Outreach, Partnerships, Endorsements, Nature
Quest/Hunt/BioBlitz Planning
Outreach, Partnerships, Endorsements, Nature
Quest/Hunt/BioBlitz Group 12/16/98
Members: John Morse, Peter Adler, Christi Gaasch, Brian Shultens, Meg
Mabbs, David Wagner, Becky Nichols, Richard Brown, Bill Klein, Paul
Johnson, Carolyn P., Ken McFarland, George Carroll, Bob Dellinger, et
al.
Paul Johnson- Earthwatch - put grant proposal together in 1 year in
advance; train volunteers takes time; benefits may be minimal; target
groups to get most benefit; e.g. pitfall trap line task
Wagner- Nature Quest-a borrowed idea; generates voucher specimens; works
well with media; a timed (e.g. 24 hr) event; may be more than one taxa;
sorting teams-public or not; scoreboard; always a win/win
project
Want charismatic person to be present; Teams from colleges compete for
most collected
McFarland- Wildflower Pilgrimage-90 subject specialists; may dovetail
nicely
Morse- SC Div of Naturalists has similar
NPS- Corporate sponsors- a per specimen donation
Bill Klein- concerns of destruction of habitat
Meg Mabbs- rules of project can be spelled out, minimizing impact
Idea of taking of sample that isn't found again- Resource protection
Knowledge of target groups that would be best for the task at hand
Mabbs- Volunteers- training concerns
Morse- Each twig to determine how to best use volunteers; Identify
endorsements to ATBI
Gaasch- give species list to volunteers for them to look for in an area;
Have "Determined by" portion for reporter
Shultens- difference between public & scientific data gathering;
Public info must have minimum data required- from design team
Shultens- Idea of documenting specimens- collecting specimens needed
esp for insects
Nichols- perception of public to collecting
Vocal component that will oppose collecting
Carolyn P. - Info panels at quiet walkways; scientists need to get with
educators
Adler- Mentorship establish link bet. Educators and scientists
Overload for some taxa deficit for others
Have scientists involved in Quest and others involved in education
Identify endorsement opportunities- education as well as science
Gassch- Master gardener program an idea; scientists can train volunteers-
Master Naturalist- each Master can then choose their interest (50 hr min
commitment for each participant) Research or Education
Carolyn- idea of scientists training educators who would then train
volunteers
Make sure you don't lose contact with the science
Gaasch- have small (20 people) Quest for first year (Diptera?) involve
media but not make it huge
Field ID only as other detailed ID can't always be done in field
'TWIG Quest' in 1999
Then have ATBI planning team (Aug 99) have plan ready ( Dec 99) for big
ATBI Nature Quest in 2000
Endorsements and Parterships-
TWIG prof organization lists (names and addresses) by Mar 1 '99;
Letters and brochures to orgs by Apr 1, 99 -Need Logo ready by then
(Use recycled content paper to not turn off constituents)
PM session
Additional members: Kitty Esco, John Smith, Richard Brown, Pick sat in
Nature Quest- Gaasch -refocus media attention to minimize negative impact
from collection
Education component - what is in the plot being surveyed by scientists
(e.g. vegetation)
Quietly start with one taxon to find out the pitfalls
Idea- catch and release for some taxa; collect for others;
Wagner- Will check into opposition at the Walden Nature Quest -(Ellen
Sinski, Peter Alden )- will turn info to Bob Miller
Adler- focus on taxa that grab public attention; Get Ed Wilson as the
spokes person to spin collection dissent? ; Flies not good for such
event?; hard to id on site
This year should combine Dipterists with Wilson visit; next year Lep Quest
would be catch and release
Brown- work thru PR person expert to check facts of report?
Pick- Identify specialists to ask about pitfalls
Esco- have info in press release format (Miller)
Get sound bites from Wilson as well as Wade and others
Endorsements & Partnerships
Twig leaders- solicit endorsements; Master list (name & address of
contact person) will be available for the entire ATBI not just Groups
Nature Quest Committee- Gaasch/Esco; include educators and
scientists, Nichols, Miller, Susan Sachs?, (Adler will contact Brian
Wigman)
Gaasch will contact Ken Voorhis (Tremont), Becky Nichols, and Bob Miller
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Amateur work, records , funds -Paul Johnson
Professional Organizations endorsements- TWIGS -Jody, Pick
Destructive Sampling, direct collateral, collecting -Keith
Mentorship Program -Education committee
Master Naturalist Program- Education committee
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Mentor program - Structure issues- no $$ for it; Education specialists
help with this;
Educator liason- Tremont?
Brown- Levels of mentorship needed? Focal point coordinator-
Shultens- Have shadowing mentorship type of program (several days)
accompany scientist
Gaasch-Master Naturalist - should be done by Park