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<p><span style="font-family:'Microsoft Sans Serif';font-size:10pt;">Olivia Kwong</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family:'Microsoft Sans Serif';font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:'Microsoft Sans Serif';font-size:10pt;">, </span><span style="font-family:'Microsoft Sans Serif';font-size:10pt;"></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:10pt;">Dear </span><span style="font-size:10pt;">Olivia</span><span style="font-size:10pt;">,</span></p>
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<p class=NORMAL__WEB_><span style="font-size:10pt;">Sunday, November 1, 2009, was a very special day for New England Wild Flower Society. The Society honored nine very active individuals and organizations for their creative vision and extraordinary commitment to furthering the mission of the Society in the conservation of native plants and their habitats.</span></p>
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<p class=NORMAL__WEB_><span style="font-size:10pt;">Thanks for helping us get the word out.</span></p>
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<p class=NORMAL__WEB_><span style="font-size:10pt;">Cordially,</span></p>
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<p class=NORMAL__WEB_><span style="font-size:10pt;">Steven Ziglar</span></p>
<p class=NORMAL__WEB_><span style="font-size:10pt;">Cirector of Communications</span></p>
<p class=NORMAL__WEB_><span style="font-size:10pt;">New England Wild Flower Society</span></p>
<p class=NORMAL__WEB_><span style="font-size:10pt;">sziglar@newenglandwild.org</span></p>
<p class=NORMAL__WEB_><span style="font-size:10pt;">508-877-7630, ext 3503</span></p>
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<p class=NFS-BODY align= "left">Contact:</p>
<p class=NFS-BODY align= "left">Steven Ziglar, Director of Communications</p>
<p class=NFS-BODY align= "left">508-877-7630 x 3503 <span class=HYPERLINK style=" color:#0000FF;"><u>sziglar@newenglandwild.org</u></span></p>
<p class=NFS-BODY align= "left">Images are available</p>
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<p class=NFS-BODY align= "left">News for Immediate Release - November 3, 2009</p>
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<p class=NORMAL__WEB_ style="margin-top: 5pt;margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;">Framingham, MA - On Sunday, November 1, 2009, New England Wild Flower Society's Trustees had the honor of presenting awards to the following individuals and organizations that have demonstrated creative vision and exceptional achievement in furthering the goals of the Society to conserve native plants and their habitats.</span></p>
<p class=NORMAL__WEB_ style="margin-top: 5pt;margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;">Education Award–Marilyn Wyzga</span></p>
<p class=NORMAL__WEB_ style="margin-top: 5pt;margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;">State Awards:</span></p>
<ul type="disc"><li style="font-size:10pt;"><p class=NORMAL__WEB_ style="margin-top: 5pt;margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;">Connecticut–Penelope Sharp</span></p></li>
<li style="font-size:10pt;"><p class=NORMAL__WEB_ style="margin-top: 5pt;margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;">Maine–Nancy McReel</span></p></li>
<li style="font-size:10pt;"><p class=NORMAL__WEB_ style="margin-top: 5pt;margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;">Massachusetts–Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program of Massachusetts (NHESP)</span></p></li>
<li style="font-size:10pt;"><p class=NORMAL__WEB_ style="margin-top: 5pt;margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;">New Hampshire–Deborah Lievens</span></p></li>
<li style="font-size:10pt;"><p class=NORMAL__WEB_ style="margin-top: 5pt;margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;">Rhode Island–Hope Drury Leeson</span></p></li>
<li style="font-size:10pt;"><p class=NORMAL__WEB_ style="margin-top: 5pt;margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;">Vermont–Hilda White</span></p></li>
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<p class=NORMAL__WEB_ style="margin-top: 5pt;margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;">Landscape Design Award–Larry Weaner</span></p>
<p class=NORMAL__WEB_ style="margin-top: 5pt;margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;">Award for Outstanding Service to the Society–Robin Wilkerson</span></p>
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<p class=HEADING_2><span style="font-family:'Arial';font-size:10pt;">Information on Individual Winners</span></p>
<p class=NORMAL__WEB_ style="margin-top: 5pt;margin-bottom: 5pt;"><strong style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;">Marilyn Wyzga </strong><span style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;">received the </span><strong style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;">Education Award </strong><span style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;">for promoting landscaping with native plants as a way to increase wildlife with detailed how-to guides, school-yard habitats, and a backyard demonstration garden. She has created schoolyard habitats at more than 70 New Hampshire schools and authored detailed habitat guides.</span></p>
