October 14th is HerbDay 2006! Events Planned to "Celebrate Herbs and Herbalism"

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

News Release

October 14th is HerbDay 2006! Events Planned to “Celebrate Herbs and Herbalism”

(Austin, TX, February 7, 2006). The American Botanical Council, working with four national nonprofit organizations as the HerbDay Coalition,¹ are proud to announce that the first annual HerbDay will be held on Saturday, October 14, 2006 - and you are invited!

HerbDay is a coordinated series of public educational events celebrating the importance of herbs and herbalism through harmonized, independently planned activities taking place throughout the week leading up to and including October 14, 2006. These activities will occur at retail stores, botanical gardens and parks throughout North America. HerbDay activities will be designed by each hosting venue which will have broad latitude in selecting its own events, such as lectures and workshops by well-known herbalists; herb walks; in-store cooking demonstrations featuring herbs and spices; seasonal herbal handcrafts; in-store herbal beauty product demonstrations; presentations by herb company representatives; activities with herbal themes for children; etc.

Many segments of the herbal community will be hosting events, providing sponsorship and contributing financial support. All ABC members are invited to participate actively in HerbDay 2006. It is not too early to start developing ideas for local HerbDay activities so no town or city is left out of the celebration inadvertently. The public is invited to participate in all activities and to encourage local retailers, botanical gardens, and other locations to plan and host events.

In addition to local and regional events, the HerbDay Coalition may produce one or more “keynote” events specifically designed to draw media attention. A series of national events are tentatively scheduled at the U. S. Botanic Garden in Washington.

“We are extremely pleased to be part of this group of national organizations working together cooperatively to create such an important event,” said Michael McGuffin, President, American Herbal Products Association. “We have designed a very innovative and dynamic opportunity to bring the public a positive message about herbs in their own communities,” added Wayne Silverman, PhD, Chief Administrative Officer of the American Botanical Council. McGuffin and Silverman represent their organizations in the HerbDay Coalition.

ABC members who want to participate in HerbDay are invited to visit www.herbday.org to review the initial menu of ideas developed by the HerbDay Coalition. This website will be the primary location for organizing and disseminating information about HerbDay activities and resources. A registration feature will be added in the near future to provide continuous event and participation updates along with the opportunity for you to share what you are planning for the herbal celebration!

1. American Botanical Council (ABC); American Herbalist Guild (AHG); American Herbal Pharmacopoeia (AHP); American Herbal Products Association (AHPA); and United Plant Savers (UpS).

AMERICAN BOTANICAL COUNCIL
P.O. Box 144345, Austin, TX 78714-4345
Phone: 512-926-4900 x121; Fax: 512-926-234
Contact: Nancy Moon
Email: the American Botanical CouncilWeb site: http://www.herbalgram.org/