WRP Executive Committee Meeting
August 9, 2001

Attendance: Tina Proctor, Scott Smith, Wendy Ralley, Mark Systma, Paul Heimowitz, Jim Athearn, Randy Brown. Mike Fraidenburg also attended.

Next Call: September 5th at 9:00 Pacific Time, 10:00 Mountain Time

1. ANS Workshops/Screening Process Workshop - Mike Fraidenburg

Revision of work plan has been sent to California and Montana to get their response. Bob Piorkowsky from Alaska is promoting the idea of staging their own workshop, with Fraidenburg's technical assistance.

Screening Process Workshop - on Washington Fish and Wildlife website. Mike solicited abstracts from presenters and asked for suggestions of issues to be facilitated. ExCom discussed what we want to get from the workshop. Scott suggested a list of what we agree on plus a list of what isn=t agreed on and what the problems are. It was suggested that we get a summary of the American Nursery and Landscape Association workshop that was held in May because similar issues were discussed there. Their Website is: www.anla.org. Scott said there is a lot of interest in the screening process workshop from all over the country - many people believe that this is the next wave of problems.

2. NISA Reauthorization

Need to send out next draft to whole panel--response due by August 15th. Scott will get updated version to Tina to send out.

3. Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

This is an organization of the Directors of state fish and wildlife agencies. Scott spoke at their meeting in Park City, Utah. The participants recognize the ANS problem, but there is no capacity built to address the issues. They will write a letter requesting help to write state ANS plans plus money for staff to help implement the plans. This letter can be used as support to help get increased funding.

4. WRP meeting agenda discussion

• State of the Panel - Scott Smith
  
• Brief Summary of Screening Process Workshop - Mike Fraidenburg
  
• Project Updates:
  • ANS Plan Facilitation Mike Fraidenburg
    
  • Rapid Response Plan Pat Akers
    
  • Brochure and Display Marsha Brockbank
• Brief update on ANS activities from states
• Need to add session on WRP Guide to Procedures - 4th year review responsibilities; budgeting, etc. Jim Athearn and Randy Brown will facilitate this review. The 4th year review allows the WRP to decide which Appointing Organizations will have voting positions. The Appointing Organizations can be changed at this time. Jim has drafted a guide to a budgeting and reporting process that will be reviewed by the ExCom and presented to the Panel. Portions of the guide will be incorporated into the meeting, such as a report on where the money has been spent this past year.
• Work plan and budget - Committees will meet by conference call before the meeting to discuss work plan. Then they will have a one hour session at WRP meeting plus have time on the agenda to do a presentation. The Coastal Committee recently held their conference call and asked for 3 hours for time to cover important issues such as mitten crab and green crab control, and ballast water research and management. Although Wendy Ralley has resigned as co-chair of the Inland Committee, she agreed to set up the conference call meeting for that Committee. Co-chair Krista Doebbler has also resigned as she moved from BuRec to BLM in the last few months.
• NISA Reauthorization - Linda Sheehan has agreed to lead discussion.
• Updates:
  West Coast Ballast Water Issue:
  100th Meridian Activities - Bob Pittman
  Lewis and Clark Activities - Denny Lassuy
• Headwaters vs. Talent court decision - Mark is working on getting a speaker for this topic
• Presentation from Nevada regarding ANS issue - Tina will call Anita Cook
• Success Story - Ted has lined up Steve Murray to talk about Caulerpa
• Legislation - Stop Westward Aquatic Threats Act - Scott
• Visioning the future of the WRP - thinking big!

Scott thanked Wendy for serving as co-chair of the Inland Committee and participating on the Executive Committee. Wendy will continue to be active in the WRP and is working with other provinces to encourage participation.