Public Meeting Friday – President Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors Initiative

From our friends at the Harpeth River Watershed Association

YOUR VOICE IS NEEDED TO PROTECT Tennessee’s Rivers and Natural Treasures

ATTEND PUBLIC SESSION ON PRESIDENT Obama’s AMERICA’s GREAT OUTDOORS INITIATIVE

When: THIS FRIDAY, August, 27, 10:00am to 12:30pm.  Registration opens at 9:30am.

Where: Nashville Public Library (Main Branch), 615 Church Street, 862-5800.

Who: Representatives from the Department of Interior and Agriculture will be present to hear your thoughts and to participate in a conversation with you about land conservation, recreation, historic preservation and reconnecting Americans to the great outdoors.

Senator Alexander will be attending and needs to hear from you!

Please Register: This event is free and open to the public. To help with our planning, please pre-register by TODAY please email ser_americas_great_outdoors_nashville@nps.gov.  Include with your email your name and organization.  You may still register on Friday morning.

Tennesseans have a unique opportunity this Friday, August 27, to tell the Administration what we would like to see in the conservation and recreation agenda for this country. We know that protecting our rivers, land conservation, preserving family farms, historic preservation, and recreational opportunities are key factors in the health of our state and our communities.

Here are three top priorities:

1.  There is an historic opportunity in Congress to fully fund the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund and other similar funds that enable our nation to protect land and water resources.

2. Support the TN Wilderness Act of 2010 sponsored by Senators Alexander and Corker in Congress that would protect nearly 20,000 acres in the Cherokee National Forest.

3. Launch a National Blueways Initiative.  These river trails, like the Harpeth River Blueway and others Blueways in Tennessee help people enjoy our beautiful rivers and ensure clean water.

If you cannot attend, please send your comments to http://www.doi.go/americasgreatoutdoors/Information-for-Nashville-Listening-Session.cfm

Some details on President Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors Initiative

This past April, at the White House Conference on America’s Great Outdoors, President Obama signed a memorandum establishing the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative to develop a conservation and recreation agenda worthy of the 21^stcentury and to reconnect Americans with our great outdoors. The President understands that protecting and restoring the lands and waters that we love and reconnecting people to the outdoors must happen at the local level.

Therefore, President Obama directed the principal leaders of the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative to travel across the country to listen and learn from people directly involved in finding grassroots solutions to conserve our lands, waterways, historical and cultural resources, and reconnect Americans with our great outdoors. The President indicated that the sessions should engage the full range of interested groups, including tribal leaders, farmers and ranchers, sportsmen, community park groups, foresters, youth groups, businesspeople, educators, State and local governments, recreation and conservation groups, and others.

The listening session in Nashville, Tennessee offers an opportunity to engage in a conversation about the solutions you and your community have created to address the challenges and opportunities facing land and water conservation; for engaging people in outdoor activities; and in restoring and conserving our vital natural and cultural resources.

Questions: Call Chris Abbett at (404) 507-5685 with any questions about the listening session.