Meeting+2017+Dec+7

//**WakeNature Preserves Partnership Meeting**//
Thursday 8:30-10:30 Annie Louise Wilkerson, MD Nature Preserve Park, 5229 Awls Haven Dr, Raleigh, NC 27614


 * Professional Development Theme: Accepting Donated Land __or__ Conservation Easements & Restrictions **

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Scott Pohlman (presiding), Meghan Teten, Deborah Fowler (notes), George Hess, John Connors, Emily Nash, Stacy Hagwood, Brian Smith, Bryan England, Steph Jeffries, Gary Bland, Leigh Ann Hammerbacher, Marti Kane, Kay Nichols, Chris Snow
 * Attendance Notes**


 * Annotated Agenda Items**

//Please add items you'd like to see on the agenda by 5PM Tues before the meeting.//

//Please add your pre-meeting discussion of these items under the item right here on the agenda, or on the appropriate linked page.//


 * Introductions as needed**

// **Steering** // ** Committee ** (Scott Pohlman, chairman) GOAL: ** Increase momentum ** by growing active signatory membership.
 * Highlight accomplishments from the past year
 * Bioblitz at Forest Ridge: Brian S. reported that the work done helped staff to better plan the trails around sensitive area. Scott is working with NHP on a new natural community due to the mountain laurel. John mentioned rock outcrop there has great potential. John also mentioned that there were Raleigh staff with each group and they were able to show a map of what was collected at lunch, which was a great tool. Leigh Ann mentioned it was nice to see cross-training at bioblitz between participants.
 * Workshop: Brooke couldn't be here to day, but Scott mentioned that he was impressed with speakers and content. Meghan mentioned that Deb and she summarized data from evaluations, which is posted on wiki. Overall very positive comments and reviews.
 * New active agencies (hope to be signed members): Wake Co Soil and Water, Meredith College, and Army Corps of Engineers


 * Revisit SWOT Analysis from last year (attached, below)
 * What progress have we made this year?
 * Some discussion about how to involve more universities and more professors and their students. See Capacity Committee for idea details.
 * WNPP does really well working on tangible tasks like bioblitz and workshop and less on fuzzy, intangible tasks like telling the story and Wake Wonder or WakeNature Preserve designation. Is there a way to make those tasks tangible? Steph said she can work on promo about workshop and bioblitz and push out over the break.
 * Turnipseed Nature Preserve grand opening TBD sometime May or June 2018.
 * What are one-two things from each committee we'd like to focus on for next year?
 * Service Day between January and April
 * Bioblitz May 18
 * Workshop in September 14 or 21


 * Is the new meeting model helping anyone attend more WakeNature meetings? Good overall, but if you miss 1 of the 4, the gap between meetings is large. Meetings leading up to workshop were great - like the idea of sub-groups to meet more frequently. Steering Committee met every month still, but that helped keep committees on task.
 * February 1 = City of Raleigh Parks, Walnut Creek Wetland Center
 * April 5 = Army Corps of Engineers, Falls Lake Visitor Assistance Center
 * October 4 = no volunteers, but considering Town of Garner, White Deer Park
 * December 6 = no volunteers, but considering State Parks, Umstead



//**Promotion Committee**// (Steph Jeffries, chairwoman) GOAL: ** Tell the story ** of the highest quality natural areas in Wake County and the stewardship they have and need.
 * Participant emails from the workshop have been added to our email listserv
 * There are several different lists to capture all audiences needed.
 * Summary article about annual workshop and bioblitz

//**Inventory Committee**// (John Connors, chairman) GOAL: ** Places on the ground ** - designate publicly accessible WakeNature Preserves. >
 * 2018 Bioblitz process: March 1 submission deadline, committee review by March 31, Approve at WNPP meeting April 5. Bioblitz to be held on May 18.
 * WakeNature Preserve/WakeWonder designation/awards. Scott and John are going to meet with Kaytee to discuss this more.

//**Capacity Committee**// (Gary Blank, chairman) GOAL: ** Bring resource managers together ** to carry out appropriate stewardship of the highest quality natural areas in Wake County.
 * Workshop in September on a Friday again, either 14 or 21. Gary will work on 4 possible topics for discussion at February meeting. He will review workshop evaluations for topics. Another topic that has been mentioned is Fire as a Management Tool.
 * Conduct a service day sometime Feb-March. Could be invasive removal and/or restoration. __Possible dates__: Service workday on MLK day, Service Raleigh April 14?, Feb 24 or 25 Invasive spp Day, Swift Ck Week March 17. __Possible locations__: Walnut Creek? Mitchell Mill restoration? Bob Brucker at Louisburg College might be interested in Mitchell Mill. Emily said that Wake Soil & Water can help with design possibly. Capacity Committee will work on this.
 * Review of September's workshop evaluations (tabled until Feb 2018 meeting)

//**Other Business**//

 * Deborah Fowler's term is expiring. Chris Snow motioned and Steph Jeffries seconded, All approved a second term.
 * Turnipseed Nature Preserve Phase I had its soft opening on Saturday, November 18