Attendees

1. News from the Partnership Office/Assoc. Director's Priorities and Activities
   
   
   1. Budget news
      
      $310,000 operating increase for the National Partnership Office to manage the Partnership Construction Process still remains after House appropriations markup but has been moved to the NPS Construction program (Associate Director Sue Masica's shop). So long as it can be accessed to meet the agency's mission this is no problem.
   
   
   
   2. Staffing news
      
      The Partnership Office welcomes Chris Soller, Partnership Program Coordinator, and Rich Fedorchak, Partnership Training Manager. Chris's portfolio will include partnership construction projects. He will EOD on June 26 and has been in the office on detail from Gateway NRA. Rich will be on-board at the Mather Training Center on August 1. He will be making a move from Grand Teton NP and will be picking up on all the good work done by Celeste Bernardo. Interviews are currently underway to fill the NPS Tourism Manager position.
   
   
   
   3. Status of agreements with the NPF
      
      Final touches are being made to a general agreement between the NPS and National Park Foundation regarding corporate campaigns benefiting national parks. This agreement will clarify national marketing exclusivity for Proud Partners of America's National Parks. The language from this agreement will inform the three party agreement under develop between the NPS, Foundation and Unilever and will also be used to provide interim guidance to the field related to corporate marketing in DO #21. The agreement will be forwarded to the Partnership Council once it is finalized.
   
   
   4. NPS Advisory Board-Philanthropy update
      
      The NPS Advisory Board Philanthropy Committee working group is meeting in Washington, DC this week. NPS lead on the Committee, which is chaired by LaJuanna Wilcher from the NPS Advisory Board, is John Debo, Superintendent, Cuyahoga Valley NP. A letter from the Director has been forwarded to the Secretary outlining the committee's proposed charge and potential committee members.
   
   
   
   5. DO 21 update
      
      Discussions are currently taking place between the NPS and the Department on key aspects of DO #21, including prohibited source vetting, corporate campaign exclusivity, and authorities and thresholds for accepting donations. This Department-wide analysis will inform the revision of DO #21, which the Partnership Office hopes to have out for comment in the coming weeks.


2. Workgroup Reports
   
   
   1. Building Better Partnerships Work Group
      
      Transmittals were recently sent to the appropriations committee on the Peopling of America exhibit project at the Statue of Liberty and two projects at Yellowstone NP. Projects under review in the Partnership Office include Cape Cod Highlands Center, USS Arizona Memorial and various trails projects. Samantha Richardson at the DSC has been assisting the Partnership Office in the development of a partnership construction process brochure.
   
   
   
   2. Capacity Building Work Group - No report this month.
   
   
   
   3. Communications and Marketing Work Group
      
      Diana Maxwell reported that the group's work has focused on the partnership website. More info/recommendations will be presented at the upcoming Partnership Council meeting.
   
   
   
   4. Implementation Work Group - No report this month.
   
   
   
   5. NPS/NPF Coordination/communication Work Group
      
      
      1. Proud Partner Activities/News - A Proud Partner meeting will be held at Grand Teton NP June 14-17. The meeting is designed as a donor cultivation opportunity in an inspirational park setting. Director Mainella, Chris Jarvi and Partnership Office representatives will attend.
      
      
      
      2. Executive Exchange Fellowship-Unilever - A draft announcement for the National Park Partnership Executive Exchange Program, made possible by the National Park Foundation with generous support from Unilever a Proud Partner of America's National Parks, has been circulated to the Partnership Council for review/comment. Please provide any comments to John Piltzecker in the Partnership Office by June 17.
      
      
      
      3. Communication Summit - Julia Washburn summarized the outcome of a recent planning meeting to discuss communications between the NPS and National Park Foundation. The recommendation from the meeting was not to have one large summit, but instead to take advantage of available opportunities-such as the NLC, Partnership Council meetings, superintendents' conferences, etc.-for dialogue about communications between the Service and the Foundation. Julia Washburn and John Piltzecker will facilitate a session at the upcoming training for new superintendents.
      
      
      
   6. Training Work Group
      
      Look for more news when Rich Fedorchak begins in August. TEL-NET satellite broadcast training on grants, schedule for August in partnership with APPL, will be moved to fall to allow Rich to re-formulate the working group established by Celeste Bernardo.
   
   
   
   7. Urban Re-positioning Work Group
      
      Bob McIntosh reported that the City Parks Alliance recently held their second conference in Buffalo, NY. Several parks participated and discussed a broader agenda between NPS and the City Parks Alliance.
   
   
   
   8. Partnership Foundation Statement Work Group
      
      The work group has been developing a philosophical document about what partnerships are to be used for "partnership training 101." There is an opportunity to discuss with Rich Fedorchak once he's on the job and to add to the agenda for the upcoming Partnership Council meeting.
   
   
   
3. Other Business
   
   
   1. Fall Partnership Council Meeting
      
      Currently scheduled for the last week of October in Omaha. Marty Sterkel will be putting together a planning team with the help of John Piltzecker.
   
   
   
   2. 4C's update/Pending APPL Contract and Centers of Excellence
      
      
      • A draft agreement between the NPS and APPL was circulated to the Partnership Council for review and comment. John Piltzecker and Donna Asbury discussed the objectives of the proposed Centers of Excellence and Partnership Skills Bank and the need for planning/coordination. Please send any comments on the agreement to John Piltzecker by June 17.
      
      
      
      • "Service First" pending legislation - Chris Jarvi discussed Service First, first passed as legislation by Congress in 1998 to improve customer service and efficiency. BLM has been working with the Department to extend and expand this legislation to other agencies, broadening its scope in areas such as transferring funds without cost, joint contracting and budgeting and inter-agency delivery systems.
      
      
      
   3. White House Conference update
      
      The White House Conference on Cooperative Conservation is scheduled for August 29-31 in St. Louis. Approximately 600 participants-mostly non-federal-are expected to attend. Glenn Eugster provided background on the work of session workgroup planners.
   
   
   
   4. "Shared Identity" issue Steve Elkinton
      
      Steve Elkinton discussed the need for NPS graphic identity standards for heritage area, national trails and affiliated areas. Marty Sterkel, Gary Candelaria, Brianna McDonald and Steve discussed forming a work group to study NPS graphic standards for partnership areas.
   
   
   
   5. Website Vetting/Discussion of Recent Fundraising/Membership Additions
      
      Additions to the Partnership website forwarded to the Partnership Office will be circulated for Partnership Council review and discussion at the next call-in.