GLIN==> Announcing 2009 "Life on Lake Erie" Photo Contest

News Release

NEWS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 18, 2009

Ohio Lake Erie Commission Seeking Submissions from Shutterbugs

TOLEDO, OH – Camera buffs who want to capture the essence of Lake Erie life on film – or on memory card in this digital age – and share the wonders of the lake can enter the Ohio Lake Erie Commission (OLEC) 2009 photo contest. Winning images will be displayed as part of a traveling exhibit and in an online photo gallery.

The 2009 “Life on Lake Erie” photo contest is an opportunity for amateur photographers, age 18 and older, to reveal their passion for one of Ohio’s most valuable and dynamic natural features, Lake Erie. Photographs taken between July 9, 2008 and July 12, 2009 in and around the Lake Erie watershed can be submitted to the OLEC through July 16, 2009.

Submissions must be the original work of the photographer and can portray sustainable use, development or protection of Ohio’s Lake Erie coastal resources. They can incorporate shoreline landscapes, wildlife, plants or even people enjoying various coastal activities. Black and white and color photographs will be accepted. Digitally altered photos will not be accepted. All submissions become the property of the Ohio Lake Erie Commission.

Winning photographs will be featured on the OLEC web site and will be part of the Commission’s traveling photo gallery. The inspiring art display will appear at prime Ohio shoreline locations throughout the year, including University of Toledo’s Lake Erie Center in Oregon, Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center in Oak Harbor and the Lake Erie Shores & Islands Welcome Centers in Port Clinton and Sandusky. The outstanding images may also be used to promote Lake Erie through environmental and educational programs and publications.

To enter, send a 5 x 7-inch print and a completed entry form, available at lakeerie.ohio.gov, to the Ohio Lake Erie Commission, One Maritime Plaza, Fourth Floor, Toledo, Ohio 43604. No more than five entries will be accepted from one household. Individuals can win up to two times.

The Ohio Lake Erie Commission was established for the purpose of preserving Lake Erie’s natural resources, protecting the quality of its waters and ecosystem, and promoting economic development in the region. The director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources serves as the commission’s chairman. Additional members include the directors of the state departments of Transportation, Health, Development, Agriculture and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.

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For additional information, contact:

Edwin Hammett, Ohio Lake Erie Commission

419. 245. 2514