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Minutes for PBCC

Minutes for Teleconference (monthly) and National meeting (annually)
please contact the PBCC secretary for changes.

2011

Minutes of the joint NAPB - PBCC EC monthly phone conference
Dec. 13th 2011, 2:00 pm CST.

 

In attendance:  Liz Lee, Mike Havey, Phil Simon, Rita Mumm, David Stelley, Allen Van Deynze, Don Blackburn, Carol Moore (DOW), Pat Byrne, Donn Cummings, Marcelo Carena, Mitch McGrath, Todd Wehner, & Jamie Sherman

Regrets: Karen Moldenhauer, Steve Baenziger, & Brooks Blanche

Notes: Mike Havey is chairing this EC.  Items in the minutes that are underlined are potential action items and/or items for future teleconferences (Liz).

Agenda items:

 

 

 

The speaker committee voted on themes and arrived at three of them (see notes at the end of the minutes).  The committee is now at the stage of identifying speakers and are ready to start contacting speakers.  They have identified 2 possible evening speakers for the banquet, Jules Jannick or Julian Cribb.  Mike would like to solicit some additional suggested speakers.  Target is to finalize this in late Jan.

Donn mentioned that we should probably identify the student speakers early.  Last year we defrayed all graduate students expenses, it was less complicated. The Monsanto Fellows has committed $6000 for graduate students and would like to challenge others to contribute as part of the registration (Donn). TCAP has about $7000 to put towards funding all students participating in NAPB.  The Monsanto Fellows money will be part of the general meeting fund, whether it is targeted towards the grad students that speak or whether it is spread across all students we can decide later.

Grad students will have a lower registration.  The speaker committee will select from the abstracts several grad student speakers that we can cover a greater percentage of their travel expenses (Mike).  Possibly a 2-step abstract scenario for grad students for competing for speaking spots (Donn).  If we want all of the abstracts in the conference book, we need to have an earlier abstract deadline (Allen).

 

DOW is ready to sign a contract with University Place Conference Centre, downtown Indianapolis; may need to make a few changes to the contract as the Monday session ends with an evening at Dow, banquet will be on Tuesday instead that will work better logistically.  Banquet will be at the hotel.

Committing to 100 single and 50 double rooms for Monday & Tuesday at $125 for single, $135 for double. Are they billing for space for meeting rooms (Rita)?  No meeting room space charge (Carol).  We need to commit to rooms at least 30 days in advance. 

There was a fair amount of discussion regarding websites with regards to registration and hotel room booking. Some concerns about making sure that the registration is linked to the hotel, so that NAPB gets credit for all hotel reservations.  Link early-bird registration to the deadline for the hotel.  Do we need a link to University Place for hotel registration (Rita)?  Can we link to Carol’s site instead?  ACSESS prefers to link to their site to capture NAPB membership info (Rita).  Carol would like some info regarding arrivals and departures.  Don B. suggested that perhaps Marcelo and someone from ACSESS come to Dow to work out the details.  David felt that this could probably be done remotely.  Mike will set up a conference call between Marcelo, Seth, Ian, Don and Carol to get this sorted out.  

 

ACSESS will be using their system for meeting registration.  They will give the link to NAPB for our web site.  Marcelo is not leading the collaboration with ACSESS; he thought that Seth would be leading it.

 

David: the group felt that we should provide more than just $100 to the winners; perhaps free registration at the 2012 meeting and some PR for the winners at the business meeting.  This motion (David S.) that the 2 students will get free registration at the NAPB 2012 annual meetings passed by consensus.

The winners were, Leanna Nice (U of MN) for the logo, Terry Felderhoff for the slogan.  Both have stated that there is no IP with their logo or slogan.  Allen suggested checking the slogan to make sure that it is not protected. 

The original slogan was, “Improving Plants to Improve Lives”.  There has been a suggested a slight modification of this to: “Improving Plants Improves Lives”.  Pat liked the modification less now than when the sub-committee originally discussed it, and is suggesting that we go with what was submitted.  The motion (Pat B.) to keep the original slogan passed by consensus. 

(Note: my apologies, I should have treated both of these votes as motions and asked for a second, Liz).

Timing to announce the winners and the logo and slogan is the Jan. 2012 Newsletter.  Information about the students will be included in the newsletter as part of the write-up.

Copyrighting the logo and slogan is a bit expensive, given what David S. found through TAMU.  Perhaps we can check with ACSESS to see if they could do this more affordably.  Pat will contact Ian P. to look into this and get in touch with Brian Anderson.  It will probably have to be subsequent to us getting incorporated.

Jaime had to leave the call before we got around to discussing this, but the students were holding their own conference call during the EC call.  More on this topic at the January EC.

Other business:

From:         mjhavey@wisc.edu
Subject: NAPB/PBCC Conference call Tuesday Dec 13th
Date: December 9, 2011 5:22:44 PM GMT-05:00

Putative schedule and speaker ideas for 2012 NAPB/PBCC Annual Meeting

Potential Meeting Title:  “Sharing (Sustaining) (Improving) Life through Plant Improvement”

The committee supported opportunities for Dow and Purdue to showcase their programs.

Tentative schedule by Dow:
Monday, August 6:

Tuesday, August 7:

Wednesday, August 8:

The committee clearly supported the following topics (with some suggested speakers/topics listed):

 

 

 

Minutes of the joint NAPB - PBCC  EC monthly phone conference
Nov. 15th 2011, 1:00 pm CST.

In attendance:  Liz Lee, Mike Havey, Jamie Sherman, Tom Stalker, Allen Van Deynze, Seth Murray, Todd Wehner, David Stelly, Phil Simon, Donn Cummings, Shelley Jansky, Wayne Smith, and Don Blackburn

Regrets: Rita Mumm, Rale Gjuric, and Steve Baenziger

Notes: Mike Havey is chairing this EC, as Rita is representing NAPB at the ARS 301 Stakeholders’ Meeting.  Items in the minutes that are underlined are potential action items and/or items for future teleconferences (Liz).

Agenda items:

The committee has not really done anything since the last EC meeting.  They have identified the topics and the speaker committee will be making the recommendation to the EC for final input.  Do we have a theme (Don B.)?  No theme, but topics: education of plant breeders, IP, next gen sequencing (?) (Mike H.).  Would Dow have any input on themes (Dave S.)?  Don felt that it should be driven by NAPB.

Not much to report as Carol was not available last week.  They are still going out for bids for the hotel/meeting facilities.  Trying to bring the pricing down.  Then they will move forward with a contract.  Don is hoping that the venue will be set any time now, but needs to touch base with Carol.  They are continuing to work on some of the tour aspects.  Firming up whether people can do it.  One group has opted out. University Farm in Lafayette and Dow’s soybean transformation facility will be on the tour slate.  They are still planning on 2, ½-day tours (see Oct. minutes for details of the schedule).  And Don reminded us that logistics will be a challenge. Mike asked if flipping around the 2 evening options would help with the logistics.  Don liked that idea, as it might make it easier.  Marcelo and Seth will develop the web site in conjunction with ASCESS. Carol has requested that she have access to these design discussions regarding the registration web component as she has some questions to ask the registrants to help better tailor the meeting experience (Don).

Working with Ian Popkewitz from ACSESS to:

The plan is for the Nov. newsletter can go out via the new list server, but it just depends on how quickly Ian can get the membership list transferred over.

Encouragement needs to come from the entire EC, that we need everyone from the sub-committees’ leadership to become routinely involved in our monthly EC calls.  Jamie suggested that we set aside a time for sub-committee reports  And the general consensus was that this is a great idea, even if it is just a quick 1-liner.  Goal is to make sure that each committee has at least officer participate (Allen). One of the benefits of monthly participation in the EC is that the sub-committee’s “purpose in life” will be defined through participation.

Action item:  David S. will send out an email to the sub-committee chairs to try to encourage them to get re-engaged.

On a related issue, Janet Lewis’ status as chair of the Grand Challenges Committee (Donn):  Janet has resigned from chair of the committee as she is starting a new position in the private sector. There is a co-chair/vice-chair of this committee, Ram Perumal from KSU (perumal@ksu.edu).  How do we want to move forward with management of the Grand Challenges committee (David S.)?  Two options were discussed: (1) Ram will move up to chair and the EC will identify a new co-chair, or (2) the EC will identify an interim chair for the remainder of Janet’s term so that Ram can get his feet underneath him and then be prepared to assume the role of chair at the end of this term. Who are the other officers of this sub-committee (Donn)?  We appear to be fairly short on committee officers for Grand Challenges.

Action item:  Mike H., David S. and Rita will give Ram a phone call to talk about getting the Grand Challenges sub-committee moving and determine what support is needed. Mike, David and Rita will report back at the Dec. meeting regarding their conversations with Ram and what support he needs to get the Grand Challenges committee up and running effectively.

