Jason Roesner of the Service's East Texas Sub-office presented the Louisiana Black Bear Status Review and Critical Habitat Update for Debbie Fuller (USFWS, Region 4) who could not attend the East Texas Black Bear Task Force meeting.  Other major presentations included an East Texas Black Bear Sightings Update (Texas Parks and Wildlife Department), The Conservation Fund Priorities in East Texas (The Conservation Fund), and The Nature Conservancy Priorities in East Texas (The Nature Conservancy).  Breakout sessions resulted in the original four committees combining into two.  The public awareness group will be co-chaired and focus on media press releases.  The habitat group merged the promote habitat group and the identify habitat group.  The habitat group will now focus on items that range from identifying priority bear habitat for recovery to identifying existing conservation easements that currently exist to help connect habitat.  A discussion was held concerning the establishment of a new committee to handle finance and fundraising.  Bill Bartush with the United States Forest Service has agreed to serve as acting chairman and will organize and run the next Spring meeting during which time a new chairman will be selected.  Overall, the meeting was a great success of partnerships coming together for a common interest.