Attendees

1. Update from WASO - Chris Jarvi
   1. Partnership Office Selections
      • Welcome to John Piltzecker, who is the new Chief, Partnerships Office. He was chosen from 100 applicants.
      • Youth Program position is still in progress. Someone should be hired by November 1, 2004. Dan Smith is currently acting.
   2. Building Better Partnerships Projects Update
      • Getting broad concurrence. Devising what needs to be done next. Working on process (spreadsheet of projects, current status, and what needs to be done). Draft process has been shared with Lynn Scarlet and on Wednesday will informally share draft process with Deb Weatherly.
      • Excellent cooperation of regions and Regional Directors. Draft letter given to council. Once approved by the Director, GAP analysis/fact finding will be done. A quarterly report to Sub-Committee Chairman of Interior Appropriations will be done. If project is chosen, a presentation will be put together.
   3. National Leadership Council (16 Sep 2004) -Partnership Council Strategic Plan will be presented for approval by Chris Jarvi and Marty Sterkel. The RTCA Strategic Plan Draft will also be presented. RTCA money that was removed has been replaced.
2. DO 21 Update - Chris Niewold
   Work continues on the Reference Guide. Some policy issues are being resolved. We are planning for a public review by the Friends Alliance Meeting. We are also requesting assistance in identifying a writer/editor. Anne Moss was recommended.
3. Training Update - Celeste Bernardo
   
   • Jul 8th - Gateway Communities - Keys to Success - training offered by the Conservation Fund, FWS. 136 NPS participants attended.
   • Sept 2nd - Building a Partnership Workplace - Russ Linden (author of Working Across Boundaries: Collaboration in Government and Nonprofits), Brian O'Neill, Maria Burks, Gerard Baker, and Martha Bogle. 99 confirmed participants. 175 registered.
   • FY 05 Training
     • Nov 3 and 4 - Working with NPS Agreements for Partnerships. 169 registered.
     • March, April, May, June - DO 21 Training (TEL Event) A series of 4 different modules will be offered (Dates TBA) and will emphasize a different component of DO 21: Donations and Fundraising.
     • September 2005 - Managing Expectations: The Partnership Construction Process - (classroom training) The course provides superintendent and senior managers scheduled to begin a partnership construction project with an in depth understanding and the requirements of the Partnership Construction Process.
     • TBA 2005 - Tapping Grants through Partnerships - proposed course to be offered through partnership between NPS and Association of Partners for Public Lands.
     • Linda Moery, Nora Mitchell, and Celeste Bernardo will meet on September 21st to develop course objectives for the DO 21 and Construction Process courses.
   • Other
     Partnership Competencies Needs Assessment - received funding through NPS Training to conduct a NPS Service-wide Needs Assessment of partnership competencies in FY 2005. Funding also includes conducting a survey of NPS Partners in 2006. Partnership Council will be 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. National Park Foundation Program Update - Julie Washburn
   1. In May, the National Park Foundation Board approved NPF's Grant Program Areas and Signature Project Ideas for Visitor Experience, Volunteerism, Education and Community Engagement. These plans were created in collaboration with National Park Service staff from across the country and were approved by the National Park Service's National Leadership Council. This is the first time NPF has had an official approved list of fundraising priorities. The Foundation wishes to thank the Partnership Council for their help and advice throughout this process. The final report on the Foundation's program planning process will be printed this fall.
   2. The National Leadership Council asked the NPF to do some additional planning for the Foundation's fifth program area - Programs of National Significance. The Foundation worked with Dr. Ray Sauvajot from Santa Monica Mountains to begin this process with advice from Mike Soukup, Loran Fraser and John Reynolds. Ray conducted a series of interviews and wrote a concept paper for this program area. The NPF Board provided some feedback on the initial concept and directed the NPF staff to continue the planning process. Julia Washburn will ask the Partnership Council for comments and suggestions on the draft concept for this program area in the near future.
5. FY05 Meeting Discussion - Marty Sterkel
   Dates were penciled in for 27-29 Oct 2004 but this was not a solid commitment. Due to crowded agendas it is recommended to put off meeting for a little longer and look at dates that will not over burden attendees. This will give John Piltzecker an opportunity to get settled. Suggested agenda items to talk about are new directions, future of the council, assessment of accomplishments, and where we need to go next.
   
   Marty will visit with Chris this week and send out tentative meeting dates.
6. National Parks Volunteerism Enhancement Program
   The RFP closed on Friday, September 17, 2004. Nearly 110 proposals were received which is over four times the normal responses. As a result, notifications of selections may be delayed in order to allow time to coordinate additional review committees. The Partnership Council and applicants will be notified of anticipated delayed notification date upon determination.
   
   For questions contact Gerard Jolly at 202-238-4164.
7. Upcoming Events
   • Next Partnership Council Conference Call - 5 Oct 2004 @ 3pm EDT
   • Request for Proposals (RFPs) - "Best Lighting Practices Grant Program" proposals - due 29 Oct 2004
   • Development Advisory Board Meeting - 8 Nov 2004 in Washington, DC
   • NPF Superintendents Council Meeting - 15-16 Nov 2004 in Washington, DC
   • Friends Alliance Meeting - 17-20 Nov 2004 in San Francisco, CA
8. Expected RFPs in Mid-October - Gerard Jolly
   A number of RFPs are expected to release starting in mid-October. We are preparing for review by the Partnership Council. These include the following programs:
   • 2004 Kodak Digital Imaging Product Donation
   
   The Kodak Digital Imagining Donation program, when announced, will have a quick turnaround deadline for proposals. Kodak was able to secure a fairly large chunk of end of the year funds from their digital imaging division to develop the donation program but the orders will need to be in the system by the end of November. Hopefully full details will be provided by the next Partnership Council call.
   
   The grant will make (professional and point-and-shoot) digital cameras available to support Park interpretive, education, and staff needs.
   • 2005 National Parks Trails Restored Program
   • 2005 Proud Partner Transportation Scholar Program
   • 2005 Proud Partner Transportation Interpreter Program
   • 2005 Recycling at Work Program
   
   We will try to release RFPs in a coordinated fashion. Further details about each of these programs will be forthcoming when they are forwarded to the Partnership Council for review.