January, 2003, Volume 3, Issue 1

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 MONTICELLO
By David L. Nicandri

The state of Washington was particularly well-represented at the national kick off event for the Lewis and Clark bicentennial in Charlottesville, VA. Indeed, other than host Albemarle County, Pacific County Washington probably had the next biggest county delegation. Advance and real-time regional press coverage included stories in newspapers from Spokane, Vancouver, Tacoma, and Portland, OR.

The Lewis and Clark exposition at the University of Virginia evidenced an exponential increase in interest from private vendors, state tourism offices, and local bicentennial communities. The state of Washington alone had six separate exhibitors. The companion symposium featured the single largest aggregation of Lewis & Clark and Jefferson scholars, including Gary Moulton, Jim Ronda, and Washington's own Rex Ziak. The highlight, unquestionably, was the ceremonial kick off event itself, on January 18th. Tribal participation from around the country was particularly noteworthy.

Other news gleaned from the week's events in Virginia:

Scott Mandrell and the Lewis & Clark reenactors from St. Charles, Missouri, announced that the "real-time" re-enactment of the expedition will commence on July 5th. That day, Mandrell, portraying Lewis, will leave the White House grounds on horseback. The full schedule of this reenactment can be found at lewisandclark.net.

The next conclave of the National Council of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial will be held April 14-16 in Great Falls, MT. The conference title is "Retrospect of Success." On-line registration for the conference will be possible within a few weeks at the council's web site: lewisandclark200.org.

The Council also announced in Virginia that the national advertising awareness effort will be launched in the fall of 2003. The creative component will be under review this spring, to include such vehicles as web banners, print advertising, plus the TV-Radio spots for which the Ad Council is famous. The themes will be personal courage, adventure, stewardship, and cultural awareness.

This summer the Council is expecting to produce a new informational brochure that will be intended to promote signature events, a modicum of interpretive content, answers to Frequently Asked Questions, a list of tribes along the trail, and other resources including key state and tribal contacts.

The follow up study of travel/tourism interest in the bicentennial was released at the kick-off. The response rate was high and interest in the bicentennial, for those who were aware of the commemoration, was up modestly, from 57% to 59%. The underlying awareness that a commemoration was afoot was up appreciably across the nation, from 5% to 13%. The summary conclusion: Interest is growing, this, even before the national awareness effort in launched.

The National Geodetic Survey, a program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has launched a program creating a Lewis and Clark spatial reference system. This program will be conducted in partnership with state surveyor associations. Anyone interested in having a Lewis and Clark site "observed" and marked with Geodetic Survey emblem can find out more information at www.ngs.noaa.gov or inquire of nancy.doyle@noaa.gov.

On the National Park Service front, Corps II (see illustrations) was successfully launched at the visitor center for Monticello. Each visitor receives a copy of the new NPS Lewis and Clark trail map, which now includes at least three new sites added from the previous edition: Maryhill Museum, the Ilwaco Museum, and Station Camp itself. Corps II will be in the Charlottesville area for four weeks and then start its national itinerary.

The 2003 schedule for Corps II is available on the NPS web site, nps.gov. The 2004 schedule is under development and both it and the 2005 schedule may be released by late spring of this year. A new head of interpretive services for Corps II has been appointed, Pat Jones, replacing the previously announced Scott Eckberg. Pat's cell phone number is 402-203-3311. Lastly, it was reported that the total number of Challenge Cost Share grant applications was down from the peak of a year ago, probably, it was surmised by NPS officials, as a function of the bicentennial era finally being upon us. Because Congress is still appropriating government expenses via a continuing resolution, as opposed to a final bill, it was hinted that awards might run as late as June.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR COMMUNITY-BASED FOR HABITAT RESTORATION PROJECTS

National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries)
Office of Habitat Conservation
NOAA Restoration Center

The NOAA Restoration Center is pleased to announce funding available in 2003 to implement grass roots habitat restoration projects that will benefit living marine resources, including anadromous fish, under the NOAA Community-based Restoration Program (CRP).

A copy of the Federal Register Notice and all the necessary standard NOAA grants application forms, as well as supplemental information specifically tailored to the CRP are available on the NOAA Restoration Center web page at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/habitat/restoration. Look under "funding opportunities" or under the "Community-based Restoration Program" section. Typical project awards will range from $50,000 to $200,000 this year; requests for over $250,000 will not be accepted. Applications must be postmarked by March 3, 2003.

C-SPAN TELEVISES THE JEFFERSON'S WEST CEREMONY

For those who missed the Jefferson's West bicentennial kick-off event in Charlottesville, Virginia or for those who would like to see it again, you're in luck. C-SPAN will air the ceremony at Monticello on February 1, 2003 on American Perspectives. American Perspectives begins at 5 p.m. PST on C-SPAN.

HELPING COMMUNITIES COMMEMORATE THE 2003-2006 LEWIS & CLARK BICENTENNIAL

The deadline for USDA Forest Service grants - state and private forestry - is March 14, 2003. Two types of programs are available: 1) Rural Community Assistance, and 2) Urban and Community Forestry.

The focus of state and private forestry is to work with public and private partners to help maintain and improve America's forest and rural communities. Financial and technical assistance is provided to State and local governments, tribes, non-profit organizations, and other key partners.

1. Rural Community Assistance (RCA) - Activities within RCA are carried out primarily through local Forest Service offices by channeling technical and financial assistance directly to local communities or through partner organizations. In addition to technical assistance, cost-sharing for community strategic planning and projects are an integral component of RCA. RCA is needs-driven, is based on community-led and community-based efforts, and involves the whole community. RCA strives to integrate economic development and enhanced quality of living with environmental protection. RCA emphasizes working through partnerships, developing flexibility, and working for long-term sustainable solutions. There are two key components of the RCA program that vary in a few areas: Economic Recovery or National Endowment for the Arts.
2. Urban and Community Forestry (U&CF) - The purpose of U&CF is to establish, maintain and/or improve trees and forests within communities, counties, and Tribes thereby enhancing the quality of life in these communities. Cost-share funds are available through U&CF. Communities need not be rural to qualify. The Forest Service provides technical and financial assistance to the State Forester in each state to implement most of the program. However, some community projects are funded directly through the Forest Service.

To find out more about this grant opportunity, including Request for Proposals, please go to the Forest Service website: http://www.fs.fed.us/r1-r4/spf/. You can also contact the following individuals:

• Urban and Community Forestry - USDA Forest Service, Missoula, MT, Glenn Roloff at 406.329.3521
• Rural Community Assistance - USDA Forest Service, Ogden, UT, Scott Bell at 801.625.3259

THE LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER WATER TRAIL BROCHURE IS COMPLETE

It is finally here and worth the wait - the Lower Columbia River Water Trail brochure turned out beautifully. The Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership and the National Parks Service Rivers and Trails Program developed and published the brochure with support from Washington State Parks and Oregon State Parks. The brochure, written by Donna Matrazzo, describes the goals and vision for the water trail, the benefits of a water trail, safety and environmental stewardship on the trail, and the steps being taken to develop the water trail. Over ten thousand copies of the brochure were printed (not including an extra 1000 purchased separately by the National Coast Trails Association for their membership).

Display copies of the brochure will be available in local paddling shops. If you would like multiple copies of the brochure or a non-folded one for display purposes, please contact Chris Hathaway at 503.226.1565 ext. 228.

WEBSITE OF THE MONTH

This month's website is an assemblage of pictures taken during Jefferson's West. Relive the events at Charlottesville and Monticello by clicking on the link below: http://www.sgtfloyd.com/monticello.htm.

UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS

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 11, 2003
Lower Columbia River Water Trail Meeting
9:00am - 12:00 pm
Vancouver Water Resources Center
4600 SE Columbia Way
Vancouver, WA 98668
Contact Chris Hathaway
503.226.1565 ext. 228
hathaway.chris@lcrep.org

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
Contact information@crmm.org
503-325-2323

March 11, 2003
Lower Columbia River Water Trail Meeting
9:30am - 12:30 pm
Clatsop Community College
MERTS Campus (Marine and Environmental Research Training Station)
Industrial & Manufacturing Technologies Center
Liberty Lane
Astoria, OR 97103
Contact Chris Hathaway
503.226.1565 ext. 228
hathaway.chris@lcrep.org

March 13, 2003
Agency Assistance Team (AAT - for the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial) Monthly Meeting
10:00 am to 1:00 pm (approx.)
State Capital Museum, Coach House
211 West 21st Ave, Olympia
Contact Mark Vessey at 360.586.0219

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

April 8, 2003
Lower Columbia River Water Trail Meeting
9:30 am - 12:30 pm
Bonneville Lock and Dam
Auditorium Building
Cascade Locks, OR 97014
Contact Chris Hathaway
503.226.1565 ext. 228
hathaway.chris@lcrep.org

April 9, 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 Ave, Olympia
Contact Mark Vessey at 360.586.0219

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 13, 2003
Lower Columbia River Water Trail Meeting
Portland/Vancouver Area
Location to be determined
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Contact Chris Hathaway
503.226.1565 ext. 228
hathaway.chris@lcrep.org

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.