, executives, managers, large, mid-size and small producers, juniors, vendors, suppliers and government representatives and regulators.
  
  
• NWMA is the U.S. mining industry's proactive leader and YOUR advocate. Membership in NWMA strengthens your voice on the issues and complements the mining industry's government affairs efforts, ensuring that your voice is heard at all levels of government.
  • NWMA is the voice and clearinghouse of information for the individual small and mid-size company and exploration groups operating in the western U.S. and the leading voice for access to the public lands for mineral exploration and development.
  • NWMA provides an important Western voice on the issues and a connecting link between the state mining associations and National Mining Association (NMA) . This input reflects our member's on-the-ground expertise and understanding of state and federal land management, environmental and mining regulations. Many State mining associations look to NWMA for leadership on mining law and public land issues.
  • NWMA was first to address the bonding crisis and is ensuring that solutions meet the needs of the exploration community, small miners, small and mid-size companies as well as large producers.
  • Other examples include NWMA's successful 3809 bonding regulations lawsuit against Secretary Babbitt; NWMA's lawsuit overturning Montana's Initiative 125, which banned corporate spending on ballot issues; and NWMA's recent testimony before the Colorado Senate Committee on the proposed cyanide ban legislation.
  • NWMA works closely with the NMA and regularly helps NMA respond to the many regulatory and legislative challenges confronting the hardrock mining industry.
  
  
• National anti-mining campaign groups continue to target all sectors of the mining industry, from small independents to large producers. You and your company have a vested interest in working closely with NWMA to help defeat all anti-mining campaigns.
  • The Mineral Policy Center and other mining opponents are focusing their anti-mining strategy on one project/one company/one state at a time to produce precedent-setting decisions that are adverse the mining industry's interests. Many of these targeted companies lack the financial resources and political acumen to effectively defend their projects without mining industry support and help from NWMA.
  • You and your company's participation in NWMA will increase the industry's ability to defeat anti-mining ballot initiatives and adverse state and federal legislative and regulatory proposals.
  
  
• NWMA has close relationships with many key western Senators and Representatives, Governors, key congressional staffers, and state and federal agency personnel that augment and complement other mining industry organizational contacts.
  • These policy makers frequently look to NWMA for outside-the-Beltway input on mining, environmental and federal land management issues. Many of these key officials have spoken at NWMA's Annual Meeting, or are regular attendees, affording important access to our members.
  • These relationships enable NWMA to facilitate one-on-one meetings between our members and key officials, congressional staffers and agency personnel, at our Annual Meeting and throughout the year.
  • Our broad-based membership in 35 states provides direct constituent contacts with 70 U.S. Senators, more than 100 U.S. Representatives and 35 Governors. NWMA's 1,400 members strengthen and supplement industry's grassroots lobbying efforts.
  
  
• NWMA has built useful coalitions with other natural resource industries, public land user groups, and county commissioners in a number of key mining states.
  • NWMA has effectively marshaled broad, multi-interest support for mining projects and issues as effective constituent voices.
  • For example, working closely with NWMA, several Colorado motorized recreation groups helped secure opposition to the anti-cyanide bill from several non-mining counties and Colorado Counties Inc.

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