Archive for the ‘Bob Miller’ Category

Smokies Public Affairs Officer Bob Miller To Retire

Friday, May 18th, 2012
NPS Digest is reporting this morning that Bob Miller, public affairs officer for Great Smoky Mountains National Park, will retire from almost 40 years of federal service on June 2nd. Bob has served as the “voice of the Smokies” since 1989 as the spokesman of America’s most-visited national park.

Bob began his career with the National Park Service in 1974 in Washington, DC, where he supervised the rangers who provided information, guided walks, talks and tours at popular visitor destinations, including the White House and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. He was also the site manager for Ford's Theater.

Prior to moving to the Smokies in 1989 Bob was the administrative officer at Acadia National Park in Maine with responsibility for managing all the contracting, budget, personnel and property management functions.

While at Great Smoky Mountains, Bob has served as the park's fundraising coordinator and primary liaison with the Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which has raised over $37 million to support the park since its formation in 1993. As Friends liaison, Bob coordinated development and communication of the park’s annual and long-term support needs to the Friends staff and board and to the public and prospective donors.

“Over the years, Bob has become an institution at Great Smoky Mountains National Park,” said Superintendent Dale Ditmanson. “Even individuals who have never met Bob recognize him from his television interviews and press releases. He has made many meaningful connections with our community and park partners and will be missed by more than just our NPS staff.”


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Trail Talk with Ranger Bob Miller

Saturday, November 26th, 2011
Earlier in the summer the National Park Foundation announced a new interactive website feature called Trail Talk, which provides an opportunity for the public to get an insider’s perspective on a national park - from the experts themselves. Every two weeks, NPF features a different national park on their Facebook page. Fans of NPF then have the chance to submit any and all questions they have about that park. Trail Talk rounds-up the questions, and then presents them to one of the rangers in that park.

Back in August, Bob Miller, spokeman for the Great Smoky Mountains, was the focus of Trail Talk. Ranger Bob offered readers some of his favorite hikes, as well as his three “can’t miss” activities in the park, among several other questions he fielded.

You can read the entire Q & A here.



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Smokies officials ‘Cautiously optimistic’ about Woolly Adelgid Program

Sunday, December 6th, 2009
An article in yesterday's Knox News provides an updated synopsis of the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid situation in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The recently released November Report for the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Program paints a somewhat promising picture of the campaign to stymie the invasive and destructive insect - though ultimate success isn't a given, the article emphasizes.

"The work to preserve Eastern hemlock trees and forests in 2009 progressed and showed successes despite increased decline and obvious mortality of trees throughout the park," the report states.

"'Cautiously optimistic' is a good term for it," said park spokesman Bob Miller.

"The good news from this report is you're seeing areas that were treated six or seven years ago that are still healthy."

However, the conclusion of the report cautioned: "The overall success has yet to be determined and will play out over the coming years."

To read the full article, please click here.

To watch video on how the hemlock trees are being treated by biologists, please click here.

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Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com