FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, April 16, 2003
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Department of the Interior
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Interior Secretary Norton Launches National Volunteer Program To Restore and Improve America’s Public Lands |
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“Working with volunteers, we lend our hands to heal our land,
one acre at a time,” says Norton
(WASHINGTON, DC) – Interior Secretary Gale A. Norton today launched
Take Pride in America, a national partnership initiative aimed at increasing
volunteer service on America’s public lands. Norton unveiled the
program at the National Press Club Newsmaker Luncheon.
“By working with volunteers, young and old, we lend our hands
to heal our land, one acre at a time. And in so doing, we are celebrating
the start of the national, grassroots, bipartisan Take Pride in America
program,” Secretary Norton said.
Immediately following her address, Norton rolled up her shirt sleeves
to participate in a Take Pride project along with Washington Mayor Anthony
Williams and actor and rancher-conservationist Rick Schroder. Norton,
Williams and Schroder helped school children plant trees and clean up
debris along a tributary of the Anacostia River in Washington, D.C.’s
Watts Branch of Heritage Park.
“Take Pride In America will empower volunteers from every corner
of America to restore and improve our parks, refuges, recreation areas
and cultural and historical sites. The program inspires citizen stewardship
through a bold and innovative public communication campaign. Outstanding
volunteer efforts are rewarded with presidential recognition,”
Norton said at the National Press Club address.
The program works with governors and other partners to launch volunteer
conservation projects. Take Pride is part of President George W. Bush’s
USA Freedom Corps, dedicated to fostering a culture of service to others.
“Take Pride has gained tremendous momentum by enlisting more
than 100 charter partners – including major corporations, conservation
groups, service organizations, trade associations and a bipartisan coalition
of state governors,” Norton said.
Governors Dirk Kempthorne of Idaho and Janet Napolitano of Arizona
have agreed to be co-chairs of Take Pride’s Council of Governors.
The Council works with governors to enter into memoranda agreements
with the national program. Formal partnerships with state governments
allow federal and state land managers to identify volunteer opportunities
and to enlist public service commitments from citizens.
Companies and corporations can help by sponsoring Take Pride In America
cleanup days or by committing blocks of volunteer service time to local
restoration efforts.
The Interior Department launched www.TakePride.gov to outline program
goals and offers ideas and suggestion for citizen, group and corporate
involvement.
“We want the expertise of our federal conservation agencies to
be more accessible and helpful to partners in state, county and municipal
governments and to the countless citizen organizations who want to help,”
Norton said. “We also want the American people to bring their
energy and creativity to help our parks, refuges and public recreation
areas. And we want every child in America to realize their great inheritance
of scenic beauty and natural bounty. We want them to learn, to cherish,
and to take an active role in safeguarding and restoring our lands.”
Take Pride will sponsor a national recognition and awards program.
Each state forwards its best Take Pride efforts for four annual national
awards. The volunteer service certificate is awarded to those who have
logged 100 or more hours of service. Federal agencies recognize volunteers
who have donated up to 2,000 hours of service. The Secretarial Award
recognizes 3,000 hours of service. A special Presidential Award is given
to those who have reached 4,000 hours of service.
Norton recognized 10 volunteers today for their outstanding efforts.
They include the following:
Anastacia
Hernando, Salem, Massachussettes (pdf);
Harriet Flotte,
Towson, Maryland (html);
Ray
and Juanita Huber, Santa Clara, Utah (html);
John Corcoran
III, Rio Rancho, New Mexico (html);
Patricia Biggs,
Yuma, Arizona (pdf);
Jim
Montgomery, Roswell, New Mexico (html);
Steve Noyes,
Beltsville, Maryland (html);
Rosalita
Spiller, Carterville, Illinois (html);
Molly Krival,
Sanibel, Florida (html).
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