December 2002, Volume 2, Issue 12

LEWIS & CLARK ON EXPERIENCE WASHINGTON'S WEBSITE

Below you will find the industry link to Experience Washington, the official website of Washington State Tourism. Scroll down and click on "Lewis and Clark Forms" to search for and post bicentennial related events.

Appropriate events to post on the industry website include those of general public interest. Events appropriate to submit for the electronic newsletter's events and dates page would be those related to training, conferences, request for information, availability of resources and news.

http://www.experiencewashington.com/industry/IndustryPageSections_pid-102600.html

If you have any questions regarding searching for or posting events, please contact Linda Mitchell at lindami@cted.wa.gov.

REPORT FROM OLYMPIA
By David L. Nicandri

The release of the Governor's request budget every two years is among the most awaited events during the biennial appropriations cycle, and this year was no exception. In fact, it was well known that this particular budget proposal would augur in significant reductions in state government programs. This assessment is not intended to be authoritative, but I did wish to communicate quickly and as amply as I might as to the general shape of things related to the Lewis and Clark bicentennial.

Amidst the general gloominess, there is actually much to celebrate in the Governor's capital request budget. Included therein is $4.3 million for further improvements at Fort Canby and Sacajawea State Parks for what is clearly advertised as a "Lewis and Clark Trail Bicentennial" enhancement. This sum is in addition to the $1.5 million already appropriated in the previous (that is, now current) biennium.

In addition, $3 million is slated for the Confluences Remembrance Art Project (Maya Lin). This item is found in the capital budget request of the Department of Community Trade and Economic Development.

Furthermore, the Governor requested $1 million for the capital budget of the Washington State Historical Society for "Lewis & Clark Trail Infrastructure" grants. There is no targeted allocation for these funds. It was envisioned in the request tendered to the Governor's office by the Washington State Historical Society that the state Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Advisory Committee would oversee the allocation of a competitive grant round that would operate much like the Heritage Capital Grants program WSHS has conducted for many years. One cautionary note in advance: As a capital grant program, only "bondable" construction expenses would be allowable. That is, this fund, if eventually authorized by the Legislature, could be used for construction projects only, not planning, special events, publications, and ephemeral activities. Much more information on this grant program will be forthcoming, if appropriated by the Legislature.

Though there were hopes and an active advocacy effort at the local level, the operating budget request did not include any proposed funding for a field coordinator position. In fact, the budget office did not include the Lewis & Clark enhancement in place for the last two biennia that facilitated the Historical Society's ability to contract for certain technical services (including this newsletter) or the travel support for the state advisory committee.

But on balance, and under the circumstances, I think it is fair to say that this was a good budget for Lewis and Clark in Washington.

MAPS OF THE NEW LEWIS & CLARK BICYCLE TRAIL ARE HOT-OFF-THE-PRESS

At long last, the ambitious mapping process begun by the Adventure Cycling Association in 1999 has culminated in the release of maps of the new Lewis & Clark Bicycle Trail. The Lewis & Clark Bicycle Trail was born of a desire to offer bicyclists a way to celebrate the upcoming bicentennial anniversary of the Corps of Discovery's historic journey. This new route covers 4,618 miles, available in an eight-map set charting the course from Hartford, Illinois to Astoria, Oregon. The maps are available for $11 per section, $8 for Adventure Cycling members, at www.adventurecycling.org or by calling Adventure Cycling Association sales at 800/721-8719.

The Lewis & Clark Bicycle Trail is the latest addition to Adventure Cycling's 30,500-mile National Bicycle Route Network. Features new to the Lewis & Clark Bicycle Trail maps include an elevation profile on each map panel showing cyclists the elevation gain and loss across the section. Additionally, the maps include an expanded list of historical events and locations along the trail. Seven of the eight map sections cover the 3,215 miles from Hartford, IL to Astoria, OR. The eighth map section retraces William Clark's 1806 eastbound route along the Yellowstone River from Three Forks, MT to Williston, ND and includes the historically significant Pompey's Pillar.

"On this route, riders can literally see, feel, and breathe the Corps of Discovery journey that took place almost 200 years ago," said Adventure Cycling's executive director, Bill Sawyer.

LEWIS AND CLARK TRAIL HERITAGE FOUNDATION GRANT APPLICATION

The Monetary Grants Committee of the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation announces the return of the Foundation's modest monetary grants program. In considering the applications, the Committee is guided by the Foundation's charter objectives—"to stimulate and increase public knowledge and awareness of the historical, social and cultural significance and heritage of the Lewis and Clark Trail, the facilities available for those studying or retracing the Lewis and Clark Expedition, and the natural wealth and beauty of our land." It will be up to the applicant to show how a proposed project meets these objectives. It is important the applicant understands the Foundation's grants are very modest; in the past, the grants awarded ranged from $100 to $1,000.

Applicants can download the information and the application from the Foundation's web page at www.lewisandclark.org. The deadline for submission of an application is March 15, 2003. Please contact Barb Kubik at chemna@aol.com with any questions.

PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER, TERM POSITION

The National Park Service and the Clark Corps II project announce the opening of the position of Public Information Officer. Duty station is Omaha, Nebraska, but the job will require extensive travel. It is a four year term position with a starting salary of $45,285 and includes benefits.

Open competitive application is open to everyone, merit promotion open to current government employees.

The vacancy announcements for Public Information Officer, GS-1035-11/12, Lewis and Clark Corps II, Term position, can be located on www.usajobs.opm.gov beginning December 3 and closing on December 20.

SECRETARY NORTON NAMES NEW LEADERS TO LEWIS & CLARK TEAM (NEWS RELEASE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR - DECEMBER 19, 2002)

On the eve of the 1803-1806 Bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton today praised the department's Lewis and Clark team and announced its expansion. Norton named Tom Fulton as director of the Lewis and Clark Caucus on Capitol Hill and Bob Reynolds as the coordinator of the Department of the Interior's Bicentennial activities. Both positions announced today are new positions and will begin on January 1, 2003.

"I want to highlight the department's leadership role in the Bicentennial and add these quality members to our dynamic Lewis and Clark team," Norton said today. "The Lewis and Clark Bicentennial will be an historic period of time for our nation, a time that calls for leaders such as these." Fulton is currently Interior's Deputy Assistant Secretary for Lands & Minerals Management. Reynolds, an NPS veteran who retired as superintendent of Cape Hatteras National Seashore, will report to Craig Manson, Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

The department's Office of External and Intergovernmental Affairs will continue to lead Bicentennial activities. Kit Kimball, Director of External Affairs, will continue to provide overall guidance on the Bicentennial for Secretary Norton, while Reynolds assumes daily coordination among all DOI agencies on Bicentennial activities. Robbie Wilbur will continue to lead the federal interagency working group. Gerard Baker, superintendent of the Lewis and Clark National Historical Trail, leads Corps of Discovery II: 200 Years to the Future, a federal interagency traveling exhibition.

The Lewis and Clark Caucus, a bipartisan, bicameral group of eighty Members of Congress, has been involved in Bicentennial activities for several years. The leaders of the caucus are Senators Larry Craig of Idaho, Conrad Burns of Montana, and Byron Dorgan of North Dakota and Representatives Doug Bereuter of Nebraska and Earl Pomeroy of North Dakota.

Fulton, who will direct the activities of the caucus, says, "I'm excited about this opportunity to help the department, the Secretary, and the Congress plan events for the Bicentennial. I grew up with the legacy of Lewis and Clark all around me in central Montana. The Expedition bound our nation together and hopefully we can make it a unifying commemoration 200 years later."

"I'm tremendously excited to become associated with the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial. Theirs is one of the great stories of America's development and growth, with lessons as fresh today as they were 200 years ago," Reynolds notes. "It will be an honor to return to work with the Department of the Interior as part of this program."

LOLO TRAIL LOTTERY PERMIT APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED STARTING DECEMBER 1

The Lochsa Ranger District will be accepting applications for permits to travel the rugged section of the Lolo Trail known as the Lolo Motorway from December 1, 2002, until January 31, 2003. A permit will be required to travel a portion of the Motorway (Forest Road 500) during the peak travel season between July 15 and October 1, 2003.

The purpose of the permit is to protect both travelers and rare cultural and natural resources along the route by pacing the number of people and number and size of vehicles.

Two types of permits will be available. A single/small group permit for up to 10 people will cost $25. A large group permit for 11-35 people will cost $55. A $6 non-refundable application fee will be charged for all applications.

The permit system will be in effect only during the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial commemoration years, from 2003-2006. If visitor use along the Motorway remains low, the permit system may be dropped sooner.

Applicants must request a preferred start date for their trip, and may request two alternate dates. Permits will be chosen at random by computer, much like the current system used for whitewater rafting trips in the northwest.

Unreserved travel dates will be made available on a first-come basis April 1, 2003, for people who 1) miss the application deadline, 2) are not awarded a permit in the lottery, or 3) wish to make a last-minute trip along the Lolo Motorway.

For more information, or to request an application packet, visit www.fs.fed.us/r1/clearwater, or call the Lochsa Ranger District in Kooskia at 208-926-4274.

THE CHRISTMAS TREE IS UP!

Over 200 ornaments from 32 individual locations including Virginia and Washington state were received for the Lewis and Clark tree at the Charlottesville-Albemarle Regional Airport. Children from the Peter Jefferson Society Chapter of the National Society of the Children of the American Revolution also crafted Lewis and Clark ornaments and trimmed the tree.

The tree originated from Charlottesville's sister city the City of Long Beach, Washington. One tree is at the airport, on the downtown mall and one at the Monticello Visitors Center. They were on the same truck as the White House Tree and given to us by the same tree farmer! Many thanks to all that helped this happen.

2003 CATHLAPOTLE PLANKHOUSE PROJECT COMMEMORATIVE CALENDAR

Twelve original designs by architect Art Petersen highlight the construction methods, materials and location of what will become the Cathlapotle Plankhouse on Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge.

