12th Conference on National Scenic & Historic Trails

1. Reaching Out Effectively to Trail Towns
2. Getting Trails
3. How Do We Market Our Trails?
4. Telling the Story Though Diversity

1. Partnership Based Integrated Resource Stewardship
2. Corridor Management Policy
3. Trail Acquisitions
4. Identifying and Preparing for the Willing Seller Era, Historic Preservation Panel

1. Building and Growing Strong Trail Organizations
2. Building and Growing Strong Trail Communities
3. Governing by Networking
4. Youth Session


GUEST SPEAKERS

Dan Hall is a historical archaeologist with extensive experience working to preserve Montana history.  For nearly 30 years, he has researched and presented on topics such as Lewis and Clark, historic mining towns, US Forest Service history, military installations, the Civilian Conservation Corps, the Chinese experience in Montana, historic homesteading and ranching, and historic roads, trails, and districts.  He was awarded the Meritorious Achievement Award by the Lewis & Clark Trail Heritage Foundation in 2006 for his efforts on Traveler’s Rest. He was also recognized in 2005 by the Missoula City County Historic Preservation Commission with their Award for Individual Contributions.  Dan Hall has presented his research extensively along the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail ad remains an active advocate of Montana History.
Jim Stone is chairman of the Blackfoot River Challenge and a rancher from Ovando - east of Missoula. The Blackfoot Challenge is a landowner-based group that coordinates management of the Blackfoot River, its tributaries, and adjacent lands. It is organized locally and known nationally as a model  for preserving the rural character and natural beauty of a watershed. The Mission of The Blackfoot Challenge is to coordinate efforts that will enhance, conserve and protect the natural resources and rural lifestyles of the Blackfoot River Valley for present and future generations. It supports environmentally responsible resource stewardship through cooperation of private and public interests. Private landowners, federal and state land managers, local government officials, and corporate landowners compose the informal membership.

Ken Salazar is a graduate of the University of Michigan Law school and practiced law in Denver, Colorado from 1981 to 1986.  After serving as chief legal counsel to Governor Roy Romer of Colorado, he became the executive director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources in 1990. He served as the Colorado State attorney general from 1999-2005 then was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. Senate in 2004.  He served in the Senate from the beginning of 2005 until he was appointed as the Secretary of the Interior in the Cabinet of President Barack Obama in early 2009.

On October 1, 2008, Bart Smith completed over 37 million steps, plus nearly 100,000 photographs in his 16-year shooting trek of all the National Scenic Trails.  His astounding photo/hiking feat covers over 16,500 miles and 34 states. He will be speaking about his experiences on the National Trails in his presentation “Walking Down a Dream.”

Jim Mallman, President and founding Board member of Watchable Wildlife, has 28 years of experience in commodities trading and sales and marketing management. While serving as manager of commodities trading for the American Agco Company, Jim was responsible for American Agco’s Nature’s Seasons Wild Bird Seed division. In this position, Jim began working with state and federal agencies across the country to promote legislation that would secure permanent and stable funding for non-game wildlife. In 1998 he redirected his professional efforts towards wildlife conservation and accepted the position of Sales and Marketing Manager for Treessentials Company. Jim has been a strong supporter of Teaming With Wildlife, and now CARA. This proposed legislation has galvanized the largest coalition of government, businesses, and wildlife conservation groups ever. In 1996, Jim was awarded The President’s Award from the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. Jim was appointed President of Watchable Wildlife, Inc in September of 2001.