Alaska Coastal Rainforest Center Coordinating Committee Annual Meeting August 10, 2010; 10:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m.

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1 In attendance: Director Mike Goldstein Alaska Coastal Rainforest Center Coordinating Committee Annual Meeting August 10, 2010; 10:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Steering Committee Bill Hanson USFWS Paul Brewster FS, PNW Forrest Cole FS, Alaska Region Bruce Botelho CBJ Rick Caulfield UAS Scott Rupp UAF Meeting Notes Mary Miller, UAS The Steering Committee approved the agenda: Introductions Review agenda 10:00 am Mission and Vision MOU 10:15 am Steering Committee Members Roles and Responsibilities 10:45 am Program of Work and Budget 11:15 am 4 Objectives Strategic Plan Working Lunch In house 12:00 pm Program of Work Continued Start up (logistics) Where are we now? 2:00 pm Marketing and Communications Discussion of ideas 2:30 pm Acronym Staying with ACRC? 3:00 pm New partners. Where are we going? Organizational structure 3:15 pm Wrap up 3:30 pm Action items Review list Next meeting date Bi Monthly Michael I. Goldstein Page 1

2 Mission and Vision The group reviewed the MOU mission and vision to ensure everyone understood the intended direction: Mission: in terms of the history of the mission, the rainforests and coastal Alaska were emphasized in a global and physical geographical context, much broader than the Tongass Vision: looking at ACRC eventually as a one stop shop of temperate rainforest research past, present, and future (database driven); not just what UAS and FS are generating, but also other federal agencies, nonprofits, etc. information that contributes to a better understanding of the temperate rainforest ; maximizing resources through collaboration. Discussion about the balance of various different aspects of the center s mission: research, education, policy. The group generally agreed that, as a staff of one person, the Director s role is one of facilitation and coordination to build the program organically. Research ACRC will have broad knowledge of the research the partners are conducting and can help connect the dots. ACRC, for now, will focus on coordinating, convening, and facilitating research. This adds value for scientists affiliated with the center. ACCAP was noted as a possible model with regard to its provision of a venue for researchers. Scott Rupp invited Mike Goldstein to visit Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy (ACCAP) to view Scenarios Network for Alaska Planning (SNAP) and ACCAP operations and meet their staff and scientists. All agreed on the importance of making connections between Fairbanks and Juneau. Steering Committee Members Roles and Responsibilities At this time, information is provided to committee members in an annual meeting with updates every two weeks from Mike. The Steering Committee discussed how often they should meet and agreed to meet bi monthly. The Committee discussed whether to develop additional structure, and/or create written descriptions of member roles. The Steering Committee discussed the issue of including new members. They agreed that the MOU does not have to be adjusted to allow for additional members, and that membership is on an organizational basis rather than an individual one. Committee members discussed Steering Committee composition and organization, including: o Levels of membership or an affiliate status o Whether membership was by invitation only o Appropriate mechanism(s) to add to the coordinating committee o Potential additional members and criteria for affiliation o Role of the Steering Committee, organizational representatives, and organizations There was general agreement to keep the Steering Committee small while still opening the overall group to additional stakeholders. Bruce Botelho will draft membership related procedures for group discussion. The Steering Committee decided to extend invitations to participate to the ADF&G, USGS, UAA, and NMFS after a final set of protocols regarding membership are determined Annual Steering Committee Meeting Page 2

