John Nye (DE), Chair
J. S. Angle (MD)
P. Backman (PA)
C. Hackney (WV)
R. Johnson (VT)
K. Kerr (CT-S)
L. Magnarelli (CT-NH)
M. Mount (MA)
S. Reiling (ME)
D. Rossi (NJ)
R. Seem (NY-G)
T. Shelton (NY-C)
W. Trumble (NH)
G. S. Wyche-Moore (DC)
D. MacKenzie (ED)

MAJOR DECISIONS

• Approved the minutes of the NERA summer meeting in Basin Harbor, VT, as posted on the NERA home page.
http://www.agnr.umd.edu/users/NERA/workshop/NERAMinutesJune2000.html
• Accepted a report from the NERA Executive Committee.
http://www.agnr.umd.edu/users/NERA/workshop/NERAExecComm9-5-2000.html
• Accepted all of the recommendations of the Northeast Regional Research Committee's report with the technical correction of W. Vinson. This was to approve a request to write a project on "Increasing Capacity of Families, Individuals and Communities to Improve their Quality of Life"; and "Application of Sewage Sludge Biosolids to Agricultural Soils in the Northeast: Long Term Impacts and Beneficial Uses" (with suggestions for clarifications). Other proposals were placed on hold. Administrative Advisor appointments were also resolved.

http://www.agnr.umd.edu/users/NERA/workshop/RRCReportSept2000.htm
• Will meet in synchrony with (i.e., not simultaneously) NEED, in late January, in Baltimore, MD. Details are to be announced later.
• Directors are to submit to the OED in confidence information on 401 for critical evaluation (i.e., proposal titles, amounts requested, objectives, and reviewers' comments).
• Restate the limit on multistate research project participation as "not less than 0.1 SY per station", and use the paperless management system to flag commitments that are below that standard.
• Approved an extension of NEREAP-3 (IPM) for five years. R. Seem will serve as the Administrative Advisor (This is a change from earlier notes).
• ED to work with the NE Priorities Committee to draft a set of NE Initiatives based on a study of stakeholder listening items, the NE Capacity Inventory, and the CSREES "Key Words and Themes" analysis.
• Approved a resolution commending R. Helgesen for his contribution to the region and the Association.

THE JOB JAR

(Work Assignments for the Executive Director)

• Inform USDA-CSREES of actions taken by the NERA Directors, and assist the RRC in sending notifications to the Administrative Advisors.
• Conduct an analysis of the causes contributing to the 401 outcome for the NE LGUs, based on information to be supplied by the member stations.
• Complete for the member's consideration regional coordinating committee proposals for: NERCRD, Land Use Management, SARE, IPM, and the NE Aquaculture Center, subject to a positive response to the decision memorandum to C. Laughlin regarding the appropriateness of making expenditures of Multistate Research Funds on multistate research coordinating committees.
• Complete the planned and the proposed campus visits.
• Work with the NE Priorities Committee to develop a few stakeholder-derived, regional initiative papers, for the members' consideration.
• Develop either a model MOU or "boilerplate" wording to adequately describe multistate project management, primarily for competitive grant proposals.
• Prepare and deliver the association's resolution to R. Helgesen.

Welcome and Introductions - J. Nye
The meeting was called to order at 10:09 am. The Chair opened the meeting by distributing several papers that included a report of the Chair's interim actions and a summary of the "Delaware approach" to complying with the reporting requirements for multistate, integrated activities. Much discussion ensued, especially around the discussion earlier in the morning on the legitimate uses of multistate research funds. The Chair's decision memorandum to C. Laughlin regarding this point was described to the members. Other interim actions were reviewed, followed by a discussion of the "Delaware approach" that has already received verbal approval from representatives from CSREES. Many questions were asked about the degree of flexibility directors will have in allocating their multistate research funds to formal and informal projects. Note: This point was subsequently resolved in the ESCOP Executive Committee meeting at 2:00 p.m. wherein G. Cooper seemingly reversed an earlier position expressed by T. Helms to indicate that it WOULD be permissible to use Multistate Research Funds to support Regional Coordinating Committee activities.

Station Reports
Each station director gave a report on current topics at their station. In addition P. Backman gave information of the summer meeting plans, which is to be held at the Nittany Lion Inn, on the campus of The Pennsylvania State University during the last full week of June [24 to 27, 2001 (Sunday evening to Wednesday noon)].

ED's Report
The ED reported on the Summer 2000 Job Jar. All items had been completed with the exception of the continuing activity to visit each NERA member's campus. Several handouts were distributed. Comments were made on the Stakeholder Listening study and the summary table on the successes of NE LGUs in the Section 401 competition. Suggestions were made as to the plausible reasons for the regions poor showing in the 401 competition. More analysis was requested from the ED. Information will be supplied by the directors on a voluntary, confidential basis.

RRC's Report
The Chair of the Regional Research Committee, R. Seem, distributed the RRC report, which was accepted as presented herein.
The report is posted at url--- http://www.agnr.umd.edu/users/NERA/workshop/RRCReportSept2000.htm

Crosscutting Activities
The Chair elected to skip this topic, as the remaining time was very limited.

Forming Regional Marketing Orders
D. MacKenzie very briefly mentioned the initial activities of Chair-elect Coffman in this area. He noted the apparent interest and the willingness of the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the USDA to support this suggested strategy, and the documentation received so far from AMS. He noted the occurrence of many area/regional trade groups representing minor commodities in the NE, and the opportunities to seek "check off" support for these commodities under AMS authority. Such funds could be used for funding activities by one NE station, representing the entire region. He indicated that the incoming Chair may be planning to devote effort to this strategy in the next year.

Resolutions
The Resolutions Committee submitted the following resolution that was adopted by acclamation.

Resolution of Appreciation to Robert G. Helgesen:

The ED agreed to have the resolution suitably prepared for presentation to Dr. Helgesen during an up-coming visit to his campus.

Plans for Next Meetings
It was decided that the winter 2001 meeting of NERA will be planned for Baltimore Airport (BWI) in conjunction with the NEED meeting. The timing will be such that some overlap of the two meetings will occur, but not sufficient to foreclose opportunities to exchange liaisons. The proposed dates are noon January 30 to noon February 1, 2001. More information will follow soon.

The Summer 2001 NERA meeting will be Sunday evening June 24, 2001 to Wednesday noon June 27, 2000 at the Nittany Lion Inn, University Park (a.k.a. State College) PA. Penn State is planning the local arrangements. A program committee will soon be planning the meeting's program.

The association's bell was symbolically turned over to the incoming Chair R. Coffman, in absentia.

The meeting adjourned at 2:00 pm.

Respectfully,
D. MacKenzie
Executive Director, NERA
9/28/00