<p class=NORMAL__WEB_ style="margin-top: 5pt;margin-bottom: 5pt;"><strong style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;">Penelope Sharp</strong><span style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;"> received the </span><strong style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;">Connecticut State Award</strong><span style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;"> for decades of applying energy and intelligence to the preservation of rare and endangered native flora, through field work and writings for NEPCoP, Connecticut Botanical Society, and Invasive Plant Working Group. She supported the launch of the Invasive Plant Atlas of New England (IPANE) in 1997 and continues to promote awareness of invasive plants in Connecticut. She leads field trips for the Connecticut Botanical Society to acquaint larger audiences with the states’ plants and habitats. Ms. Sharp has completed wetlands surveys in many parts of Connecticut. In addition, she has averaged 30 surveys annually for the past three years for NEPCoP.</span></p>
<p class=NORMAL__WEB_ style="margin-top: 5pt;margin-bottom: 5pt;"><strong style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;">The Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program of Massachusetts</strong><span style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;"> received the </span><strong style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;">Massachusetts State Award</strong><span style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;"> for continuing leadership through an effective multi-faceted data-based effort that supports and implements conservation of rare and endangered species and communities in Massachusetts. </span><strong style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;">The Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program</strong><span style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;"> (NHESP), part of the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, is one of the programs forming the Natural Heritage network. NHESP is responsible for the conservation and protection of hundreds of species that are not hunted, fished, trapped, or commercially harvested in the state. The Program's highest priority is protecting the 176 species of vertebrate and invertebrate animals and 259 species of native plants that are officially listed as Endangered, Threatened or of Special Concern in Massachusetts.</span></p>
<ul type="disc"><li style="font-size:10pt;"><p class=NORMAL__WEB_ style="margin-top: 5pt;margin-bottom: 5pt;"><strong style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;">Tom French </strong><span style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;">was born and grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. His educational background includes a Masters of Science and a Ph.D. in zoology. Since 1984 he has been an Assistant Director of the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, where he is responsible for the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program. In 2007, Tom served as the acting Commissioner of the Department of Fish and Game.</span></p></li>
<li style="font-size:10pt;"><p class=NORMAL__WEB_ style="margin-top: 5pt;margin-bottom: 5pt;"><strong style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;">Henry Woolsey </strong><span style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;">has worked at the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program since 1981. He received a MFS degree from the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies and then worked as a plant ecologist for the Natural Heritage Programs in Indiana and Minnesota. Since 1983, he has coordinated the Massachusetts Heritage Program operations including field inventory efforts, database development, land protection and statewide biodiversity conservation planning including overseeing the BioMap and Living Waters projects.</span></p></li>
<li style="font-size:10pt;"><p class=NORMAL__WEB_ style="margin-top: 5pt;margin-bottom: 5pt;"><strong style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;">Bryan Connolly</strong><span style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;"> is the State Botanist for the Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program. He has a BS from the University of Vermont and an MS from University of Connecticut. After his graduate work and before taking his current position he worked as a botanist for the University of Mississippi, the Connecticut Chapter of the Nature Conservancy, the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, and the New England Wild Flower Society.</span></p></li>
<li style="font-size:10pt;"><p class=NORMAL__WEB_ style="margin-top: 5pt;margin-bottom: 5pt;"><strong style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;">Wayne MacCallum</strong><span style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;"> has been Director of the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife since 1988. Prior to being appointed Director he was Assistant Director of Wildlife Research and has worked for the Division for some 27 years. A nationally recognized leader in Fish Wildlife Conservation he has been appointed by the Secretary of the Interior to the North American Wetlands Council, which makes policy and wetlands grant recommendations to Congress’ Migratory Bird Council to The Neotropical Bird Advisory Committee established by the Congress to give advice and guidance to the US Fish Wildlife Service on neotropical bird conservation in the Western Hemisphere. He currently chairs the North American Wetlands Council. He also sits on the Executive Committee of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies of which he is a Past President. A certified practicing Wildlife Biologist, he has an MS from The Pennsylvania State University. His thesis research was on waterfowl productivity in Delaware tidal marshes.</span></p></li>
