THE JOB JAR
(Work Assignments for the Executive Director from the last NERA Meeting,
January 30-31, 2001)

Organize notes from the Joint Session lunch discussions and submit to NEED and NERA Chairs. Post on the web the summary report on the agreed priorities.
Completed, and the report "Northeast Region Selected Regional Priorities for Multistate, Integrated Research and Extension Projects" is posted at url:
http://www.agnr.umd.edu/users/NERA/workshop/NEPriorities.htm

Express gratitude to Drs. Rodney Foil and George Cooper for addressing the group on IFAFS issues. Chair Coffman will send letters.
Done

Prepare Impact Statements for the Northeast multistate projects and post them on the NERA webpage.
Completed. Impact statements for 12 projects are posted at url:
http://www.agnr.umd.edu/users/nera/projects/impacts/

Discuss and negotiate with other EDs the adoption of a national paperless system, and follow-up response to MacArthur Floyd's letter to C. Hefferan.
North Central, West and South had expressed their commitment and financial support for the development of a national paperless system, now called the National Information Management and Support System. NIMSS is scheduled for debut and adoption at the September ESS meeting.

Assist Chair Coffman in pursuing with vigor the request to review the NRSPs. A report should be ready prior to the September meeting. A letter from Chair Coffman will be sent to C. Hefferan and copied to all regional chairs.
Chair's letter was sent. This topic was also discussed in detail at the ESCOP Executive Committee Meeting on May 1-2, in Denver, CO. The earlier proposal to have a portfolio review of all NRSPs has been modified. A survey of opinions regarding the NRSP portfolio will be conducted over the next months: to determine the extent of satisfaction with the current mix of activities; to assess the desired mix of activities; to evaluate mechanisms for funding the approved activities; and to explore suggestions for improving the NRSP management processes. Mid-term reviews of individual NRSPs are expected to continue. NRSP-3 and NRSP-5 are scheduled this fiscal year.

Finish drafting the MOU addressing management of multi-institutional competitive grants to be used as reference for IFAFs proposals. Draft will be reviewed by the Executive Committee and RRC.
Completed. The MOU and the recommended text for inclusion in an IFAFS proposal are posted at urls:
http://www.agnr.umd.edu/users/nera/workshop/mou/neramou.htm
http://www.agnr.umd.edu/users/nera/workshop/mou/moutext.htm

Clarify with CSREES that host states should not be required to certify matching funds for NRSP funds, and apply fix in the new Farm Bill.
Done. G. Cooper sent a letter dated March 30, 2001 to all SAES explaining matching funds for multistate research funds.

Prepare proposed budget for FY2001-2002 for review by the NERA Executive Committee before the June meeting.
Completed and will be discussed at the NERA business meeting on June 26.

Prepare a set of recommendations on changing the term "Regional" to "Multistate" in NERA Committee names, for consideration at the summer meeting.
Recommendations for discussion at the summer meeting are posted at url:
http://www.agnr.umd.edu/users/nera/workshop/regional.htm

Prepare agenda for the NERA summer meeting on June 26, taking into consideration the Amish House and Farm tour on June 27. Also consider inviting reports from Committee Liaisons.
Done.