Discover Life in America

Lorelei Norvell - 29 March, 1999

Re: Nature Quest

Date: Mon, 29 Mar 1999 16:56:28 -0500 (EST)
Message-Id: <199903292156.QAA03452@dial.pick.uga.edu>
To: "cgaasch" <cgaasch@randomc.com>
From: lorelei@teleport.com (Lorelei Norvell)
Subject: Re: Nature Quest
Cc: dl@discoverlife.org, Jody Flemming <jody@discoverlife.org>,
        Keith Langdon <Keith_Langdon@nps.gov>,
        John Pickering <pick@discoverlife.org>,
        "Dr. Michael J. Sharkey"  <msharkey@ca.uky.EDU>,
        Rex Lowe <lowe@opie.bgsu.edu>, Kevin Skeeters <kwskee0@hotmail.com>,
        Dana Soehn <dana_soehn@nps.gov>, lorelei@teleport.com,
        ret@pluto.njcc.com, Allein <astanley@i-america.net>, MycoMs@aol.com

Hi Christi --

Well you at least relieved my late night anxieties --for the past three
weeks I've been waking up at 3 am remembering I STILL have neglected to
bring you up to speed on who what when and where of the Memorial Day soiree.
NOW, of course, I've misplaced my list, but I do know who should be placed
on the general notification list in addition to me....

1.  Macrofungal TWIG Coordinator Rod Tulloss <ret@pluto.njcc.com>
2.  North American Mycological Association President Allein Stanley
<astanley@i-america.net>
3.  Asheville Mushroom Club -- GSMNP-ATBI Liaison and facilitator, Theresa
Rey <MycoMs@aol.com>

All three have spent the past weekend in a transect setting and workshop.
The Asheville club is forming a hardy nucleus of volunteers to work the
transect, process specimens, etc, once all the glitches are worked out.
Right now the largest problem is money and time.  Alas -- those two problems
will always be with us, but I'm hoping to minimize them considerably,

With respect to the Mary 27-31 kick-off celebration, I know that Theresa and
Susan Mitchell (the club president, whose email is Susan Mitchell
<Sachem@CITCOM.net>) are eager to know all the logistics.  We've all been
operating in the dark, and so it is time to get as much information as we
can.  Unfortunately neither Rod nor Allein will be able to be in the Smokies
at that time, and I personally am somewhat hesitant to spend some of our
hard-won funds on flying me hither and thither.  Whether I attend or not all
depends on the wishes of Rod, Allein, and the Asheville crew.  (To say I
desperately want to be there is an understatement, but perhaps I can
contribute more at a distance).

Somewhere in one of the letters I understand that the planning meeting is
scheduled for April 24 -- alas I have previous commitments which mean that I
would be unable to attend then in person (unless you want to attempt a
conference call!!), and suggest that you contact Theresa to find out who
might able to represent the Fungal TWIG at that time.  Allein may also have
some excellent ideas as well.  

Regarding our celebration, it would be helpful if we could also encourage
some mycological taxonomists to come at that time, but unfortunately the
timing -- Memorial Day -- has two big drawbacks -- one is that school is
still in session for some, the other is the sheer mass of humanity that will
be assaulting the park.  I'm hoping we can work around that.

Keep us all current on what is transpiring.  

Warmly,

Lorelei Norvell
TWIG Coordinator, Kingdom Fungi 

>Hey you all!  Things here have been very busy and I haven't had time to do
much with the Nature Quest.  I assume you all are busy as well, but can you
please send me names and comments regarding the February 25 message.  I've
attached it to refresh your memory.  Thanks.

>From: "cgaasch" <cgaasch@randomc.com>
>To: <kesco@arches.uga.edu>,
>	<spruance@infinet.com>,
>	<lorelei@teleport.com>,
>	<bweigman@unity.ncsu.edu>
>Cc: <dl@discoverlife.org>
>Subject: Nature Quest committee
>Date: Thu, 25 Feb 1999 12:20:02 -0500

>Kitty, Eric, Lorelei and Brian,
>
>Pick has asked me to try and coordinate a first meeting about the upcoming
Nature Quest.  We are to select additional members and then elect three
co-coordinators.  The members should represent communications, education,
science and other teams and committees.  Please select a few people that you
think would be helpful in getting this thing up and going and particularly
anyone that may want to be a co-coordinator.  Of course, if you would like
this honor, you may volunteer yourself!  
>
>In addition, I have drafted some very simplistic goals, objectives and
results from the outreach discussion group in December.  I have asked Peter
Adler, my co-facilitator of the meeting, to edit and return to me.  I would
like for you all to look at it and add, change, etc.  I will then make
corrections and a final revision.  
>
>If you are unfamiliar with the details of the Nature Quest, I will tell you
what I know (more than likely you all probably know more than I.)  The first
Nature Quest will occur May 27-31, 1999.  Ant, fly, fungi and lep. people
have expressed interest in participating.  It looks like ants will probably
not be included this first year.  I'm not sure about leps.  Pick requested
fund for us, but none were approved.  However, $16,000 will be made
available to four Taxonomy Teams, including Diptera and Fungi, and $8,000,
to equip a new training/sorting/processing/data center at Cosby.  You can
find more information through the www.discoverlife.org and linking to "Great
Smokies" then "Planning" and finally "Nature Quests." 
>
>So for now, please send me names and corrections by March 10 and forward
any correspondence to dl@discoverlife.org.  Thanks!  You can reach me by
phone at 770-936-5455.
>
>Christi
>
>Outreach Group
>
>Nature Quest Discussion
>
>Executive Summary
>
>The Nature Quest has two main initiatives: science and public education.
Each initiative has different goals, objectives and results as follows:
>
>Science
>
>Goal: To collect and inventory all large number of specimens and species in
a short amount of time. To inventory all of the species that occur in the
Park - ATBI
>
>Objective: A Nature Quest: simultaneously coordinate a few taxonomic groups
(flies, fungi, ants and leps have been suggested) to inventory the Park (or
certain key areas) for as many species and specimens as possible from May
27-31, 1999. 
>
>Result: Distribution maps for selected taxa based on the findings to be
presented at the next General Evaluation and Planning Meeting, December 8-10.
>
>Public Education
>
>Goal: To educate the public about biodiversity and it's importance as it
pertains to ecology, quality of life, management practices, etc.
>
>Objective: Use the Nature Quest to attract public attention through
educational programs and volunteer efforts coordinated in conjunction with
the event. Also to use the event to attract media attention.
>
>Results: Publicity of ATBI and Discover Life in America to a wide audience,
both local and distant.

>Things to consider:
>
>1. While recruiting media attention be sure to explain the purpose of ATBI
without reflecting too much on killing specimens.
>
>2. Keep in mind that different taxonomic groups will require different
collecting and sampling techniques and those participating need to
coordinate their collecting so as not to impact each other's results negatively.
>
>3. Involve local schools and people through educational programs and
volunteer efforts.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lorelei Norvell, PhD                                      
      Editor, Inoculum (MSA Newsletter)
      GSMNP-ATBI Fungal TWIG Coordinator
Pacific Northwest Mycology Service
6720 NW Skyline Blvd
Portland, OR 97229-1309 USA
VOX  503 297-3296 FAX 503 296-6745
<lorelei@teleport.com>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~




Discover Life in America | Science | Nature Quests | Norvell - 29 March, 1999