Date: Mon, 28 Jun 1999 13:51:02 -0400
To: wfharris@utk.edu
From: pick@pick.uga.edu (John Pickering)
Subject: Leadership of Discover Life in America
Cc: sbogartg01@ten-nash.ten.k12.tn.us, QBoyd@aol.com, hjansson@ncarboretum.org,
        devore@fas.harvard.edu, wfharris@utk.edu, Johnson.2@osu.edu,
        tkiernan@npca.org, mlane@ukans.edu, lowe@opie.bgsu.edu,
        grsm_friends_of_grsm_np@nps.gov, jmorse@clemson.edu, pick@pick.uga.edu,
        sriecher@utk.edu, jltabor@sacam.oren.ortn.edu,
        msharkey@byron.ca.uky.edu, skillen@pick.uga.edu, pswhite@unc.edu,
        mjwillia@tricon.net, Karen_Ballentine@nps.gov, Phil_Francis@nps.gov,
        keith_langdon@nps.gov, becky_nichols@nps.gov, chuck_parker@nbs.gov,
        Dana_Soehn@nps.gov, Mike_Soukup@nps.gov, GRSM_Superintendent@nps.gov,
        padler@clemson.edu, padler@clemson.edu, randerson@mus-nature.ca,
        ebernard@utk.edu, moth@ra.msstate.edu,
        rcarroll@sparrow.ecology.uga.edu, Gladys_Cotter@usgs.gov,
        cvcove01@homer.louisville.edu, scover@oeb.harvard.edu,
        coyle@wpoff.wcu.edu, mnhen045@sivm.si.edu, denny_fenn@usgs.gov,
        jody@discoverlife.org, mark_fornwall@usgs.gov, sgardner1@unl.edu,
        craig.guyer@ag.auburn.edu, whallwac@sas.upenn.edu, lhirsch@si.edu,
        mivie@montana.edu, djanzen@sas.upenn.edu, mkaspari@ou.edu,
        WCLINZD@wc.cc.va.us, tlovejoy@worldbank.org,
        SMARSHALL@evbhort.uoguelph.ca, JMCHUGH@bugs.ent.uga.edu,
        lorelei@teleport.com, pulliam@ecology.uga.edu, sbt4@cdc.gov,
        praven@nas.edu, mroossinck@noble.org, schwartzm@em.agr.ca,
        dsmith@sel.barc.usda.gov, dksmith@utkux.utcc.utk.edu,
        sstephenson@mail.fscwv.edu, cthompso@sel.barc.usda.gov,
        dwagner@uconnvm.uconn.edu, gwatters@postbox.acs.ohio-state.edu,
        wilson.don@nmnh.si.edu, ewilson@oeb.harvard.edu

Frank,

Delighted that you're taking over the reins of Discover Life in America and
the ATBI.  This coming year, I won't have the time to devote the energy
that is needed to keep our momentum going and organize our annual meeting.
Among other things, I have a heavy teaching responsibility this fall.

Two things that I feel that you should take on in your new role.  At our
May board meeting, we decided that I, as Chair, should form a Strategic
Planning Committee.  I've put this off, as I feel that the new Chair should
set this important committee in motion.  You know the players.  Ball in
your court.  Good luck.

Secondly, we need to distribute the additional $20K that we voted for the
taxonomists.  I spoke with Mike Sharkey about this and he thought it would
be better if Peter White oversees the RFP and distribution of this money.
In addition to the taxonomy team leaders, I recommend that this RFP be
distributed to individual scientists.  In this regard, please ask Jody to
send copies of the eventual RFP to Terry Erwin (as part of the incipient
beetle team) and Don Linzey (mammals).  I hope both will respond with
mini-proposals.  Last time conflict of interest concerns were raised
regarding who distributes and receives such funds.  Again, I'll leave it up
to you to resolve this process fairly.

While I'm stepping aside as Chair, Discover Life in America and the ATBI
will continue to have my full support as a scientist and educator.  I spent
this weekend setting up traps in burned plots to document the effects of
fire on insect communities in the Park's old-growth pine forest, for
example.  I'll also continue to oversee the website.  Please do not
hesitate to call on me for help.

Best wishes in you new charge.  You have my strongest support.

Cheers,
Pick

_________________________________________________________
John Pickering
Institute of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-2602
Office: 706-542-1115                                 Messages: 706-542-3379
Laboratory:  706-542-1388                              FAX: 706-542-3344

e-mail: pick@pick.uga.edu                              Home: 706-353-7076
Web sites:     <www.discoverlife.org>       <http://dial.pick.uga.edu>
_________________________________________________________

Discover Life in America | Who's Involved | Crrespondence | John Pickering - 28 June, 1999