ATBI Volunteer Plan
Date: Sun, 14 Feb 1999 16:49:44 -0500
From: Keith Langdon <Keith_Langdon@nps.gov>
To: Becky Nichols <Becky_Nichols@nps.gov>,
Karen Ballentine <Karen_Ballentine@nps.gov>, jody@discoverlife.org,
tkiernan@npca.org, Glenn Bogart <bogartg01@ten-nash.ten.k12.tn.us>,
jmorse@clemson.edu, sriecher@utk.edu,
Susan Sachs <SachsS@ten-nash.ten.k12.tn.us>, msharkey@byron.ca.uky.edu,
ken@smokiesnha.org, "Elizabeth L. Skillen" <skillen@pick.uga.edu>
Cc: GRSM Friends of GRSM NP <GRSM_Friends_of_GRSM_NP@nps.gov>,
pick@discoverlife.org, mjwillia@tricon.net, pswhite@unc.edu,
wfharris@utk.edu, dl@discoverlife.org
Subject: Re: ATBI Volunteer Plan
Elizabeth -
I couldn't get into the "planning" section of "Great Smokies" on the
website. Anyway, despite all the time we spent on this topic at our
difficult meeting at Clemson, I continue to think on this topic...
Let's assume we are talking about using volunteers not associated with
any organized nature study type society, for extending the SCIENCE (as
opposed for publicity reasons) of the ATBI. I think that we could
develop and train a dedicated group of generalist volunteers to
tremendous effect in the ATBI. While I continue to be skeptical about
the wisdom of having large groups (hundreds or thousands) of
unoriented and untrained volunteers descend on the Park for several
reasons, I personally would like to be involved with recruiting and
"growing" a corps of folks to help with the science. Specifically, I
think that such a group is essential to expanding our distributional
work from the plots to the rest of the Park.
We have already started producing species distribution maps here by
using computer modelling of known points of prescence/abscence. Even
if the intensive plots provide 100 or 200 such points we will still
need alot more points in order to do effective and reasonably accurate
modelling of Park distributions...and this is what we always lack.
We could train 100-200 folks - maybe many more,in time - in what the
ATBI is about,orient them to the physical Park, train them in : map &
compass work, how to handle data, how to do quality control while
measuring/recording/transcribing/entering data, how their data will be
used, backcountry safety, use of cell phones (?) commerial GPS and
portable radios, and other topics. Organized into teams of smaller
numbers, issued logo'ed T-shirts, provided with social opportunities
to get to know each other, scientists and the Park staff...and I think
we will have created a corps of volunteer "scientists" that can take
the project thru to its completion.
I would use them much as Pick has stated, but I would more formally
link them to what goes on in the plots....TWiGs survey for ants or
ferns or caddisflies or copepods in plots but schedule time on the
calendar for the corps to sample throughout a section or the entire
Park. This might take a couple days or a few weeks, depending on the
resolution of the sampling needed. Since we're talking all life here,
sampling could be at nite with light traps, or in the winter for woody
or evergreen plants or landsnails to name a few. (Of course, not all
species groups lend themselves to this type of collection.)
I think we could schedule regular forays year-round for the corps,
perhaps months in advance, depending on progress in the plots.
Taxonomists could brief them on specialty knowledge in
collecting/preservation, and they could augment semi-professional
clubs devoted to particular taxonomic groups. I would suggest that the
corps' team leaders would have to work directly with a full-time
volunteer coordinator (employee of DLIA?)
Any products, especially the maps of particular species, should have
volunteers names on them, if possible.
I think this will work, and that this "Corps of Discovery" could
become one of the key copied elements of the ATBI idea in the future.
Post this if you wish.
Keith
______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: ATBI Volunteer Plan
Author: "Elizabeth L. Skillen" <skillen@pick.uga.edu> at NP--INTERNET
Date: 2/11/99 1:56 PM
Folks,
At a recent DLIA budget conference call, Jody, Keith and I were charged by
Mary Williams to facilitate discussions about how volunteers might get
involved in the ATBI. I am writing to ask for input and ideas about how
we begin the process of involving individuals and groups that have been
begging Jody, Keith and Pick for something to do. We have come up with a
few ideas and need input from each of you. I have put a draft plan up on
the Web for you to review. Please visit <http://www.discoverlife.org>
click on "Great Smokies" then on "Planning" and finally "Volunteers &
Community Involvement." Our discussions will be posted under
"Correspondence" on this page.
We need input from each of you and welcome your suggestions. Send comments
to <dl@discoverlife.org>. The executive committee will have a conference
call again on February 18, and I would like to have feed back by then. No
pressure. Can't wait to hear from all of you. Thanks!
Eli
******************************************************************************
Elizabeth L. Skillen
711 Biological Sciences Building
Institute of Ecology, University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602
Phone: 706-542-1388
e-mail: skillen@discoverlife.org
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| Discover Life in America | Science | Involvement | Langdon - 15 February, 1999 |