Meeting+2017+Feb+2

//**WakeNature Preserves Partnership Meeting**//
Thursday 8:30-10:30 Prairie Ridge Ecostation, 1671 Gold Star Dr, Raleigh, NC 27607


 * Professional Development Theme: Prescribed Burning as a Management Tool**

Tweet about this meeting ... media type="custom" key="9797796"


 * Attendance Notes**

David Shouse (presiding), Deborah Fowler, Brian Smith, Christine Goforth, Meghan Teten, Steph Jeffries, John Connors, Jackie Trickel, George Hess (Notes), Brooke Massa, Janice Swab (Meredith, retired), Amanda Powell (Meredith, teaches a field ecology course)


 * Annotated Agenda Items**


 * Introductions as needed -** did a round of introductions

// **Steering** // ** Committee ** (David Shouse, chairman) GOAL: ** Increase momentum ** by growing active signatory membership.


 * Agenda **
 * Call for new Steering Committee chair nominations and election of steering committee
 * Call for additional committee members for ALL committees


 * NOTES**
 * Shouse described realignment of meetings and organization, annual workshop for Sept.
 * Want to get young people involved through various educational channels - brining the next generation on board.
 * Committee structure is generally effective, but often turns out to be a committee of one.


 * Steering Committee - focused on growing the organization. Cary is now on board!
 * Looking at NC Native Plant Society next.
 * Working with Wildlife Resource Commission to convince them to sign on officially; making progress.


 * Members of Steering Committee**
 * Shouse's term is up and he is not going to renew.
 * Fowler's term is up at the end of 2017 and she will continue.
 * Teten's term is up and she is willing to serve again. She was unanimously elected to another two-year term by members present, who constitute a quorum (Raleigh, NCState, Audubon, Wake County in favor; TLC and Town of Cary not present)


 * Massa nominated Leigh Ann Hammerbacher.
 * Connors nominated Scott Pohlman.
 * Shouse will follow up with Leigh Ann and Scott.
 * Meghan elected to another term (expires 2018)
 * Shouse will follow up with Hammerbacher and Pohlman for third seat.
 * Jeffries is willing to serve, if they both decline.


 * Agreed that Committee Chairs be on for two years, which means that all are currently up for renewal. There was discussion of having them on staggered terms somehow, but we did not reach consensus on how to do that.

//**Promotion Committee**// (Kaytee Smith, chairwoman) GOAL: ** Tell the story ** of the highest quality natural areas in Wake County and the stewardship they have and need.


 * Agenda**
 * Advertisement of the professional development themes at future meetings
 * Begin promoting September workshop
 * Social media presence


 * NOTES**
 * K. Smith was not present; Jeffries is willing to chair this committee
 * Trickel will be a member.
 * Steering Committee will work this out with Smith, who we would like to continue on the committee.

//**Inventory Committee**// (John Connors, chairman) GOAL: ** Places on the ground ** - designate publicly accessible WakeNature Preserves.


 * Partner Needs survey - Connors


 * NOTES**
 * Connors will remain Inventory Committee Chairman
 * We will conduct one bioblitz inventory per year
 * We are limiting this kind of service to formal WakeNature members (MOU signatories)
 * This will be an application process
 * Maybe put out call, say members only, but you can include signed MOU with application
 * Application avaiable approx 15 Feb, submission deadline 31 March, choice announced 30 April, bioblitz in June
 * Brian Smith (Raleigh) is looking for a bioblitz at some Raleigh Parks site in June - he will apply for the service

//**Capacity Committee**// (Gary Blank, chairman) GOAL: ** Bring resource managers together ** to carry out appropriate stewardship of the highest quality natural areas in Wake County.


 * Agenda**
 * Annual Meeting/Workshop (Sep) - hosted by Wildlife Resources Commission
 * WRC can organize registration
 * Potential Workshop themes:
 * riparian management


 * NOTES**
 * Blank was not present and there was no discussion of who might chair this or whether Blank wished to continue
 * Brian Smith is willing to help on capacity
 * Annual workshop on Fri 15 Sept 10A-4P
 * WRC hosting
 * Theme is riparian management

//**Other Business**//
10:00AM-10:30AM Professional Development Theme: Burning as a Management Method - hike into the Prairie Ridge prairie habitat with Brian Hahn, Burn Boss and prescribed burner for Prairie Ridge EcoStation


 * Harris Lake doing Science of Fire** Thurs 20 April 3P-6P - including a small demo burn


 * City Nature Challenge**

"The event is a nationwide competition between urban areas to see who can document the greatest biodiversity in their areas through iNaturalist over a 4-5 day period in April and I’m coordinating the local effort. It’s something I think some of the people at WakeNature might be interested in bringing to their centers/parks as a public event/program, but a lot of the people at the meeting might be interested in participating as individuals as well. It is, unfortunately, scheduled on an absolutely terrible weekend – Easter weekend – but I’m going to do my best to help the Triangle Area win this competition anyway.

...I think your group includes a lot of excellent potential partners for this event and a lot of nature-minded people who would be powerful allies as we strive to show San Francisco, LA, Miami, and a bunch of other cities who’s got the best naturalists and citizen scientists in the country!

Thanks, Christine L. Goforth Head, Citizen Science, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences"