Scenic America is a national nonprofit organization that seeks to preserve natural beauty and the distinctive character of our communities. they have helped dozens of states and hundreds of communities fight billboard blight, protect scenic roads, and take other steps to preserve their distinctive beauty. Scenic America has issued a call for nominations of scenic landscapes threatened by imminent change for its "Last Chance Landscapes" program. Citing the effects of unplanned development, the proliferation of billboards and cell towers, and unsightly strip malls, Scenic America appeals to Americans to nominate endangered scenic places as "Last Chance Landscapes" to call attention to the loss of scenic beauty. They hope to highlight the growing challenge of achieving livable communities and attractive landscapes. The organization will announce the ten 1999 Last Chance Landscapes in October, 1999. Under this program, a "landscape" can be a scenic vista, a river corridor, a distinct region, an urban neighborhood or some other place people cherish and want to preserve. Nominations will be judged on the scenic quality of the area, the extent and urgency of the threat, and the opportunities to save the landscape. Last Chance Landscape nomination forms are available at Scenic America's website http://www.scenic.org or by aclling Scenic America at (202) 543-6200 to request a copy. Deadline for entries is September 15, 1999 at 5:00 p.m. ----------------------------------------------------------------- To get off the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask]