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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Hi everyone,<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>RSVPs would be helpful.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Marc <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:15.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in;background:white'><span style='font-size:22.5pt;font-family:inherit;color:#5C3F17'>National Invasive Species Awareness Week</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:15.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in;background:white'><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:inherit;color:#5C3F17'>February 21-27, 2016 - <a href="http://bugwoodcloud.org/mura/nisaw/assets/File/2016/NISAW2016SAVETHEDATE-FINAL.pdf"><i><span style='color:#337AB7;text-decoration:none'>Save the Date!</span></i></a> </span><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>NISAW Fair/reception in room B-354 of the Rayburn House Office building, Washington DC, from 4 pm-7pm, February 25</span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>National Invasive Species Awareness Week is a great time to get started on management and control of invasive species. Start by constructing a management plan or meeting with a committee to implement the control. Take time to plan an event or join a working group with the same goals as you on controlling invasives. Talk with a representative to encourage more funds and research for fighting <span style='color:black'>the</span><span style='color:#1F497D'>se</span><span style='color:black'> species that are </span>rapidly invading<span style='color:black'> our forests and parks.</span></span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='color:#1F497D'> </span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>It is also a great time to learn about new invasives so you can hit the ground running this spring. A new invasive of concern to our region is the wavyleaf basketgrass (<i>Oplismenus undulatifolius</i>)……<span style='color:#1F497D'>WLBG has been found too difficult to control in the Mid-Atlantic region by cut, pull, and spray. It is the species most in need of biological control research in our region. (Now that Japanese Stiltgrass is already being researched by the $50,000 USFS grant). We can also facilitate biocontrol research on Fig Buttercup/Lesser Celandine. We will have a table at the congressional reception, with the annual NISAW fair, on Feb 25. Please come and join us at the table if you can. Please send handouts, including items on invasive species control important for your locations to present at our table. </span><span style='color:black'>Congressional staff and other guests will be invited to arrive at 4pm to interact with exhibitors, and around 4:30 pm the food will begin to be served. The program will begin at 5 pm and continue to about 6 pm, and the reception will continue until 7 pm. At 7 pm, exhibitors will be asked to pack up their exhibits, and we have to vacate the room by 8pm. Congressional staff really like hands-on exhibits, so all exhibitors should try to be creative in that regard. Realize that most of the Congressional staff attending were likely government majors in college, so select and tailor your materials to effectively educate non-biologists</span></span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Damien P. Ossi,</span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Chair of the board of the Mid-Atlantic-Invasive Plant Council</span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Wildlife Biologist</span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Fisheries and Wildlife Division</span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Department of Energy & Environment</span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Government of the District of Columbia</span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>1200 First Street NE, 5th Floor</span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Washington, DC 20002</span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Desk: (202) 741-0840</span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Web: <a href="http://www.doee.dc.gov/"><span style='color:windowtext'>doee.dc.gov</span></a></span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'> </span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><b><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Constantia",serif;color:#3366FF'>Susan Parker</span></i></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'><br></span><b><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>Agricultural Pest Survey Programs Specialist </span></i></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'><br>West Virginia Department of Agriculture <br>PO Box 9 New Creek WV 26743<br>Office (304) 788-1066<br>Call (304) 813-1738<br>Fax (304) 788-9011</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'> </span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Marc Imlay, PhD, Chair, MAIPC Biological control working Group Conservation biologist, </span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Park Ranger Office, Non-native Invasive Plant Control coordinator. <a href="mailto:Marc.Imlay@pgparks.com"><span style='color:windowtext;text-decoration:none'>Marc.Imlay@pgparks.com</span></a></span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>(301) 442-5657 cell Natural and Historical Resources Division</span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission</span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'> <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Scott J. Cameron <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>President<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Reduce Risks from Invasive Species Coalition<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>703 909 2880 | <a href="mailto:Scott.Cameron@rrisc.org">Scott.Cameron@rrisc.org</a> | <a href="http://rrisc.org">rrisc.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>RRISC is a 501(c)(3) Tax Deductible Charitable Organization<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'><img border=0 width=119 height=103 id="_x0000_i1025" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D155A9.DAF30A50"></span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div>
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