Recognizing Accomplishments of Interpretive Associations and Friends Groups: Nominations for the 2008 BLM Public Lands Partnership Excellence Award; DD: 2/15/2008

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORBUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENTWASHINGTON, D.C.  20240February 5, 2008In Reply Refer To:8300 (WO-172) PEMS TRANSMISSION 02/05/2008Information Bulletin No. 2008-033To:    AFOs    Attn:  State Interpretive LeadsFrom:    Director, Office of the National Landscape Conservation System & Community ProgramsSubject:           Recognizing Accomplishments of Interpretive Associations and Friends Groups:  Nominations for the 2008 BLM Public Lands Partnership Excellence Award                                DD:  2/15/2008Program Areas:  Interpretation; Partnerships                            Purpose:  This Information Bulletin (IB) invites BLM offices to nominate one outstanding interpretive association (IA) or friends group from your State for this year’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Public Lands Partnership Excellence Award.   The award will be presented by BLM Director Jim Caswell or his representative at the Association of Partners for Public Lands (APPL) Annual Convention, held February 24-28, 2008, in Denver, Colorado.  More information on APPL and the convention can be found at http://www.appl.org.Policy/Action: Each State may nominate one IA or friends group for the BLM’s Public Lands Partnership Excellence Award, which recognizes an IA or friends group that has made a significant contribution to the BLM’s interpretive, environmental education, and/or public outreach programs.  This award was created to stimulate and reward creative partnerships.Following the instructions in Attachment 1, please submit your nomination package to Amy Galperin, BLM National Lead for Interpretation, Colorado State Office, 2850 Youngfield Street, Lakewood, Colorado  80215.  Award nominations are due by February 15, 2008.Background: This award recognizes an IA or friends group that has a formal assistance agreement with the BLM and has shown exceptional support to the BLM’s interpretive, environmental education, and/or public outreach programs.  (Please note that in late 2005, the BLM began using the term “interpretive association (IA)” rather than “cooperating association.”)  This support may have included providing financial assistance, assisting in the production of outstanding interpretive or environmental education materials, developing or conducting interpretive programs, helping the BLM to obtain grants, or any other effort to help the BLM accomplish its interpretive or environmental education goals.Previous award recipients have included the Public Lands Interpretive Association, the Arizona Strip Interpretive Association, the San Juan Mountains Association, Trail Tenders, Inc., and the Glen Canyon Natural History Association.  Timeframe:  Nominations are due by February 15, 2008.Budget Impact:  NoneContact: Amy Galperin, BLM National Lead for Interpretation, at telephone (303) 239-3960 or e-mail Amy_Galperin@blm.gov.  Signed by:                        Authenticated by:Jeff Jarvis                        Robert M. WilliamsDivision Chief                        Division of IRM Governance,WO-560National Landscape Conservation System1 Attachment      1- Nomination Criteria for Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Public Lands Partnership Excellence Award (2 pp)