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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Dear Member of the Habitat
Restoration Community for our coasts and estuaries, <o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV align=left>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">We are gathering together again –
this time in Seattle!<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Restore America’s Estuaries is
thrilled to announce the<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><STRONG>Second National Conference
on Coastal and Estuarine Habitat Restoration,</STRONG> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">September 12-15, 2004 at the
Washington State Convention & Trade Center in Seattle,
Washington.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Last April, more than 800 members
of the restoration community met at the Inaugural National Conference in
Baltimore, Md. to share successes, discuss lessons learned and plan for the
future of restoration.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Participants
were from all corners of restoration, including field practitioners, businesses,
community leaders, consultants, scientists, program managers, regulators,
educators and others who are involved in every aspect of coastal habitat
restoration. The 105 Conference partners and sponsors were also broadly
representative of the full restoration community, and they displayed their
products, services and programs in the dynamic Conference Exhibit
Hall.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Building on this tremendous
momentum, the Second National Conference will again advance the knowledge, pace,
practice and success of coastal and estuarine habitat restoration. While
addressing restoration challenges and successes around the country, the Second
National Conference will also highlight the unique resources and restoration
efforts in and around the Pacific Northwest.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">The goals of the conference will be
to:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=2>*·
<STRONG>Expand</STRONG> our collective ability to restore habitat through small
to large scale projects – toward our Nation’s goal of restoring 1 million
acres;</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">*· <STRONG>Build</STRONG> the
restoration industry – products and services crucial to success in restoration;
and<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">*· <STRONG>Catalyze</STRONG> new
levels of exchange and collaboration between businesses, government, non-profit
organizations, scientists, educators and volunteers.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">The Second National Conference will
provide an unparalleled opportunity to: <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">*· <STRONG>Communicate</STRONG>
your experience and talent through presentation and discourse, helping to craft
the future of restoration;<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">*· <STRONG>Connect</STRONG> with
leaders and peers involved in coastal and estuarine habitat
restoration;<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">*· <STRONG>Learn</STRONG>
successful strategies for all aspects of habitat restoration planning,
implementation, outreach and community involvement; and<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">*· <STRONG>Discover</STRONG> the
latest products, tools, practices and services available to you from businesses,
government agencies, community and non-profit organizations and others who will
exhibit at the “<STRONG>Restoration Expo</STRONG>.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">More information and the Call for
Presentations will be available in October at our website, <A
href="http://www.estuaries.org/">http://www.estuaries.org/</A>.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><STRONG>If you are interested in
exhibiting at the Restoration Expo or becoming a Conference Sponsor,</STRONG>
<STRONG>please contact<SPAN
class=460225512-23092003>:</SPAN></STRONG></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Rick Bates, Development Director,
rickbates@estuaries.org, 703-524-0248.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><STRONG>For more information,
please contact:<o:p></o:p></STRONG></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Nicole Maylett, Conference
Coordinator, nmaylett@estuaries.org, 703-524-0248, or<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Steve Emmett-Mattox, Vice President
and Program Director, sem@estuaries.org,
703-524-0248.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>