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<p class=NORMAL__WEB_ style="margin-top: 5pt;margin-bottom: 5pt;"><strong style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;">Nancy McReel</strong><span style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;"> received the </span><strong style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;">Maine State Award </strong><span style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;">for tireless commitment to conserving native plant habitats in Maine through hands-on efforts as well as enthusiastic leadership and instruction of others. She was one of the first recipients of the Society’s Certificate in Native Plant Studies (1990) and has given back ever since. She has worked for the Massabesic Forest, Great Works Regional Land Trust of York County, the Landholm Trust, the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge, the Harvey Butler Rhododendron Sanctuary in Springvale, the Nature Conservancy on the Waterboro Barrens property, and Coastal Main Botanic Garden. As a PCV volunteer she has worked hard to control invasives and done extensive botanical inventories.</span></p>
<p class=NORMAL__WEB_ style="margin-top: 5pt;margin-bottom: 5pt;"><strong style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;">Deborah Lievens</strong><span style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;"> received the </span><strong style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;">New Hampshire State Award</strong><span style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;"> for furthering the mission of the Society by monitoring rare plants, entering data for the New Hampshire Natural Heritage Program and for organizing and participating in extensive invasive plant removal.</span></p>
<p class=NORMAL__WEB_ style="margin-top: 5pt;margin-bottom: 5pt;"><strong style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;">Hope Drury Leeson </strong><span style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;">received the </span><strong style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;">Rhode Island State Award</strong><span style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;"> for her tremendous impact on native plant conservation in Rhode Island through stewardship, instruction, research, publication, restoration and field work on rare, endangered, invasive, and awuatic species.</span></p>
<p class=NORMAL__WEB_ style="margin-top: 5pt;margin-bottom: 5pt;"><strong style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;">Hilda White</strong><span style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;"> received the </span><strong style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;">Vermont State Award</strong><span style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;"> for extraordinary volunteer efforts at the Pringle Herbarium at the University of Vermont. For 11 years, she has volunteered at the Pringle Herbarium, mounting dried plants both as they come in and to clear the large backlog of unmounted plants. She also collects and identifies bryophytes from under-collected towns in Vermont and donates them to the Pringle Herbarium.</span></p>
<p class=NORMAL__WEB_ style="margin-top: 5pt;margin-bottom: 5pt;"><strong style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;">Larry Weaner</strong><span style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;"> was given the </span><strong style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;">Landscape Design Award</strong><span style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;"> in recognition of a long term and skillful commitment to the use of native plants in his landscape designs, as well as for tirelessly advocating for an educating about landscaping with natives. Larry Weaner has been practicing professional landscape design since 1977. He founded </span><span class=HYPERLINK style="font-size:10pt; color:#0000FF;"><u>Larry Weaner Landscape Design Associates</u></span><span style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;"> in 1982, a firm that has earned a national reputation for its work combining the environmental sciences and garden design. His projects have spanned more than 10 states, have been featured in national and international publications, and have been included in garden tours sponsored by the Association of Professional Landscape Designers, The American Horticulture Society and The Garden Conservancy. Larry is active as a guest lecturer and instructor for numerous horticultural and environmental organizations throughout the United States, including the National Arboretum in Washington, D.C., the Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania, New England Wild Flower Society, and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Research Center. He has written for various professional publications, both regional and national. His company offers design, consulting and installation services from offices in Glenside, Pennsylvania and Wilton, Connecticut.</span></p>
<p class=NORMAL__WEB_ style="margin-top: 5pt;margin-bottom: 5pt;"><strong style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;">Robin Wilkerson</strong><span style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;"> received the </span><strong style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;">Service to the Society Award</strong><span style="font-size:10pt; color:#000000;"> for two decades of sharing enthusiasm and knowledge about Garden in the Woods and native plants with visitors, adult guides, and audiences near and far. She is a member of the New England Society of Botanical Artists.</span></p>
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