<div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:9.5pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">*The next Plant
Conservation Alliance meeting is on Wednesday, September 13th<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:9.5pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">from 2:00 -
4:00 pm ET.*<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:9.5pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:9.5pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><b>“The
Southeastern Grasslands Initiative (SGI): Dedicated to Rebuilding the Forgotten
Grasslands of the South”</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><br></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:9.5pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">We are excited
to welcome Dr. Dwayne Estes to speak with us from about the Southeastern Grasslands
Initiative (SGI) and the Tennessee Plant Conservation Alliance from </span><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.6667px">2:00-3:00 pm ET</span><span style="font-size:9.5pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">.</span> <span style="font-size:9.5pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">SGI is a developing non-profit conservation organization based
out of Austin Peay State University’s (APSU) Center of Excellence for Field
Biology in Clarksville, TN. APSU will also be hosting a conservation
coordinator position for the Tennessee Plant Conservation Alliance. Dwayne will discuss why the loss of eastern
U.S. grasslands is one of the greatest conservation issues facing the U.S.
Today, with particular reference to plants of conservation concern, and SGI
will address some of these urgent needs.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:9.5pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><b><span style="font-size:9.5pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">**If you are in the
Washington, DC area and would like to attend this meeting in person, please
email Leah Prescott (lprescott at <a href="http://blm.gov">blm.gov</a>) by COB Friday, September 8th**<span></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><b><span style="font-size:9.5pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span> </span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><b><u><span style="font-size:9.5pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Join the live
WEBINAR:</span></u></b><span style="font-size:9.5pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><a href="http://www.mymeetings.com/nc/join.php?sigKey=blm&i=742990168&p=meeting&t=c"><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">http://www.mymeetings.com/nc/join.php?sigKey=blm&i=742990168&p=meeting&t=c</span></a><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> <span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Number:
742990168 Passcode: meeting Host: PEGGY
OLWELL<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Call-in Number: <span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">1-877-414-1336</span><span style="color:black;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"> Call-in
Passcode: </span><span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">6177335#<span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:9.5pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><i><span style="font-size:9.5pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">* Be sure to
enter the meeting number and passcode for this conference. There may be
previously stored information in your computer that automatically populates the
fields and can direct you to an alternate meeting.</span></i><span style="font-size:9.5pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:9.5pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><b><u><span style="font-size:9.5pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">UPCOMING PCA
MEETINGS</span></u></b><span style="font-size:9.5pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:9.5pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">November 8,
2017: Emily Sessa, University of Florida, Fern Conservation<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:9.5pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">January 10,
2018: Jeannette Whitton, Director University of British Columbia Herbarium,
Canada's SARA & COSEWIC<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:9.5pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">March 14, 2018: Margaret
O'Gorman - President of the Wildlife Habitat Council<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:9.5pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><b><u><span style="font-size:9.5pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">More about Dr.
Dwayne Estes</span></u></b><span style="font-size:9.5pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.5pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">As Executive Director of the Southeastern
Grasslands Initiative (SGI), Dwayne works collaboratively with other Austin
Peay State University’s (APSU) Professors alongside organizations such as the
Botanical Research Institute of Texas where he is also a Biodiversity Explorer.
The SGI is a developing non-profit conservation organization based out of APSU
Center of Excellence for Field Biology in Clarksville, TN. Dwayne serves as
both the Principal Investigator in the Center of Excellence for Field Biology
and Director of the APSU Herbarium. Dr. Estes holds a PhD in Ecology and
Evolutionary Biology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and a B.S. in
Plant Biology from Middle Tennessee State University. Dr. Estes started his
career at APSU in August 2007 and his research interests include Vascular plant
systematics (particularly Gratiola, Clematis, Carex, Sisyrinchium, Lysimachia,
Penstemon); Tennessee flora; plant communities of Tennessee; prairies, barrens,
and rocky outcrops of eastern North America; biogeography of eastern North
America.<span></span></span></p><div><br></div>-- <br><div class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><font color="#0c343d" style="font-size:12.8px">Leah Prescott</font><div style="font-size:12.8px"><span style="color:rgb(12,52,61);font-size:12.8px">Bureau of Land Management</span><br></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><span style="color:rgb(12,52,61);font-size:12.8px">Plant Conservation Program Assistant</span><span style="color:rgb(12,52,61);font-size:12.8px"><br></span></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><font color="#0c343d">202-912-7232</font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><br></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><a href="https://www.blm.gov/programs/natural-resources/native-plant-communities/national-seed-strategy" style="color:rgb(17,85,204);font-size:12.8px" target="_blank">National Seed Strategy for Rehabilitation and Restoration</a><br></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><a href="http://www.plantconservationalliance.org/" style="color:rgb(17,85,204);font-size:12.8px" target="_blank">Plant Conservation Alliance</a><br></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><span style="font-size:12.8px"><a href="https://www.blm.gov/programs/natural-resources/native-plant-communities/native-plant-and-seed-material-development/collection" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank">Seeds of Success</a></span></div></div></div>
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