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Dear Great Lakes Neighbor,
Each week we invite grassroots activists, artists, officials, physicians, parents, young people and others to offer insightful commentary on their Great Lakes experiences and views. Of course, we also invite you to comment on their thoughts!
This week, the Town Hall is pleased to welcome Seth Wotten, outdoor recreation professional, environmental educator, and freelance writer/photographer who has lived on and traveled the Great Lakes for most of his life. Come visit the Great Lakes Town Hall to read and respond to Seth's stories and perspectives about the Great Lakes every day this week - only in the Great Lakes Town Hall!
![GLTH logo.jpg]() Bringing you a new and improved Great Lakes
Town Hall!
Next week, the Great Lakes Town Hall will look very different! The newly redesigned website will launch on Monday, January 19, 2009. Keep your eye on your inbox this week for an email containing information about the change and what you can expect.
![SethWotten160.jpg]() Guest Writer this week-- Seth Wotten
Seth Wotten is an outdoor recreation professional, environmental educator, and freelance writer/photographer who has lived on and traveled the Great Lakes for most of his life. In 2006, Seth paddled Georgian Bay (Lake Huron), the North Channel (Lake Huron), and the Ontario shoreline of Lake Superior on a leg of the Water for Future Generations Expedition (http://www.wffg.ca). The purpose of the expedition was to raise awareness of water-related environmental issues and inspire the politicians, business leaders, and the general public to take action for our water resources.
Seth has an honours bachelor degree in outdoor recreation, parks, and tourism from Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario. He is currently pursuing a bachelor of education in outdoor and experiential education at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario.
Featured Issue this week - Lisa Jackson, EPA Administrator
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, Gary addresses the appointment of Lisa Jackson as the US EPA's new administrator, and ponders what this may mean for the Great Lakes. Gary writes,
"What does Jackson's appointment mean for the Great Lakes?
It's too soon to tell. She isn't from the region and her background doesn't indicate a particular emphasis on water issues. That may disappointment some here who were hoping for a water-focused EPA chief.
But let's not be greedy. We do have two Great Lakes advocates in the White House, Obama and his Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel. Plus, we're supposed to get a Great Lakes "czar" to oversee and coordinate restoration efforts.
Even their presence though will be no substitute for strong EPA leadership."
Read Gary's Featured Issue, and put in your two cents!
Don't miss this great opportunity to read and comment on our featured issue - Lisa Jackson, EPA Administrator - and the stories and perspectives of Seth Wotten 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.
Your Great Lakes Neighbor,
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Brenna Wanous
Great Lakes Town Hall Manager
Biodiversity Project's Great Lakes Town Hall
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