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<font face="Times New Roman, Times" size=5><b><u><div align="center">
BRIEFING SEMINAR AND DISCUSSION FORUM <br>
ON<br>
CERTIFICATION FOR THE MARINE AQUARIUM TRADE<br>
</font></b></u><font size=5></div>
__________________________________________________________<br>
<br>
</font><font size=3><b>What: <br>
Marine Aquarium Council - Briefing Seminar and Discussion Forum<br>
<br>
<font size=3>When:<br>
Tuesday, August 21</font><font size=2><sup>st</font></sup><font size=3>,
12:00 - 1:30 pm<br>
<br>
Where:<x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab><br>
Conference room 5A/B (5th floor)<br>
World Wildlife Fund-US<br>
<font size=3>1250 24th St., NW, Washington DC<br>
<br>
<font size=3>Who:<x-tab> </x-tab><br>
Stakeholders interested in progress on certification for the marine
aquarium trade, especially NGOs, government agencies and international
organizations<br>
<br>
<br>
</b><font size=3>Dear Colleague,<br>
<br>
<font size=3>As you may know the Marine Aquarium Council (MAC) is working
with the marine ornamentals industry, aquarists, conservation
organizations, government agencies, public aquariums, and scientists from
around the world to develop an international system of certification for
quality and sustainability in the marine aquarium trade. We are making
exciting progress towards launching the certification in late 2001. For
example, the final working version of the MAC Standards were posted on
the MAC website in early July and we are now undertaking feasibility
studies using the standards in the Philippines.<br>
<br>
<font size=3>We are pleased to invite you to a briefing seminar and
discussion forum on the progress, status and plans for finalizing the MAC
Standards and launching MAC Certification in 2001. The purpose of the
meeting is to ensure that you are familiar with the Marine Aquarium
Council and certification development and for MAC to seek input and
comments from stakeholders based in the Washington DC area, especially
NGOs, government agencies, and international organizations.<br>
<br>
A 30-minute presentation from the MAC Director will be followed by an
open discussion forum on the certification for the marine aquarium trade.
The MAC Accreditation Coordinator, Certification Coordinator,
Communications Coordinator and Indonesia Liaison Officer/Program Officer
will also be on hand to answer questions.<br>
<br>
<font size=3>The bulk of the time will be for discussion of your views
and questions about MAC certification development. For the discussion to
be most productive, we would strongly encourage to visit the MAC website
<<a href="http://www.aquariumcouncil.org/" eudora="autourl"><font size=3>www.aquariumcouncil.org</a><font size=3>>
to become familiar with the MAC Core Standards and progress as outlined
in the "MAC News".<br>
<br>
This will be an informal "brown bag" lunch time gathering and
participants are welcome to bring their lunch. Please feel free to pass
this invitation to your colleagues and other potentially interested
organizations.<br>
<br>
I look forward to seeing you at the briefing seminar and discussion forum
and to the opportunity to meet with you.<br>
<br>
<br>
<font size=3>Sincerely,<br>
<br>
Paul
Holthus<x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab><br>
<br>
<br>
<font size=3>Executive Director</font><br>
<div>Paul Holthus </div>
<div>Executive Director, Marine Aquarium Council </div>
<br>
<div>923 Nu'uanu Ave., Honolulu, Hawaii USA 96817 </div>
<div>Phone: (+1 808) 550-8217 Fax: (+1 808)
550-8317 </div>
<div>Email: paul.holthus@aquariumcouncil.org </div>
Website:
<a href="http://www.aquariumcouncil.org/" EUDORA=AUTOURL>www.aquariumcouncil.org</a><x-tab> </x-tab>
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