Grad students have been contacting Jamie about not being involved in the sub-committees that they have volunteered for. The grad students already have a NAPB facebook page.  But they are interested in trying to pull in more students.  They also expressed in interest in organizing some smaller events during the annual meeting, perhaps some online events throughout the year, and serving as advisors to the other sub-committees. The education committee talked about forming a graduate student subcommittee during their most recent meeting.  The discussion around the EC was that we were not sure of the proper procedure to establish another sub-committee, but recognized the need to create some sort of structure for the grad students to start working under that may eventually lead to the formation of another sub-committee.

Motion: that the EC permit the grad students to form a Graduate Student Working Group, which will give them some structure to work under (Jamie).  Donn seconded the motion.  Passed by consensus. 

Action item:  Jamie will communicate this back to the grad students and ask them to have at least one representative at the next EC.  It was noted that as the planning of the 2012 meetings has already begun, there are some serious time constraints that may impact any plans.  The EC would also like a short presentation from the Graduate Student Working Group at the Monday morning at the NAPB annual meeting.  This would facilitate discussions regarding whether the working group should become a sub-committee.

Pat was not able to be on the phone call.  David S. has not had real recent communication with Pat, but Pat is working on the pamphlet and had requested some photos from David S.  Should have something in a week or so.  Wayne confirmed that that this is the time line and that it will be a 3-panel pamphlet.  If you have photos that could be used for the pamphlet, please email them to Pat.

Rale was not able to make the phone call; however he sent an email around to the group regarding this issue.  The email from Rale can be found at the end of the minutes.  Rita, David S., and Liz have talked about attending this meeting, and assume that Rita will address the congress.  Allen will be there too.  Do we have someone from EUCARPIA speaking at our annual meeting (David S.)?  No, but we should reciprocate.

Action item: Mike H. or Rita will extend an invitation. (note – this was added by Liz to the minutes after the EC)

We have the ARS recommendations and that has helped getting the unified voice process moving (see Oct. minutes for the full list of recommendations).  The abbreviated list of topics is below (Liz).

1.  Germplasm:   Conserve, organize, evaluate and develop germplasm.
2.  Plant breeding capacities:  Conserve and enhance US capacities for field-based breeding of all plant species important to the US in agri-regionally relevant manners.
3.  Innovations:  Identify, research and exploit new approaches and new targets for plant breeding that enhance our economy, environment, health, sustainability and food security.
4.  Science & Technologies: Research, use and create new technologies that augment the range and speed of field-based breeding of plants of importance.
5.  Education:  Foster state-based efforts and investments to retain and strengthen plant breeding education in agri-regionally relevant manners. 
6.  Outreach:  Communicate and exemplify why society [1] needs plants, [2] needs plant breeding, plant breeders, and plant breeding programs.  

These recommendations probably just need to be refined for our unified voice (Allen).  In the next couple of weeks try to refine these topics before the CSS ASTA meetings where Rita and Liz can meet with ASTA there.  If we had to pick one topic, point 3 of these recommendations really captures what are probably NAPB’s priorities (Allen). 

Action item: Allen, Donn, David S., Don B., Liz, and Rita will work on refining these priorities prior to the ASTA meetings in Chicago in Dec.

Action item: Allen will also try to see if we can get these topics into the pamphlet too.

Dec 13th and Jan 24th, Mike H. has already secured the phone line for those dates and times.  Feb. 21st, March 20th, April 17th, May 15th are the tentative dates for our meetings.

From: rgjuric@ucdavis.edu
Subject:  RE: NAPB-PBCC Monthly EC Telecon: Nov 15th at 1p-2:30p Central time
Date: November 9, 2011 11:43:35 AM GMT-05:00

Dear all,
I will not be able to join due to travel. Re item - (Invitation to present at EUCARPIA General Congress: Rale Gjuric). Eucarpia secretary general Laszlo Lang asked if it would be possible that an NAPB representative address the Eucarpia General Congress, Budapest, May 2012.  

Action required: that NAPB executive committee identify or at least confirm that one EC member will attend the Eucarpia General Congress and address (probably) the general assembly.

Best regards,
Rale
*********************************
Dr. Rale Gjuric
Director, UC Davis Plant Breeding Academy
204-688-5116
www.pba.ucdavis.edu

 

 

Minutes of the joint NAPB - PBCC EC monthly phone conference
Oct. 25th 2011, 1:00 pm CDT.

In attendance: Liz Lee, Rita Mumm, David Francis, Donn Cummings, Shelley Jansky, Pat Byrne, Mitch McGrath, Seth Murray, Ann Marie Thro (from the Dubai International Airport), Phil Simon, Allen Van Deynze, Jamie Sherman, David Baltensperger, Todd Wehner, David Stelly, and Mike Havey.

Regrets: Steve Baenziger, Tom Stalker and Marcelo Carena

Note: items in the minutes that are underlined are potential action items and/or items for future teleconferences (Liz).

Agenda items:
• Updates on actions since last EC call
Pat B. gave us an update on the logo and slogan contest. They have received several logo and slogan entries. They will have a survey monkey up shortly after Nov. 1st for the exec to vote on them.

• NIFA:

a. Opportunity to serve as Representative to NIFA: 6 month to 1 year in Washington DC as per Ann Marie Thro.
Ann Marie is staying an additional year in Afghanistan and has suggested to her agency that a representative to NIFA be installed in DC starting in 2012. It will be a paid position. The person would be backfilling Ann Marie's position for 6 months to a year. Attending internal NIFA meetings and external meetings. Day to day activities are: 150-200 hatch projects to read each year; special grants that need to be processed through the funding system; the potato special grant is the main thing that is important to the agency; input with regards to plant breeding into the Farm Bill and AFRI. Ann Marie is looking for help in recruiting for this position and would like a name or two to bring to her higher ups in the agency. Not sure that there is a legal requirement to advertise this position (Ann Marie). Note: Ann Marie sent Rita an email with more on this discussion point. It has been added to the end of the minutes (Liz).

b. NAPB and PBCC liaisons to USDA NIFA in Ann Marie's absence.
NAPB liaison should be a different person than the PBCC liaison. The PBCC liaison should be someone from within the USDA. Rita: are there any volunteers? Allen suggested that we try to find someone that is already living in the DC area. There are several people at companies in the area that might fit the bill. Allen will send those names to Rita and Rita will contact them. We need to see if it is OK for a registered lobbyist to talk to NIFA. How much direction would this person need, plant breeder vs. lobbyist? NIFA needs someone who is current on plant breeding science. We should probably talk to Liang Shiou Lin, Ed Kaleikau and Shing Kwok about what they need. We need to figure out what the job is first (Jamie). No matter who we have as our liaisons, as a group we will need to give them talking points (David F.). Would this be best handled by one of our sub-committees (Liz)? We should really try to have someone in place before the next farm bill (Jan-Feb). - tabled until the next meeting.

• Secretary nomination for the Science, Technology, and Informatics Subcommittee (Mitch McGrath)
At the annual meetings at TAMU, the secretary nominated was a grad student who had not even been through his comprehensive exams. There was a discussion among the sub-committee officers that this might be unfair to the student and the student's professor. In addition, this potentially creates a problem as we probably do not have a proper order of succession for this committee. As the newly elected secretary, then becomes vice-chair the following year and chair of the committee in the 3rd year. Mitch approached a colleague to inquire if they would be willing to serve as secretary to this sub-committee. Mitch made a motion to nominate Shahryar Kianian NDSU as our new secretary for the Science, Technology and Informatics Sub-committee. Pat B. seconded the motion. Passed by consensus.

• Facilitation through ACSESS for administrative functions

a. Financial (Shelley Jansky)
Working with Wes M. from the ACSESS side. Rita and Shelley have talked to ASCESS about setting up to 2 separate funds, one an operations fund and the other a donations fund.

b. Member database (Liz Lee)
Working with Ian P. from the ACSESS side. Liz has several questions that she will sort out with Ian: who takes care of the list server for us, both updating it and hosting it? Rita felt that ASCESS will not be taking on any communications on our behalf.

c. Web page for annual meeting registration (Seth Murray & Mike Havey)
Ian P. from ASCESS will work with Seth on the technical side of creating a meeting web site.

d. Funding student travel for the annual meeting (Jamie Sherman & Donn Cummings)
Donn updated the group, ~$4200 from the Monsanto Fellows group has been raised, with some additional matching to come in it might go to $5-6000. Donn was wondering if we can create a volunteer donation option on the website for the annual meeting so that we can potentially match it again by our NAPB members. With this pool of money, we should be able to fund the students that we ask to speak at the annual meetings.

e. Incorporation (David Stelly)
Working with the lawyers provided by ACSESS.

