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NERA
Northeastern Regional Association
July 9, 2002
Meeting Minutes
Cameron Hackney, Chair
MAJOR DECISIONS
THE JOB JAR
(Work Assignments for the Executive Director)
Call to Order – Chair
Chair Hackney called the meeting to order at 10:30am. He welcomed the newcomers and each member was asked to make a brief update on important issues in their home institutions.
Ralph Otto of CSREES reported that Sheryl Oros has been appointed as the new Director for Accountability and Planning. Jane Coulter is retiring and her position will be advertized soon. A position for a national program leader on homeland security is also currently being filled.
CARET members Ed Fry, Bill Fox and Grove Miller joined the meeting. Concerns were expressed that CARET is not being used effectively because of conflicting agendas: state, regional and national. CARET would like to be able to concentrate on their state issues first. There is a need to reinforce the message that CARET needs to bring to the forefront: increase in Formula Fund, Agro-security or facilities grant. There should be a strategy on how to decide which is more important and the approach to use. It was suggested that a Task Force be assigned to look into the CARET regional and national organization. C. Hackney will ask D. MacKenzie to look into the possibility of working together with a small group from CARET.
Consideration of the March 6-7, 2002 Meeting Minutes from Baltimore, MD - Chair
http://www.agnr.umd.edu/users/NERA/workshop/NERAMinutesMarch2002.html
The minutes as posted in the above url was unanimously approved without revision. A motion was made, seconded and passed.
Interim Actions by the Chair and Executive Committee Report – Chair
The NERA Executive Committee report, and the actions taken by the Chair from March to June 2002 were distributed.
http://www.agnr.umd.edu/users/NERA/workshop/ExecCommMeetingJuly2002.html
http://www.agnr.umd.edu/users/NERA/workshop/ChairActionsJuly2002.html
Chair Hackney brought up the issue about the NERA budget for FY2002-2003 that was approved at the last meeting. Maryland will not be granting salary increases to all state employees regardless of funding source. He gave two options: readjust the assessment or leave the budget as approved. J. Angle clarified that MD may grant a one-time increase sometime late this year in the amount of $1000-$2000 per employee. The directors agreed to keep the budget as approved at the March meeting.
The spreadsheet of all NE states' assessments and dues is not ready for distribution. Information on ADEC, C-FAR and NASULGC are still missing. He requested R. Mize to assist the Task Force in completing the table.
Northeastern Regional Center for Rural Development Report - S. Goetz
S. Goetz briefly reported on the accomplishments and activities of the Center. The highlight of the Center's activities are the land use initiatives, viability of agriculture as it relates to
biosecurity, and IT innovations in extension. The Center had released a number of publications related to these topics. It is also involved in discussions regarding biosecurity. S. Goetz asked the directors
for a list of potential state contacts for community resource and economic development (preferably from CT and DC). The need is more of extension-type people but researchers are certainly welcome.
J. S. Angle of the Nomination Committee noted that the Center needs a representative from NERA for its Technical Advisory Committee. A nomination from NJ had been put forward. A. Adelaja will remain on the Center's Board of Directors.
NRSP-3 Report and Discussion - Van Bowersox
Only four percent of NRSP-3's total budget comes from the SAES. There was general feeling that NRSP-3 is a worthwhile project and that AES involvement should remain. Discussions after the presentation centered on the future funding of all NRSPs.
Questions were raised on how funding can be phased out but still keep projects such as NRSP-3 in its national multistate portfolio. This is possible because NRSP-7 remains under the portfolio even if it does not receive off-the-top funding. It was concluded that for NRSP-3 phasing out will be feasible,
but a mechanism needs to be worked out. A 3-5 year plan will allow NRSP-3 to seek alternative funding to cover the SAES' four percent share.
Northeast IPM Report - John Ayers and Jim VanKirk
The NE Pest Management Center uses 406 funds. NEREAP-3 was instrumental as a partner in applying for the fund. IPM is a component of the Pest Management Center. J. VanKirk reported that the IPM network is in full swing and is updated regularly on the web. He noted that a newsletter had been published and urged the
directors to return the survey form on the back. He reported that relations with EPA had significantly improved. The Center had also begun seeking non-traditional sources of funding such as Kellogg and the Bill Gates Foundation. It is also foreseen that the Center will have a role in the
the agro-security's diagnostics centers. M. Hoffman is currently in Washington, DC, attending a meeting to discuss this.
