Meeting+2013+Dec+5

//**WakeNature Preserves Partnership Meeting**//
Thursday 8:30-10 Department of Environment & Natural Resources 217 W. Jones Street Green Square Conference Room 4001 (aka Cardinal Room)

See October Meeting agenda for location details.

** ANNUAL REVIEW AND PLANNING MEETING **
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 * Attendance Notes**

Guests: Jing Li, Katie Conlon, Hilary Morris, Jessica Mayer Present: Snow, Blank, Connors, Trickel, Pohlman


 * Introductions as needed **


 * OVERALL AGENDA**


 * Steering Committee Nominations
 * There is one slot available on the Steering Committee; Hess is stepping down; Pohlman is remaining; Snow is remaining and moving into the chairman's position.
 * The Steering Committee nominates John Connors for the available slot.
 * Are there any nominations from the floor?
 * We will solicit nominations from all of our members by email, with nominations to close on 13 December. Please check with anyone you wish to nominate to ensure that s/he is willing to serve if elected.
 * This will be followed by solicitation of votes electronically so that our Steering Committee is in place for the January meeting.


 * NOTES**

Steering Committee Nominations - John Connors - accepts nomination


 * Presentation from the graduate students who have been examining WakeNature this semester.
 * 10-minute presentation followed by 10 minutes of discussion


 * NOTES**

Next Steps for Success: A case Study of a Community-Based Natural Resource Management Partnership by our Guests Based on Wondolleck and Yaffeee (2000) Making Collaboration Work

Capacity indicators Data from interviews (15 people), survey (sent to our email list, 46% response), documents, meeting observations - We need to concentrate on marketing - critical to our success - We also need funding and equipment, but don't feel that's critical to success - Lack of full-time partnership coordinator is a barrier to our success.

We also need better stakeholder identification, to overcome agency constraints, mobilize capital, and generate public legitimacy (back to marketing)

- Need outreach beyond technical community - Greatest strength - internal legitimacy - Greatest weakness - external legitimacy ... need some political support - really need to get the local munis on board - they were not in things at the beginning, which makes it difficult to get them now. - Thus, we need to be more flexible with other munis at this point - focus on the ultimate goal of preserving high quality natural areas

... we need more public awareness - increase diversity of our team beyond NR professionals, such as small business people, etc. - Strategy ... web presence ... events - guided hikes, celebrations ... social media (e.g., get students to "like" us on FB) - Really need a coordinator staff - should we get 501c3


 * Put link to public site prominently on wiki [ HESS WILL DO ]

Connors - presentation is affirming

Blank - what kind of people do we need to diversify, specifically? - people from private companies who could be boosters - Tom Valone, Great Outdoor Provision?? - gaining public support will help get political support - working with resource managers (through workshop) is helping

How can we do WakeNature Hikes? - focus on stewardship - native plant society is a local organization - do hikes every month - WakeNature Stewardship Walks every other month or so to places that are or should be nature preserves


 * Steering committee overall assessment (simplified version)
 * We're doing things and making progress.
 * Our workshops are respected and well-attended.
 * We're not making much progress on the "big items" - new WakeNature Preserves or WakeWonders; new signatories; significant positive media attention


 * Committee goals
 * As you put together your goals for 2014, please also think about this question: "What one major action or activity would significantly enhance the impact of your committee?"


 * Overall reflection on the question: "What one major action or activity would significantly enhance WakeNature's impact and stature?"

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


 * Goals for 2013**
 * More signatories to help us **increase momentum** - shall we go after one or all of ...
 * Cary (esp focus on Hemlock Bluffs)
 * State Parks
 * US Army Corps of Engineers (Falls Lake)
 * Holly Springs (Bass Lake Natural Area coming online in 2013)
 * Others?


