ESCOP Executive Committee Meeting
Minutes
November 12, 2007
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Agenda # |
Action Items |
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1.0 |
Approved agenda posted at http://www.nera.umd.edu//Nov2007ESCOPExecMeeting/ESCOPExecCommAgenda11-2007.htm with the addition of three items under “Other Business” · LEAD 21 – Bill Ravlin · Animal Research Statement – Dan Rossi · NRSP 7 – Mike Harrington |
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7.0 |
Approved creation of a joint ESCOP and ECOP led “System Communication and Marketing Implementation Committee” with representation from AHS, ACOP, and ICOP. |
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12.0 |
Approved the expenditure of $5,000 to fund the programming
costs associated with the transfer of the ESCOP website from the |
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Agenda # |
Notes |
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1.0 |
Approval of Agenda and Interim Actions – Bruce McPheron The meeting was
called to order at 1:45 pm by ESCOP Chair, Bruce McPheron. [Click
here for list of attendees.] ·
Draft
Agenda posted at http://www.nera.umd.edu//Nov2007ESCOPExecMeeting/ESCOPExecCommAgenda11-2007.htm ·
Interim
Actions:
· Dr. Greg Bohach as Chair of the Science and Technology Committee ·
Dr. Craig Nessler as
Chair of the NRSP Review Committee · Dr. David Boethel as Chair of the Budget and Legislative Committee · Dr. William Ravlin as a Member of the NIMSS Oversight Committee · ESCOP Science and Technology Committee – 1890 ARD Members
Action Taken: Three items were added to the agenda under Other Business – LEAD 21, Animal Research Statement, and NRSP 7. |
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2.0 |
CSREES Update – Colien Hefferan
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3.0 |
BAA-Policy Board of Directors Update – Nancy Cox Background Info: The BAA Policy Board of Directors will be meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 13 at 10:15. Input will be requested on PBD agenda items that are of interest to ESCOP; i.e. marketing plan, Exhibit on the Hill, Partnership Committee, et al. |
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4.0 |
Farm Bill/CREATE-21, Budget Status Report –
Cornerstone Background Info:
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5.0 |
Budget and Legislative Committee Update– David Boethel /Mike Harrington Background Info: The Committee is conducting follow-up web survey to determine ESS research priorities for the 2010 budget cycle. As of November 5, there were 40 responses on the survey. By a margin of 2:1, the Directors continue to indicate that maintaining capacity for research through base funds (Hatch, Evans-Allen, McIntire-Stennis, and Animal Disease) is the top priority (70%) Increasing funding for the NRI with emphasis on integrated activities was a distant second at (30%). A majority of Directors do not favor tying increases to specific initiatives but does favor leveraging increases with existing formula funds. The relative rankings of the major issues identified are: Food, Nutrition, Health and Well-Being (53%) and the Environment (47%); Bioenergy and Biobased Economy (43%), and Food and Agrosecurity (7%). A
request was received from NASULGC to provide input into CSREES NRI research
priorities Stakeholders listening session for plant and pest biology. This
session, coordinated by the American Society of Plant Biology, will be held
on November 20, 2007 in Attachments:
For information only. |
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6.0 |
Plant Germplasm Coordinating Committee Report – Lee Sommers/Eric Young Background Info: The NPGCC met by
conference call on October 31, 2007.
Below is a summary of the committee’s discussions.
· There are still a number of position vacancies in National Plant Germplasm System. · ~160,000 accessions were distributed in 2006, which may be record high. ·
Plant samples stored at the · Budgets of most NPGS sites are strained because the costs and demand have both increased. · Capacity will continue to decrease if budgets remain flat. · ARS projects that make up the National Program related to plant germplasm are beginning to go through renewal and review. ·
· Peter Bretting will contact the ARS panel manager to have information sent on how faculty can get on panel database. · International germplasm issues o FAO international treaty status. § Currently at State Department receiving final approval. § Will go to the White House by end of ’07 for signing, which will be a political decision. o Beginning in January, breeders will begin to see the standard MTA when requesting germplasm from other countries. o Accepting terms of MTA is up to recipient, once the NPGS site has sent the material, they are no longer responsible for the MTA terms. o National Plant Germplasm System is not yet incorporating materials with MTA because they don’t have the tracking mechanism required. They anticipate this will be in place in next few months.
· NPGCC would like to give presentations ASTA, AOSCA, Industrial Crops Society. ·
Candy Gardner is the incoming President of
Industrial Crops Society and their meeting next September in · Ann Marie will speak at the Organic Seed Growers meeting in February.
· Continue contacts with relevant organizations. · Could National Plant Germplasm Coordinating Committee gain some advantage from the ESCOP/ECOP marketing effort that will begin soon? o Need to determine if any National Plant Germplasm System locations are in districts of the 25-30 Congressional members to be targeted. o Peter Bretting will send Jerry Arkin a list of Congressional members that have National Plant Germplasm System facilities in their districts.
·
National Plant Germplasm Coordinating
Committee will meet Thursday, June 5 after PGOC and Crop Germplasm Committee
Chairs meeting in Note: There is a need to revisit the previous NPGCC relative to organization and funding of the centers. |
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7.0 |
Marketing and Public Relations Plan – Jerry Arkin/Arlen Leholm Background During the past year, a significant effort has been made to advance a communication and marketing strategy that involves an educational campaign aimed at key elected federal officials who make the funding decisions upon which our collective programs depend. The goal of this strategy is to increase federal funding for our capacity and competitive programs. The initial strategy was advanced by the ESCOP Communication and Marketing Committee (ESCOP-CMC). More recently, ECOP voted to partner with ESCOP in this effort. A vote by ESCOP to approve an assessment of $300,000 is underway and will be completed by November 10th. The assessment is for a three-year period. If the assessment passes, a recommendation has been made to create a “System Communication and Marketing Implementation Committee”. Recommended membership of this committee is described below. Summary of Key Actions Taken This Past Year
Next Steps: On November 1, 2007, leadership of ECOP and ESCOP joined Fred Cholick, chair of the Policy Board, for a phone discussion on logical next steps should the ESCOP Marketing Assessment pass. This group agreed that it is important to have a system effort in implementing the proposed public relations and marketing strategy. This group recommended the creation of a “System Communication and Marketing Implementation Committee”. The membership of this committee would consist of the ECOP and ESCOP Chairs, the chairs of the ESCOP-CMC and ECOP Marketing committees, and one member from AHS, ACOP and ICOP. James Wade and Arlen Leholm would serve as staff to this committee. The charge to the System Communication and Marketing Implementation Committee is to develop the implementation strategy for the proposed public relations and marketing effort. This committee’s initial efforts will set the stage for a successful public relations educational campaign including the implementation of the efforts described in the RFP (attachment B). This committee should work closely with The Podesta Group and Cornerstone in helping them understand our priorities and operational protocols. Actions Requested:
Note: The referendum on an assessment to fund
the marketing and public relations plan received 43 votes (80%) in support
and 11 votes against (20%). Action taken: A motion was made, seconded and carries to support the creation of a joint ESCOP and ECOP led “System Communication and Marketing Implementation Committee” with representation from AHS, ACOP, and ICOP. |
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8.0 |
LGU involvement in REE Energy Science & Education Plan
– Mike Harrington Background Info: On September 5-6, 2007 USDA-REE held a planning session to begin the process of developing a strategic plan which will guide activities over the next 5 years. Some 100 people representing ARS, ERS, CSREES, OMB, and university faculty attended this facilitated workshop. Attendees were given a specific charge by Under Secretary Gale Buchanan. I have been serving on the steering committee for the workshop and am also providing input on the draft plan which, unfortunately, has not been shared with workshop participants or made public. The plan is expected to be posted for public comment on or about November 15, 2007. There are five major goals (below) each with expected outcomes, strategies, and near term action items covering the next 24 months. Each action item has an “internal champion” who will provide leadership for the activity. To date, the leaders are entirely within USDA. However, there are a number of the actions that will intimately involve universities so ideally representatives from universities would be involved in providing leadership for these efforts. Some within USDA are concerned that university representative involvement in setting programmatic directions might create potential conflict of interests which could exclude individuals or institutions from participation in grant programs. It has been suggested that both the research and extension regional executive directors might fill some of these roles. If either action is taken, there will also be a need to accept input from other groups and universities when the plan is posted. Draft Goals: 1. Use a Systems/Integrated Approach to Increase
