Lower Hudson PRISM Partner Meeting Minutes March 17, 2020 – 10:00 am-3:30 pm AGENDA 10:00 Welcome & Quick Announcements – Linda Rohleder Below are notes from Linda Rohleder that opened up the meeting and other announcements during this opening session: Two webinars coming up offered by Big Duck. This Wednesday, March 18, at 1:30pm Eastern, about crisis communications management. What your organization can do to manage this tricky time with grace. And this Friday, March 20, at 1:00pm Eastern, Big Duck’s Director of Strategy, to discuss facilitating great meetings online. Talk about some of the variables that can make and break a good online meeting. Linda is offering Writing an IS Mgmt Plan - April 6. Will be a webinar instead of in person and be restricted to LHPRISM partners. iMap Training – April 15 Mitchell O’Neill, iMapInvasives team Mitchell provided an update on iMap training—iMap mobile advanced- new app- ESRI account- organizational account -Polygons, points and lines for searched areas- can use these new features even without the internet in the field. For further questions, please use the email address: [email protected] IS ID and Management w/ Pesticide credits – April 21 – will likely be cancelled 10:10 Meeting each other – Each attendee introduced themselves and also updated the group on how their respective organization was handling events re: COVID-19 Wallkill Valley Land Trust- still open Thom Allgaier- telework for next 14 days, possibly longer; still advertising positions; two McArdle- tentatively canceled all volunteer events- some webinars as a company ; have hired a few seasonals and retain those- halted all other hiring Chris Mangels- David Decker- canceled through march- closed, not sure about seasonals yet Danielle Begley-Miller- Teatown- just closed nature center through March- all programs canceled- just staff reporting- planning to hire 2 part-time positions Erik Kiviat- no seasonal positions, workshops scheduled in June FOCA- So far, the office is open , so far I love my parks day still on Angie Patterson – Black Rock- closed and events currently suspended Scenic Hudson- Not closed, but staff encouraged to work remotely- all near term events canceled- seasonal capacity is through SCA- all running, parks still open Erin Cordiner- Westchester Parks- parks still open, staff remote, small scale volunteers up to site leaders, large April event- wait and see Jim O’Connell- office closed, but some field events open, seasonals – still deciding Jen Adams- Randall’s island- Park is open, office is open, but reduced- closed until April 20th- events- some seasonals hired, but hold on rest Jen Lerner CCE Putnam- office still open, but apt only for public- online- all events canceled until end of May- number of people allowed has been moving target, hikes and outdoor events still on- just number restriction Jocko McKean- NSOLF- offices are closed- canceled near-term events CCE Dutchess- Joyce- canceled events in building- all encouraged to work from home- mostly online stuff/Zoom- working outdoors when weather is fine Keri VanCamp- Vassar- campus closed Kristen Ossman- CCE Rockland- office closed to public- most staff working from home- canceling events through April, postponing them for now- looking into webinars, will be hiring interns- still deciding Matt A-L- PACE- most things postponed and likely to extend – everything moving online Matt Smetana- green chimneys- Mike Fargione- public canceled through April- staff can come in, but encouraged to work from home- staff meetings by videoconference, still hiring seasonal- property closed Nicole Wooten- HHLT- canceled events through April, office closed, Granite Mt still open- not sure about seasonal hiring Andree Morgan- Pound Ridge Land Cons. – only staff- still open- have canceled near events- ERI- Now in process of scheduling events for June/July- hoping to do field events- will substitute web events when possible- no seasonals Beacon Inst.- all staff working remotely- have closed campus in Clarkson, Stephen Pearson DEC- state offices working remotely for at least 2 weeks, changing most events to webinars- holding meetings remotely, not sure about seasonals Tait Johannsson-Bedford Audubon- office open- never more than 3 in office- inside events canceled- outdoor events still happening Taro- wait and see for hiring- parks still open but not taking more reservations for camping Thomas from Wave Hill- Office open but encouraged to work from home- still open to public with reduced hours- public programs canceled through April- Tim Stanley- Sharpe- canceled events and school groups through end of April- seasonal staff on hold until further notice 10:45 Partner Spotlights: Jen Adams – Randall’s Island Park Alliance -Westernmost tip of Long island