• Unified voice: preparing message for upcoming meetings with USDA (Stakeholder's Meeting) and ASTA (Allen Van Deynze)
ASTA was asked to provide input to the USDA/ARS Germplasm Improvement NP301 goals for the next 5 years. ASTA forwarded this request to NAPB via Allen. Allen working with David S. and Rita worked on NAPB's input, circulated the draft to the EC for comment, and on Oct. 21st, sent the finalized input to USDA/ARS (see Allen's email at the end of the minutes).

In addition to this, Rita will be attending the USDA Stakeholder's meeting in person on Nov. 15, 2011. And, there will be a webinar prior to this, which is a pre-meeting on Nov. 9th both Allen and Rita will be participating in the webinar.

• 2012 Annual Meeting plans (2 pm):

a. Speaker Committee (Mike Havey)
The speaker committee is proposing to have grad students speak in session with the invited speakers with an overarching theme (Mike). Mike asked for feedback on the grad students being in the same sessions with the invited speakers, and the general consensus was yes. The committee has also kicked around several ideas about an over all theme and have not really hit upon one. Mike also mention that he is reluctant to solicit speaker ideas from the entire NAPB membership, and was wondering if it should be kept within the EC? David S. suggested that we keep it within the EC. Liz mentioned that last year the speaker committee worked in isolation from the EC and did not consult them with regards to meeting themes, topics or speakers. Mike will be soliciting the EC for specific suggestions for speakers on topics.

b. Logistics (Don Blackburn & Carol Moore)
Mike H. and Don B. met at the ASA meetings and talked about the logistics. Don was not able to make the EC, so Mike Havey shared their tentative schedule. Sunday Aug. 5th is the travel day. Don B. is finalizing the venue.

Tentative schedule by Dow:
Monday:
• 8 AM to noon: NAPB/PBCC business meeting
• 1 to 5 PM: Speakers/Posters
• Evening banquet with invited speaker (intro by Dow person followed by dinner speaker)
Tuesday:
• AM Speakers/Posters
• PM Tour to Purdue and nearby facilities
• Evening banquet at Dow Ag Sciences
Wednesday:
• AM Speakers/Posters
• PM Tour of Dow and maybe other commercial sites (Ag-Reliant-confirmed)
• 5 PM meeting concludes

Questions/comments: Can we do the business meetings from 8-12 (Allen)? Mike felt that last year's dragged on too long. Perhaps we can shift the awards into Monday evening banquet (Rita). The nominations will be done prior to the sub-committee meetings (Liz). It should be doable to fit the business meeting activities into Monday morning.

Phil S. mentioned that there is a commercial flower breeding station near Indy, which might be another tour stop.

Seth has put up a meeting inquiry on the web page with Liz and Marcelo as contacts for international visitors that might need a letter.

• Dates for upcoming EC telecons: Nov 15th, Dec? Jan?
• Nov. 15th, Mike Havey will chair the Nov. EC as Rita will be at the USDA stakeholder's meeting.
• Dec. 13th, Rita will be late for this meeting, so Mike Havey will chair the Dec. EC too.
• Jan. 24th, Rita will chair this meeting

• Other Business
(1) Motion to amend the bylaws regarding qualifications for being nominated for officer positions. Since there is a built in succession with all of the officer positions the nominees need to be able to make a 3-year commitment, which is problematic when the nominee is a grad student. – tabled for the Nov. EC meeting.

(2) Should NAPB have any presence at PAG (Allen)? Pamphlets (Pat is working on this) or perhaps someone to speak in the joint workshop on genomics and plant breeding, or perhaps a reception? Who is going? Rita, David S., Allen. Perhaps the communications committee can take this on. If we want to do a poster for the PAG meetings we need to do it soon as abstracts are due in early Nov (David S.). While we are on the topic of presence at meetings, the Corn and Sorghum ASTA meetings in Chicago in early Dec. is another meeting where we need to have a presence (Liz), perhaps at the FUSE booth at ASTA (Donn C.). – tabled for the Nov. EC meeting.

From ALLEN VAN DEYNZE
Sent: Friday, October 21, 2011
Re: ARS Customer/Stakeholder Workshop - Input Requested

The NAPB recommendations prioritized in order of highest to lowest.
Allen

NAPB Response
1. Germplasm: Conserve, organize, evaluate and develop germplasm.
• Conserve and curate existing germplasm resources and expand collections
• Objectively characterize germplasm resources genotypically and phenotypically (for biotic and abiotic stress, and quality). Note that some evaluations are only relevant with breeding into adapted backgrounds.
• Preserve biodiversity in both agricultural and natural environments
• Utilize genetic diversity for improved productivity, yield stability, nutrition and genetic discovery
• Facilitate germplasm exchange internationally

2. Plant breeding capacities: Conserve and enhance US capacities for field-based breeding of all plant species important to the US in agri-regionally relevant manners.
• The long-term sustainability of plant breeding programs requires sufficient funding to ensure that both personnel and infrastructure can meet the long-term challenges to develop and adapt emerging technologies required to sustain the increasing demand for food, feed, fiber and fuel in the US.
• These resources further provide the necessary basis for germplasm characterization, education, translation of technologies, innovation and outreach

3. Innovations: Identify, research and exploit new approaches and new targets for plant breeding that enhance our economy, environment, health, sustainability and food security.
• The evolving biotic and abiotic stresses with changes in environment, and demand for higher productivity and quality of food, feed and fiber require constant innovation in plant breeding.

4. Science & Technologies: Research, use and create new technologies that augment the range and speed of field-based breeding of plants of importance.
• The translation and integration of technologies into plant breeding is essential to develop new strategies for crop improvement to be competitive globally.

5. Education: Foster state-based efforts and investments to retain and strengthen plant breeding education in agri-regionally relevant manners.
• Participate in integrated training opportunities for students and scientists with government, academic and industry programs

6. Outreach: Communicate and exemplify why society [1] needs plants, [2] needs plant breeding, plant breeders, and plant breeding programs.
• Sustaining and building a workforce focused on crop improvement and agriculture are essential to remain competitive and meet societal demands of an increasing population with decreasing resources.

Email from Ann Marie Thro to Rita

From: ritamumm@illinois.edu
Subject: A message from Ann Marie Thro in follow-up to the Oct 25th NAPB/PBCC EC telecon
Date: October 27, 2011 1:49:53 PM GMT-04:00

Greetings, PBCC/NAPB colleagues.

Thanks to all of you on the call this Tuesday, for putting up with the phone card confusion and airport background. It was great to hear your voices.

As Rita mentioned, I have been discussing with NIFA whether or not the agency could use my temporary absence as a unique opportunity to bring in an infusion of cutting-edge plant breeding science expertise, via a 6 to 12 month temporary person (such as someone on sabbatical). This person could support liaison to PBCC (SCC 80) and help NIFA engage in upcoming national discussions about ag research and research funding, while carrying out grants management tasks. I've offered to help with terms of reference.

IMPORTANT caveat: NIFA has not yet responded to this suggestion, nor decided. It is too soon to know if NIFA can agree to the idea.

A top-quality plant breeder as a short-term Acting NPL would create long-term benefit by propelling the NIFA Plant Breeding NPL position forward. On my return I'd find new, up–to-the-minute knowledge and ideas in place. Both would draw out my renewed best for the agency and stakeholders.

Benefits from a short-term assignment with NIFA would be the opportunities a) to get to know the agency from the inside out (a benefit they can share with their home organization when they return); and b) to influence national thinking about plant breeding research and its funding. These are similar to the insights gained and given by NRI chief scientists (those were 1 or 2 yr appointments in years past). Those positions were instrumental in inspiring and designing the concept of CAP grants that have become an important award type in NRI and now in AFRI. So a person with an idea that meets a timely need can have a real impact.

If anyone has questions (or good ideas), I would be glad to try to answer them (or learn about them, respectively)! Thank you for your attention and best wishes for your work-- AMT

 

 

 

Minutes of the joint NAPB - PBCC  EC monthly phone conference
Sept. 20th 2011, 1:00 pm CDT.

In attendance:  Liz Lee, Rita Mumm, Don Backburn, David Stelly, Allen Van Deynze, Seth Murray, Jamie Sherman, David Baltensperger, Ellen Bergfeld (ASA/CSSA/SSSA CEO), Ian Popkewitz (ASA/CSSA/SSSA), Maria Salas-Fernandez, Marcelo Carena, Tom Koch, Andrea Cardinal, Janet Lewis, Mike Havey.
Regrets: Donn Cummings, Phil Simon, Tom Stalker, Pat Byrne, Shelley Jansky

Note:  items in the minutes that are underlined are potential action items and/or items for future teleconferences (Liz).

