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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:windowtext">Please see below about a great opportunity for community engagement
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<p class="MsoNormal"><a name="_MailEndCompose"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:windowtext"><o:p> </o:p></span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:_MailEndCompose"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:windowtext">Cheers,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:_MailEndCompose"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:windowtext">Viorel<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:_MailEndCompose"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:windowtext"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:windowtext">From:</span></b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:windowtext"> Chancey, Gary C -FS [mailto:gchancey@fs.fed.us]
<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, February 22, 2017 2:46 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> Martin, Chase - FS <chasemartin@fs.fed.us><br>
<b>Subject:</b> NEWS RELEASE: Registration Underway for Appalachian Ohio National Public Lands Day (DEADLINE: March 31st)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b>MEDIA OUTLETS: <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">We hope you will join us in helping spread the word about this upcoming event on public lands across Appalachian Ohio.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><img width="320" height="46" style="width:3.3333in;height:.4791in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01D28DB7.959B24F0" alt="ruralaction_logo__notag.png"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">February 13, 2017</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">Registration Underway for Appalachian Ohio National Public Lands Day
</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">Registration for host sites close on March 31<sup>st</sup></span></i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">THE PLAINS, OHIO</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%"> — Now it’s your turn to give back! The public is invited to join state and federal agencies, groups, and citizens
across Appalachian Ohio in celebrating </span><a href="https://www.neefusa.org/public-lands-day"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">National Public Lands Day</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%"> (NPLD) on Saturday, September
30, 2017. </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">In support of the national effort, Rural Action is actively recruiting host sites in eastern and southern Ohio. Our goal for each host site is to connect people to public lands in their community,
inspire environmental stewardship, and encourage public lands for education, recreation, and general health.
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">By registering as a host site, you will be part of a regionally branded effort that is shaping up to be the inaugural Appalachian Ohio National Public Lands Day (AONPLD). Rural Action, Buckeye
Trail Association, Wayne National Forest, and Ohio Department of Natural Resources are working together to organize the largest NPLD event in the state’s history.
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">Groups and organizations interested in participating can register through Rural Action at
</span><a href="http://ruralaction.org/aonpld/"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">ruralaction.org/aonpld</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">. All efforts must take place with permission of the managing agency.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">According to Shannon Stewart, who is helping to coordinate the event in Appalachian Ohio, many types of activities are possible on AONPLD.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">“Participating groups can choose to host a service project, including a clean-up or trail maintenance, they may decide to do an educational activity such as an interpretive hike, or a fun
activity like a canoe float. All activities help get people outside and connected to the land. We want people to come out and appreciate and value what is here for all of us.”
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;background:white;mso-highlight:white">“The benefit of being part of this year’s public lands day is that for the first time agencies and nonprofit organizations are working together to organize
a day of service, education, and fun across Appalachian Ohio, and by working together to market AONPLD across the region we anticipate greater participation and look forward to seeing positive results in local communities,” said Andrew Bashaw, executive direc</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">tor
of Buckeye Trail Association. </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">Registration for host sites closes March 31<sup>st</sup></span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">. The collaborative will then switch gears and help connect volunteers
to sites they would like to join for AONPLD through September. Follow #AONPLD on social media for new developments.
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">About National Public Lands Day</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">Nationally, NPLD is the largest, single-day volunteer effort for public lands. In 2016, over 200,000 participants volunteered on 2,600 sites around the nation, generating the equivalent of
$18 million in volunteer efforts for our public lands. The event, which is organized by National Environmental Education Foundation, is in its 24<sup>th
</sup>year. </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">About Rural Action</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">Rural Action is a member-based community development organization. Their mission is to foster social, economic, and environmental justice in Appalachian Ohio. Learn more about Rural Action
at</span><a href="http://www.ruralaction.org/"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none">
</span></a><a href="http://www.ruralaction.org/"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;color:#1155CC">www.ruralaction.org</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">. You can also keep up with their work on Facebook, Twitter, Linked
in, and Instagram.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">####</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">CONTACT</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">Shannon Stewart</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%"><a href="mailto:shannon@ruralaction.org">shannon@ruralaction.org</a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">740-767-4938</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:windowtext"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext"><br>
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