Forest Service Sacred Site Listening Session 4 dates/times

[NaepcA1]

All,

The USDA Office of Tribal Relations and the US Forest Service (FS) are jointly leading an initiative to conduct formal Tribal consultations and listening sessions on the effectiveness of existing department and agency sacred sites laws, regulations, and procedures. USDA wants to hear from you regarding how to improve USDA/FS policies for sacred sites while simultaneously balancing the mission of the Forest Service to deliver forest goods and services for current and future generations.

In order to facilitate dialog opportunities here in California, four Sacred Sites Listening Sessions are being planned:

1. The first is a national conference call being held Monday, February 14, 2011 (11:00am-2:00pm PST). Call in number is 888-469-1285 passcode 5116673.
2. The second opportunity will be a Listening Session held on Tuesday March 1, 2011 (1:00pm-4:00pm PST) in Sacramento, CA. The meeting site will be the Garden Pavilion at the McClellan Air Force Base, 5640 Dudley Blvd, McClellan, CA 95652. There is plenty of complimentary parking here.
3. The third opportunity will be a Listening Session held on Friday March 4, 2011 (1:00pm-5:00pm PST) in Eureka, CA. The meeting site is TBD. I will send out more info as it becomes available.
4. The fourth opportunity will be a Listening Session held Tuesday March 8, 2011 (1:00pm-5:00pm PST) in San Bernardino, CA. The meeting site will be the San Bernardino National Forest Supervisor's Office, 602 South Tippecanoe Ave, San Bernardino, CA 92408-2607.
Please know this email is an informal heads up for these important dialog opportunities. A more formal invitation letter is currently being crafted and will arrive via regular mail. If you are concerned about the FS not having your correct contact info...please contact me or your local FS office for updating this info. This email is an attempt to spread the word in as much of an advance notice as possible so you can calendar accordingly. Please help me spread the word by distributing this email widely among your tribal contacts. The FS is encouraging your active participation with these sessions and please know that these Listening Sessions will not be considered formal consultation. If at any time your Tribe would like to engage in formal consultation on Sacred Sites please contact your local FS District Ranger or Forest Supervisor for consultation arrangements.
Lastly, please help me keep an accurate database of tribal contacts. This email list is a contact list of people who have either contacted me directly or have been referred to me by another tribal contact. I will continue to add names and emails for those that are interested in being added. Likewise....if you would like to be removed from this list please notify me and I will remove your contact info. It is my intent to use this email database to help keep you informed and to help with FS/Tribal relations. Thank you and I hope to see you all soon.......
Merv George

Regional Tribal Relations Program Manager
USDA Forest Service- Pacific Southwest Region R5
1323 Club Drive
Vallejo, CA 94592
707-562-8919
mgeorge@fs.fed.us