The Bi-Monthly Meeting of the Coordinating Committee MINUTES

Transcription

1 The Bi-Monthly Meeting of the Coordinating Committee MINUTES November 14, 2012, 10:00 am to 11:45 am UAS Anderson Building, Room 204 Conference Number: ; Participant PIN: Submitted by: Allison Bidlack Allison Bidlack ACRC Director THE MEMBERSHIP and COORDINATING COMMITTEE Coordinating Committee Permanent members Coordinating Committee Rotating members University of Alaska Southeast The Nature Conservancy (2013) University of Alaska Fairbanks Juneau Economic Development Council (2013) University of Alaska Anchorage N.O.A.A., National Weather Service (2014) U.S. Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station U.S. Forest Service, Alaska Region U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska Region City and Borough of Juneau U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Region Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Tribes of Alaska British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands, & Natural Resources Operations (2014) ACRC Non-voting Members N.O.A.A., National Marine Fisheries Service Geos Institute Hakai Network for Coastal People, Ecosystems, and Management Sitka Sound Science Center Prince William Sound Science Center I. Call to Order (Bill Hanson, Coordinating Committee Chair) 10:03am ACRC Bi-Monthly Meeting of the Coordinating Committee

2 II. Roll Call CC Members in Attendance CC Members Absent UAS Marsha Sousa CBJ UAF Scott Rupp CCTHITA UAA Jeff Bailey (for Helena Wisniewski) TNC FS PNW Paul Brewster BC MFLNRO FS Alaska Region Wayne Owen (Vice Chair) USFWS Alaska Region Bill Hanson (Chair) USGS Alaska Region Lyman Thorsteinson NOAA NWS Tom Ainsworth JEDC Eva Bornstein ACRC Non-Voting Members in Attendance ACRC Employees in Attendance NOAA Fisheries Phil Mundy Allison Bidlack, Director Pat Belec, Admin Assistant III. IV. Review of Agenda Wayne Owen moved to accept as presented; seconded by Paul Brewster. Approval of Minutes a. September 20, 2012 Annual Meetings of the Membership and the Coordinating Committee. Minutes changed to reflect JEDC workshop in February 2013; originally scheduled for November b. Marsha Sousa moved to adopt minutes with change; Wayne Owen seconded. Approved without exception. V. Special Order of Business none VI. Information or Action Items a. Director Update i. Status of events in which Director/ACRC involved (list presented at annual meeting). Evening at Egan, October 12 th and Juneau GeoFest, November 10 th completed. JEDC Workshop in February 2013 co-present. Glacier workshop on March 5 th and 6 th assist Eran Hood. School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences weekly seminar series on December 7 th not participating. Alaska Marine Science Symposium in Anchorage on January not presenting, but may attend. Sealaska symposium on fresh water fish habitat in managed growth forest postponed until fall We will assist in providing the science for them to move forward ACRC Bi-Monthly Meeting of the Coordinating Committee Page 2

3 ii. ACRC outreach website updated; working with UAS web design team on ACRC inclusion under UAS website (now summer 2013). Developing: (1) new letterhead that lists all partners, (2) two brochures for different audiences partners and funders, and (3) a map that includes the full coastal temperature rainforest region from Kodiak to British Columbia. Working with Ecotrust cartographer on the map and will contact NPLCC as another resource. Appealed to the partners the need for pictures for the brochures, website and other marketing publications. iii. ACRC Staffing discussed under Director s priorities. iv. Trip reports - Fairbanks/Kodiak and Sitka WhaleFest. Both trips included meetings with ACRC partners and were good outreach opportunities in educating others about ACRC. With UAF, discussed possible student exchange in forestry. UAF expressed desire that this will be an annual meeting. In Sitka, met with the Park Service and discussed the possibility of them becoming a partner. Bill Hanson met with UAA Provost Bear Baker and Dr. Helena Wisniewski to discuss the ACRC. Allison will be traveling to Anchorage in January to continue discussions with UAA, along with the Moore Foundation and APU, and possibly attend the Marine Science Symposium. The Committee suggested Allison contact partners prior to any travel for names of individuals with whom she should connect (especially partners) and discuss, in part, what ACRC can bring to the table and vice versa. b. Work sessions follow-up and priorities for coming year Allison Bidlack presented condensed notes from the September ACRC Strategic Plan work session [see Attachment 1 - details outlined in order of the four Strategic Plan Goals]. Additions to these notes focused on the general public: (1) do we have an outreach role to the general public; (2) if yes, what tools would that require; (3) integration into our current systems; e.g., website, Facebook, Twitter; and (4) look to partners for expertise to help in this outreach as part of member contribution. Director s priorities for the next 12 months [see Attachment 2 - seven priority areas outlined]. Additional comments to the attachment included: 1. Shared outreach and communications hire person in place by January 1, 2013; ACRC will pay for.5 FTE and has funds for this fiscal year, but cannot commit beyond June 30, Expectation that EPSCoR will fund.5 FTE for 5 years. 2. CTR Research/Project Database development these tasks will be part of the part time hire duties [see Attachment 3 for job description]. 3. Major Research Grants the NSF Research Instrumentation planning team will do a fieldtrip to the Héen Latinee site to assist in finalizing instrumentation needs ACRC Bi-Monthly Meeting of the Coordinating Committee Page 3