On NEREAP-3, the FY2002 IPM awards have been made. The plan is to have the FY2003 funding equally divided among the 4 regions. The NE is presently receiving thye smallest share. J. Ayers encouraged the directors to send research scientists to seminars given by the NE Pest Management Center to broaden participation beyond extension. R. Seem commented that the commodity-based advisory committees have been exemplary.
Opportunities to Engage in Multistate Research to Resolve the GMO Debate - Cathy Wessells
C. Wessells outlined the issues about consumer acceptance of GMOs. There are environmental as well as consumer concerns. What is informed decision? Is there a role for us to sponsor research that will help us get scientific facts to consumers so they can make informed decisions?
What direction should we take? NRI is funding one project and Rutgers received an IFAFS award for Consumer Perceptions about Food Biotechnology. The NJ survey report is available at url---
http://www.foodpolicyinstitute.org
The Northeast has the largest number of consumers in the country. We could create a multistate project or resurrect NER-502 into a Coordinating Committee. Is there a danger of becoming advocates by perception? S. Goodwin commented that this is an educational issue, and certainly there is room for research and education. The efficiency of the educational program with regards to its impact on public attitude should be looked at. D. Rossi added that education should distinguish between traditional breeding and biotechnology. If we develop for more nutritious food rather than for profit, acceptability would be better.
Should research be based on consumer acceptance? The issues were discussed but not resolved. C. Wessells will continue to work with D. MacKenzie in devising a strategy on how to approach these issues.
Farm Bill Update - Cameron Hackney
Chair Hackney delivered his report on the Farm Bill at the morning Joint Session. His PowerPoint presentation is posted at url---
http://www.agnr.umd.edu/users/nera/workshop/NERAMeetingJuly2002/FarmBill.html
Homeland Agro-security Report - J. Scott Angle
J. S. Angle's PowerPoint presentation is posted at url---
http://www.agnr.umd.edu/users/nera/workshop/NERAMeetingJuly2002/Agro-security.html
He noted that the recommendations made by the ESCOP Task Force had been endorsed by the Board of Ag. and that the members of the Interim Board for agro-security had been assigned by ESCOP. D. R. MacKenzie is a member of this Interim Board.
USDA's stand on the hardening of facilities is that LGU facilities belong to the state and should therefore be funded by the state. The Board of Ag. had seriously taken up this issue and will advocate the recommendations by ESCOP. If additional funding is forthcoming, the mechanism to track and account for the money will fall under the
purview of the Multiple Activities Program, a.k.a. MAPs.
Chair Hackney commented that this topic should have been shared at the Joint Session, allowing CARET to be more familiar about this issue.
Job Jar Report - Rubie Mize
R. Mize distributed copies of the Job Jar Report which is also posted at url---
http://www.agnr.umd.edu/users/nera/workshop/NERAMeetingJuly2002/JobJarReport.html
The tasks have been completed except for three: wine project with J. Hunter and R. Seem, potato project with B. Wiersma and S. Reiling, and the spreadsheet of all the NE dues and assessments.
Chair Hackney appointed a Task Force to complete data collection and analysis. Initially the team is composed of J. Seemann and W. Trumble. Zane Helsel will be invited to represent Extension. The deans, academic and international programs leaders will be approached and invited to appoint their representatives.
Future Meetings - C. Hackney
C. Hackney requested that the membership be surveyed regarding their interest to continue holding the Joint Summer meetings. The survey will include AHS, ACOP, CARET, NERA and NEED. The OED will be asked to conduct the survey.
It was noted that the academic directors have decided not to meet next year. The survey should
include questions about the frequency and format of the meetings, as well as the topics and types of speakers that the members prefer.
