There will be a financial report at each Executive Committee meeting and each annual meeting. We want to follow how we connect our work plan with expenditure of dollars and focus on how work items are progressing. Jim retrieved a two-page addition to the AGuide to Procedures@ regarding mail-in ballots. Jim will check minutes of earlier meetings to determine if they were approved and when. If they were, he will incorporate the changes in italics and then will use legislative edit to add new budget procedures for the Panel vote in Las Vegas.

New Members - Panel will vote on two new organizational members, the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission and the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. Panel will also vote on two individuals, one to represent the Inland-Industry interests and the other to represent Inland Academia/Research interests.

3. Visioning Session

Scott sent a draft vision to the Executive Committee yesterday. A suggestion was made to make the beginning section more inclusive, to involve building capacity for states, provinces, tribes and other special interest groups. Scott asked the Committee to send in their suggestions by December 14. He will incorporate and then send out again. Blaine mentioned that the tribes that he works with are not focused on ANS issues, unless a traditional food is impacted. The Committee discussed what is the vision of the Panel regarding tribes? One idea is to use some of the Panel funds and create an open proposal process that would encourage all members to participate, including tribes. Committees could set broad agenda with specific amounts and then request proposals on how to accomplish the work. The issue of competitive funds can be discussed in more detail at the committee meetings at the annual meeting.

4. Travel to WRP Meetings for members

John talked about concern by academic members that they have no travel budget for WRP meetings. Their travel comes from grants so is not allocated to WRP. How do we encourage academic members? Now we pay for people if they are a speaker at the annual meetings, but don=t pay for members to come. One option is for committees to identify certain amount of money for travel which could be used for those people who don't have organizational travel funding.

5. State ANS plans

Montana has declined the ANS workshop because they have decided to create their ANS plan on their own. We need to pick another state to fill the two slots that are currently funded. The Committee decided to have Mike Fraidenburg contact the two states that were being considered in the first round and make a decision about which state will be able to work with Mike to create a workshop in 2002.

6. Discussion of new Chair for 2002

Scott is interested in stepping down as Chair in 2002. The Executive Committee decided to review the status of the each of the members, determine if there needs to be change in the size of the Committee, and make suggestions for improving its functioning.

7. Other items

• Send out minutes to members. Solicit feedback each time.
• Jim Athearn suggested that during the Executive Committee meetings, we have committee chairs give reports on work plan progress.