(Washington, DC) – House Majority Whip and Sixth District Congressman James E. Clyburn announced today the National Park Service and State Historic Preservation Officers will begin accepting nominations for the Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission on Monday, February 12, 2007.  All nominations must be received by March 30, 2007. 

 “This is good news for the future of the Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor,” Congressman Clyburn said, who authored the legislation that created the corridor.  “Time is of the essence in beginning the work of the Commission to preserve and protect the Gullah/Geechee cultural treasures. I am pleased progress is already taking place.”

The 15-member commission will be made up of four individuals nominated by the South Carolina Historic Preservation Officer and two individuals each nominated by the State Historic Preservation Officer from Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina.  Additionally, two individuals from South Carolina and one each from Florida, Georgia and North Carolina will be nominated for the commission who are recognized experts in historic preservation, anthropology, and folklore.  All members of the commission will be appointed by the Secretary of the Interior. 

Public meetings are scheduled in South Carolina and Georgia to provide the community with more information about the Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor and the creation of the Commission.  These four meetings are open to the public and each will start at 6:30 p.m.:

            February 15, 2007       Town of Atlantic Beach Community Center

                                                1010 32rd Ave

                                                Atlantic Beach SC

            February 16, 2007       Avery Institute

                                                125 Bull Street

                                                Charleston, SC

            March 1, 2007             Camden High School -- Frissell Hall

                                                6300 Laurel Island Parkway

                                                Kingsland GA

            March 2, 2007             Penn Center

                                                6 Penn Center Circle West

                                                St. Helena Island, SC

            For more information, visit Congressman Clyburn’s website at http://clyburn.house.gov/ and follow the link on the homepage to the Gullah/Geechee Commission or contact Michael Allen with the National Park Service at 843-881-5516 x12 or 843-883-3123 x36.