Sustainable Production of Renewable, Agriculture-based Energy
2. Foster Sustainable Agricultural Systems and Bioeconomies for Rural Communities 3. Promote Conservation and Efficient Use of Energy
across
4. Attract, Develop and Retain a Diverse, High-Quality, Motivated Workforce for the Nation. 5. Develop and Deploy Fully Integrated Tools, Systems, and Technologies Notes:
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9.0 |
ESCOP Operational Plan – Dan Rossi/Arlen Leholm Background Info: At the July 25-26, 2007 ESCOP meeting in Attachment: ESCOP
Intermediate Term Operational Plan Action Taken:
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10.0 |
Stakeholder Listening Sessions – Dan Rossi/Arlen Leholm Background
Information: An ad hoc committee composed of Arlen Leholm, Carolyn Brooks, Dan Rossi, Ian Maw, James Wade, and Ralph Otto met by conference call on November 7, 2007 and discussed issues surrounding conducting a system-wide stakeholder needs assessment. The assessment could be useful input to guide future actions and where to invest resources at the margin. It would provide a “roadmap” or “compass” for directing resources in the future. Preliminary thoughts on such an assessment suggest that the final process used should: · Provide an output that is useful, cost-effective and meet multiple purposes. · Be conducted through a partnership of interested parties. · Be comprehensive but not overly cumbersome. · Utilize existing information where possible. · Not take a one size fits all approach and be reduced to the lowest common denominator in a way that it becomes useless to any participant. · Be conceptual but not prescriptive. · Will need to include audiences that are not traditionally heard. · Complement other ongoing planning activities of the participants. Below is a conceptual approach to a stakeholder needs assessment process.
A question was raised of how such an assessment would relate to the strategic futuring initiative of the BAA Policy Board of Directors. It was suggested that each of the potential partner organizations in such an undertaking address a series of questions (listed below) and evaluate its interest in such a project. It was further suggested that the ESCOP and ECOP representatives to the Policy Board introduce the proposed assessment to the Board meeting on November 13, 2007. If the Policy Board supports the proposal in concept, a committee would be formed that would include representation from all parts of the family. This group would then develop a more formal proposal for the March 11-12, 2008 meeting of the Policy Board. Once a more formalized plan is available a strategy for funding it will need to be developed. Discussion questions for the partner organizations: · What do you want to achieve through the process? · How would the organizations use the information gathered? · How would the system use the information? · How would individual state organizations use the information? · What do we already know? · From whom do we need to hear? Notes: · Considerable and lively discussion occurred around a proposed stakeholder needs assessment. Issues raised included: (a) utilization of existing information; (b) regional and state-to-state differences; (c) use of professional assistance for facilitation; (d) interpretation of existing stakeholder input; (e) coordination with the marketing plan; and (f) focus on issues such as urban serving institutions.
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11.0 |
Planning for the 2008
ESS/SAES/ARD Workshop – Steve
Pueppke/Arlen Leholm Background
Info: |
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12.0 |
New ESCOP Website – Eric Young Background Info: The ESCOP website has been moved to a server at the Southern Region IPM Center at NCSU. The new URL is http://escop.ncsu.edu/ Total cost for programming and migrating the site was $5,000. Action Taken: A motion was made, seconded and carried to authorize
expenditure of $5,000 to fund the programming costs associated with the
transfer of the ESCOP website from the |
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13.0 |
Other Business: 1. LEAD 21 – Bill Ravlin · Directors are asked to encourage and support faculty to participate in the LEAD 21 Program. 2. Animal Research Statement – Dan Rossi · ESCOP was asked to draft a statement on animal research similar to one prepared by the AAU for NASULGC. · Send comments on the draft statement to Dan Rossi. 3. NRSP-7 – Mike Harrington · Cornerstone is drafting language to authorize support for NRSP-7 for inclusion in the Senate version of the Farm Bill. · Industry associations will take the lead in support of this effort. |
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14.0 |
Future Meetings:
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Adjourn – Bruce McPheron Bruce McPheron thanked everyone and the meeting was adjourned to Executive Session at 4:40 pm. |
