A Conservation Roundtable was held in Traverse City, Michigan, on December 4, 2006.  Sponsored by Senator Carl Levin, the Great Lakes Nonprofit Institute and the Great Lakes Water Studies Institute, this roundtable was established to showcase Service habitat conservation grant programs. 

Carl Levin’s representative, Harold Chase provided opening remarks for the session.  Four Service biologists highlighted their programs of specialty, which included: Stewart Cogswell, Green Bay FRO presented the Fish Passage program, Bob Kavetsky, East Lansing Field Office, the Coastal Program, Heather Rawlings, Alpena FRO, the Partners for Fish and Wildlife program, and Christie Deloria, East Lansing Field Office, the Endangered Species and Coastal Wetland Grant programs. 

Craig Czarnecki, East Lansing Field Office, was the master of ceremonies, and Jim Hudgins, East Lansing Private Lands Office, led the wrap- up session. 

The forum was casual, with abundant opportunity for the audience to ask questions and voice concerns.  The invitees for the roundtable were local Traverse City non-profit conservation organizations, conservation districts, land conservancies, and local government entities. 

Approximately 35 citizens attended the roundtable.  Attendees completed an evaluation at the end of the session, and gave both the speakers and facilities high marks.  This event will serve as a template for upcoming roundtable sessions that have been requested by other  Michigan congressional offices.  It was an effective forum for the Service to interact with local partners.