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<DIV>Hi:</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>This started with several thousand ideas, from which they chose the top 50,
which has now been pared down to the top 25 projects to be voted upon, and after
your review, I hope you will find my proposal, "restore our bee population!" to
be the one that you vote for. For your ease of access I have posted my
project at the end. <STRONG>Our future flies on the wings of
pollinators.</STRONG> Thanks for your time and thoughts on this project,
and please spread the word! (there are <U>several cards</U> that make you
eligible to vote. See site for complete list)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Steve</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
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<TD bgColor=#d0d0d0 colSpan=2><I>Sent from the Internet <A
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<TD vAlign=top align=left><FONT face=Times
color=#666666 size=2>We're down to 25 truly
incredible projects. Which ones will make the
Final 5 and go head to head for funding from
American Express? That's for Cardmembers to
decide.</FONT></TD></TR>
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<TD vAlign=top align=left><FONT face=Times
color=#666666 size=2>From the environment to
education, there's a variety of inspiring
project ideas to back. So join Cardmembers at <A
title=http://email.americanexpress.com/a/hBGnNJ8AQB6AABPwgx5ADuz3O$f/axp1
href="http://email.americanexpress.com/a/hBGnNJ8AQB6AABPwgx5ADuz3O$f/axp1"
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and cast a vote for your favorite project
idea.</FONT></TD></TR>
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<TD vAlign=top align=left><FONT face=Times
color=#666666 size=2>Don't forget, the more
Cardmembers who register, the more dollars we'll
donate - up to $5 million - to make a positive
impact. And on July 24, we'll announce the Final
5. </FONT></TD></TR>
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<TD vAlign=top align=left><FONT face=Times
color=#666666 size=2><A
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now</B></FONT></A></FONT></TD></TR>
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<TD vAlign=top align=left><FONT face=Times
color=#666666 size=2>P.S. — Get a more in-depth
look at The Members Project on the latest
episode of the Pulse, in which video-blog
pioneer Amanda Congdon explores how New Orleans
is going green.</FONT></TD></TR>
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<DIV class=left>
<P><SPAN><STRONG>Project ID:</STRONG></SPAN>
01085<BR><SPAN><STRONG>Date
Posted:</STRONG></SPAN> 7/02<BR></P>
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<DIV id=project-supporter-name>Pennsylvania
State University Dept. of Entomology </DIV><A
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<DIV class=rule></DIV>
<P><SPAN><STRONG>Project
Description:</STRONG></SPAN><BR>With the
collapse of our honey bee population, for
reasons unknown, I am proposing that we
propagate a replacement for the honey bee while
there is still the opportunity. Approximately
85% of the fruits and vegetables that we consume
rely on pollination, and I am suggesting that a
suitable replacement could be the ORCHARD MASON
BEE, which can be done on a large commercial
basis. With the proper funding, this project can
be accomplished in a relatively short time frame
of three to five years.</P><B>More
Information:</B>
<P><B>Date Posted:</B> 7/08<BR>Pollination is
vital to our survival and the existence of
nearly all ecosystems on earth. 80% of the
world's crop plants depend on pollination.
Pollinators, almost all of which are insects,
are indispensable partners for an estimated 1
out of every 3 mouthfuls of food, spices and
condiments we eat, and the beverages we drink.
They are essential to the fibers we use, the
medicines that keep us healthy, and more than
half of the world's diet of fats and oils.
Insect pollinators, including honey bees,
pollinate products amounting to $20 billion
annually in the U.S. alone. What is pollination
and who are pollinators? Pollination occurs when
pollen is moved within flowers or carried from
one flower to another of the same species by
birds, bees, bats, butterflies, moths, beetles
or other animals, or by the wind. This transfer
of leads to fertilization and successful seed
and fruit production. </P>
<P><B>Date Posted:</B> 7/08<BR>Pollinators are
essential to life. Nearly 80% of our world's
crop plants require pollination. Birds, bees,
butterflies, but also beetles, mosquitoes, and
even bats transfer pollen between seed plants.
This function is vital for plant reproduction.
