Meeting+2010+Apr+1

Thursday 2010 Apr 1 8:30-10 1214 Jordan Hall, NCSU Campus
 * Wake County Nature Preserves Meeting**

Steelman out; Hess out (sorry, last-minute issues); Blank chairing.
 * Attendance Notes**


 * Annotated Agenda Items**


 * Introductions as needed** (5 minutes)

LaTroya Gant

Our visitor did not arrive, so we proceeded to the next agenda item and came back to this point later in the meeting. See notes below.


 * WakeNature Video** - LaTroya Gant needs about 30 minutes to discuss and get initial input for WakeNature video


 * Backstory** (from Hess) ... WakeNature has been invited to be the "featured partnership" during the opening plenary session of NCSU's Outreach Scholarship Conference ( @http://www.ncsu.edu/project/OPDWebSpace/2010OSC/ 2010 Oct 4-6 Raleigh Convention Center). As part of this plenary, we will show a 5-minute video describing what WakeNature is and placing it in the context of the conference theme of "The Five P's" : Program, Place, People, Process, Philosophy (described on the conference home page ref'd above). The video is being funded by NCSU Office of Extension, Engagement, and Economic Development. LaTroya is coordinating the creation of the video and is here today to get some initial ideas from all of us.

Here is a note from LaTroya: > //I'd like the group to consider ways in which the organizations reflects these "5P's". Additionally I'll want to learn who WNPP's key voices are, what their stories are, and what messages they would like audiences to take away after viewing the video. Keep in mind that this will be an effective marketing tool for the organization, so I want your members to feel that it is their own. I'd like their input about the feel and pacing of the video--I'll be asking them to help me build the preliminary scenes/storyboard. Note that a discussion guide will accompany the video, so I'll ask them to think about ways the video may facilitate this as well. //


 * NOTES**

The group in attendance decided we should start a Wiki page where people's ideas concerning the 5 Ps could be posted for LaTroya Gant's benefit. We all agreed that video needs to be shot during the spring season, especially when we move forward on the lupine seed collection and subsequent planting (see below). This would be a very photogenic opportunity. Strong feeling that we need a Field Events page added under the Current Activities list, linked bottom left of Wikispace, so any WN partner can post work, visits, etc. when photo ops, teaching ops, story line ops can be used.


 * County-Wide Natural Resources Database** - Trickel and Bockhahn


 * NOTES**

Trickel and Bockhahn not in attendance so we skipped to next agenda item.

OSAPAC approved our resolution. Next stop: County Commissioners. OSAPAC members had some advice for us to consider as we move forward:
 * Wake County follow up and planning** - van tour, meetings, etc.
 * Focus presentation on value of in-kind donations received and other benefits - quantify where possible
 * In presentation, discuss problems associated with not giving access vs. opening up land for public enjoyment AND what commitment County is making for management and stewardship
 * Do both the van tour and informal individual meetings with Commissioners
 * Focus on Turnipseed for van tour, don't make it about Marks Creek in general. Invite OSAPAC on van tour too
 * Develop talking points for OSAPAC members to use in talking with Commissioners
 * Get list of who nominated OSAPAC members and involve those committee members in conversations with their board member
 * Get OSAPAC members final copy of resolution passed today
 * Change the slide on application process to complete #3
 * Don't use the word "herps" -- many people don't know what this is -- say "reptiles and amphibians"
 * Put a photo of a tiger salamander in the presentation
 * Encourage all OSAPAC members (and Partnership members) to come to Board of Commissioners meeting when this will be presented
 * Continuing concern should be addressed at a later date about long term protection but don't want to confound this request with it now.
 * Not for presentation, but good idea for stewardship to be mentioned in future bond language.

Jamie covered the OSAPAC meeting results, talking us through the bullet list she posted above. Discussion centered on the follow up points: e.g., writing letters to the Commissioners stating support for resolution, incorporating "stewardship" in bond language for the future. We also batted around the tiger salamander as mascot idea. This led to a broader discussion of activities of interest.
 * NOTES**

John noted that lupine might be a better iconic species for what WakeNature is about. The Museum staff prefer the Harris Research Tract as an initial introduction/relocation site for the tiger salamander, working with Progress Energy. Marks Creek could come later. The lupine project can be immediate. Donna Wright knows about the lupine population at Turnipseed and will be consulting on the seed collection, stratification (sulfuric acid bath, etc.), and seed sowing (mid-May). The current population may include 100-200 plants, so the amount of seed possible and potential expansion from this population have everybody excited. John also noted the potential longleaf plantation. Jamie mentioned a possible volunteer connection to Broughton H.S. students who take on environmental projects. Gary B volunteered to contact Magaret Partridge ( Reid Chapter, NC Native Plant Society) about the lupine planting at Marks Creek, because we think that group would be eager partners in the effort.

