Notes from call – Alyssa Rosemartin/Robert Mesta, 4/12/11
Robert Mesta is a FWS employee, and Coordinator of the Sonoran Joint Venture
The Sonoran Joint Venture is officially a program of the Fish and Wildlife Service, but modeled after an NGO, with a board and working groups. Robert describes the board as a typical NGO board whose job is to support the organization. The Board, which has both federal and non-federal members,doesn’t make hiring or firing decisions or play a significant role at FWS through any formal mechanism. The board can appeal to FWS, via a letter letting them know that there was issue (give a raise or request corrective action). They can also identify key positions needed to help SJV meet its mission, and create a list of duties. Robert would take it to FWS and they would consider it. Board members are not liable.
See more on SJV Structure:
See more on the SJV Board and its role here:
The SJV funding model is a hybrid – get federal funding, but write grants to get money as well. The organization sees its own role as facilitative and the role of the board being in part to widen the net of partners, develop partnerships that can result in funding, and increase what the organization can do on the ground. [This resonates with me as one of the roles we want for our board]Aside from funding staff positions (Science/Monitoring and Ed/Outreach + Coordinator) and infrastructure - they save up funds to create a pool for a small grants program they administer in the US and Mexico. ). Priority projects can leverage funds and carry out activities.
Some pros/cons. Robert says it has been a limitation in some ways to be part of FWS, but there is a stability of being agency-based. He feels they have not yet found the opportunity to engage with the private sector, but would like to. Because the funding is specific to staff (3) from the FWS, and deliverables from grants, they don’t have a general/operating fund. They did consider a “Friends of Sonoran Joint Venture” – but decided not to, bc of a high admin burden, liability and fiduciary responsibilities.
All the Joint Ventures do an annual “Hill Visit” – where they visit representatives and senators – basically advocating for JVs – showing what’s been done outside of regulatory system, with partnerships. E.g. Please support the president’s budget bc it has $ for JVs. Fine line, board members who are non federal make case for money, Robert can give spiel, but not talk about money. Non-regulatory is a buzz word – making a difference/contribution without regulations. Congress will not support regulatory funding these days.
Has not formally looked into FACA compliance, but has a memo to share from the LCCs, saying they are not subject. You can make an argument about anything – tie in knots, overcook. He promotes a can-do attitude. Found that board member term limits worked against us – keep the good ones once you get them. Can still be voted off. Good board members are hard to get. He finds that the longer they are engaged the more effective they are. Robert sets the stage with expectations, connecting personally, and introducing the JV concept – which is pretty unique/outside the box, so there’s generally a learning curve. After a few meetings, they get it and get going.
Rio Grande JV – their coordinator works for ABC (money is from FWS but comes through ABC in coop agreement) also State (Texas) money.