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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Susan
Kwasniak</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><A href="mailto:skwasniak@batcon.org"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>skwasniak@batcon.org</FONT></A></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>512.327.9721</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Bat Conservation International has a New
Leader<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></B></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>On
March 1<SUP>st</SUP>, Bat Conservation International will welcome its new
Executive Director, Nina Fascione. She succeeds Merlin Tuttle, who founded BCI
in 1982 and built it into the world’s foremost organization for bat
conservation.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>“I
have known and admired Merlin for many years, and I am thrilled at this
opportunity to help protect his legacy and build on it as Bat Conservation
International expands into the future,” Fascione said. </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>She
currently is Vice President for Field Conservation Programs at Defenders of
Wildlife in Washington, D.C.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She
joined the organization as a program associate in 1995 and rose quickly to
leadership positions. A conservation professional for 24 years, Fascione brings
a rich range of experience with wildlife, including bats, to her new role of
leading BCI. </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Fascione has worked in various aspects of bat-conservation education and
outreach, and currently leads Defenders of Wildlife’s work on White-nose
Syndrome—a devastating epidemic that has killed an estimated million or more
hibernating bats of six species in nine states. She was co-chair of the American
Zoo and Aquarium’s Bat Taxon Advisory Group in 1991-97, coordinating strategic
planning and implementation of conservation and breeding programs for threatened
bats.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Internationally, she was an advisor to such initiatives as a lion project
in northern Kenya, a koala-conservation summit in Australia and zoo-research
training in Taiwan. She co-founded the Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders
program. She also worked with a coalition of groups to draft and seek
congressional support for the Great Cats and Rare Canids Act to fund the
conservation of 15 imperiled species.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>“We are very
excited about Nina’s enthusiasm and her vast experience in the conservation of
mammals and especially her interest in bats during her many years of service
with Defenders of Wildlife,” said John Mitchell, Chair of BCI’s Board of
Trustees. </FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>When
Merlin Tuttle founded BCI, many American bat species were endangered or
declining in numbers severe enough to warrant concern.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Today, bats are facing their greatest
threats ever—White-nose Syndrome and wind turbines. </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>“Stepping back from BCI after all these years has been difficult, but
Nina Fascione is an excellent choice to lead the organization into the future
and I look forward to working with her,” said Merlin. “I wish only the best for
Nina and BCI in the years to come.”<BR style="mso-special-character: line-break"><BR style="mso-special-character: line-break"></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">About BCI<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Bat
Conservation International’s (BCI) mission is to protect bats and their habitats
for a healthy planet.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The
non-profit organization, based in Austin, Texas, and its 10,000 members are
devoted to conservation, education, and research initiatives involving bats and
the ecosystems they serve. Founded in 1982 by Dr. Merlin Tuttle, the
organization has achieved unprecedented progress, emphasizing sustainable uses
of natural resources to benefit both bats and people. For more information,
visit </FONT></SPAN></I><A href="http://www.batcon.org/"><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>www.batcon.org</FONT></SPAN></I></A><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></I></B></P><FONT lang=0 face="Gill Sans MT" size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10"><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>Laurie Davies
Adams<BR>Executive Director<BR><B>Pollinator Partnership </B><BR>423 Washington
Street, 5th floor<BR>San Francisco, CA
94111<BR>415-362-1137<BR>LDA@pollinator.org</FONT><FONT lang=0 face=Arial color=#000000 size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10"><BR><BR></FONT><FONT lang=0 face="Gill Sans MT" color=#0000ff size=4 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="14"><B><A href="http://www.pollinator.org/">www.pollinator.org</A></B></FONT><FONT lang=0 face="Gill Sans MT" color=#000000 size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10"></B><BR><A href="http://www.nappc.org/">www.nappc.org</A><BR><BR></FONT><FONT lang=0 face="Gill Sans MT" color=#000000 size=3 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="12"><B><I>National Pollinator Week is June 21-27, 2010. <BR>Beecome
involved at <A href="http://www.pollinator.org/">www.pollinator.org</A></I></FONT></B></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>