sound, 25 acres of natural area -Jen introduced the different ecoregions within the island -Team of 5- monitoring, education, reporting, lots of volunteer events- get 5 crews in July, nature tours (bird, mushroom, butterfly), nature festivals, -Very few Tier 2 species, have done some work on removal in the area- -Lots of challenges to control- two main transportation bridges, major music festivals, get 4 million visitors per year, public park so herbicide is controversial -No native seed bank, but mostly invasives, no local seed sources -No ticks, no deer- good for experimental controls! -Big volunteer involvement – big success is getting city kids outside to help -They have an integrated pest management plan 11:00 Progress Reports - Goal 1 (Capacity Building) Update minutes are highlighted in red Capacity Building - Goal 1: The Lower Hudson PRISM has a robust public identity, strong internal structure and a sustainable resource base to continue its mission. The strategies for achieving this goal should include coordinating partners, volunteer recruitment and training, and public and local government engagement. 2020 Objectives A. Increase our public visibility to have the LHPRISM be known as the go-to place for regional invasive species information B. Maintain our strong internal structure by growing our active membership, sustaining membership and enabling partners to be more fully engaged C. Increase partner’s capabilities to conduct invasive species management D. Foster strong academic relationships Action Plan Tasks Assigned To A.1. Coordinate participation in New York’s Invasive LHPRISM Staff Species Awareness Week (See Goal 4) Brent is serving as the representative for ISAW for LH-PRISM -There have been three meetings now with representatives from each PRISM from E&O- we have created a central toolkit for resources on ISAW that are accessible for each PRISM -Have decided on name and theme (2020 Vision: Focus on Invasive Species) - are going to have a more centralized website with new website address (www.nyisaw.org) and can centralize all events over NYS, including uploading PRISM maps -Common EcoQuest challenge species A.2. Create videos that can be shared via web Nicole Wooten site/social media Progress: are starting Nature Notes onine and posting videos- still working on that • Create video about I Love My Parks day to be Diane Alden posted on my organization’s web site A.3. Publish articles in local newspapers • Coordinate with local partners and submit Carolynn Sears article for ISAW to local press • Write article in local newspaper about Diane Alden invasives work on Old Croton Aqueduct A.4. Use the PRISM logo on website and/or social Emily Mayer media posts -progress: SLM released in the newsletters/online on our website, promoting LHPRISM when I presented during the last meeting, and article highlighting leaders of organizations, where I spoke briefly about LHPRISM. A.5. Publish blog/social media posts referencing Amanda Bayley LHPRISM B.1. Use new Partner welcome packet and Linda Rohleder questionnaire for all new partners -Not using questionnaire yet- haven’t had new working partners meeting yet, but planning to soon • Continue working with New Partners working Chris McArdle group B.2. Continue to make meetings valuable for attendees Linda Rohleder ● Continue partner spotlights ● Continue to schedule adequate time for networking. Allow more opportunities for partners to share what they’re doing especially informally ● Continue the meeting schedule of Jan, Mar, July, Sept, Nov ● Continue to rotate meeting locations ● Continue to have an outdoor component when appropriate -Continuing partner spotlights -Continuing time for networking- had whole 1.5 hrs. -Hoping to have outdoor component in July meeting -July meeting- Erik Kiviat will be giving talk on wetland species and Mike VanClef will be speaking on new invaders from NJ B.3. Repopulate Partner Portal on the web site with LHPRISM Staff up-to-date partner resources Bob DelTorto -List of tasks to create partner portal- might see movement on this in next few months • Intern to help with Tier 2 species information Budd Veverka -Still trying to figure out where info is on Tier 2- -Webpages are being updated- BMPs are being added with prioritizing Tier 2- have volunteer that is adding these to the species pages and making good progress B.4. Reach out and recruit new partners representing Lindsay Yoder aquatic interests B.5. Develop partnerships with local environmental Suzanne Clary groups in the Rye area (e.g. African American Men of Westchester Environmental Committee, Friends of Rye Sustainability) C.1. Have a workshop on developing an IS -will probably be updated management plan for land managers -Will probably be changed to a webinar • Assist