<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">Forwarding an announcement for a conference
on pollinators being held in Mass. this Oct. See below for details...</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">Patricia S. De Angelis, Ph.D.<br>
Botanist - Division of Scientific Authority<br>
Chair - Plant Conservation Alliance - Medicinal Plant Working Group<br>
US Fish & Wildlife Service<br>
4401 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 110<br>
Arlington, VA 22203<br>
703-358-1708 x1753<br>
FAX: 703-358-2276<br>
Working for the conservation and sustainable use of our green natural resources.<br>
<www.nps.gov/plants/medicinal><br>
</font>
<br><font size=1 color=#800080 face="sans-serif">----- Forwarded by Patricia
De Angelis/ARL/R9/FWS/DOI on 08/21/2008 12:23 PM -----</font>
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<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">Folks-</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">This is an announcement about a Pollinator
conference planned for October in Amherst, Massachusetts, "Pollinators
- Information for Action." Could you please forward this to your lists,
if it sounds like something of interest? A final agenda has not been
posted yet. However, we know we will have presentations by Sam Droege
of USGS/Patuxent, David Wagner of University of Connecticut, John Ascher
of American Museum of Natural History, and Eric Mader of Xerces. Topics
are focussed on the objectives below and will include life history information
as well as management strategies. The conference will provide an interface
between scientists and managers, students, educators and the partners working
hard for pollinator conservation. You will need to register to attend.
</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">Join us for a conference: “Pollinators-
Information for Action” on Friday and Saturday, October 3 & 4, 2008
at University of Massachusetts in Amherst, Massachusetts. The conference
brings together researchers from around the country to share information
on the status of the pollinators that provide important services for agriculture
as well as sustaining native populations of plants and animals - including
people.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">The conference is sponsored by the Athol
Bird and Nature Club, Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection.
Millers River Environmental Center, Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife
Refuge, University of Connecticut/Storrs, and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife
Service. </font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">Conference objectives</font>
<ul>
<li><font size=2 face="Arial">To provide up to date information on pollinator
issues; pollinator status, threats, and research methods.</font>
<li><font size=2 face="Arial">To inform landowners and managers about practices
which sustain pollinators.</font>
<li><font size=2 face="Arial">To inform participants about existing outreach
efforts, including partnerships, citizen science, and education. </font></ul><font size=2 face="Arial">
</font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial"> The Conference
is open to the public. We invite scientists and naturalists, concerned
citizens and educators, local, state and national agencies and non-governmental
organizations that manage lands, and farmers and gardeners to participate.
If you have an email list of folks who would be interested in the conference,
we would appreciate your assistance by forwarding this information to your
list. </font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial"> </font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial"> Conference
information and a link to registration is available on the Millers River
Environmental Center web site at </font><font size=2 color=blue face="Arial"><u>www.millersriver.net/pollen</u></font><font size=2 face="Arial">.
Please check out the web page and if you need over night accommodations,
reserve a room at Howard Johnson’s in Hadley, Massachusetts, at a special
conference rate.<b> </b>There are many other lodging places in the
area as well.<b> </b>Further details of the speakers and topics will
be posted as developed. </font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">Fees for the conference are $125 both days,
$70 single day, keynote dinner $40 extra. The keynote speaker at
dinner will be John Ascher of the American Museum of Natural History. Lunches
and break snacks are included in the registration fees. After September
12, a late fee will be added. Conference registration is available on the
University of Massachusetts website at:</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 color=blue face="Arial"><u>https://www.aux.umass.edu/forms/conferenceservices/pollinator/index.htm</u></font>
<br>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">Shelley Small<br>
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service<br>
300 Westgate Center Drive<br>
Hadley, MA 01007<br>
<br>
Phone: 413-253-8554</font><font size=2 face="sans-serif"><br>
Fax: 413-253-8468</font>