Regional Director Robyn Thorson joined Metropolitan Airport Commission (MAC) Chairwoman Vicky Grunseth and invited guests for a ceremonial ribbon-cutting to open the display. Grunseth and Thorson then joined other MAC commissioners, Service employees and guests to ?test drive? features of the highly interactive exhibit.

?We realize that we only have travelers? attention for a few minutes,? said Donna Stanek, chief of visitor services and outreach for Region 3 Refuges. ?We want to stimulate people's curiosity, so that when they return home, they will remember what they?ve learned from the display and want to visit a nearby National Wildlife Refuge or National Fish Hatchery.?

The display is located in the airport's G Concourse (near the foreign currency exchange kiosk) in a portion of the office space belonging to Service Wildlife Inspector Linda Benson. While the room is not very large, the exhibit communicates large amounts of information about the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Region 3. A large wall-mounted plasma video monitor plays a 30-minute, looped DVD showing wildlife and scenes from National Wildlife Refuges in Region 3 and across the country. Video scenes are interspersed with conservation-oriented text messages by Teddy Roosevelt and others. The video also encourages people to visit a National Wildlife Refuge. Two 15-inch LCD touch screens allow visitors to access information about refuges and wetland management districts within an hour's drive of the Twin Cities airport. Wildlife and parts seized by inspectors is on display in a secure glass enclosure. With the touch of a button, audio phones provide information about wildlife import and export laws in English, French, Spanish, German, Russian and Japanese. A large interactive display map of North America allows visitors to learn about various other aspects of the Service including migratory bird flyways, refuge locations and more.

The impressive display was constructed by Wilderness Graphics, Inc., and is a cooperative effort between the MAC and Region 3. The Division of Law Enforcement and National Wildlife Refuge System provided most of the funding and energy to make the exhibit a reality. Donna Stanek coordinated design and placement of the exhibit, which took about 18 months from design to completion. During that time, numerous employees contributed ideas and messages to for the display.

The Minneapolis-St, Paul International Airport serviced more than 32.6 million passengers last year, making it the ninth largest airport in North America. The International Air Transport Association's annual customer surveys ranked MSP the Best Large Airport in North America in 2000, 2001, and 2003. MSP also ranks as runner up for Best Large Airport in the World.