 * Maintain John Connors' involvement so that he can **increase momentum.**
 * Find ways to get parks directors involved and talking to one another about natural resources management to **increase momentum.**


 * Evaluation**
 * We had no new signatories during 2013
 * We instigated and participated in a parks directors meeting (September) at which we presented the vision and goals of WakeNature. About 1/2 of the department heads from the County attended.
 * As a result of the park directors meeting, we are now working with Wake Forest on evaluating a potential WakeNature site
 * We worked with NC State Parks at Mitchell Mill State Natural Area (invasive species removal), and State Parks personnel attended our Open Lands workshop (November). We have not pursued the possibility of them becoming a partner.
 * John Connors is still involved and his involvement is increasing.
 * Our overall evaluation … we're getting lots of things done and they are positive. The larger and potentially most impactful items are not being addressed (members, preserves, funding).


 * Goals for 2014**
 * Visit personally with 5 parks directors (prioritize by areas we'd most like to work on - see Inventory Committee), and include interested park managers from those municipalities. Park managers see things on the ground and can make the case for WakeNature. Doing this requires evaluating potential WakeNature sites and shaping the conversation around those places; this probably requires talking with the park managers before setting up meetings.
 * Evaluate partner activity and figure out how we can increase engagement among partners.


 * NOTES**

- Reviewed progress - Work with munis who are interested and have locations of interest - Cary not that critical right now because Hemlock is well-managed and we don't have a whole lot to offer them.

- Tiger Salamander Preserve (off Holly Springs Road) appears to be owned by Cary. [ to inventory ] ... Jeff Hall (WRC herpetologist) is involved ... Jackie Trickel will be point person for now

//**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.


 * Goals for 2013 **
 * Complete NC Forest Service grant work - each of these items helps **tell the story**.
 * Complete and install signs at Anderson Point (already contracted, design underway)
 * Create WNPP brochure for distribution to munis and other interested parties (under way, but not complete - contract in place with Kaytee Smith; part of NCFS grant)
 * Develop ecosystem services fact sheets for a set of Wake County properties (under way, not not complete - contract in pace with Emily Schieffer through TLC; part of NCFS grant; Hammerbacher is leading)


 * We said we were going to do an award program in concert with Raleigh's environmental awards as another opportunity to **tell the story**. Aim is to be ready to go for 2014. (Blank & Pohlman said they would lead, with Hess helping)
 * Said we were going to get an article on N&O science pages - we need some publicity!! Possibly focus on interactive mapper. We can view the WakeNature Mapper as an important way to **tell the story.** (K. Smith said she'd lead)
 * Organize an event around the installation of the signs at Anderson Point, which **tell the story** of that place. (Ander & Salter)


 * Evaluation**
 * The NC Forest Service grant work has been completed
 * Created and installed two signs at Anderson Point
 * A brochure has been designed and is available, though we have no money to print copies
 * We do NOT have an ecosystem service factsheet
 * No formal award program has been developed, though we did recognize Chris Snow and Wake County for their long term contributions to the WakeNature effort (we did this at our November Open Lands workshop)
 * We've had no N&O article or other media coverage, nor any event to celebrate the Anderson Point signs


 * Goals for 2014**
 * Increase our social presence:
 * more content on website
 * more on social media
 * should we create a YouTube channel for our interviews and other features?
 * develop content for mapper?
 * Is there a way to be present at the museum and the Nature Research Center?
 * Should we start doing WakeNature outings?
 * Continue seeking grants and funding


 * NOTES**

- Kaytee is now Coordinator of Virtual Education at NC Museum of Sciences eff 1 Jan ... building online presence and educational material ... museum is looking to appoint someone to WakeNature ... museum would like to do work on the Blue Pond salamander site - potential WakeWonder

- Kaytee can work on the mapper, including back end, as needed; but needs help with content on the pages - Revamping website and really thinking about what should be on it - traffic is increasing on the blog, but we need more content. - How about blog entries on Wake's natural treasures - highlight particular things - Twitter feed almost available

- Working on WakeNature videos and brain dump (should that be an "unconference")

... Unconference for the Undead Nature People

- John, Kaytee, George, Gary will work on brain dump unconference planning

- Should we do an about us on our website? Who would be on there? Do we have agency conflicts?