The calendars are $15 each plus $2.50 shipping and handling. Checks made out to Cathlapotle Plankhouse Project can be mailed to Cathlapotle Plankhouse Project, P.O. Box 457, Ridgefield, WA 98642. Please include your name, address, home and work phone numbers and email address with the check.

This calendar project is a fundraiser sponsored by the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Committee of Vancouver/Clark County

CUSTOM MINI MAPS FOR UPCOMING L & C BICENTENNIAL EVENTS

Here's a simple way to help visitors know where they are going throughout the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial, Customized MiniMaps. These maps fold up into the size of a credit card and can be customized with any logo, for any location or special event. They are also quite affordable.

To learn more about this product, please go to www.custom-minis.com.

WEBSITE OF THE MONTH

This month's website "Lewis and Clark Among the Indians of the Pacific Northwest" is a WSU curriculum project for Northwest history in Washington schools. It covers such areas as Origins, Objectives, Organization, Leaving the Known West, Indian Help, Meeting the Indians of the Pacific Northwest, and Activities using the Lewis and Clark journals. The site, located at http://libarts.wsu.edu/history/Lewis_Clark/LCEXP_mn.html is a terrific resource for educators around the state.

UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS

January 9, 2003
Agency Assistance Team (AAT - for the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial) Monthly Meeting
1:00 pm to 4:00 pm (approx.)
State Capital Museum, Coach House
211 West 21st Ave
Olympia, WA
Contact Mark Vessey at 360.586.0219

January 13 - 19, 2003
Bicentennial Kick-Off
Monticello & Charlottesville, Virginia
If you are interested in being involved in a coordinated travel effort, please contact Arlene Johnson at 360-906-7119 or director@lewisandclark-clark.org

January 14, 2003
Lower Columbia River Water Trail Meeting
9:00am - 12:00 pm
(location to be determined)
Contact Chris Hathaway
503.226.1565 ext. 228
hathaway.chris@lcrep.org

January 15, 2002
Challenge Cost Share Grant On-line Application Deadline
Contact Midori Raymore
402-514-9311 or 888-237-3252
http://www.nps.gov/lecl

January 17, 2003
Journey's End National Art Exhibition:
Revisiting the Lewis & Clark Journey Submission Deadline.
Deadline for artists to submit entries into the juried show.
Please email journeys@pacifier.com or
visit www.jsend.org for entry form and further information.

February 8, 2003
Washington State Chapter of Lewis & Clark Trail Heritage Foundation
Annual business meeting
10:00 AM
Washington State Historical Society Museum
1911 Pacific Avenue
Tacoma, WA
For information contact:
"Doc" Wesselius, Program Chairman
360-736-6106, docndeb@localaccess.com
OR visit the website at http://www.lcarchive.org/wa_lcthf.html.

February 12, 2003
Agency Assistance Team (AAT - for the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial) Monthly Meeting
9:00 am to 12:00 pm (approx.)
State Capital Museum, Coach House
211 West 21st Avenue
Olympia
Contact Mark Vessey at 360.586.0219

March 8-30, 2003
Journey's End National Art Exhibition:
Revisiting the Lewis & Clark Journey
Maritime Museum in Astoria, OR

March 15, 2003
Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation
Grant Application Deadline
Contact Barb Kubik
chemna@aol.com

April 29, 2003
Washington Lewis and Clark Trail Local Coordination Meeting
Meeting in Olympia, Washington
Contact Judy Lorenzo at 360.705.7274

April 30, 2003
Washington Lewis and Clark Advisory Committee (Statutory Committee)
Meeting in Olympia, Washington
Contact Mark Vessey at 360.586.0219 or mvessey@wshs.wa.gov

May 14, 2003
Northwest History Week
Previously called Vancouver Area Bicentennial Kick-Off
Planned: Several events are anticipated
Contact: Arlene Johnson 360.906.7119

Thanksgiving Weekend 2005
Destination Pacific 2005 - Bicentennial Signature Event
Pacific County, Washington and Clatsop County, Oregon
Look for more information in the future.

PLEASE LOOK for additional information and updates on Bicentennial planning activities and projects in next month's e-newsletter.

ALSO - if you have articles or news-worthy information that you would like to contribute to this e-newsletter or to Washington's quarterly bicentennial newsletter, please Contact Mandi Roberts at Otak 206-442-1369 or mandi.roberts@otak.com.

The Washington State Historical Society, lead agency of the state's Agency Assistance Team (AAT) for bicentennial planning, will send this newsletter via e-mail on a monthly basis to provide updates on events, projects, and activities going on around the state in preparation for the commemoration.

Your name is in the state's Lewis and Clark Trail database as someone who has expressed interest in the bicentennial and/or who has attended public meetings during the past three years. If you do not want to continue to receive this newsletter and/or other bicentennial communications, reply to this e-mail or contact Mark Vessey at the Heritage Resource Center 360-586-0219.

The AAT will continue to publish and mail out the quarterly "hard copy" newsletters in addition to this electronic communication.