Agenda items:

None.

Rita circulated a document from the last EC meeting.  If there are any changes, please get those back to Phil so that we can finalize this document.  See attachment at the end of the minutes.  Rita will get the table table explaining the relationship between NAPB and PBCC to Seth for posting on the web.  In the text document should we put a brief description of the differences between NAPB and PBCC (David S.).

The finalized mission statements will be embedded into the table of officers (see above).  We are revisiting the finalized mission statements from the August meeting.  This will be the final attempt, after which they stand as written and pending approval of the general membership.  In general, mission statements should convey a greater purpose (David S.).  A mission statement should be something that we can actually achieve (Rita).

From Allen Van Deynze via email Sept. 20, 2011:
PBCC’s mission (Allen)
To provide a forum for leadership on issues and opportunities of strategic importance to national core competency in crop improvement, plant breeding research and education.

Allen moved to approve as read, Mike Havey seconded the motion, and motion passed by consensus.

Janet and David S. after the fact questioned the semantics of “crop” perhaps being a bit too restrictive or limiting, but then “plant” is a bit too general and redundant.  We have decided to move on.

NAPB’s mission (David S.)  We have 2 options below and we need to pick one.
1) To enhance the (U.S.) scientific and educational capacities in plant breeding by increasing knowledge, awareness and resources. (3 votes supporting)
2) To assure (strengthen) that capacities for domestic (U.S.) plant breeding research, technology, education, and public awareness are sufficient to meet domestic and international needs for plants on which our nation and world rely -- for food, feed, fiber, fuels, environmental maintenance (stewardship), aesthetics, recreation, and (human health) innumerable substances for pharmaceutical and industrial purposes. (8 votes supporting)

David B. moved to accept statement #2 as edited, David S. seconded the motion, and motion passed by consensus.

NAPB’s finalized mission statement:
To strengthen capacities for U.S. plant breeding research, technology, education, and public awareness to meet needs for plants on which our nation and world rely -- for food, feed, fiber, fuels, environmental stewardship, aesthetics, recreation, and human health.

Seth talked with Jim Hancock, resulting in some suggested structural changes to consider for the web site.  Seth is working up a mock-up of the changes for us to look at.  Jim’s question to Seth and the larger NAPB/PBCC exec is what is the audience that we are trying to target and what are the goals that we are trying to meet with the web site?

The web site is getting about 1000 hits and 134 unique visitors each day.  How much do we have to worry about media using this as a source for plant breeding?  We should have a “for media page” as well as some links to good sites for information.  And we need to try to avoid dead links.

Some purposes:  communication and information tool within our group and outside of our group, retaining historic knowledge, attracting students to the profession, helping us to define ourselves, portal for getting information out about the meeting, executive committee meets every month but website is a way others can see what the group is doing, conduit for educational information. Also noted that the meeting website will be taken over from ASA “front-office” and will not be a purpose for the website

None given.

We will take this up via email, as we have run out of time.  We are working toward a common message to be delivered with ASTA to the seed industry and to the Hill.  In addition, we have been invited to the USDA/ARS stakeholders meeting, which gives us an opportunity to provide input to research and education priorities.  We need a person to lead the effort to develop a tailored USDA/ARS message.  Andrea volunteered to participate in developing a unified voice for the USDA/ARS along with David S. and Allen.  Rita will be attending the meeting.  This would be big picture stuff rather than detailed directives.

Don updated us and we can discuss it further at the next telecon meeting.  He is still working on a venue, possibly even at the Purdue Centre.  He met with Dow AgroSciences (DAS) logistics people and looked at how the historical timelines of the NAPB meetings fit: Day 1 (Monday) business meeting and banquet, Day 2 (Tuesday) scientific talks, Day 3 (Wednesday) tours.  DAS think that they can simplify this a bit, which will make the logistics a bit easier for everyone, and break-up the sitting in rooms for 2 straight days.  They are proposing to have tours (8-5) on Day 2, with dinner at DAS’s facility; Day 3 being presentations and poster sessions. 

There were 2 alternative options put forward during the telecon.  Rita proposed that perhaps we mix presentations and tours as half days on each of Day 2 and Day 3.  Mike picked up on this suggesting that we limit the business to only Monday morning.  Have a thematic series of scientific speakers in the afternoon and dinner with awards on Monday evening; tours on Tuesday morning, speakers on in the afternoon with dinner at DAS; Wednesday morning speakers and afternoon tours for the people who can stay.  Rita felt that we probably need more like ¾ of a day for the business meeting (8-2 on the Monday, Day 1).

The speaker committee/logistics committee will kick these ideas around some more and bring back some options to the next teleconference for how to best sort this out.

From last meeting (Aug.) the EC gave Rita the mandate to pursue using ASCESS services for front office support. For a fee of $4,000 annually, ASCESS will provide accounting services, member database management, web site, and registration support for the annual meeting.  This includes importing of NAPB members into a database, setting up a web page for the meeting, processing meeting registration online including credit card payments, managing of cash receipts, and processing invoices and issuing checks after approval of NAPB treasurer.

In addition to the packaged services, ASCESS will at cost to NAPB for services:

Questions for Ellen: 

Given what we have heard, are there any objections/concerns to moving forward with ACSESS for front office support (Rita)?  None were voiced. David S. moved to use ACSESS as our front office support, seconded by Allen, motion passed by consensus.

Our goal is to be incorporated within a year, before the next set of leaders come into NAPB (Rita).  We do have bylaws established, not sure what articles of incorporation look like (Rita); Ellen will send us theirs’ as a guide.

Next step: finalize a service agreement (Rita). Both Rita and Shelley will the signatory on the contract.

Ran out of time during the telecon, but the newsletter will be out in about a week.  Pat Byrne and I are working on it jointly in consultation with the communications committee.

October 25th and November 15th are the dates of the next scheduled telecons.

Connecting with FAO, Helen Hambly-Odame mentioned this in passing to me (Liz) yesterday that FAO is very interested in connecting with us.  Helen is going to debrief me (Liz) as soon as her college P&T duties are over with.  And, Elsevier has approached her about putting a book together on Plant Breeding Education, any interest from the group?  More info at the next teleconference on both of these items.

From Phil Simon Aug. 24, 2011
DRAFT
NAPB and PBCC Scope, Organization, and Duties of Officers, Liaisons and Subcommittee Officers

NAPB
Organizational scope and focus:
NAPB represents all aspects of national plant breeding community; focuses on the state of the plant breeding community in its fullest definition including public sector plant breeders, private industry breeders, and plant breeders with non-government organizations. NAPB takes the lead in organizing an annual meeting of plant breeders, recognizing outstanding plant breeders with awards, and advocating for issues relating to plant breeding in the political arena.

The NAPB is an independent initiative of the PBCC intended to serve as a forum for leadership, regarding issues, problems, and opportunities of long-term strategic importance to the contribution of plant breeding to national goals.

Executive Committee Members and their duties
Positions 1, 2, and 3 below serve as the NAPB Officers; all positions listed below serve as the joint NAPB/PBCC Executive Committee

1.  NAPB President - serves 1-year term; organizes periodic teleconference calls of the Executive Committees, at least quarterly; helps develop the by-laws; coordinates with membership to evaluate future needs; organizes annual meeting (NAPB lead) including a PBCC business meeting (PBCC lead); serves as liaison with subcommittee chairs

2. NAPB Vice-President  - serves 1-year term; works with president/chair to help in all areas; becomes president after serving term

3. NAPB Secretary - serves 1-year term; maintains mailing list; keeps minutes of meetings; helps provide continuity with newly-elected officers; becomes vice chair after serving term

4. NAPB Treasurer-serves 2-year term; maintains financial records and facilitates distribution of funds; can be re-elected

5. NAPB / PBCC Web Editor - serves 2-year term; maintains website, web server and domain name for NAPB and PBCC; helps with the mailing list; posts minutes of meetings; can be re-elected

6. NAPB/PBCC Web Assistant - serves 2 year term; works with web editor; helps gather information and photographs for the web site; can be re-elected (could be a hired position later)

7. NAPB Archivist - serves 2 year term; maintains history and records of NAPB; photographer for meeting; adds biographies to website on famous plant breeders; works with web editor to post documents and photographs of interest to the association; can be re-elected.