John is taking groups out to Turnipseed on 25 and 26 April (which prompted the idea that we need an ongoing events page).

(from Gary P). Discover Life ([|www.discoverlife.org]) is a project whose "mission is to assemble and share knowledge in order to improve education, health, agriculture, economic development, and conservation throughout the world." I've met the organizers of this project, Dr. John Pickering and Nancy Lowe, and they would like to develop a partnership with WakeNature, as they recognize the importance of building resource inventories in conservation. Here's an excerpt from an e-mail I was sent from Nancy on 17 March:
 * Partnership proposal from Discover Life**

//"There is potential for a Discover Life partnership not only with you as an individual, but also with WakeNature Preserves. I see that part of your mission is to conduct inventories of your area. We can certainly provide both technical support and scientific advising on that.

In our outreach efforts, we are moving toward more partnerships with preserves, parks, nature centers, field stations and other entities who understand the importance of inventories for management and conservation. I'd like to include WakeNature as one of our study sites."//


 * NOTES**

Gary P. talked about the connection he made with this group and a possible visit by them either 6 or 20 May. Jacqueline noted need to be sure Wake County is okay with posting of inventory data. Leigh Ann also noted the project Amanda Willis is undertaking and asked whether the broader county inventory would be of interest or use to Discover Life. Gary P. also noted Nancy Lowe's email address for anyone with further thoughts or questions: nancy.discover.life@gmail.com.


 * Update on Raleigh / WNPP Discussions**
 * Hess, Steelman, and Pohlman met with Shouse, Oxholm, Serxner, Ander, and Spadorcia (24 March)
 * Main topic of discussion was WNPP criteria for exceptional natural areas, based on Natural Heritage Program data.
 * Pohlman discussed how NHP makes these determinations. He used a map overlaying SNHA's and Raleigh Parks; element occurrences were not on the map; greenways were not on the map.
 * There was general agreement that the SNHAs make a good starting point for selection of potential WNPP sites.
 * There was some concern expressed that the language related to access seemed overly restrictive, though all agreed in concept that it was a good idea to use trail placement to guide people away from very sensitive areas while leaving access more open in less sensitive areas - we need to work through this - Raleigh Parks wants people to be able to enjoy these places, but does recognize they can be destroyed by mismanagement - need to find the balance.
 * Next meeting rescheduled to 30 April 2:30-4PM.
 * At next meeting we'll want to see a map of EOs as well, plus adding greenways and trails. Pohlman will make.
 * We've also invited Wallace to attend to discuss how priority wildlife habitat might fit into the selection criteria; she has accepted.


 * Update from Communications Class**

There are no classes Thurs/Fri, so there will be no representatives at the meeting. From communication with Hess, they are proceeding with planning. They have been asking for budget figures and I (Hess) have been resisting giving them numbers because (1) we don't have any money and (2) we have no idea how much these things cost. In my last communication I asked them if they could tell us how much they thought it would cost to meet our objectives - I have not heard a response to that query.


 * NOTES**

We spent some time discussing how to respond to the budget question. Jamie noted the need to have signs made. Louise mentioned the County has a sign shop but she does not know anything about costs. The whole matter of signage, logo, etc. remains indeterminate but exists as a potential cost. More generally, we all believed it would be useful for the communications team to provide us with a menu of items and costs from which we could choose, to which we could target grant requests, and for which we now have no basis for planning--which is why we have them developing a communications plan. Leigh Ann suggested we just pick a number and see what they think we get for that amount. Obviously we put together one grant with a budget that was unsuccessful, but was that realistic? [This seems to be a chicken-egg circular discussion so we still don't have a firm answer for the team]

Notes submitted by Gary B. Blank 2 April 2010.