OIA, Austin-based BACKWOODS host homegrown listening session

For Immediate Release:



Contact:

David Weinstein

Outdoor Industry Association

303.327.3504

Outdoor Industry Association, Austin-based BACKWOODS to host a homegrown listening session for America’s Great Outdoors Initiative

BOULDER, CO. – August 12, 2010 – Outdoor Industry Association (OIA), the national trade association for suppliers, manufacturers and retailers in the $289 billion outdoor recreation industry, along with Austin-based, specialty outdoor retailer BACKWOODS, Inc., announced a “homegrown” listening session for America’s Great Outdoors Initiative (AGO). The AGO listening session will be held at Hill Country Galleria near Austin, Texas on Tuesday, August 17 from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

“We are thrilled to partner with the Outdoor Industry Association to support the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative,” said BACKWOODS President and CEO Jennifer Mull. “BACKWOODS’ mission to inspire people to seek active, adventurous lives and the AGO’s goal of reconnecting American’s with the outdoors are perfectly aligned. The homegrown listening session will allow the Central Texas community to provide the critical feedback needed to make AGO’s goals a reality.”

Throughout the summer, the Obama administration hosted official listening sessions in order to gain regional knowledge and input for the AGO. AGO is a national program that will create a 21st-century conservation agenda, reconnect Americans with the outdoors, and gain local input about how the federal government can best partner with local communities to manage America’s public lands and waters.

OIA is hosting homegrown listening sessions around the country to support and supplement the official administration sessions and to ensure the outdoor recreation community’s voice is well represented to President Obama.

Jennifer Mull will join representatives from OIA to host the two-hour listening session. The homegrown event seeks a broad spectrum of outdoor recreation, youth, and minority interest groups to attend. The event will give these attendees a chance to express their opinions about the 21st-century challenges to recreation, best-practices and regional conservation techniques, and how the federal government can best support these efforts.

The listening session will be followed by a beer and wine reception.

Who: Jennifer Mull, President and CEO of BACKWOODS

What:  America’s Great Outdoors Initiative Homegrown Listening Session

When: August 17, 2010, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Where: Hill Country Galleria

12700 Hill Country Blvd. Ste. T-100

Bee Cave, TX 78738

Why: Homegrown listening sessions aim to empower and represent the voices from the outdoor recreation community within the national AGO conversation, and to augment state, local, private, and tribal conservation initiatives targeting public and private lands.

About Outdoor Industry Association

Founded in 1989, Outdoor Industry Association® (OIA) is a national trade association whose mission is to ensure the growth and success of the outdoor industry. Over 4,000 manufacturers, distributors, suppliers and retailers of outdoor recreation equipment and services, as well as other related business entities, make up the OIA membership. OIA programs include representation in government/legislative affairs, cutting-edge market research, member cost-saving benefits and outreach initiatives to grow participation in outdoor activities and promote healthier lifestyles. Educational events include the annual OIA Rendezvous®, Outdoor University®, and the Capitol Summit in Washington, D.C. Outdoor Industry Association is the exclusive endorser of the Outdoor Retailer tradeshow. For more information, go to www.outdoorindustry.org or call 303.444.3353.

About BACKWOODS

BACKWOODS is an Austin-based, national outdoor retail company with a long history of providing its customers top quality technical gear and a broad collection of outdoor clothing and footwear. Founded in 1973 in Wichita, KS, BACKWOODS currently operates 9 retail locations in Austin, Fort Worth, Norman, Oklahoma City, Omaha, Overland Park, St. Louis, Tulsa and Wichita. 24/7 shopping is also available online at backwoods.com. In addition to the BACKWOODS retail locations, BACKWOODS Adventures, the company’s adventure travel division, offers a unique and first rate adventure travel experience for all levels of outdoor enthusiast. Whether you climb tall mountains or have never set foot on a trail, travel the world or travel downtown, BACKWOODS is the exclusive portal to whatever type of adventure you seek. For more information visit www.backwoods.com

###