8.  Past NAPB President – serves 1 - year term; organizes an elections committee to nominate and elect new leadership for all positions of the Executive Committee, except those of subcommittees which select their own leadership; leads fund-raising efforts

9. NAPB/PBCC Liaison- serves 2-year term; acts as spokesperson for the group represented; serves as ambassador from the NAPB/PBCC to the group represented

10. Subcommittee Chair - serves 1-year term; works with NAPB President and PBCC Chair to accomplish the work plan; organizes the agenda for a meeting of the subcommittee at the annual meeting (except for the Awards Panel that carries out their business before the meeting); identifies nominees to fill the Subcommittee Secretary position which becomes vacant after each annual meeting; submits an annual report for the subcommittee to be posted at our web sites; convenes conference calls of the subcommittee at least quarterly.

11. Subcommittee Vice Chair - serves 1-year term; works with subcommittee Chair to
accomplish the work plan; becomes subcommittee chair after 1-year

12. Subcommittee Secretary - serves 1-year term as secretary, followed by 1-year as Vice
Chair and 1 year as chair; coordinates communication within the subcommittee; keeps
minutes of meetings; helps the subcommittee chair

Subcommittees serve both NAPB and PBCC, but several have a predominant focus in one of these organizations

◦Science, Technology and Informatics (NAPB focus)

◦Communications and Outreach (joint NAPB and PBCC)

◦Awards Panel (NAPB focus)

 

PBCC
Organizational scope and focus: PBCC represents the national plant breeding community with a focus on training and education of plant breeders in the broader sense, including providing information to the public and administrators, and encouraging the development of formal educational opportunities, continuing education, and lifelong learning. PBCC takes the lead in fostering effective plant breeding participation and communication in the federal/state partnership, with particular reference to 1) core competency in plant breeding research, extension, and education;  and 2) the role and importance of plant breeding for the national strategic goals for agriculture and food security.

PBCC is a national coordinating committee of U.S. plant breeders established as a multistate research coordinating committee administered by the Southern Association of Agricultural Experiment Stations Directors (SCC-080) to provide plant breeders with an opportunity to work cooperatively and coordinate activities to solve problems of common interest and concern to them. 

Executive Committee Members and their duties
Positions 1, 2, and 3 below serve as the PBCC Officers; all positions listed below serve as the joint NAPB/ PBCC Executive Committee

1. PBCC Chair- serves 1-year term; organizes periodic teleconference calls of the Executive Committees, at least quarterly; helps develop the by-laws; coordinates with membership to evaluate future needs; organizes annual meeting (NAPB lead) including a PBCC business meeting (PBCC lead); serves as liaison with subcommittee chairs

2. PBCC Vice-Chair - serves 1-year term; works with president/chair to help in all areas; becomes president/chair after serving term

3. PBCC Secretary- serves 1-year term; maintains mailing list; keeps minutes of meetings; helps provide continuity with newly-elected officers; becomes vice chair after serving term

4. NAPB / PBCC Web Editor - serves 2-year term; maintains website, web server and domain name for NAPB and PBCC; helps with the mailing list; posts minutes of meetings; can be re-elected

5. NAPB Web Assistant - serves 2 year term; works with web editor; helps gather information and photographs for the web site; can be re-elected (could be a hired position later)

6. Past PBCC Chair – serves 1 - year term; organizes an elections committee to nominate and elect new leadership for all positions of the Executive Committee, except those of subcommittees which select their own leadership

7. NAPB/ PBCC Liaison - serves 2-year terms; acts as spokesperson for the group represented; serves as ambassador from the NAPB/PBCC to the group represented

8. Subcommittee Chair - serves 1-year term; works with NAPB President and PBCC Chair to accomplish the work plan; organizes the agenda for a meeting of the subcommittee at the annual meeting (except for the Awards and Nominations Subcommittee that carries out their business before the meeting); identifies nominees to fill the Subcommittee Secretary position which becomes vacant after each annual meeting; submits an annual report for the subcommittee to be posted at our web sites; convenes conference calls of the subcommittee at least quarterly.

9. Subcommittee Vice Chair - serves 1-year term; works with subcommittee Chair to
accomplish the work plan; becomes subcommittee chair after 1-year

12. Subcommittee Secretary - serves 1-year term as secretary, followed by 1-year as Vice
Chair and 1 year as chair; coordinates communication within the subcommittee; keeps
minutes of meetings; helps the subcommittee chair

Subcommittees serve both NAPB and PBCC, but several have a predominant focus in one of these organizations

◦Grand Challenges (PBCC focus)
■Interests: climate change, food security, bioenergy, global trade

◦Communications and Outreach (joint NAPB and PBCC)

◦Education and Training of Plant Breeders (PBCC focus)
■Interests: distance education, training of students in plant breeding          

           

 

 

Minutes of the joint NAPB - PBCC  EC monthly phone conference
Aug. 16th 2011, 1:00 pm CDT.

 

In attendance:  Liz Lee, Rita Mumm, Allen Van Deynze, Wayne Smith, Mike Havey, Randy Johnson, Donn Cummings, Phil Simon, David Stelly, Todd Wehner, Stephen Baenziger, Alexander Martin (ASF), David Baltensperger, Jamie Sherman.   Regets: Shelley Jansky, Karen Moldenhauer, Roy Scott, Mitch McGrath, Marcelo Carena, Seth Murray.

Agenda items:

Summer newsletter was sent to the membership, no additional updates.

After much discussion, which I have attempted to summarize below, Phil is making some additional changes to the document that he had circulated prior to the Aug. telecon.  The final copy is attached at the end of the minutes.  We will review this document and discuss it further at the Sept. telecon. 

Separate the NAPB officer from the PBCC officers.  Remove NAPB from the title. Listing the subcommittee roles and missions as well.  This may have been a major topic of discussion from the 2011 meetings.  The question of liaisons and their roles came up again.  Rita thinks that the intent of the liaisons is to actually serve both groups.  The liaisons need to help define their roles and purposes.  The diagram shows this as well (Todd).  Ad-hoc committees, e.g. meetings, awards panel, sub-committees become working groups. 

Mission statements from Allen for discussion (note I have only included the finalized ones): 

“The mission of the National Association of Plant Breeders is to advance the science, awareness and practice of plant breeding, and to enhance plant breeding capacities and educational capabilities.”

“The Plant Breeding Coordinating Committee’s mission is to provide a forum for leadership regarding issues and opportunities of strategic importance to national core competency in plant breeding research and education.”

The mission statements will be in the Sept. newsletter for comments from the membership.  The exec committee voted to approve the mission statements, which will then be ratified by the membership at the annual meetings.  Stephen B. moved to accept the mission statements (both).  Jamie seconded the motion.  Motion passed. 

The group (ASTA w/ NAPB representation) is going to Washington, D.C. in late Jan.  Specific dates for this trip are not known at this time.  Mike and Allen will be participating in a conference call later this month (Aug.) to plan for this meeting. We should know more by the Sept. joint teleconference.

How are you formulating the statements (Rita)?  Once we have an idea, Mike will bring it to the exec and then the membership to get documents to support the statements (Mike).  The issue of defining who is in the lobbying group should be done early so that the people can start planning well in advance (Rita).  Allen will definitely be going along with several ASTA members (Mike).  Allen is a PBCC officer, which may be a bit tricky, although he is not a federal employee (Mike).  If someone would like to join, they can certainly join the lobbying efforts (Mike).  Rita voiced concerns that a NAPB officer really needs to be going as part of the lobby efforts.

The structure was finalized at last meeting.  From last month’s minutes you will find Brook Blanche’s amendments to the bylaws.  There were no comments on the proposed changes, although David S. and Todd have made a few editorial changes to Brook’s amendments.  The process to change the bylaws involves publishing them in the NAPB newsletter and posting them in red on the web for comments from the membership.

The discussions under this agenda item actually covered three items: front office support, becoming a legally recognized entity (most likely a non-profit), and how to deal with donations from the Monsanto Fellows program.  I have tried to separate the three items in the minutes, but as all were discussed simultaneously I may have lost some of the content (note added by Liz in writing up the minutes).

Before we can fully engage front office support, it has come to our attention that we need to establish the organization (NAPB) identity for legal reasons.  Alexander Martin from the Agronomic Science Foundation (ASF) was invited to join the August telecon to aid in our discussion of this concept/process.  Alexander has worked with the Golden Opportunity Scholars program through ASF (Donn).  The Monsanto Fellows program has decided to fund students to attend the NAPB meetings via a charitable donation from their organization, but we will need a 5013C organizational structure (non-profit) for this to be possible.  Two options for dealing with charitable donations:  piggy back on to the Golden Opportunity Scholars Program that is already in place, the other option is to set one up for ourselves

We need to be incorporated before we can get front office support.  Need to probably find a good council for advice.  We need to probably be incorporated in a particular state and this should be the state where our front office support is located.