3 Bruce will draft criteria for affiliation and a new MOU section (4F) specifically describing future methods of determining Steering Committee composition. The Steering Committee discussed operating procedures particularly re: funding. Program of Work and Budget Mike Goldstein reviewed the four objectives from the 2009 strategic plan, and 12 new bullets which reflect the potential plan of work. Activities were listed for discussion and prioritization. o The Steering Committee discussed the symposium, including its geographic and subject focus, single or concurrent sessions, scientific or lay audience, and timing. o The intention is to focus on climate change in coastal temperate rainforests (science not policy). The Steering Committee would like the symposium to become the signature rollout event of the center. The group decided to continue dialog on the symposium outside this meeting, with Mike Goldstein reaching out to the North Pacific Landscape Conservation Cooperative (NPLCC) for collaboration. Mike Goldstein was authorized to begin working on the symposium, and will provide potential dates. The group discussed the difference between the NPLCC and ACRC. ACRC is smaller, mobile, more concretely organized, and focused. The group discussed the climate change risk assessment activity and came to general agreement that this would be a phased project: southeast first, then Chugach and other locations later. They also discussed potential products for the project and possible SNAP collaboration. The Steering Committee discussed the percentage of the Director s time devoted to different activities and the resources that Committee members can provide to assist the mission. Steering Committee polled the relative priority levels of each of the 12 bullets Mike provided: Objective 1 Education BB FC PB BH SR RC Score Avg. Symposium H H H H H H 18 3 Webinar H M M M H M Education M L L M L L Objective 2 Research Risk Assess M H L H L M 12 2 Research priority M M L L L L Objective 3 Coordination Membership M H H H L H NPLCC H M M H H M CNF Symposium M M L L L L Objective 4 Long term Fundraising M M H M H H Governance M M H M L H Marketing M M M M M M 12 2 Sub committee L M L L L L Annual Steering Committee Meeting Page 3

4 Besides the four highlighted priority items of work, Mike will develop a stump speech with slides for general use in presenting the mission and vision of the Center. All agreed to help pull this together. Mike Goldstein explained the budget categories and indicated that at this time, approximately $30,000 in start up funds have not yet been committed. Steering Committee members discussed the proposed travel schedule and expenditure categories; a suggestion was made to include travel to the Alaska Forum on the Environment and keep funding for facilitation, but use it to facilitate science or other priority needs, not Steering Committee meetings. The group approved the budget as described. Start up logistics Rick discussed the draft fiscal support memo from UAS; comments to be sent to Mike by 8/17/10. Paul provided the final IPA document. UAS has completed an appointment letter (one year with renewal). Scott expects to be able to mail the UAF appointment letter soon. UAS Provost s Office support has been excellent (appointment letter, phone, computer, fiscal memo, BioBlitz support, office space, etc.). Marketing and Communications The Steering Committee approved the logo; Mike Goldstein will circulate a list of draft taglines to the group for feedback and a final decision following dialog with the contractor. The contractor will begin work on web pages. The Steering Committee offered additional suggestions for networking venues for travel: Tongass Futures Roundtables, Southeast Conference, Board of Forestry, Alaska Forest Association, Alaska Mining Association, industry based organizations, Seiners Association, Chamber of Commerce, etc. Acronym The group agreed to use ACRC as the official acronym. Wrap Up Action Items 1. Bruce Botelho will draft the following documents for discussion at future meetings: a. Bylaws/procedures for the Steering Committee b. Criteria for modification of the MOU c. Criteria for affiliation d. MOU section 4F: requirements for composition of the Steering Committee (called the Coordinating Committee in the MOU) 2. After decisions are made with regard to the documents and issues in item 1, Mike Goldstein will extend invitations to ADF&G, USGS, NMFS, and UAA. 3. Mike Goldstein will identify potential dates for the symposium and begin preparing for its implementation. 4. Mike Goldstein will draft a stump speech for the ACRC Annual Steering Committee Meeting Page 4

5 5. Mike Goldstein will circulate a list of potential tag lines to the group by 8/ Steering Committee members will review the draft UAS memo regarding fiscal processes and provide feedback to Mike Goldstein by 8/ Mike Goldstein will continue to send the updates. 8. Scott Rupp will deliver affiliate faculty letter to Mike Goldstein in the next 10 days. 9. Scott Rupp will send sample stump speeches to Mike Goldstein. 10. Bill Hanson will verify the name and contact information for the FWS and PNW admin people. Next Meeting Dates October 12, 2010; 10 a.m. 2 p.m. in Juneau December 13, 2010: 10 a.m. 12 p.m. teleconference February 15, 2011: 10 a.m. 2 p.m. in Juneau April 12, 2011: 10 a.m. 12 p.m. teleconference (subject to symposium dates) 2010 Annual Steering Committee Meeting Page 5