DRAFT 2003-2004 Program of Work

Colorado/Wyoming Chapter – American Fisheries Society

(Adapted from the 2003-2004 Western Division Program of Work)

Introduction

In 1999, the AFS Governing Board adopted the Strategic Plan of the American Fisheries Society (SP-AFS). The strategic plan was intended to guide the Society’s activities over the period from 1999 thru 2004. Although the strategic plan was developed for the American Fisheries Society as a whole, all AFS units are encouraged to adapt the strategic plan to meet their needs, particularly emphasizing those sub-goals and strategies that are consistent with unit priorities. In addition, all units are encouraged to provide reports to the Governing Board that refer to progress on one or more elements of the strategic plan. With this in mind, the following draft program of work for the coming year focuses on three major goals that were articulated in the SP-AFS, including:

· Promote Aquatic Stewardship and Increase Public Perception of our Science;

· Provide Excellent Member Services, and;

· Provide Leadership in Information Transfer and Outreach.

The strategies and activities that are proposed to address the interests and needs of the members of the Chapter are described in the following three elements of the Program of Work.

Aquatic Stewardship

To be more effective in the public policy arena and increase public perception of our Society, the Chapter needs to enhance dialogue and provide leadership on key issues that are currently influencing fisheries and aquatic resources. Some of the key strategies and indicators of success for promoting effective aquatic stewardship over the coming year and beyond should include:

Strategy from SP-AFS Subgoals AS 1 and AS 2 - Efforts will highlight the importance of biodiversity, watershed management, habitat conservation and sound stewardship of aquatic ecosystems.

Indicators of Success:

AS 1, Promote Stewardship

· The Annual Meeting Program Committee provided symposia related to aquatic stewardship at the 2004 annual meeting.

· The Chapter supported projects likely to advance stewardship in CO and WY by funding appropriate grant proposals when possible.

· Provided a CO/WY representative on the Western Native Fishes Project Committee to actively pursue paper presentations so that information on native fishes in CO and WY was presented to members at the Western Native Fishes Symposium in 2004.

AS 2, Stewardship Education

· The Annual Meeting Program Committee provided a symposium related to the use of science in public policy at the 2004 annual meeting.

Member Services

The strength of AFS is in its members. Therefore, it is incumbent upon the Chapter to meet the needs of our members if it is to maintain and enhance the relevance and future success of the organization. Some of the key strategies and indicators of success to support Chapter members in 2003/2004 include:

Strategy from SP-AFS Subgoals MS 1, MS 3, MS 4, MS 5 and MS 6: Meeting efforts will revolve around professional development opportunities and continuing education classes. The Chapter should provide primary scientific and technical information on fisheries and aquatic resource topics from fisheries professionals in Colorado and Wyoming. Continue to enhance electronic services and communications to members.

Indicators of Success:

MS 1, Professional Development

· Prepared an annual meeting program that provided valuable learning opportunities in many topics of interest to Chapter members.

• Ensured that continuing education courses offered at the annual meeting were of interest to Chapter members and that they were affordable to most members.
• Improved communication between the Chapter and the CSU and UW Student Subunits.

MS 3, Electronic Services

• Enhanced the Chapter web site using the WDAFS site plan as guidance.
• Kept the website up to date and encouraged the CSU and UW student subunits to do the same.
• Provided electronic versions of the Chapter newsletter on the web site.

· Provided on-line meeting registration.

• Initiated the transition to electronic balloting.

MS 4, Diversity

• Maintained an active membership committee.
• Participated in the Wildlife Heritage Exposition in Casper, Wyoming and distributed materials related to AFS membership.
• Increased student membership by providing up to 12 free memberships to undergraduate students at CSU and UW.

• Increased the number of CO and WY fish culturists that are AFS members.
• Provided timely access to information relevant to Chapter members through the delivery of at least three issues of the Chapter newsletter.

• Included AFS memberships in the annual meeting non-member registration fees.
• Actively pursued involvement of a CO or WY student in the Hutton Program.

MS 5, Strategic Plan Implementation

· Provided a Program of Work to the Western Division and AFS that is specifically referenced to the AFS Strategic Plan.

• Responded to requests for information from AFS in a timely manner.

MS 6, Financial Security

• Developed an annual Chapter budget that targeted a fiscal year-end balance of at least $12,000.
• Participated in the development of the 2004 annual meeting budget and ensured that the Chapter was likely to receive sufficient revenue.
• Developed guidelines for continuing to contribute funds to endowments at UW and CSU.
• Continued efforts to raise additional funds for the endowments at CSU and UW.

Information Transfer and Outreach

Members of AFS are recognized by decision-makers and natural resource professionals as essential sources of science-based information regarding the conservation, management, and sustainable development of fisheries and aquatic ecosystems. Some of the key strategies and indicators of success to facilitate information transfer and outreach at the Chapter level include:

Strategy from SP-AFS Subgoals ITO 1, ITO 2 and ITO 5 - Enabling our membership to be viewed as aquatic resource professionals by employers and the public. Improve visibility and AFS image as a scientific organization and information source.

Indicators of Success:

ITO 1, Professional Stature.

· The AFS certification program was actively promoted and the number of certified Chapter members increased.

ITO 2, Visibility of AFS

• The Chapter has initiated interaction with media. Press releases and/or fact sheets were distributed about timely fisheries issues.

ITO 5, Actively Influence Public Policy

• The Environmental Concerns Committee has addressed issues that arose in CO and WY on behalf of the Chapter and elevated issues to the Division level when appropriate.