05-26-2007, 03:10 PM
Governor Edward G. Rendell has announcedthat five public meetings will be held across the state to present findingsfrom the recent Governor's Outdoor Conference and solicit additional ideas andrecommendations about keeping people connected to nature.
"We need to continueexploring ways to keep people connected to our abundant naturalresources," Governor Rendell said. "These meetings will make iteasier for people from across the state to learn about the findings from ouroutdoor conference and contribute new ideas to strengthen our outdoorconnections.
"The information gleanedfrom the conference we held in March, and these post-conference meetings, willbe incorporated into a final report by the end of the year with recommendationsfor action," the Governor said.
Thepublic meetings will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on:
-- May 24, Room 112, Tom RidgeEnvironmental Center at Presque Isle State Park,Erie
-- May 31, McGowan Building,King's College, Wilkes-Barre
-- June 6, Boyce ParkSki Lodge, Monroeville,Allegheny County
-- June 14, Aldie Mansion,85 Old Dublin Pike, Doylestown, Bucks County
-- June 21, Susquehanna Room, Fish and BoatCommission Headquarters, 1601 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg
"I especially encourageyoung people to participate in these meetings since their insights will behelpful in reversing trends that show their bond to our natural resources isweakening," Governor Rendell said.
The meetings will be structuredin a way that participants will be asked specific questions in order to gatheradditional ideas on how to tackle the most pressing issues.
The presentations made at themeetings also will be available for use by organizations and individuals whowish to inform and solicit ideas from their constituents and stakeholders.
"The conference participantsdid an excellent job laying a foundation for a broader conversation aboutprotecting and enhancing our natural heritage and relationship with theoutdoors," the Governor said. "These issues have the potential toaffect so many things, including children's health, the vitality of our ruralareas, our quality of life and the future of the state's billion- dollarhunting industry.
Data from the public forums willbe compared with the conference data and other feedback collected during thepost-conference process. A task force will use all the information collected asthe basis for the final report.
Approximately 300 people, includingpolicy makers, business representatives, sportsmen's groups, conservationorganizations and representatives of the health and education sectors,participated in the first-of-its-kind Governor's Outdoor Conference, March18-20, in State College.
The conference Web site willprovide full access to the information presented at the conference once it isprocessed. Online forums will continue to provide opportunities to engage in ameaningful discussion about improving connections between Pennsylvanians andthe outdoors. Visit http://www.connectoutdoors.state.pa.us.
CONTACT: Barry Ciccocioppo 717-783-1116
Christina Novak (DCNR) 717-772-9101
"We need to continueexploring ways to keep people connected to our abundant naturalresources," Governor Rendell said. "These meetings will make iteasier for people from across the state to learn about the findings from ouroutdoor conference and contribute new ideas to strengthen our outdoorconnections.
"The information gleanedfrom the conference we held in March, and these post-conference meetings, willbe incorporated into a final report by the end of the year with recommendationsfor action," the Governor said.
Thepublic meetings will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on:
-- May 24, Room 112, Tom RidgeEnvironmental Center at Presque Isle State Park,Erie
-- May 31, McGowan Building,King's College, Wilkes-Barre
-- June 6, Boyce ParkSki Lodge, Monroeville,Allegheny County
-- June 14, Aldie Mansion,85 Old Dublin Pike, Doylestown, Bucks County
-- June 21, Susquehanna Room, Fish and BoatCommission Headquarters, 1601 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg
"I especially encourageyoung people to participate in these meetings since their insights will behelpful in reversing trends that show their bond to our natural resources isweakening," Governor Rendell said.
The meetings will be structuredin a way that participants will be asked specific questions in order to gatheradditional ideas on how to tackle the most pressing issues.
The presentations made at themeetings also will be available for use by organizations and individuals whowish to inform and solicit ideas from their constituents and stakeholders.
"The conference participantsdid an excellent job laying a foundation for a broader conversation aboutprotecting and enhancing our natural heritage and relationship with theoutdoors," the Governor said. "These issues have the potential toaffect so many things, including children's health, the vitality of our ruralareas, our quality of life and the future of the state's billion- dollarhunting industry.
Data from the public forums willbe compared with the conference data and other feedback collected during thepost-conference process. A task force will use all the information collected asthe basis for the final report.
Approximately 300 people, includingpolicy makers, business representatives, sportsmen's groups, conservationorganizations and representatives of the health and education sectors,participated in the first-of-its-kind Governor's Outdoor Conference, March18-20, in State College.
The conference Web site willprovide full access to the information presented at the conference once it isprocessed. Online forums will continue to provide opportunities to engage in ameaningful discussion about improving connections between Pennsylvanians andthe outdoors. Visit http://www.connectoutdoors.state.pa.us.
CONTACT: Barry Ciccocioppo 717-783-1116
Christina Novak (DCNR) 717-772-9101