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St. Petersburg, Florida
Centers Present on July 31: COTTAP, MITTAP, NPTTAP, OKTTAP, NWTTAP, CATTAP, AKTTAP, AL, AK, AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA (by proxy to NH), MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, PR, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, WI, WV, WY
Centers Absent on July 31: AR, DE, NY, ND, OR, PA, RI, VA, WA
Welcome and Opening Remarks - President Bruce Drewes welcomed NLTAPA members to the International Symposium on Transportation Technology Transfer and the NLTAPA business meeting.
Housekeeping
- Approval of the agenda - Moved by David Frey to approve the agenda; approved.
- Approval of minutes of previous meeting - Terry McNinch moved to dispense with the reading of the minutes, approved; Doyt Bolling moved to approve the minutes, approved.
Report from FHWA
- Office of Professional and Corporate Development - Joe Toole: Thanked the team leading the LTAP Program and the Executive Committee. Reported that a technical corrections bill is in process which would shift funding in the RD&T program. Encouraged continuing partnerships, including Highways for Life, Safety programs, TCCC and NTTD. Wants to "tell the story" of the LTAP program and use the PAR and CAR as tools for centers to use in reporting on their own programs and the national program. Also, wants to maintain ties with the international community, possibly holding an international symposium every four years.
- Office of International Programs - Henry Navares: Emphasized global transportation linkages, including the scanning program, the facilitation of T2 centers around he world, international visitor's program. Noted that OIP is looking for twinning partners and 18 countries were represented at the Symposium.
Change to NLTAPA Constitution
Linda Howe-Steiger moved that the constitution be amended to combine regions 9 and 10. Approved.
Working Group Reports
- Program Strategy and Evaluation - Bruce Drewes: Workgroup consists of Cheri Marti, Terry McNinch, Leonard brown, Lisa Harris and Bernie Alkire. Highlights included: dealing with reauthorization and funding issues; expanding the program by working with other organizations; developing a new governing structure; future reauthorization; looking for other funding sources for LTAP; and involving the FHWA Office of Safety.
- Partnerships- Marie Walsh: This was a year of transition for the workgroup. Partner liaisons changed to: Dan Cady - APWA, Ken Skorseth - NACE, Kathleen Schaffer - Salt Institute. Doyt Bolling remains liaison to AASHTO. Future efforts include communicating the goals and activities of current partnerships.
- Internal Communication - Lisa Harris: Encouraged EC representatives to communicate with members. Produced a brochure on NLTAPA Q & A and added an archive to T2All. Future activities include a new chair and committee and possible new governing structure.
- External Communications - Terry McNinch: Workgroup has been developing alliances and partnerships to assist centers in being active in reauthorization education activities. Encouraged a plan and strategy for external communication. Urged members to distribute center newsletters to elected decision makers at all levels and to participate in NLTAPA national local agency customer survey.
- Training Products and Resources - Ed Stellfox: Items now available include: Bridge Inspection Training, Gravel Roads Maintenance Training, Forest Roads and The Environment CD, Incident Sign Installation Guide - Booklet, Low Cost Local Road Safety Solutions - Publication, and Free MPO/RPO Training. Products that have passed muster and are under development include: Web Based Instructor Integrated Math Refresher Self Study Course; Ben Collucci and Puerto Rico LTAP donated 29 videos in Spanish which will be reviewed and ready for distribution as soon as possible; reviewing a training program on Tractor and Mower Safety Operation Training; potential funding resources but they are waiting until the Clearinghouse contract is set.
- Professional Development - Linda Howe-Steiger: Group seeks to improve internal staff capacity through tools and training opportunities, peer mentoring, awards and program planning for the national LTAP conference. Data collection from centers yielded the following recommendations: work with NHI to offer center instructors free tuition for NHI classes; offer key NHI courses in conjunction with the annual conference; encouraging centers to look for strategic opportunities for additional funding through grants and contracts; beef up the national LTAP conference especially though advanced staff training; post NHI instructor manuals on-line, and develop self-instructional tutorials for centers tasks on-line.
Rollout of New Conference Organizing Structure (Report)
Terry McNinch reported on the new way LTAP conferences will be coordinated, as endorsed by the EC and accepted by the R&R Committee and described in a report distributed to members prior to the meeting.
Roles and Responsibilities Report Wrap Up (Report)
Clark Martin reviewed the report of R&R Committee meeting and answered questions.
Review Options for New Governing Structure for the Association
Terry McNinch moved that NLTAPA change its governing structure to address the association's newly defined role and responsibilities in the national program. Some members were opposed to discussing changes without considering keeping the current regional structure. Linda Howe-Steiger moved to table. McNinch retracted the motion. Drewes announced that the EC prefers Option B and encouraged members to discuss the issue before a vote at the Thursday business meeting.
Partnership Liaisons (Reports)
- AASHTO - Doyt Bolling: Urged members to be involved in AASHTO activities including TIG technologies, AASHTO subcommittees, National Transportation Product Evaluation Program (NTPEP), and TCCC. He will alert members about ordering AASHTO publications.
- APWA - Dan Cady: Introduced APWA Director of Education Patricia Kutt and noted that the APWA president (Bob Freudenthal) will speak at the Symposium. Has begun several initiatives including membership in APWA's Education Committee and liaison to the Fleet and Facilities and Grounds Committee, membership in APWA's Congress Planning Committee, and involvement with planned education summit.
