Support Ohio's State Nature Preserves with a new License Plate

Many of you know that I have spent the last 10 years of my life, with a two year interruption for graduate school, as an employee of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Natural Areas and Preserves. For at least the last two of those years, my colleagues (namely Heidi Hetzel-Evans) have been working towards a special license plate that would help support the State Nature Preserve system here in Ohio. After a ton of work collecting over 1000 signatures and successfully navigating the Ohio legislative process, you as a nature preserve loving Ohioan can show every driver in the state just how much you love nature. And better than that, when you purchase this plate, $15.00 goes directly to a fund that will ensure that Ohio's finest natural areas stay that way.

What's even more important about this license plate is that in the latest State of Ohio biennial budget, the Division of Natural Areas & Preserves received $0.00, yes, that is ZERO dollars in general revenue funds beginning in July 2010. This means that the nature preserve system needs all the help it can get, and one way we can all chip in is by purchasing this special plate. And, if you renew your plate and registration for two years, the Ohio State Nature Preserve program will get a little extra help.

So there you go, head on over to www.oplates.com and show your support for Ohio's State Nature Preserves with a license plate. You'll help protect several of Ohio's finest natural areas- places like Lake Katharine in Jackson County, Conkle's Hollow in Hocking County, Clifton Gorge in Greene County, Kent Bog in Portage County, and Irwin Prairie in Lucas County. These places are all near and dear to me and countless other Ohioans.

Tom

Graceful Descent

John Howard captured this image of myself at Lake Katharine State Nature Preserve:

Natural Areas & Preserves at the Ohio State Fair

So, if you are planning a trip to the great Ohio State Fair, don't miss the Ohio Department of Natural Resource's Park, located in the southeast corner of the fair. The division I am gainfully employed by, the Division of Natural Areas and Preserves, has about a quarter acre tall grass prairie planted in the park. I addition, we just set up or new "building", giving us a bigger presence. Megan and I will be manning said building and prairie Sunday August 5th from 2-7. So, again, come to the fair, buy plenty of fried dough, come visit the natural resources park, and last, and most important, check out the prairie and our new building!