NFRA Work Plan

May – Oct 2005

April 13, 2005 DRAFT

I.NFRA Governance

Continue work on NFRA bylaws and incorporation as 501 (c) (3).
Further define responsibilities/job descriptions for main NFRA entities (**see below).

II. NFRA Organization

Organize NFRA office – hire executive director (**see below); determine need for other staff; locate office, develop logo, etc.
Develop budget and arrange for funding – 2 functions: lobbying, and education/organizing.

III.IOOS Legislation & Congressional Funding

Coordinate and advocate for NFRA positions on IOOS funding & legislation.
Coordinate NFRA positions on federal policy issues of concern.
Work with Ocean.US and NORLC agencies on the above.
Work with NFRA members on advancing the above.

IV.Communication/Outreach

Develop “branding” for NFRA.
Work with Ocean.US (Andy Clark), NOAA (Gary Magnuson) and any others on industry coordination and partnerships.
Develop outreach/communications strategy in conjunction with Ocean.US (Gregg Schmidt), CORE, SURA, and others. Identify/cultivate strengths of NFRA -- who has the best contacts with federal agencies, Congress, existing and potential partners; develop guidelines for effective outreach to Congress, agencies, and others; coordinate/direct outreach -- who issues calls to action? What should NFRA members be expected to do? Who is/should be a part of the IOOS coalition? How will that be organized/chaired? Who will benefit from IOOS? How are they employed in outreach efforts?

Executive Committee Recommendation: to develop subcommittees to follow up on the activities described above. Each RA must participate in at least 1 subcommittee. Possible subcommittee chairs:

Governance – David Martin

Organization – Rick DeVoe

Legislation – Josie Quintrell

Communication/Outreach – Molly McCammon

** NFRA Entities

NFRA Exec Committee – currently includes David Martin (Pacific NW), Molly McCammon (Alaska), Josie Quintrell (Northeast – Maine), and Rick Devoe (Southeast – South Carolina). Committee should include new chair and vice-chair if they differ from these four. Exec committee is not described in Terms of Reference, but was approved by NFRA members on a conference call vote on March 24. Provision for exec committee should be included in new bylaws.

NFRA Chair – provides primary leadership for organization. David Martin has been serving as interim chair since May 2004. This position will require a significant time commitment, including time in Washington DC, especially as the organization is gearing up.

NFRA Vice-Chair – serves on exec committee and in chair’s place as needed. Consider whether vice-chair should represent different geographic region than Chair.

NFRA Executive Director – primary organization staff; chief spokesperson for organization; reports to Secretariat and to executive committee between meetings.

NFRA Secretariat – described in the adopted Terms of Reference as 1 member from each region and each affiliate. The primary point of contact for each RA and affiliate.

NFRA Membership – described in the Terms of Reference as 2 members from each region. Need to clarify the communication differences between the Secretariat and the Membership, for both the interim and the long term.