4 4. Science Talks & Social the audience is the research community. Request to partners to inform us when they have colleagues come through town looking for speakers! 5. Continuing Education Workshop Development Allison is talking with Barb Schrader of the USFS, Alaska Region office on the three points noted. c. Other Follow up on 2012 symposium letters Envision letters in two groups: (1) letters sent to leadership level participants to thank them for providing support for the symposium and recognition of that support, and (2) s to a broader audience to thank them for their participation and as a reminder of the symposium and thus the ACRC; include a link to the website, strategic plan, etc. distribution lists have been created for those who participated in the symposium, with follow up drafted. Will coordinate with Chair about the distribution content and timing. VII. Annual Budget [Attachment 3] New budget format shows revenue sources and expenditure allocations with year-to-date and projected expenses. Half of the discretionary funds will be used for the outreach coordinator shared hire. The Committee is in full support of hiring an outreach coordinator by January 1 st. Other discussion included confirmation of the anticipated USFS $16,500 will come from the Alaska Region R10 office; the $26,500 was received from the Pacific Northwest Research Station. Per the MOU the Coordinating Committee prepares out-year budget recommendations for the UAS and UAF Chancellors to approve. Over the next six months need to identify the 2013 and 2014 projects, the estimated need, and the approaches to obtain funding. VIII. IX. Coordinating Committee meetings scheduled for 10 am 12 noon. a. January 16 b. March 13 c. May 15 d. July 17 e. September 18 (annual meeting) Public Comment none X. Adjourned 11:45 am ACRC Bi-Monthly Meeting of the Coordinating Committee Page 4

5 ATTACHMENT 1 Condensed Notes from ACRC Strategic Plan Work Session Goal 1 Education and Professional Training 1. Database development and coordination - create a database of work that has been done, and is currently being done, in NP temperate rainforest. Similarly, a database of researchers and their areas of expertise would be very useful for all, and make it a priority to keep the database current and available for researchers. 2. Continuing Education - create a series of workshops for research professionals who want to update their skill set or add additional skill sets. These should be of interest to federal and state agency employees, NGO employees, educators, and others. This does not have to be for university credit and it does not need to come with a certificate of completion. It is for professionals who want to keep current in their fields and cannot afford to travel to the lower 48 for other workshops. An ultimate goal would be for ACRC to become known as a professional training center. The committee also sees this as a potential revenue generator. 3. Héen Latinee Culture Camp - work with Central Council and FS to facilitate continued Héen Latinee Outdoor Classroom. 4. Citizen Science Network - there is real value in doing citizen science. We might partner with SSSC and PWSCC to do some citizen science across a broad range of SE. 5. EPSCoR collaboration - collaborate with EPSCoR on their education and outreach activities; they are likely to be very similar to efforts ACRC would make on its own. Goal 2 Conduct and Facilitate Research 1. For upcoming symposia, consider pulling together affiliated scientists to write strategic synthesis papers to communicate current understanding of science and position future research in a way that enables ACRC to draw resources to support that research. 2. The importance of supporting major funding proposals. 3. Continue emphasis on developing Héen Latinee infrastructure to build a local research engine/multiplier that will enable others to build off of one another s efforts. Goal 3 Link Local Community Interests in Conservation, Management, Utilization and Policy 1. Rather than ACRC doing the research, the important thing for ACRC is facilitating the connections for making research happen. Can ACRC facilitate identifying (and then narrowing) the research needs? Can ACRC help in asking the right questions? Playing this role may also provide an avenue for bringing funding in to commence research. 2. Important to think about the role of the ACRC webpage. ACRC s role of disseminating information is critical. Strong consensus that the power of the webpage should be a focus of resources in the coming year. It can help expand awareness of the Center, develop reputation for ACRC as a powerful information source, the best repository for credible science in SE AK, including what projects are going on in SE AK ACRC Bi-Monthly Meeting of the Coordinating Committee Attachments

