NPS Partnership Council Conference Call Highlights
August 3, 2004

  1. Update from WASO - Chris Jarvi
    1. Hiring Status/Approval of Budget
      • Partnership Chief - Non-federal cert-listing has been received. Waiting on federal cert-listing.
      • Tourism Chief - Interviews brought out 3 top candidates. Wants to talk to each individual again regarding their ability to deal with low funding.
      • Youth Program - Working on dual approach. One is recruitment using the cert listing. Alternative is hiring from SES (Senior Executive Service) with experience in youth services and Job Corps/work camp sites.
    2. Valley Forge Visitor Center - Going over entire project applying partnership construction process with a project team for the first time.
    3. Golden Age Pass - Working with the National Park Foundation (NPS) over the last 3 months. 160,000 passes went out without sticker, but 400,000 more will go out with sticker. This will provide the NPF a list of seniors who are more prone to providing donations.
    4. RTCA Strategic Plan - Has gone out to Partnerships Council for comment.
    5. GAO Report - NPF working with Secretary's Office and is hoping to have a resolution by Friday.
    6. Ford Hybrid - Ford had say where the cars went based on population and maintenance service capability. NPS raised concerns with the NPF about the commercial nature of the roll-promotions in parks that allow visitors to test drive Hybrids in the Parks. Foundation will make necessary efforts to resolve and cut agreements.

      Yellowstone initiated Toyota Prius donations with shrink wrap around cars. This is another concern. Will be having policy meetings.
    7. Agency Head Round Table - Discussed land management issues such as communications, drought, and fundraising (capital projects) and a list of Lake Mead - Outside Las Vegas inter-agency partnership obstacles. Chris would like the Partnership Council to comment on them and address any thoughts or other obstacles to him. Things could change and the next meeting will address how we keep the momentum going from the Joint Ventures Conference.
    8. Junior Rangers - Ongoing fundraising efforts in Glacier National Park and Texas. Fundraising fforts have been kept low key for now until they reach the 50% point. Goal is $10 mil.
  2. DO 21 Update - Karyn Ferro
    DO-21 update will be forwarded to council when provided.
  3. Training Update - Celeste Bernardo
    Working with Partnership Agreements TEL course rescheduled for November 3 and 4, 2004. (Sixty-one people registered as of August 5, 2004.)

    Building a Partnership Workplace TEL course scheduled for September 2, 2004 from 12 to 4pm ET. (Forty people registered as of August 5, 2004.)

    We requested TEL broadcast time for the months of March, April, May, and June 2005 to offer modules on DO 21: Donations and Fundraising.

    The NPS Partnership Training Specialist will present a session on the NPS Partnership Competencies on August 11 to the Interagency Training Director's Council as part of the 4Cs initiative to develop Department-wide partnership competencies. They suggested the NPS Partnership Competencies as a model for the Department.

    Planning continues for the 2005 Partnership Competencies Needs Assessment. We are exploring possibilities of working with Dr. Brett Wright, Department Chair, Department of Parks, Recreation, & Tourism Management at Clemson University. Dr. Wright has completed competency needs assessments for NPS Interpretation, Cultural Resources (at http://www.nps.gov/training/crs/crfinalreportcover2.doc), and Natural Resources (at http://www.nps.gov/training/nrs/nrsfinalreport.doc) career fields.
  4. Challenge Cost Share Grant Criteria - Emailed to Council members for comment.
  5. FY05 Meeting Discussion - Marty Sterkel
    Goal is to have a Partnership Council "face to face" meeting in D.C. the first quarter of FY05. Marty asked conference call attendees for recommendations. Two time frames were identified: Oct 25-29 Oct (most popular) and November 8-12.
  6. Insurance Workgroup - Marty Sterkel
    Marty has been working with Jeff Bernstein on requirements for different levels of insurance needed for concessions, construction, Friends Alliance, partnership projects, etc. Goal is to develop consistency.