Consideration of the Multistate Activities Committee Report - R. Seem
MAC Chair R. Seem earlier distributed copies of the Report and Recommendations of the Multistate Activities Committee. The report is posted at url---
http://www.agnr.umd.edu/users/nera/workshop/MACReportJuly2002.html
A motion was made to accept recommendations nos. 1 to 8. There were no discussions or comments made. The motion was seconded and passed.
Copies of "How to Write SAES-422 Report" drafted by D.R.MacKenzie were distributed earlier. R. Seem emphasized the need to report on how we leverage Hatch funds to obtain additional or alternative funding. In addition, he cited the committee's general observation that proposals need to address their impact reporting and expansion of membership.
R. Seem sought guidance from the directors if we should proceed with the mechanism of accounting for integrated, multi-functional projects that fall under the specific Northeast Coordinating Committees. The CRIS system will be able to handle such reporting. A motion was made to proceed with the process. It was seconded and passed. A letter will be sent to CSREES informing them of this decision.
On the Advisory Committees, the directors advised the OED to proceed with forming alliances with the North Central for those committees that are already deemed successful.
R. Seem encouraged the directors, particularly the Advisors, to send feedback to R. Mize regarding NIMSS. This will allow the development staff to improve NIMSS' functionality.
Finally, he reported on the recommendation made by the NEREC Committee to approve the proposal, "Piloting a Regional Research and Educational Approach to Integrated Deer Damage Management", 10-2002 to 2007. Advisor: Dan Decker (NYC).
Nominations Committee Report - J. Scott Angle and Chair Hackney
J. S. Angle read the nominations:
The motion made to accept the above nominations was seconded and passed.
Resolutions Committee Report – J. Hunter
J. Hunter read the resolutions as follows:
Resolution of Appreciation to the Host Institution:
WHEREAS, the Northeastern Regional Association of State Agricultural Experiment Station Directors participated in an important and productive meeting at the Lakeview Golf Resort and Spa in Morgantown, WV, and
WHEREAS, the Directors also were involved in a joint meeting on July 8-9, 2002 with deans of colleges, leaders of extension and academic programs, and CARET representatives and heard excellent programs on bioterrorism, biosecurity and land-use issues in the Northeast in addition to other topics, and
WHEREAS, the Northeastern Experiment Station Directors enjoyed the exciting outdoor activities, the relaxing atmosphere of the Lakeview Golf Resort and Spa, and dinner and blue grass music at Westvaco,
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Directors acknowledge their appreciation to Dean and Director Cameron Hackney, Associate Provost and Extension Director Lawrence S. Cote, and Denny Godfrey, Barbara Ridenour and the whole planning committee for their efforts in making the meeting a great success and a very enjoyable experience.
July 9, 2002
signed
William Trumble, Vice Chair
Northeastern Regional Association of State
Agricultural Experiment Station Directors
Resolution of Appreciation to David R. MacKenzie
Whereas, Dr. David MacKenzie, plays a vital role as Executive Director of the Northeastern Association of State Agricultural Experiment Station Directors, and
Whereas, Dr. MacKenzie was unable to attend the 2002 Northeast Summer Joint Meeting of Deans of Colleges, leaders of Research and Extension, and CARET representatives in the Northeast due to health reasons, and
Whereas, Dr. MacKenzie prepared powerpoint presentations for others to present on his behalf, helped organize the program for the meeting, and in other ways ensured that the meeting would be a success,
Now, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Northeastern Regional Association of State Agricultural Experiment Station Directors meeting in Morgantown, WVA on July 8-10, 2002, express appreciation for Dr. MacKenzie’s contributions to the meeting and his continuing contributions to the Northeast Stations, and wish him a speedy return to good health.
July 9, 2002
signed
Cameron Hackney, Chair
Northeastern Regional Association of State
Agricultural Experiment Station Directors
A motion was made to accept the above resolutions with modifications to include the Planning Committee in the first resolution, and for it to be signed by Vice-Chair W. Trumble. The motion was seconded and passed.
Summary Comments and Closing – Chair Hackney
Chair Hackney thanked and invited everyone to join the WVU campus tour and dinner at the Clarion's Hotel at Downtown Morgantown.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:20pm.