Binational Public Forum

• Mission and Vision
• Roles and Functions
• Minutes/Upcoming Meetings
• Membership / Team Members
• Meeting (May 30-31, 1997, Toledo, Ohio)

Vision

The Lake Erie Forum's vision is a Lake Erie basin where: diverse life forms exist in harmony; social and economic benefits at maximum sustainable levels co-exist; citizens and governments are committed to binational cooperation; and a philosophy of stewardship ensures a clean, safe environment.

Mission

The Lake Erie Forum is a cooperative binational organization of diverse stakeholders whose objective is to restore, protect, and utilize Lake Erie waters to achieve maximum sustainable social and economic benefits by promoting:

• ecosystem health, diversity and stewardship;
• recognition and protection of unique environmental areas, such as wetlands, wilderness, open space;
• the enhancement and maintenance of public access to the lake and shoreline;
• the protection of indigenous species and their habitats;
• shoreline and lake uses which encourage a healthy economy and environment and are in the public interest; and
• meaningful opportunity for public participation in decisions that affect the lake.
  

Roles and Functions

The following five concepts underlie all Forum roles and functions:

1. A successful Lake Erie LaMP must be consistent with the priorities of the citizens of the Lake Erie basin.

2. Implementation ultimately depends upon citizens' actions.

3. Government agencies need to effectively interact with a large number of basin residents and a diversity of interests.

4. The Lake Erie LaMP will be a model for how government and citizens will interact now and in the future.

5. The forum will support the restoration of Lake Erie.

I.  The Forum shall play a significant role in the LaMP process with real involvement and proactive initiatives by:

• acting as partners with governments and government agencies in goal setting and decision making;

• assisting the Technical Subcommittees in the drafting of LaMP reports and reviewing Work Group documents before they go to the Management Committee for review;

• providing advice and input to the Work Group and Management Committee in developing and implementing the LaMP; and

• promoting the Forum's vision and goals for Lake Erie.

II.  Increase stakeholder participation in the LaMP process by:

• representing a variety of interest groups and geographic areas;
• identifying and involving stakeholders;
• bringing personal experience and talents to the process; and
• taking information from the LaMP back to the community in a form that can be understood by the public.

III.  Implement, facilitate and/or participate in Forum sponsored LaMP related activities at the local level, where appropriate.

Minutes and Upcoming Meetings Contact Information

For Binational Public Forum Information Contact:

Kate is the U.S. facilitator for the Forum and plays a key role in organizing and implementing Public Forum meetings. Dates for upcoming Forum meetings, meeting agendas, meeting minutes, and contact information for Forum membership can all be obtained from Kate.

back to top Lake Erie Binational Forum Membership
Helen M. Domske New York Sea Grant Great Lakes Program @ UB 204 Jarvis Hall SUNY @ Buffalo Buffalo, NY  14260 hmd4@cornell.edu (716) 645-3610 phone (716) 645-3612 fax	Peggy B. Johnson Clinton River Watershed Council 4364 Thornville Road Metamora, Michigan  48455 (810) 678-2056 phone (248) 853-0486
Jim  Cowden Cuyahoga river RAP 9315 Glenwood Trail Brecksville, OH  44141 jcowdeni@ibm.net (440) 838-4176 phone (440) 838-4176 fax	Terry L. Yonker Executive Director, Lake Erie Alliance 139 Jackson St. Youngstown, NY  14174 tyonker@compuserve.com (716) 745-9129 phone (716) 745-9129 fax
Vicki Lee Deisner Ohio Environmental Council Suite 201 1207 Grandview Ave. Columbus, OH theoec@iwaynet.net (614) 487-7506 phone (614) 487-7510 fax	Saulius Šimoliūnas Detroit River Remedial Action Council 665 W. Warren Ave. Detroit, MI  48201 Saulius@ieee.org (313) 832-3117 phone (313) 297-9167 fax
Don Arcuri Ohio Lake Erie Foundation Oberlin, OH  44074 (440) 774-6003 phone (440) 774-6003 fax	Frank L. Reynolds Ohio Fish Producers Association 2176 Arkansas St. Oregon, OH  43616 (419) 698-8786 phone (419) 697-8786
Ronald R. Janke Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue 901 Lakeside Avenue Cleveland, OH  44114 rrjanke@jonesday.com (216) 586-7279 phone (216) 579-0212 fax	Home