Rita did some investigating of the ASTA suite of services:  they outsource the web site work, they do not have a membership list that would benefit us, and in Rita’s opinion ASA is a better fit for what we need.  Rita recommended that we go with ASA (Madison, WI) for front office support and contact them to get some legal help regarding getting incorporated as a 5013C in Wisconsin.  David B. suggested that we should perhaps be incorporated as part of ASA.  Rita will follow up with ASA about getting incorporated with ASA.  The ACSESS umbrella group currently has four 5013C entities under it (Alexander).  If NAPB becomes another 5013C under it, it would perhaps work quite well.  Wayne moved that we give Rita the mandate to pursue this course of action, Donn seconded the motion, and the motion passed.

Donn reported that there has been no additional activity since the July telecon.  Do we want a theme (Donn)?  Do we want some guidance for the speaker committee (Donn)?  A leader needs to be identified (Donn).  Are there any volunteers (Donn)?  We tabled any further discussion until the next telecon.  Mike will touch base with Don Blackburn to identify the internal point person and we also need to finalize the hotel.  It was suggested that the committee include the ASTA rep, someone from the IP working group, and that perhaps we survey the membership to see if there are some topics of interest. (Note added after the telecon, the Summer Newsletter did include a solicitation for speaker topics/ideas – Liz)  Donn C. will contact Herb Ohm about serving on the speaker committee.

I am working with the communications committee on putting together a newsletter format and regular content.  The next Newsletter is slated for the end of September.  We will have a draft version of that newsletter available for comment at the Sept. telecon. (detail added after the telecon)

Does PBCC stuff belong on the NABP web site (Todd)?  This will be tabled until the Sept. meeting when Seth is able to attend.  It is probably good to have a bit of separation between NAPB and PBCC (Rita).

None given.

Next call is Sept. 20th, Oct. 25th and Nov. 15th.

DRAFT:  NAPB and PBCC Scope, Organization, and  Duties of Officers, Liaisons and Subcommittee Officers

NAPB organizational scope and focus: NAPB represents all aspects of national plant breeding community; focuses on the state of the plant breeding community in its fullest definition including public sector plant breeders, private industry breeders, and plant breeders with non-government organizations. NAPB takes the lead in organizing an annual meeting of plant breeders, recognizing outstanding plant breeders with awards, and advocating for issues relating to plant breeding in the political arena.

The NAPB is an independent initiative of the PBCC intended to serve as a forum for leadership, regarding issues, problems, and opportunities of long-term strategic importance to the contribution of plant breeding to national goals.

PBCC organizational scope and focus: PBCC represents the national plant breeding community with a focus on training and education of plant breeders in the broader sense, including providing information to the public and administrators, and encouraging the development of formal educational opportunities, continuing education, and lifelong learning. PBCC takes the lead in fostering effective plant breeding participation and communication in the federal/state partnership, with particular reference to 1) core competency in plant breeding research, extension, and education;  and 2) the role and importance of plant breeding for the national strategic goals for agriculture and food security.

PBCC is a national coordinating committee of U.S. plant breeders established as a multistate research coordinating committee administered by the Southern Association of Agricultural Experiment Stations Directors (SCC-080) to provide plant breeders with an opportunity to work cooperatively and coordinate activities to solve problems of common interest and concern to them. 

Executive Committee Members of NAPB and PBCC, and their duties
Positions 2, 3, and 4 below serve as the NAPB and PBCC Officers; all positions listed below serve as the NAPB and PBCC Executive Committees

1. Past NAPB President and Past PBCC Chair – serves 1 - year term; organizes an elections committee to nominate and elect new leadership for all positions of the Executive Committee, except those of subcommittees which select their own leadership; NAPB past-president leads fund-raising efforts

2. NAPB President and PBCC Chair- serves 1-year term; organizes periodic teleconference calls of the Executive Committees, at least quarterly; helps develop the by-laws; coordinates with membership to evaluate future needs; organizes annual meeting (NAPB lead) including a PBCC business meeting (PBCC lead); serves as liaison with subcommittee chairs

3. NAPB Vice-President /PBCC Vice-Chair - serves 1-year term; works with president/chair to help in all areas; becomes president/chair after serving term

4. NAPB Secretary / PBCC Secretary- serves 1-year term; maintains mailing list; keeps minutes of meetings; helps provide continuity with newly-elected officers; becomes vice chair after serving term

5. NAPB Treasurer-serves 2-year term; maintains financial records and facilitates distribution of funds; can be re-elected

6. NAPB / PBCC Web editor - serves 2-year term; maintains website, web server and domain name for NAPB and PBCC; helps with the mailing list; posts minutes of meetings; can be re-elected

7. NAPB and PBCC Liaisons - serve 2-year terms; acts as spokesperson for the group represented; serves as ambassador from the NAPB/PBCC to the group represented

8. NAPB archivist - serves 2 year term; maintains history and records of NAPB; photographer for meeting; adds biographies to website on famous plant breeders; works with web editor to post documents and photographs of interest to the association; can be re-elected.

9. NAPB web assistant - serves 2 year term; works with web editor; helps gather information and photographs for the web site; can be re-elected (could be a hired position later)

10. Subcommittee Chair - serves 1-year term; works with NAPB President and PBCC Chair to accomplish the work plan; organizes the agenda for a meeting of the subcommittee at the annual meeting (except for the Awards and Nominations Subcommittee that carries out their business before the meeting); identifies nominees to fill the Subcommittee Secretary position which becomes vacant after each annual meeting; submits an annual report for the subcommittee to be posted at our web sites; convenes conference calls of the subcommittee at least quarterly.

11. Subcommittee Vice Chair - serves 1-year term; works with subcommittee Chair to
accomplish the work plan; becomes subcommittee chair after 1-year

12. Subcommittee Secretary - serves 1-year term as secretary, followed by 1-year as Vice
Chair and 1 year as chair; coordinates communication within the subcommittee; keeps
minutes of meetings; helps the subcommittee chair

Subcommittees
◦Grand Challenges (PBCC focus)
■Interests: climate change, food security, bioenergy, global trade

◦Science, Technology and Informatics (NAPB focus)

◦Communications and Outreach (joint NAPB and PBCC)

◦Awards and Nominations (NAPB focus)

◦Education and Training of Plant Breeders (PBCC focus)
■Interests: distance education, training of students in plant breeding                      pws 8/4/11

 

 

 

 

Minutes from the July 6, 2011 PBCC Conference Call, 4pm

MEETING DATE:     July 6, 2011 (PBCC Conference Call, 4pm)

PARTICIPANTS:      Michael J. Havey, USDA and U. Wisconsin
Allen Van Deynze, U.C. Davis
Marcelo J. Carena, North Dakota State University

NOTES:

Members introduced themselves and discussed about PBCC and NAPB leadership and their roles and duties. It was clearly emphasized that PBCC is a USDA-supported regional program that is not allowed to lobby. It was noted that our main goal is to provide unbiased information to justify the generation of more funds for the common good of Plant Breeding. It was added that one of our roles is to provide policy oriented publications through the general input of PBCC Subcommittees. This conference call focused on priorities for efforts by PBCC in 2011-12.

Briefly, Allen discussed about the possibility of obtaining funds for a supply/demand survey on plant breeders. This could serve well our educational component. Allen will provide more feedback.

Mike proposed contacting subcommittee Chairs to survey each group for the possibility of identifying priorities for potential publication. There was a long discussion on the IP issues discussed in Texas. I (Marcelo) proposed a new topic on the future of germplasm exchange in order to develop the ultimate ideal cultivar for farmer use and the current limitations to it. We agreed to discuss it in a future gathering and open discussion (e.g., Indianapolis). The need to focus on top and very few priorities was brought back into discussion. We all agreed that the process needs to continue to be open to all and that we will try to lead it. Potential ad-hoc committees and the need for motivated people were mentioned. I (Marcelo) proposed to work interdisciplinary across subcommittees to find common topics and reduce them to 1-2.

Allen brought one more topic as he met with others representing NAPB at the annual ASTA meeting in Washington. NAPB is our sister organization that is allowed to lobby and PBCC can be its support group. A summit for NAPB select members is scheduled for September and a conference call of NAPB is scheduled before that (in a couple of weeks). Topics and needs will be selected for lobbying purposes. PBCC should be prepared to provide ‘ammunition’ for not only September but also January – February before next year’s budget.

It was emphasized PBCC does not work for commodities rather for the whole Plant Breeding community.

Finally, it was briefly mentioned that PBCC secretary will take notes of these small meetings and will pass along for potential corrections/additions and then will be sent to Seth Murray to post on PBCC website. It was added that Rita Mumm added PBCC role for leadership in the back of Texas program which I (Marcelo) proposed to forward to me.

The meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted
Marcelo Carena
Professor & Corn Breeder
marcelo.carena@ndsu.edu

 

 

 

Minutes from the NABP-PBCC June Joint Teleconference
June 21, 2011
2-3:30 PM EDT, 866-773-4970, participant pass code is 8604812.

In attendance: David Stelly, Elizabeth Lee, Rita Mumm, Todd Wehner, Mike Harvey, Phil Simon, Janet Lewis, Shelley Jansky, David Baltensperger, Dave Francis, Brooks Blanche, Karen Moldenhauer, Wayne Smith, Jamie Sherman.

Agenda items:

Very good, positive comments about the meeting (Rita). Is there anything that we should do differently next year?  Dave F. - the most enjoyable aspect was the student involvement, but perhaps we need to figure out how to ratchet-up the professionalism of the student presentations.  Perhaps we should have the student speakers earlier in the program, rather than after the invited speakers.  Brooks mentioned that the awards committee was thinking about giving the student with the top poster the opportunity to speak at the conference the following year.

Awards committee members wanted to not have a subcommittee meeting at the meeting, but have their work done ahead of time (Todd).  Discussion of new awards committee structure (Brooks) dropping a secretary from the committee.  They are requesting that people be appointed to the committee for 3-yr terms to keep new blood coming through the committee, with a goal of 9 members in total, 3 appoint per year for 3-year terms.  They will go over applications for awards and aid in developing additional awards.  Brooks is chair, Karen is past chair, need to find a vice-chair.  Hoping to have either Stephen. B. or Jim Brewbaker as vice-chair.  Current chair of NAPB appoints the 3 members.  This new structure needs to be entered into the by-laws.  First we need to vote on it and Seth will then enter it on the web.  Brooks will draft the outline and circulate it to the exec.  We will finalize this and vote on it at the July meeting.

Shelley has been in touch with Kathy Ferguson (TAMU conference coordinator) for an update of the meeting dollars.  Right now our account is essentially sitting with TAMU.  While there are still some bills to be paid it looks like the balance as of yesterday (June 20th) was around $40,000, but it needs to be finalized.  We also need to make sure that we have a finalized official accounting from TAMU that will hold up to an audit considering the dollars involved. 

Much of this surplus is the result of efforts by several NAPB members and our meeting sponsors. We (NAPB/PBCC) will be writing a letter of thanks to our sponsors for all of their efforts.  David S. and Wayne S. will pull together a list of names and addresses for thank-yous and will have them put on joint NAPB/PBCC official letterhead.  Liz will coordinate the letters and circulate a draft of the text to the exec. 

Membership is up around 1100 members.  David S. is emailing Liz a database with the membership.  We need to solicit contact info for about 800 of our members, as we only have names and emails.  It was suggested that this can be added to the database once we have front office support.

Rita emailed to the exec a structure document with all of the sub-committees and liaisons for both NAPB and PBCC along with a general over-view of their roles (at the end of the minutes).  Rita asked that the subcommittees finalize their objectives, circulate them in advance of the next joint telecon meeting, and bring them to the next telecom.  We will then have a set of objectives to work on for the year and possibly develop strategies for meeting these objectives. 

Rita also asked that each liaison formulate either a mission statement if not a specific objective that they would like to accomplish this year.  In general we are finding a lot of commonality among the sister organizations.  David B. has agreed to serve as our liaison to the National Plant Germplasm Coordinating Committee.  The NPGCC requested that the NAPB put forth a nomination for the National Genetic Resources Advisory Council.  Dave F. nominated David B., Karen M. seconded it, and the nomination was acclaimed. Dave F. will write a letter of support and David S. will submit the nomination on behalf of NAPB.  Mike H. will write an additional letter of support and perhaps Bill Tracy should be approached about a letter of support.  The deadline for submission of the package is June 30th for the nomination.

NAPB and PBCC need to identify goals for this year.  Mike H. will contact the sub-committee chairs to see if they can work on individual topics and will bring those forward to the exec.  e.g., getting the you-tube videos out this year, developing a rapid response team to address issues, development of an IP fact sheet of the considerations that are important when making “your” IP decisions.

Janet was wondering how to open up the Grand Challenges sub-committee meeting to the greater membership.  Could she use a list-serve to advertise the subcommittee meeting?  Mike H. suggested formulating particular topics for the subcommittee meeting.  Rita was wondering if Grand Challenges would be interested in taking on organizing a Rapid Response group.  Mike H. thought that it could also come from the communications/outreach committee.

ASTA, ASA (official offer letter), and ASHS all offer “front office” services for organizations.  Todd had looked into having ASA keep our bank account which would costs us between $200-500/yr for accounting, for example. Rita would like to figure out what our needs are before we commit to a group.  We had dealt with this at the telecom prior to the annual mtg. (May 19th) regarding the checking account and had voted on having ASA do this activity.  However, as we have not acted on this yet, we decided to take a closer look at what our needs might be (short and long-term) and what it costs for those organizations to run a “front office” operation for us.  The list might include, a list-server, more complete membership information, membership list, website maintenance, checking account, meeting support (?), collection of dues (?).  We decided to do some price comparing.  Rita will ask each for a breakdown of costs for various services for next mtg.

We discussed the concept of a unified voice, what it is and how to works towards one. Unified voice for lobbying with ASTA, liaisons with other organizations form a committee working with the vice-pres (David S.) to work towards developing a unified voice.  Mike H. would be happy to work with the subcommittees to bring up issues and necessary information this year and then the NAPB liaisons will build a unified voice with our sister organizations.  What is meant by a unified voice (Dave F.)?  Advocacy is probably what we are mostly after (Rita).  Along the lines of what Roger Beachy spoke about.  Targeting mostly law and policy makers, but there may be instances when we want to reach the general public, too.

See section above under structure of NAPB and PBCC for detail.

Regrets, as Allen is representing us at the ASTA meetings in CA.  This topic was tabled this until the July meeting.

Don was not able to make this month’s meeting.  Rita gave us a bit of an update.  It will be held at a hotel near the airport, rather than at Purdue.  Need to strike a speaker’s committee with the meeting hosts closely involved.  This will be dealt with at an upcoming telecon.  The meeting will be Aug. 5-8, 2012 in Indianapolis, IN.

Seth sends his regrets.  This topic was tabled until the next meeting.  Hopefully Seth can address how he might envision his web assistant (Jim Hancock) working with him and possibly Tom Stalker, the archivist.

The next joint telecons will be July 19th, Aug. 16th, and Sept. 20th.  Please allow for an hour and a half.  2 pm Eastern time.

Other business:
Sub-committee officers: The suggestion was made by Liz that a slate of nominees for the sub-committees be developed prior to the sub-committee breakout meetings at our annual meetings.  Also, we have one or two subcommittees where a grad student is now the secretary.  It was suggested that they serve this year as a recording secretary for the subcommittee this year and that either an additional secretary for succession purposes will be appointed this year, or that secretary and vice-chair will be elected in 2012.

Along the same lines, we started a discussion regarding grad student liaisons on the sub-committees.  Rita suggested that the subcommittee chairs needs to touch base with the grad student liaisons as to their role and how they are not part of the succession change.  Are the students allowed to vote – yes was the consensus.  Do we have defined roles for the grad student liaisons – partially defined. For example, they would be involved in subcommittee meetings, but not the exec meetings.  As it was getting towards the end of the allotted time we decided to table this topic for more discussion at the July meeting.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Elizabeth Lee, NAPB secretary
June 21, 2011

 

Plant Breeding Coordination Committee
Tele-meeting May 03, 2011

Attending

 

U. Florida meeting --  Plant breeding  colleagues.  2013 Crop Science meeting will be in Tampa.  Invitation is irrespective of association with Crop Science meeting.  There are pluses and minuses.  Field Tours element might get lost under CSSA.  Graduate student involvement is important and somewhat dependent on meeting in summer.  Best time for seeing most Florida crops would probably be spring --  most are horticultural.   Motion to "Hold the PBCC and NAPB meetings in 2013 in Florida", seconded, no discussion: Passed Unanimously.  Phil and Todd will prepare a letter to Barry.  Barry is due to meet with administrators.  Barry should bring 2-3 slides to show.

Expected Break-out Groups during Meeting:

Rapid Response Group -- How should we develop such a group?  List of volunteers.  Put something on Website.  Add this as a topic for Communications Subcommittee, but maybe bring it to the larger group, e.g., upon delivery of their report.  Allen said that he would add this to the agenda. 