- NACE - Ken Skorseth: Attended NACE conference and noted that a NACE representative swill speak at the Symposium. Urged members to be active in NACE affiliate states. Begun process of reviewing the NACE action guides.
- Salt Institute - Dick Hanneman: Noted several activities including: NLTAPA Winter Maintenance Committee snowfighter training, winter maintenance peer exchange, and listserve for winter maintenance trainers hosted by New Hampshire LTAP. Wants to know how materials are being used by centers and their effectiveness.
Meeting was recessed until August 3, 2006.
Above minutes submitted by Lisa Pogue, LTAP Clearinghouse.
The business meeting was re-convened at 10:35 am, Thursday, August 3, 2006.
Centers Present on August 3: COTTAP, MITTAP, OKTTAP, NWTTAP, CATTAP (absent for second vote), AKTTAP, AL, AK, AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MA (by proxy to NH), MI, MN, MS, MO, MT (by proxy to ID), NE (by proxy to KS), NV, NH, NJ, NC, OH, PR, SC, SD, TX, UT, WI, WY
Centers Absent on August 3: AR, DE, NY, ND, OR, PA, RI, VA, WV, NPTTAP, MD, NM, OK, TN, VT, WA
Grant notification process - Lisa Harris reviewed a draft proposal from an ad hoc committee headed by Bernie Alkire to establish a procedure for equitable notification of LTAP Centers about grant opportunities. The purpose is to provide timely notification of the opportunities, plus provide suggestions for smaller Centers on how to best take advantage of the opportunities. Notification would come from the President to the Training Products and Resources Work Group Chair, and then to the Centers. Harris asked for comment: Linda Howe-Steiger (CA LTAP) suggested that notification go the work group Chair and the Centers at the same time. Harris asked Centers to send any more comments to Bernie Alkire by August 31 and asked the ad hoc committee to submit a revised report to the EC at the September EC conference call.
Treasurer's report - Harris reviewed the main points of the Treasurer's Report for January - July 2006. She reported that most expenses have been for operations and partnerships and all are under budget.
Association governing structure - Continued from Monday. Marie Walsh provided a review of the reasons for changing the NLTAPA governing structure and officer structure.
- Officer structure. Bruce Drewes reviewed the proposed three-year officer structure, with officers elected at large. Kevin Burke moved to approve the new officer structure as presented. Most of the discussion favored the proposal; one member spoke against and wanted better alignment with the strategic plan. A roll call vote was requested. The motion passed, 39 in favor, 1 opposed, 1 abstention.
Centers in favor: COTTAP, MITTAP, OKTTAP, NWTTAP, CATTAP, AL, AK, AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MA, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NC, OH, PR, SC, SD, TX, WI, WY. Centers against: UT. Centers abstaining: AKTTAP.
- Representation structure. Drewes reviewed 3 options for representation on the Executive Committee. Members were asked to provide direction to the executive committee before fine-tuning a revised structure and drafting Constitutional changes. The three options favored representation by: A-type of Center; B-work group chairs with a member advisory group; or C-regions. Harris moved that the Association "approve the general direction of Option B, as recommended by the Executive Committee, with final member approval at TRB." Members spoke for and against the proposal. The main arguments for the proposal were that a change is needed to effectively complete the Association's goals, and that Option B placed the greatest emphasis on achieving results for members. The main arguments against were the desire to maintain regional representation. A roll call vote was requested. The motion passed, 23 in favor, 10 opposed, 7 abstentions.
Centers in favor: COTTAP, OKTTAP, NWTTAP, AZ, CA, HI, ID, IN, KS, KY, LA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NJ, NC, PR, TX, WI, WY. Centers against: AKTTAP, MITTAP, AL, CT, FL, GA, IA, MA, NH, SC. Centers abstaining: AK, CO, IL, MS, OH, SD, UT.
- Harris asked for volunteers to serve on an ad hoc committee to refine Option B for presentation with draft Constitutional changes at the Association's meeting at TRB 2007 in January. Richard Rolland, Steve Pudlowski and Linda Howe-Steiger volunteered. Harris will also send a request for volunteers on T2ALL.
TCCC participation - George Huntington (WY LTAP) asked for a show of hands to see which Centers would be interested in participating in a project of the Transportation Curriculum Coordination Council (TCCC) to develop a database of training resources. Sufficient Centers showed interest to support Huntington to make a motion that "NLTAPA shall actively participate in the TCCC pooled fund project which shall include: 1) assisting in database development; 2) beta testing the database; and 3) populating the database." The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
Welcomes and thank-you's - Drewes thanked out-going executive committee members Chris Ahmadjian (Region 1), Terry McNinch (Region 5), and Linda Howe-Steiger (former Region 10). Drewes also welcomed new executive committee member Jim Grothaus (Region 5) and noted that Region 1 is currently without a representative. Harris thanked Drewes for his leadership and dedication while president of the Association, and presented him with a plaque and gift on behalf of the EC.
Installation of officers - Drewes reported that Lisa Harris and Patsy Anderson were elected by the members in a mail-in vote to the positions of President and Secretary for 2006-2007 and were officially installed at the meeting.
President's message - Drewes thanked the EC for their service and said it was an honor to serve the Association as its President.
Invitation to 2007 Conference - Kevin Burke, IL LTAP, invited the Association to the 2007 LTAP/TTAP Conference in Chicago.
McNinch moved to adjourn at 12:10 PM. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
Thursday minutes submitted by Lisa Harris, Kansas LTAP
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