Meeting+2015+Nov+5

//**WakeNature Preserves Partnership Meeting**//
Thursday 8:30-10 4th Floor Nature Research Center - enter through Daily Planet Cafe, go into the NRC and make you way to the 4th floor.

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 * 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.


 * Scott Pohlman laid off from Natural Heritage Program - NHP unlikely to continue participating in WakeNature. Harry LeGrand, Allison Weakley, and two other people lost their positions.

Gentlemen,  As you may know, the Natural Heritage Program has had its budget cut significantly over the past three years, including a 41% budget cut this fiscal year. As a result, we are losing four more permanent positions, and one temporary position. I will not be able to make this Thursday’s meeting due to a previous commitment, and as the remaining staff absorb the workload of the staff that have been lost, I have been informed that it is unlikely NHP will be able to participate in the WakeNature Preserve Partnership. I hope to be able to continue helping out in my non-work time, or even in a new, as yet unknown role. Take care. Scott (11/3)


 * Does WakeNature take a position on such things?
 * Getting to be the end of the year - steering committee changes, time to start renewing MOUs
 * December is usually our annual review


 * NOTES**
 * Natural Heritage Program has lost 70% of funding and positions during the past three years which curtails their ability to provide data for WakeNature and other programs
 * WakeNature will not take an official position on this matter because some partners are prohibited from lobbying. We encourage members and other interested parties to communicate with their legislators.
 * Representative Chuck McGrady is an NHP supporter
 * Bryan England is quite ill - please reach out and wish him well - Hess or Connors can provide the address.


 * Renewal of MOU for 2016 are ...
 * 1) NC State University, 2011 April 8, by Betsy Brown, Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs [ KATHERINE STEWART ]
 * 2) Wake County Parks, Recreation, & Open Space, 2011 April 21, by Frank Cope, Community Services Director [ SAME ]
 * 3) UNC Herbarium, 2011 June 1, by Alan S. Weakly, Director [ SAME ]
 * 4) Triangle Land Conservancy, 2011 June 22, by Kevin Brice, President [ SANDY SWEITZER ]
 * 5) NC Natural Heritage Program, 2011 July 15, by Linda Pearsall, Director, Office of Conservation, Planning, and Community Affairs [ MISTY BUCHANAN ]
 * 6) Wake Soil & Water Conservation District, 2011 Aug 4, by Thomas Dean, Chairman [ ? ]
 * 7) NC Museum of Natural Sciences, 2011 Aug 4, by Betsy Bennett, Director, NC Museum of Natural Science [ EMLYN KOSTER ]
 * 8) Wildlife Resources Commission, 2011 Sep 6 [ ? ]


 * Hess will create list of 2015 goals and accomplishments for December meeting
 * Also need to elect new steering committee

//**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.


 * Turnipseed planning review
 * Robertson Millpond Preserve grand opening review
 * Going forward with WakeWonders - there is a Temple Flat Rock tour and milkweed planting THIS SATURDAY 10A-noon.


 * NOTES**
 * Robertson Millpond (24 Oct)
 * Just shy of 60 people including 3 County Commissioners and 2 Wendell Commissioners
 * See blog post by Hess for photo and narrative
 * See Eastern Wake News article
 * See Wake County information page
 * 75 people showed up on Sunday (25 Oct)
 * Very popular already
 * Open weekends and some holidays only at this point
 * Turnipseed Planing (21 Oct)
 * Hess's Conservation Biology class students planted approximately 60 milkweed plants and 5 Michaux sumac
 * Connors later planted 5 more
 * See blog post by Hess
 * Wilkerson Planting (4 Nov)
 * Planted approximately 3 acres
 * Temple Flat Rock tour for this Saturday
 * 15 people registered, which is about the limit on that resource
 * informational hike followed by milkweed planting
 * Wilkerson January 1 event
 * Shouse will follow up with Wilkerson staff about registration and limits on numbers of people
 * Prairie Ridge - February - Connors will follow up to find an event
 * Hemlock Bluffs - March - Snow will follow up with Mark Johns to find a salamander-related event
 * Swift Creek - April - Hammerbacher will handle
 * Harris Lake - 21 May - Longleaf Festival - Blank will ask Perlmutter to do a lichen hike


 * Need to be more active on social media
 * Katyee will help build a campaign around the #WakeWonders

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

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


 * Future WakeNature work days
 * Tabled until December planning meeting

//**Other Business**//

 * Construction drawings are being created for Turnipseed
 * Tending to favor one parking lot and a wetland bridge rather than two parking lots without a bridge - don't have enough funding for it all
 * New Director at Walnut Creek - Stacie Hagwood - started recently