Intellectual Property:  Another topic that may need channeling is IP.  It might be a stand-alone topic.  Consider it different from the USDA Germplasm interests (ongoing development).    IP would fit within Grand Challenges.  This topic will elevate NAPB's profile.   Another option would be to set up a separate workgroup.   Phil could bring this up in Monday morning session when he discusses white papers, 1-pagers and so on.  Phil will contact Mary Lou Arpaia -- she is not registered for the meeting.   Document the pros and cons from an informational standpoint, then perhaps  at some point work on a position statement.

Seedworld Interviews:  Goal -- make people aware of plant breeders; inform plant breeding.  We want to talk about successes; needs.  

General discussion session topics to include in agenda:  Rapid Response.  Germplasm Database.  IP. 

 

UPCOMING CALLS & MEETINGS:
May 19 NAPB Tele-conference
May 22 Executive meeting  -- restaurant 
MAY 23-25 -  Annual meeting

 

 

PBCC  March 08 2011 Tele-conference Call

Attending

 

Nominations for PBCC officer positions  (status summary, largely by Todd W.): 
NAPB

 
PBCC

            For greater balance, we should get representation from West and NW?

PBCC and NAPB functions and focus - continuing discussions
Mike Havey has delivered document to Askew and it has been distributed to other AES directors; and it has been put up at the NAPB website for general access.  PBCC approved by CSREES.  Videos might be a more effective medium to reach.  We could bring this up Monday morning at the meeting. Interviews by Seedquest at the meeting may be a nice opportunity to develop documentation and videos.  We should identify topics that can be targeted for questions; impressionable.  Jamie mentioned that on-location videos with researchers brings another dimension into a video.  She has a student is available to help splice clips et cetera (in T-CAP). Video qualities can vary and be used differently; high-quality videos present more options.  Many opportunities to get home-videos if we can get our colleagues to make contributions.  We need to represent our diversity from a project and research standpoint.  Communications / Outreach and Educations committees  could run with this.  We could solicit ideas from our membership.  The first video (need example(s) could related to the paper that Mike just developed (umbrella), then solicit contributions on specific topics.  Maybe we could have a competition, and have the winning ones be presented at next year's meeting. (We could use video at the beginning of each session this year to settle everyone down in their seat.)  

Plans for generating long-term support for plant breeding
Budget out of Congress House has ~15% cut for Ag, including NIFA, ARS,...  This underscores the importance of PBCC (info) and PR (NAPB).  Need to promote Ag overall, not just specific commodities.  One way of showing broad support is to make sure that each support idea put forward had broad application and ramifications. 

Developing a unified voice for plant breeding - an educational perspective
Rita was unable make this call.

Documents highlighting plant breeding and plant breeders

            Stalkers paper is waiting on some data from various universities.  Some progress on Globally collaborative.

TX meeting meeting preparations:

UPCOMING CALLS:

===========================================
PREMEETING EMAIL:

From:   Simon Philipp <psimon@wisc.edu>
Subject:            TODAY-Reminder: PBCC Conference Call - March
Date:    March 8, 2011 8:27:37 AM CST
To:       Stelly David <stelly@tamu.edu>
Cc:       Wehner Todd <todd_wehner@ncsu.edu>, Murray Seth
<sethmurray@tamu.edu>, Baenziger P. Steven <pbaenziger1@unl.edu>, mjhavey@wisc.edu HAVEY <mjhavey@wisc.edu>, Rita Mumm <ritamumm@uiuc.edu>, Shelley Jansky <shjansky@wisc.edu>, Askew George <gaskew@clemson.edu>, Ann Marie Thro <athro@csrees.usda.gov>, Roy Scott <Roy.Scott@ARS.USDA.GOV>, Randy Johnson <randyjohnson@fs.fed.us>, Gepts Paul <plgepts@ucdavis.edu>, Bill Tracy <wftracy@wisc.edu>, Fikret Isik <fisik@ncsu.edu>, pbyrne@colostate.edu, Karl Glasener <kglasener@agronomy.org>, Caron Gala <cgala@agronomy.org>, Linda Wessel-Beaver <lwesselbeaver@yahoo.com>, Iezzoni Amy <Iezzoni@msu.edu>, Tom.Koch@agreliantgenetics.com Koch <Tom.Koch@agreliantgenetics.com>, Abdullah Jaradat <abdullah.jaradat@ARS.USDA.GOV>, Arpaia Mary LLu <arpaia@uckac.edu>, Smith Kevin P. <smith376@umn.edu>, Lee Elizabeth <lizlee@uoguelph.ca>, McGrath Mitch <mitchmcg@msu.edu>, Van Deynze Allen <avandeynze@ucdavis.edu>, Jodi.Scheffler@ars.usda.gov Scheffler <Jodi.Scheffler@ARS.USDA.GOV>, Kmolden@uark.edu Moldenhauer <kmolden@uark.edu>, SBlanche@agcenter.lsu.edu Blanche <SBlanche@agcenter.lsu.edu>, mtuinstr@purdue.edu Tuinstra <mtuinstr@purdue.edu>, Donn.Cummings@Monsanto.com CUMMINGS <Donn.Cummings@Monsanto.com>, Jamie Sherman <jsherman@montana.edu>, ross_whetten@ncsu.edu, Shelby Repinski <slrepinski@ucdavis.edu>, Simon Philipp <psimon@wisc.edu>
Dear All:

The next PBCC conference call to continue discussions on strategies to profile plant breeding will be on TODAY, March 8, 2011, at 2:00 PM Eastern, 1:00 PM Central, 12:00 PM Mountain, and 11:00 AM Pacific time.

For our upcoming conference call, the toll-free number for all to call is 866-773-4970.

Participant Pass code is 8604812

The Agenda is:
1. Nominations for PBCC officer positions
2. PBCC and NAPB functions and focus - continuing discussions
3. Plans for generating long-term support for plant breeding
4. Developing a unified voice for plant breeding - an educational perspective
5. Documents highlighting plant breeding and plant breeders

Please let me know if you have additional agenda items.

To see minutes of our recent PBCC conference calls please go to:

http://www.plantbreeding.org/napb/Minutes/Minutes2011PBCC.html

 

 

PBCC  Jan 11 2011 Tele-conference Call

Attending:

  • Liz Lee
  • Donn Cummings
  • David Stelly
  • Mike  Havey
  • Jodi Scheffler
  • Shelly Jansky
  • Seth Murray
  • Todd Wehner
  • Phil Simon
  • Ann Marie Thro
  • Karen Moldenhauer
  • Tom Koch
  • Allen Van Deynze
  • Rita Mumm

(Ice Storms in SE precluded some of the others from participating)

Text Box: Liang-Shiou Lin Title: National Program Leader Unit: Division of Plant Systems-Production Location: 2380 Waterfront Centre Full Address and Directions Phone: (202) 401 - 5045 Fax: (202) 401 - 6488 Email: llin@nifa.usda.gov AFRI Foundational Program RFA just issued --- includes Plant Breeding!!  Contact in same group as Ann Marie Thro.  Contact =  Liang-Shiou Lin (202) 401 - 5045

a. The exhortation to plant breeders to READ the RFA --esp. pages 1 and 5-- (these are short sections) and SEND any feedback and COMMENTS to the email address listed in the front matter of the RFA for stakeholder comments .
The agency is REQUIRED to consider these comments. They can have a real influence on future RFAs. This is a REAL opportunity to have constructive input !

b. And these suggestions to plant breeders, do contact NIFA with any clarification questions re the RFA, and (since AMT will be out of the office during most of 2011) contact Liang Shiou Lin.

Handling of Minutes:
Send out notes to those on the XC same day, ask for corrections and amendments in two work days.  In about one week, accept as approved, and post.  Today --  we unanimously approved of minutes of the last meeting.

NAPB vs PBCC

PBCC  --  focus on document derivation   
PBCC –   be a resource and authority for the government consultation, et cetera, free of conflict of interest). 
PBCC –  take on no advocacy roles; actions must not create a conflict-of-interest, in terms fed. Government.
NAPB – advocacy roles are okay, e.g., to promote retention of national capacity in plant breeding
(Post-meeting insertion:  Here's what we said in Johnston (2010 Meeting):

Long-term Support:  Havey – responses to recent emailout about securing longterm support.  Develop video for YouTube, meetings and accompanying literature.  Key issues … AVD:  A local company (Vantage) has been creating superb web videos about various vegetables.  AVD to check if the company would be interested in working with us..  Havey -- $8-10K for 4-minute video.  Allen – usually one topic per video; 1 h  to shoot, 3-4 h to edit.  Jamie Sherman shot NAPB videos; research associate is compiling them as part of a plant breeding educational grant.  We need striking topics that would be good to build core support for plant breeding  -- Hatch and Hatch-like funding.   

 

Planning for Upcoming Annual Meetings:

Future Calls for PBCC Tele-conferences:  

White Papers:  Phil contact the following to firm up plans on these white papers