- Pull volunteer link from website?? We don't have a way to organize them, which is frustrating for people who attempt to volunteer

- WakeNature social media should alert people to attend meetings that affect natural areas

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


 * Goals for 2013**
 * Complete Swift Creek Bluffs Assemblage review process, giving use one **place on the ground** (Salter)
 * Get one or two more **places on the ground** ... possibilities include ...
 * possibilities include Lake Raleigh (NCSU), Hemlock BLuffs (Cary, retry), Blue Jay Point, Yates Mill, others being highlighted on mapper.
 * There's a 3-acre site on Barwell Road that has lots of Michaux sumac, owned by Raleigh Public Utilities. They have $$ to help pay for management, but nobody seems to want to take it on. (Salter mentioned this)
 * Potential WakeWonder site
 * Lobsinger will coordinate a WakeNature member volunteer day in April to clear vegetation around existing plants (Pohlman, Connors, Salter, Beedle, and Massa have committed)
 * Salter will contact Raleigh Utilities about necessary permits, volunteer waivers, etc.
 * Bass Lake in Holly Springs is getting ready to come on line with a preserve area of some kind
 * Continue work on and promote WakeNature interactive mapper to highlight current and potential **places on the ground**


 * Evaluation**
 * Swift Creek Bluffs Assemblage was refocused to TLC's Swift Creek Bluffs only, with mention of the need to manage adjacent lands in a complementary fashion. SCB management plan not complete.
 * No new WakeNature Preserves or WakeWonders have been designated
 * Held an invasive plant removal workday at Barwell Road, but no WakeWonder activity yet (needs mgmt plan, and agreement with Utilities)
 * No work has been done on the mapper - is it too cumbersome? Do we need to revisit with a different approach?


 * Goals for 2014**
 * One new WakeWonder
 * One new WakeNature Preserve
 * List of our top priority WakeNature Preserves and WakeWonder candidates on our website, including brief description of why special each is special. This will also help drive which park directors we visit (see Steering Committee)


 * Additional Agenda Items**
 * Connors with brief presentation on Wake Forest site visit


 * NOTES**

- Wake Forest site has potential - vernal pools, plants, buckeye (about 2 acres), N-facing slopes - Need LJ inventory of plants April-June near the new community center site - maybe native plant group

- didn't finish this part

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


 * Goals for 2013 **
 * Develop a stewardship assets and need inventory county-wide, to position ourselves for how to recruit a volunteer network, develop a multi-jurisdictional resource-sharing position, and otherwise **bring resource managers together** (Blank). This need was pointed out by Hammerbacher, so that we can better position ourselves to make a funding pitch to get things started.
 * Regular workshops as a way to **bring resource managers together** to focus on particular needs and assets
 * Spring workshop on management planning (March)
 * Fall workshop (Sept) on what topic?
 * increased communication among natural areas managers in County
 * target continuing education units
 * Workdays
 * Said we were going to get a volunteer days program coordinated with Raleigh for their nature preserves - maybe Service Raleigh 23 March (Miller)
 * Potential workday at Mitchell Mill State Natural Area - Fall?


 * Evaluation**
 * We have not developed an assets / needs inventory
 * We held two workshops: Management Planning in May and Open Lands in November. Continuing education units were available for these workshops.
 * Through these workshops, we have increased communication among land managers attending
 * Held a workday at Mitchell Mill to remove invasive plants
 * Participated in Service Raleigh with a cleanup at Turnipseed WakeNature Preserve


 * Goals for 2014**
 * Start developing needs and assets inventory, possibly through the visits with parks directors (see Steering Committee)
 * "Naturalist Brain Dump" workshop for May
 * Fall workshop - topic TBD (coming out of the May event, we should have clearer picture of what might be next)
 * Participate in Service Raleigh
 * workdays?

NOTES

- assets needs inventory - grad student changed project - needs another person to work on - retain focus on workshops - Gary will follow-up with Anna Miller re Service Raleigh - Meghan is looking for work for the eco-village ... smaller self-contained projects - we really need a list of projects, locations, dates, coordinators