6 ATTACHMENT 1 3. Strategy needed for expanding the outreach/education role. Perhaps a person who is tied to the other two science centers (Sitka and PWS) and the ACRC? It is important for us to also be asking the question about how best to serve rural communities and how to reach beyond scientist partners. Goal 4 Operational and Financial Stability 1. Solidify university base funding Meet leadership from each campus to increase awareness, deliverables on both sides Involve faculty and students esp cross regional Consider public membership 2. Increase contributions from members of the ACRC - work with each member individually to brainstorm ways to support Project support: What programs and projects can the member make available? Staff support: For projects and specific needs, what staff support can members provide? 3. Create or join research efforts where ACRC can provide specific services or organizes the effort (i.e., EPSCOR, USGS Climate Science Center, NSF) 4. Foundational support Should target 2-3 foundations Work with UAS Development Program to create a development strategy 5. Upgrade marketing materials (website, hand-outs, etc.) ACRC Bi-Monthly Meeting of the Coordinating Committee Attachments

7 ATTACHMENT 2 Director Priorities for the Next 12 Months 1. Shared hire with EPSCoR to work on outreach and communications will develop a dynamic web presence, posting news and events on the website on a regular basis, maintaining an ing list or listserv, and updating the ACRC Facebook place page; assist with creating traditional printed outreach materials for various audiences, such as pamphlets and maps; work with partners to develop and expand educational and outreach opportunities. Goals 1-1, 1-5, 3-2, CTR Research/Project Database development - tasks include designing web survey, collecting and collating material, communicating with scientists and managers, and working with UAS web developers and the SE AK GIS Library to create a web-based spatial database interface. Goals 1-1, Major research grants: a. NSF Major Research Instrumentation Héen Latinee, due Jan 24, 2013; Goals 2-2, 2-3 b. NSF Research Coordination Network rolling deadline i. Environmental Observation Network Partnership with PWSSC, SSSC and Hakai, with Citizen Science component; Goals 1-4, 2-2, 3-1, 3-3 ii. Climate data archiving and synthesis with PNW, SNAP, NWS c. NSF Coastal SEES project development January 2013, 2014; Goals 2-2, 3-1 i. Down-scaled hydrology modeling and impacts to hydropower UAS, SNAP, ACSC, ACCAP, JEDC ii. Climate impacts to salmon systems UAS, PNW, NMFS 4. Science Talks & Social Silverbow/Hangar Work with partners to identify and schedule visiting researcher talks 5. Continuing Education Workshop development - Goals 1-2, 3-3 Genetic Methods for Wildlife Professionals Outreach and Education for Early Career Academics Wetlands Mitigation Training 6. Building relationships with partners and funders Goals 4-1, 4-2, 4-3 a. Seattle (Dec) Meet with Wilburforce and other potential funders b. Vancouver (Dec) Hakai and BC Ministry of Forests c. Anchorage (Jan) UAA, Marine Science Symposium, Moore Foundation, APU? 7. Other a. Workshops Glacier Science (UAS, ACSC), Sealaska, JEDC b. Héen Latinee infrastructure c. SEAKFHP involvement d. Glacier Bay NP CESU w/ Richard Nelson ACRC Bi-Monthly Meeting of the Coordinating Committee Attachments

8 ATTACHMENT 3 ACRC Budget [July 1, 2012 June 30, 2013] (as of November 12, 2012) Revenue Budget Personal Services Travel Contractual State Appropriation UAS 50,000 UAS - Chancellor Reallocation 15,000 UA Intra-Agency UAF 50,000 not yet received UA Intra-Agency UAA 50,000 not yet received Fed Receipts - USFS PNW 1 26,500 USFS monies for Director's salary Fed Receipts - USFS R ,500 not yet received only; funding expires 9/30/13 Anticipated Budget $208,000 Expenditures Anticipated Allocation Year to Date Projected Bidlack (11 months of FY) 111,000 26,250 84,750 Belec (10 months of FY) 22,000 2,500 19,500 Outreach Coordinator 133,000 28, ,250 (as of 10/20) Relocation 6,985 Fbnks/Kodiak 485 Sitka WhaleFest 750 additional travel 2,000 10,220 8,220 2,000 UAS (PNW Matching Funds) 1 2,400 UAS (R10 Matching Funds) 2 1,500 Fish House - TTY 215 1,785 Fish House - Water 85 - Commodities/Equipment 5,985 2,700 3,285 Catering Fact Sheets/Strategic Plan 1,630 - Office Supplies 485 3,000 additional items 3,000 9,415 2,915 6, ,620 49,380 Discretionary $208, ACRC Bi-Monthly Meeting of the Coordinating Committee Attachments