Present: R. Seem (NYG), M. Mount (MA), W. Trumble (NH), D. MacKenzie (NERA), R. Mize (NERA-Recorder)
Recommends approval as a concept. However, the Committee expressed reservations a to where off-the-top funding will come from. The Committee would like to put forward a proposal to create a NRSP Oversight Committee that will provide direction and guidance as well as look at other ways on how NRSPs can be funded in the future.
This is a strategy to claim credit for regionally-organized, functionally integrated activities. After discussions with G. Cooper and Ted Bauer, D. MacKenzie got the endorsement that this can be done. The Centers have to be added into the Northeastern portfolio as NECs. Once approved, any relevant Hatch project could be include a statement in the body of the project outline that says, "This project is contributing to NEC-____)". CRIS searches can then list the outlays by that set of activities, for claiming integrated credit by the contributing station.
MAC therefore, recommends approval of the above Center proposals as NECs.
NE-1006 has been approved and will start on October 1. The project has been approved for 5 years. An annual meeting will be held on Nov. 13-14 in St. Catherine's, Ontario, Canada. There was an outbreak reported in Canada. Paul Backman (former AA) will attend on behalf of D. MacKenzie (interim AA). The plum pox meeting is in conflict with the NASULGC meeting.
The biotechnology consumer acceptance proposal has been revised and was just approved on Friday, Sept. 21. It will start October 1. Participants are yet to be informed.
NEED has not assigned two directors to join MAC. Chair Seem will keep trying until the winter meeting. The Committee has also decided that one (1) NEED member will suffice. NERA will cover travel costs for the NEED member to attend a MAC meeting if necessary. If no NEED member comes forward by the Winter meeting, the Committee recommends appointing a NERA director wearing an Extension hat to be the extension representative.
MAC recommends assigning Extension directors as Co-advisors for NEC, NEREC and NEREAP. This will be added into the supplementary guidelines. Formatting of the draft guidelines will be enhanced and links to the sections created to allow readers to navigate easily.
The NERA members will be asked to comment on the draft guidelines posted at url--- http://www.agnr.umd.edu/users/NERA/workshop/supguidelines.htm
Comments should be submitted to the OED by end October 2001. The final version will be presented and voted on at the winter meeting. The final version will be circulated prior to that meeting.
The document has merit in working towards the implementation of the identified priorities. Suggestions were made to improve the definition on who our advocates are and a strategy to come up with professionally made publications on the 5 priorities. The next step is to identify the specific interests of members of the Appropriations Committee and then present/support a unified proposal for earmarking that will really make an impact for the region. NERA members will be asked to comment and submit their comments to the OED by mid-November 2001.
This will be put forward for discussion at the NERA meeting. Members will be asked if they want a similar set of Impact Statements like last year's be prepared by the ED. D. MacKenzie will also work with G. Cooper in getting a set of Regional Impacts be accepted as a regional report that stations can refer to in their own reporting.
http://www.agnr.umd.edu/users/NERA/RulesofOperationSept2001.htm
Length of service in committee membership or liaison assignment was not specified in Rules of Operation. MAC recommends three years for its members, and similarly for all other committee or liaison assignments. Those serving as Board members for Centers will follow the Center's policy.
R. Mize will make a presentation in the afternoon orientation workshop and on Wednesday. She briefly outlined the report she submitted to the NIMSS Oversight Committee.
M. Mount (Incoming NERA Chair) will put forward two choices at the NERA meeting, Baltimore and Washington, DC. The proposed dates are February 27, 28 to March 1, 2002 (Wednesday-Friday). The CARET meeting starts Sunday, March 3 and the Ag Science Exhibition on the Hill is Wednesday, March 5.
MAC agreed that meetings could be reduced. The discussion was focused on finding alternative ways of meeting via conference call or video-conferencing. M. Mount will put forward a video-conferencing regional strategy to the members for discussion.