Attendees

1. Update from WASO - Chris Jarvi
   1. Council Chair
      • Regional Representatives have been invited to submit nominations for a new Council Chair to replace Glenn Eugster, who is stepping down to participate in planning for the White House Conference on Cooperative Conservation.
      • Marty Sterkel has offered to serve in the interim.
      • Regional Representatives: Please submit nominations for Council Chair to Chris Jarvi with a cc to John Piltzecker by April 19.
   2. Budget Hearing
      • Word was that the budget hearing scheduled for April 7 may be postponed.
      • Areas of interest at the hearing are expected to include partnership construction projects, the National Park Foundation and Proud Partner Program, cooperating associations and the NPS publications program.
   3. Building Better Partnership Process
      • Three transmittal letters are being prepared for Departmental review: An initial consultation letter for the Peopling of America project at the Statue of Liberty; a review and approval letter for projects at Gettysburg, Grand Teton and Yellowstone (two projects); and a letter highlighting projects that are completed, are substantially underway or are no longer partnership projects. These projects preceded the new Partnership Construction Process.
      • Chris Jarvi has requested a phone conversation with Regional Partnership Coordinators to discuss how the Building Better Partnerships Process is working. John Piltzecker will coordinate a call-in time with Chris and the Regional Coordinators.
   4. National Park Foundation
      • The General Agreement between the NPS and NPF was signed and will be forwarded to the Council. The Partnership Office will work with Ray Murray on where the document can be posted on the Partnership website.
      • The agreement between the NPS and NPF regarding the newest Proud Partner, Unilever, has been signed by the NPF and is now being reviewed by GAO. An umbrella marketing agreement, updating the current marketing agreement, is in development and should be completed by May.
      • The Council discussed the proposed fifth Signature Grant Program Area submitted by Julia Washburn as a follow-up to discussion at this issue at the last Partnership Council meeting. The recommendation was to adopt the fifth Program Area but to have Chris Jarvi work with the Foundation to clarify the title of the program in order to avoid the term "national significance." "National importance" was discussed as an option.
   5. NPS Advisory Board
      • Tom Ross is working with a committee of the NPS Advisory Board on health and recreation. John Debo has agreed to work with the Advisory Board as NPS lead on a committee to study fundraising and friend-raising in the NPS.
   6. PART (Program Assessment Rating Tool)
      • Both Tom Ross's and Corky Mayo's team are undergoing an OMB PART review
2. Workgroup Reports
   1. Partnership Foundation Statement Work Group
      • Linda Moery shared the proposal by the Partnership Foundation Statement Work Group. Feedback was positive. Substantive discussion was moved to the next Partnership Council call-in. Please review this proposal and send thoughts and comments to Linda Moery by April 19.
   2. Breakfast Club (Bob McIntosh)
      • Bob McIntosh discussed a proposal for the George Wright Society to develop an urban track for their next meeting, which will be in two years.