In Attendance:
Bruce McPheron (PA), Chair
Tom Burr (NYG)
Thomas Fretz (NERA)
Steve Goodwin (MA)
Reginal Harrell (MD)
Ian Hart (CTS)
Michael Hoffman (NYC)
Jody Jellison (ME)
Louis Magnarelli (CTNH)
Ian Maw, NASULGC
Richard Rhodes III (RI)
Jeffrey Seemann (RI)
William Trumble (NH)
Michael Vayda (VT)
William Vinson (WV)
Rubie Mize (NERA), Recorder

• Approved holding a consent agenda for this meeting.
• Approved the draft minutes for the NERA meeting on July 10-11, 2006, as posted:
  http://www.agnr.umd.edu/users/nera/workshop/NERAMinutesJuly2006.html
• Approved the MAC recommendation to extend NEAC1000: Animal Science Advisory Committee to 10/2016, and to change the number to NEAC002.
• Approved the following nominations for Northeast Multistate Projects Advisor Assignments:
  • Mark Robson (NJ) for NRSP3: The National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP)
  • Edward Ashworth (ME) for NRSP6: Inter-Regional Potato Introduction Project: Acquisition, classification, preservation, evaluation and distribution of potato (Solanum) germplasm
  • Michael Hoffman (NYC) for NECC1010: Use of Residuals in Agriculture in the Northeast  (approved by electronic ballot after the meeting)

• Inform USDA-CSREES on actions taken by the NERA Directors.
• Make arrangements for the interviews of the candidates for the ED position on November 8 at the BWI Airport.
• Post all letters of recommendations received in an exclusive "members only" website and share that URL with the NERA members
• Arrange for follow-up meeting after the interviews to finalize the selection.
• Make arrangements for the NERA Meeting to be held on March 27-28, 2007, at the Inner Harbor in Baltimore, MD.
• Continue to assist the PA-AES in planning for the ESS/SAES/ARD Meeting to be held on September 16-19, 2007, at the Historic District of Philadelphia, PA.

Attachments:

• Executive Director's Report (PDF)
• New Advisor's Handbook
• Background papers for the National Plant Germplasm Coordinating Committee ESS/ARD/SAES Workshop

1. Call to Order - Chair Bruce McPheron
   The meeting was called to order at 8:00am.

2. Welcome and Introductions - Chair Bruce McPheron
   The attendees were asked to introduce themselves briefly. Chair McPheron welcomed Dr. Jody Jellison, new AES Associate Director of the Maine Agricultural Experiment Station.

3. Agenda Modification (Additions/Deletions) and Approval - Chair Bruce McPheron
   Chair McPheron recommended holding a "consent agenda" to allow more time for the discussion of the search for the new NERA Executive Director. A motion was made, and it was seconded and approved.

   The following were approved:

   • Approved the draft minutes for the NERA meeting on July 10-11, 2006, as posted:
     http://www.agnr.umd.edu/users/nera/workshop/NERAMinutesJuly2006.html
   • The Multistate Activities Committee Report as follows:
     Action: Recommends approval of the request for extension (10/2006 to 9/2016) and renumbering of NEAC1000 to NEAC002 – Animal Science Advisory Committee
   • The Nominations Committee recommendations for multistate project advisors as follows:
     • Mark Robson (NJ) for NRSP3: The National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP)
     • Edward Ashworth (ME) for NRSP6: Inter-Regional Potato Introduction Project: Acquisition, classification, preservation, evaluation and distribution of potato (Solanum) germplasm

4. Interim Actions by the Chair and Executive Committee Report - Chair Bruce McPheron
   Chair McPheron reported that his activities as chair of NERA in the past months were focused on the search for a new Executive Director. He serves as chair of the Search Committee. The committee had met once by teleconference and had selected four candidates who will be called for interview. He was also involved in planning for next year's ESS/ARD/SAES workshop. The PA-AES will be hosting the 2007 meeting in the Historic District of Philadelphia. The directors expressed their concern about saving travel money but end up wasting time on long trips to the meeting venue. Historic Philadelphia is accessible and offers many options for sightseeing and dining. Chair McPheron asked the directors to start thinking about the half-day regional program at this meeting as we will be responsible for selecting the topic, preferably of regional scope that will showcase our research activities in the Northeast. This topic will be included at our spring meeting. The ESS/ARD/SAES Meeting will be held on September 16-19, 2007.

   Alternative venues were offered to the directors for the March 2007 spring meeting. The directors selected either Admiral Fell Inn or Brookshire Suites at the Baltimore Inner Harbor. They left it up to Rubie Mize to visit both venues and select the one that would suit the needs of NERA best. The meeting will be held on March 27-28, 2007.

   The Rhode Island Experiment Station will host the 2007 Summer Joint Session. Rick Rhodes reported that it will most likely be held at Newport, RI or Providence, RI. Extension will take the lead in developing the program for the joint session. The CARET Committee had met and shared their ideas about the topics for the summer meeting. Chair McPheron suggested that a possible topic to look at is "How to interact with the states' departments of agriculture". The 2007 Planning Committee will meet sometime in mid-November to start the planning process.

5. NE-9 Report - Tom Burr
   Tom Burr gave a brief report about the activities of NE-9 and explained why off-the-top funding support is necessary to continue the program. Off-the-top support had remained flat for several years in spite of inflation. The program could no longer continue to operate efficiently with a flat budget. There will be a discussion at one of the ESS Workshops on what to do with the germplasm multistate projects. Related to this is the savings from the NRSPs whose off-the-top support have been reduced. Should we just have one umbrella NRSP for all the regional germplasm projects, under a National Germplasm Coordinating Committee?

6. Discussion of the New Executive Director Position
   This part of the meeting is a closed session and the minutes will not be posted publicly.

   Chair McPheron adjourned the meeting at 10:00 a.m.

Back to Workroom