Pollinators need protection. Without
pollinators, humans and ecosystems cannot
survive. Due to biodiversity threats such as
land development, pollution, and pesticide
poisoning, we are losing pollinators around the
world at an alarming rate. Greater awareness and
global action are required now to change this
trend. Learn about pollinators here and get
involved. Whether you are gardener, a farmer, a
resource manager, an educator, or simply an
interested consumer, the Pollinator Partnership
provides news, resources, programs, and an
extensive digital library to support you in
helping pollinators. From small daily actions to
larger organized activities, you can get
involved in many ways. </P>
<P><B>Date Posted:</B> 7/08<BR>A Little Life
History . . . Solitary bees such as the Blue
Orchard Mason Bee were pollinating the fruits
and flowers of this continent for millions of
years before the first colonists brought the
honey bee to North America sometime before 1638.
Mason Bees are one of North Americaâs most
common bees having colonized both sides of the
Rocky Mountains and across the United States.
Our tiny friend is black with a blue sheen and
are about 2/3 the size of a honey bee. They
often go unnoticed because of their small size
and are mistaken for flies from a distance.
While they are not as sophisticated as the honey
bee they are superior pollinators. An average
honey bee visits about 700 blooms daily, but
pollinates only 30. Mason Bees visit an average
of 1600 flowers daily and pollinate almost all
the flower stigmas they come in contact with.
________________________________________
</P></DIV>
<DIV class=right>
<P><SPAN><STRONG>Member:</STRONG></SPAN>
sbrustkern</P><BR>
<P><IMG
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<SPAN><STRONG>About Me:</STRONG></SPAN><BR>Steve
Brustkern. Washington state resident. Consults
to individuals, estates, farms, and commercial
operations, (such as vineyards), that wish to
get, and keep,their properties chemical and
pesticide free. Have been propagating Orchard
Mason Bees for the past 10 years, and now have
several thousand, which I have placed primarily
in the Pacific Northwest, but currently have 20k
in the Almond orchards in So. California as part
of a test with Christopher O'Toole, Head of Bee
Systematics and Biology Unit, Oxford University
Museum of Natural History, Oxford, UK. While I
find the other 49 proposals to be compelling, I
believe that we must take care of our
pollination issue in order to keep our food
chain well stocked and healthy. Without food,
the other projects have little meaning!
</P></DIV><BR class=clear><A name=supporter></A>
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<P>Whither the Bees?</P>
<P>Fruits and vegetables are an essential part
of a healthy diet. Over 90 fruits and vegetables
rely on honey bees for pollination but honey bee
populations have been crashing, and the cause is
unknown. The new syndrome called Colony Collapse
Disorder has resulted in a significant loss of
honey bee colonies across North America. Honey
bees are responsible for pollinating crops worth
more than $14 million. We at Penn State
University have been researching honey bee
health and other bees, such as Osmia cornifrons.
Our team of scientists is dedicated to finding a
solution to the health problems of honey bees,
increasing the use of other bees for
pollination, and training young scientists who
will continue this work. We are investigating
bee diseases, bee nutrition and pesticide
impacts. One avenue of research is evaluating
pollinators that are alternatives to honey bees.
The Blue Orchard Mason (BOM) Bees are known to
pollinate fruit, including apples, cherries,
raspberries and blueberries, and may be useful
for the pollination of vegetables. BOM bees are
extremely industrious and very people-friendly.
However, we do not know enough about BOM bees as
a replacement for honey bees in commercial
agriculture. </P>
<P>University research is the backbone of
innovation in our agricultural production
system. Investments in university research to
help solve the honey bee problem and develop
alternative pollinators is money well spent. An
American Express Members Project grant would
help equip laboratories, generate concrete
information on alternative pollinators and
solutions for honey bee health problems, fund
the education of graduate students, and keep the
agricultural community informed of the newest
advances in bee and pollination
management.</P></DIV></DIV>
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<TD vAlign=top align=left><FONT
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or the District of Columbia and at least 18 years of age and
the holder in good standing of an American Express Card
issued by American Express in the United States. Employees
of American Express and their immediate family members are
not eligible to submit a project idea. Members Project Terms
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