GLIN==> GL Town Hall: David Ullrich from Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, + Building a Library essay

David Ullrich is the Executive Director of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative. His responsibilities include working with U.S. and Canadian mayors from across the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Basin to advance the restoration and protection of the resource. The Initiative shares best practices among the cities, towns, and counties so that all have the benefits of the successful efforts of each other. The Initiative also works on restoration legislation, planning, and implementation.

Prior to assuming his current position, Mr. Ullrich served for thirty years at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Great Lakes regional office in Chicago, working on environmental issues in the six states of the upper Midwest. He worked in many capacities over the years, including Acting Regional Administrator, Deputy Regional Administrator, Waste Management Division Director, Deputy Regional Counsel, Air Enforcement Chief, and Water Enforcement Attorney. For six years, he was the U.S. Chair of the Water Quality Board for the International Joint Commission, and was a founding member and chair of the Midwest Natural Resources Group. He continues to serve on the Water Quality Board, and in 2006 was appointed by the President to the Great Lakes Fishery Commission. In 1986, he completed a six month executive exchange assignment with the German Interior Ministry. U.S. EPA recognized Mr. Ullrich for a number of his accomplishments during his public service career.

Mr. Ullrich graduated from Dartmouth College in 1970 with a degree in English and received his law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1973, with an emphasis in environmental law. He is a runner and outdoor sportsman. He is married to Polly Ullrich, an art critic, curator, and ceramic artist, and their son Eric, who was born in 1990, is active in a variety of competitive and recreational sports.

In addition to guest speakers, the Great Lakes Town Hall focuses on a new featured Great Lakes issue each week, provided by co-moderators Dave Dempsey, Gary Wilson, and Brenna Wanous. This week, Brenna seeks help in building a library of Great Lakes organizations, big or small, east to west and north to south of the basin. How great would it be to create one comprehensive place where residents of the basin can look up an organization based on topic or a location, to either contact for help or to offer our services?

Don't miss this great opportunity to read and comment on our featured issue - Building a Library - and the stories and perspectives of David Ullrich in the Great Lakes Town Hall all this week!

Guest speakers contribute content on a Great Lakes topic of their choice for five days. While there are basic rules of conduct, guest speakers are unedited and diverse views are welcome. If you are interested in serving as a guest speaker, please reply to this email. We encourage individuals of all ages, occupations, and opinions to participate in the conversation.