~~ Final Week to Register! ~~ 2011 Conference for the U.S. Great Lakes Areas of Concern Program Celebrating Progress; Confronting Challenges; Moving Forward! See the complete conference agenda at <http://www.glc.org/rap/aocconference11.html> http://www.glc.org/rap/aocconference11.html October 13-14, 2011 Westin Book Cadillac Hotel Detroit, Michigan Program Highlights Keynote speakers include Rachel Jacobson, Acting Assistant Secretary of Interior for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, and Dr. John Hartig, author of the new book Burning Rivers: Revival of Four Urban-Industrial Rivers that Caught on Fire. The conference will feature breakout sessions on the following topics: . Confronting challenges, overcoming obstacles and making mid-course corrections when implementing your habitat restoration project . Partnering with industry and local governments to implement Great Lakes Legacy Act projects and other restoration actions in the AOCs . Life after delisting: Issues to consider when planning for the future of your AOC and your local RAP committee . Tips for complying with federal grant requirements and administering your GLRI project efficiently . Resources, tools and innovative approaches for tracking progress in restoring your AOC . Telling your story: Tips for communicating with the press, the public and elected officials about restoration work in your AOC and its economic benefits Who Should Attend The conference is intended for all parties involved in efforts to restore the U.S. Great Lakes Areas of Concern, including members of local AOC groups, state and federal agency staff, LaMP participants, academic partners, consultants, and others interested in the AOC program. Come Early and Be Part of Great Lakes Week 2011 The Areas of Concern conference is being held as part of the first-ever Great Lakes Week, which includes a variety of meetings and forums being held Oct. 11-14 in Detroit. In addition to the AOC conference, the Great Lakes Commission, International Joint Commission, and Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition will hold their annual meetings during Great Lakes Week 2011. Conference attendees are especially encouraged to arrive early and participate in a binational accountability report and public forum, and a Great Lakes week panel and town hall that will be held Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 12 at the Community Arts Auditorium at Wayne State University. Transportation will be provided from the Westin Book Cadillac Hotel to these events. Information on Great Lakes Week 2011 activities is available at http://www.greatlakesrestoration.us/glweek.html. Questions about Great Lakes Week 2011 can be directed to the U.S. EPA spokesperson Peter Cassell at 312-886-6234, cassell.peter at epa.gov. Travel Funding Travel funding will be available for one representative from each AOC group. The chair of each group will be responsible for designating in advance who will be eligible for travel funding. Lodging The deadline for making reservations under the "Areas of Concern" room block at the Westin Book Cadillac hotel has expired. Rooms at the Westin may still be provided on a space-available basis but are likely to be more expensive. To make reservations at the Westin, call 888-627-7150. A list of other nearby hotels is online http://www.glc.org/meeting/travel.html. Dinner Cruise and Restoration Tour on the Detroit River Join us Thursday evening for dinner and a boat cruise on the Detroit River. Dinner will be provided and a cash bar will be available. Leaders from the Detroit River AOC will discuss restoration work along the river. There is a $35 fee for this event and advance registration is required. The dinner cruise is open to all participants in Great Lakes Week activities and their guests; participation in the AOC conference is not required. Registration for this event will be managed through the AOC conference website at http://www.glc.org/rap/aocconference11.html. Exhibitor Tables Exhibitor tables will be available for a charge of $25. Use the registration page to request a table. Sponsors The meeting is sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Great Lakes National Program Office; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-Great Lakes Habitat Restoration Program; the Great Lakes Commission; and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. Contact Matt Doss Great Lakes Commission 734-971-9135 mdoss at glc.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.great-lakes.net/lists/glin-announce/attachments/20111003/117389c9/attachment.html