FOS Meeting Notes -- January 12

In attendance, Dirk Faegre, Janet Michaud, Burt Allaire, Pauline Angione, Bill Zoellick, Fran Rhodes, Stephanie Clement, John Kelly

Newsletter

Dirk passed around the draft.  There was general agreement that it looked good and ready to send out.

Dirk pointed out that it is time to get working on the next one.  Content should include:

• gatehouse training (need dates)
• gatehouse work
• trail work
• shore cleanups
• science assistance
• artist in residence assistance
• other assistance related to Kate's work
• "spruce up" projects related to SERC (e.g., repaint entrance to Schooner Club)
• implementation projects related to SERC as needed (e.g., furniture assembly)

The goal is to get the next one out in the April timeframe.

Dirk felt we should also include something about SERC to explain about administrative structure, current status, and plans.  John Kelly said that the NPS is currently working on a brochure that might serve at least some of this purpose.

Report on meeting with Kate Petrie

Fran reported on her conversation with Kate, which resulted in a list of Kate's activities.

• school age (age 5-8) education program -- park based environmental program (overall group size of around 30)
• artist in residence program
• resource Acadia public seminars

What she needs is help in raising donations (money, supplies) for the programs, help in publicizing the programs, and volunteer help in working with the children's program.  She is looking for scholarships to support the age 5-8 program (each child needs $35 in support for the meals over the 3 days)

Janet noted that there are potential synergies with Jackson Lab, since they retire equipment that could be useful.  Fran will meet with Janet and with Deb Wade, Kate's supervisor in the park.  (Kate is on winter break at the moment and teaching at U of Maine at the moment.)

Notes and News items

• January 29 -- Audubon is running a  bird identification project here at Schoodic Point -- limited to 15
• we received a $500 donation
• Trail maintenance for fall cleanup was completed.

John Kelly Report

In November there was a design session to explore what is required to create a good meeting facility.  Current thinking is that commissary would be replaced.  This would need to be done by Fall of 06. 

$3.8 million was available for NPS ... $3.3 will be used for facility rehab ... about $500K goes to SERC

Jim McKenna is the new hire as SERC coordinator -- reporting to Sheridan.  He will be focused full time on developing the educational and research programs for the Park Service at SERC.  McKenna is from Connecticut and has a Ph.D. in oceanography from Univ of Rhode Island.  He worked at Williams College/Mystic Seaport studies program.  He most recent employment was as a private consultant.  He starts February 8.

The hiring of the Executive Director for Acadia Partners position is still in progress.