USDA Forest Service (USDA FS), Sequoia National Forest

Contact:  USDA FS, Sequoia National Forest, Mary Chislock, 559-784-1500

PUBLIC INVITED TO VIEW FILM EXPLORING FOREST SERVICE HISTORY

PORTERVILLE, CA., April 26, 2005.  On May 3, the public is invited to the Galaxy 9 Movie Theatre in Porterville to view a new film about the history of the Forest Service. The two-hour documentary, called "The Greatest Good," will be shown at 10:00 - 12:00 a.m.

This event commemorates the 100th anniversary of the United States Forest Service in 2005. "The Greatest Good" documentary explores the complex and controversial history of the agency over the past one hundred years through rarely seen footage and photos, sweeping landscape aerial shots and dozens of interviews. The film features an original score and is narrated by Charles Osgood.

The Forest Service was created in 1905 by President Theodore Roosevelt and his Chief Forester Gifford Pinchot. They sought not only to conserve disappearing natural resources but to maximize the social benefits from those resources. Pinchot's mission statement for the young Forest Service stated "…where conflicting interests must be reconciled, the question shall always be decided from the standpoint of the greatest good of the greatest number in the long run." The film traces Forest Service efforts to deliver the most benefits to the most people, while remaining good stewards of the land. It is this story of natural resource exploitation and protection that is the central theme of the documentary. In addition to Pinchot, "The Greatest Good" profiles such influential early Forest Service employees as Aldo Leopold, Arthur Carhart and Bob Marshall.

For more information about the Forest Service Centennial, including a trailer of the documentary, visit http://www.fs.fed.us/centennial/.

Information about local Centennial activities can also be found on the Sequoia National Forest website at http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sequoia/centennial/centennial.html or by calling Public Affairs Officer Mary Chislock 559-784-1500.