PAT LEWIS APPOINTED DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC OUTREACH AT USDA
                                                               
                                       Release No. 0243.97     
                                                               
                                                               
                               Laura Trivers (202)720-4623     
                                         ltrivers@usda.gov     
                               Ron Hall (202) 720-5747         
                                            rhall@usda.gov     
                                                               
                                                               
                                 
                                                               
                                                               
PAT LEWIS APPOINTED DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC OUTREACH AT USDA
                                                               
     WASHINGTON, July 22, 1997--Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman today
announced the appointment of Pat Lewis as director of Public Outreach at the
U.S. Department of Agriculture.

     Lewis will coordinate outreach to the businesses and organizations
that represent the Department's many constituencies, providing information
on USDA programs and proposals, and making sure that opinions of USDA
constituency groups are heard.

     "We are in an era when so much of what we are trying to accomplish
depends on building partnerships with industry and the public," Glickman said
in announcing the appointment. "Our outreach program is dedicated to
providing a two-way street with groups with whom we work, getting them the
information they need, and making sure they can bring their suggestions and
their concerns directly to my office." 

     The Public Outreach Office is part of USDA's Office of Communications.

     Lewis was most recently the director of Specialty Press at the White
House, where she served as a White House spokesperson, and was responsible
for communications with specialty media. She has more than 15 years of
experience in communications and outreach activities.  This includes over
six years as both a print and broadcast journalist in Alabama, and several
years of experience directing the communications efforts of several national
organizations.

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