Accessible document
Meeting, Silver Spring, Maryland (March 4, 2007)
Participants: Jack Thigpen, Chair; Jim Hurley, Chair-elect; Paula Cullenberg,
Secretary-Treasurer; Paul Olin, At-Large; Brian Allee, SGA liaison; Jim Murray,
NSG Deputy Director.
Absent: Pete Granger, At-Large.
The Assembly Executive Committee met in person on Sunday, March 4, 2007 for our annual pre-SGA meeting. Meeting convened at 2 pm EST.
1. Coastal Community Development extension group formation. A group meeting at the recent Smart Growth Conference has proposed to form a committee of Coastal Community Development extension agents. Purposes of the committee would include creating a stronger network of CCD agents and possible planning of an annual meeting (similar to the recent national Fisheries Extension Enhancement meeting).
Jim Murray noted that similar to fish extension – other networks of thematic extension agents have been formed, i.e. the aquaculture/USDA network is planning a meeting for Cincinnati in May. The Hazards group, the Seafood/HACCP Alliance is other examples. The goal is to get these groups together programmatically for planning purposes.
The Assembly Executive Committee noted that these programmatic groups are a good thing. This new group will be brought up more formally for consideration at the Assembly meeting at Sea Grant Week.
2. The national Fisheries Extension Enhancement (FEE) program has an end date of April 30, 2009. The program will need to be reviewed next year probably beginning in fall 2007/winter 2008. The NSGO will want decisions by spring of 08, so we know what we are heading. Paul Olin noted, the earlier we know where the program is going, the better, so staffing questions can be answered.
3. The Assembly website was discussed. Jim Hurley suggested that the site be improved. Paula noted that there is no site about the craft of Sea Grant extension work. Maybe a site for all extension people as well as those outside the program could be developed. Success stories/output from the Sea Grant Academy/ lists of specialists statewide/ all the nominees from award programs and a summary of what they did would all be useful additions to the website. Jim Murray also noted that he has some data that could be useful to post.
Who could do it? Jack will talk to Jay Rasmusson who currently maintains the site. Paul Olin noted that the software “Site Builder” is an easy website builder. Brian Allee pointed out that there is a new webmasters group among Sea Grant programs. Alaska Sea Grant’s webmaster, Dave Partee is president of the group right now. Brian will talk to Dave about upgrading the website.
4. The 2008 Assembly Meeting will be in Washington State. Pete Granger is leading the charge on that. The meeting is usually in May. Jack will drop Pete a note that people are starting to ask for details. Paula volunteered to help organize it.
5. EDEN MOU and FEMA partnership opportunities. Jack Thigpen briefed the Executive Committee about the “Extension Disaster Education Network” – a network of cooperative extension agents available for disaster response at a variety of levels. There is interest in Sea Grant extension agents becoming part of this network. Jim Murray, Bob Bacon, Mike Liffman and Jack Thigpen went to a leadership meeting in DC in December and discussed an MOU to develop to become part of EDEN. EDEN has good materials and people and an incredible website. Mike Liffman in LA has a ½ time person (other half is Cooperative Extension) who focuses on EDEN related activities. Jack Thigpen will brief the SGA on this opportunity. The Executive Committee supports this collaboration, and encourages Sea Grant programs to collaborate with them.
Jim Murray updated the ExCom about meetings with FEMA. The recent Beltway Brown Bag that focused on moving a travel lift from Alaska to Louisiana was a success story with FEMA. There may be potential to work with FEMA on some national initiatives. FEMA is trying to reinvigorate their regional structure and they may want to align their regions with Sea Grant. FEMA does response, prevention, mitigation, and recovery. There may be potential to work with regional Sea Grant offices.
6. Salary Survey of Sea Grant extension agents was last done in 2004. Jim Falk has offered to do it again. The ExCom supported this and asked to review the survey to possibly add some questions. Paula asked to include terminal degree requirements of extension agents since Alaska is considering the requirement of a PhD for extension faculty.
7. SGA Network Council Plan. Jon Kramer from the SGA proposed the creation of Network Council that would have a representative on the SGA. Paul restated the idea that each of the network chairs serve as ex-officio voices with no vote. Generally, it was thought that this would not be supported by the SGA. The ExCom agreed with the concept and discussions will continue on with network representatives.
8. Beltway Brown Bag – Pete Granger is chair of the Beltway Brown Bag effort. Jim Murray noted that community resiliency thing is a strong focus area of NOAA. Climate change (climate applications) related to this issue may be a good topic. A Sea Grant regional climate change extension agent is getting hired, and with the national Sea Grant climate change extension workshop, a good candidate or program to be highlighted for a BBB may be identified.
9. The Assembly Regional representatives were identified: Jim Hurley for the Great Lakes; Peter Rowe, Mid Atlantic; Jack Thigpen, South Atlantic; Darren Okamoto, Pacific. ExCom was not clear on who were the regional reps for the Gulf and North Atlantic regions.
10. Sea Grant Week Extension Award – Paul Olin will run the competition and will communicate with the regional reps shortly.
11. Jim Murray reported that the NOAA Science Advisory Board has formed a working group on extension, outreach and education. Admiral Lautenbacher went to the Board and encouraged it – how to have science more connected with constituents. It is an 11-person group; Frank Kudrna and John Byrne from the Sea Grant National Review Panel sits on this as does 2 others from the Sea Grant Panel as well as Jeff Reutter, Sea Grant Director and the head of Cooperative Extension from Arizona. The group had their first meeting. They will have two more meetings and then a report goes to the Admiral. Frank thinks this could impact a higher level in NOAA than the Byrne report. Jim will be asking for the Assembly’s advice before the next meeting and some constituents at the table to talk to these groups.
The ExCom meeting adjourned at 4:30 pm.
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