Executive Committee Meeting Minutes
February 12, 2007

Attendees: Lisa Harris, Kansas LTAP; Bruce Drewes, Idaho LTAP; Bernie Alkire, Michigan TTAP; Janet Leli, New Jersey LTAP; Patsy Anderson, Kentucky LTAP; George Huntington, Wyoming LTAP; Ed Stellfox, Maryland LTAP; Clark Martin, FHWA-OPCD; Cameron Ishaq, FHWA-OPCD; Gib Peaslee, FHWA-OPCD; Alison Black, ARTBA-FHWA Clearinghouse.

Lisa called the meeting to order at 11:07 am.

Consent Items:

1. Approve minutes of the January 17 conference call.
2. Postpone approval of minutes from January 21st and 22nd EC and January 21st NLTAPA business meeting minutes to the March conference call.

Bruce moved and George seconded a motion to approve the consent agenda without discussion. The motion passed unanimously.

Executive Committee (EC) Actions

Bernie moved and Janet seconded a motion to approve the work plans for the Professional Development workgroup and the Training Product Needs and Resource Development workgroup. The motion passed unanimously.

A survey of LTAP customers will be drafted by Bruce and the External Communications workgroup, circulated to the EC, discussed by the EC, and voted on.

Duane Smith will be resigning as NLTAPA bookkeeper by the end of July. Bernie will prepare an RFP for EC review by the April conference call. Deliverables in the RFP should include creating financial reports, managing the IRS status, and presenting business data. Once an RFP is prepared and means of compensation have been established, LTAP/TTAP Centers will be invited to bid on the RFP.

Ways of making training materials from external entities available on the NLTAPA web page were discussed. Lisa asked George and the Training Products workgroup to report back on this issue.

NLTAPA responses to requests for international technology transfer were discussed. Lisa and Bruce will develop recommendations for this process. Issues will center around how NLTAPA and LTAP/TTAP centers can and should respond to international requests for assistance.

Long range goals of the National LTAP Association (NLTAPA) were discussed. The list of long-term goals should be reviewed and the various activities delegated. Lisa will be producing a survey on this later this spring. An ad hoc committee is addressing possible changes to the Constitution to facilitate achieving the Association's goals. Members need information on the activities of the Association. Patsy and Janet were asked to work on developing an annual Association report.

Reports and Updates

LTAP 2007 Conference

Patsy reports that the conference website is now live at www.ltapt2.org. Patsy and Janet will work on informing members; sponsorship discussions are underway.

ATSSA and SAFETEA-LU discussions at TRB

Janet and Ivory Williams have provided notes on these meetings for review by the EC, and these reports will be shared after that review. Lisa will send these notes out to the EC next week.

FHWA-OPCD

Clark reports that 138/365ths of the LTAP funds have recently been sent to the Centers. The House has extended the funding continuing resolutions for the remainder of FY 2007 with an increase based on the appropriations bill, with the Senate expected to take up the bill next week.

Clark discussed an upcoming Low Volume Roads Train-the-Trainer course taking place in three weeks; FHWA will offer a $500 travel stipend for Center staff. Clark will look into notifying Centers and will ask Roger Dean if the dates can be moved back.

Clark mentioned that there was a misunderstanding between the FHWA Office of Safety and Highways for Life regarding the Highways for Life RFP; work zone safety products are off the table and the focus will be on road safety audits. Clark will discuss this with Byron Lord next week.

Strategic Planning Committee

Cameron reports that the next meeting will be April 3rd to 5th in Austin, Texas. An agenda will be prepared by March 15th and suggestions for agenda items are welcome. David Frey has asked to be removed from the committee due to workload issues; Clark and Cameron will select a new TTAP representative after getting recommendations form the TTAP conference call later this week.

Lisa had to leave the call at 12:30. The call resumed at 12:39, with Patsy presiding.

LTAP/TTAP Center Staff Changes

Donna Shea has returned as Connecticut LTAP Center Director as of February 16, 2007.

Region 9 Meeting

Region 9 will be meeting June 12th to 13th in Boise; other regional meeting dates and locations are posted at www.ltapt2.org.

AASHTO presentation follow-up letter

'LTAP' should be replaced with 'LTAP/TTAP.' The letter needs to be shorter and more concise, with attachments more fully describing detail as necessary. Clark will revise the letter.

LTAP Clearinghouse Report

Clark noted that the Clearinghouse may be able to provide administrative support for the EC, but that this will not include handling finances. The Clearinghouse may also be able to provide support for the workgroups and for Product Demonstration Showcases. A procedure should be in place by the summer meeting in Chicago.

Alison noted that the Clearinghouse is working on the newsletter and on updating the website.

Workgroup Updates

Training Product Needs and Resource Development

Ed said that the group will be considering Salt Institute and TCCC issues for the EC. George mentioned that a needs assessment has been prepared for completion at the Regional meetings, and that Marie's region will go through the assessment at their meeting in March. EC members will pass along information about this process to their regions before the regional meetings take place.

Partnerships – no report at this time.

Professional Development – no report at this time.

Internal Communications – no report at this time.

Program Strategies – no report at this time.

External Communications – no report at this time.

Other Updates

No discussions unless someone has a question.

Roles & Responsibilities

Cameron, Lisa, and Patsy will meet February 21st and 22nd to reformat the R&R by function (partnerships, product development, and so on), rather than by stakeholder; they will identify points needing clarification by OPCD. OPCD is funding this effort.

NLTAPA Nominating Committee

Ron Hall and Tim Colling have agreed to serve, completing this committee. Lisa will prepare a schedule and set up a conference call at which this committee will elect a chair.

Region 9/10 language change in the Constitution

Lisa recently sent changes in the Constitution reflecting the merging of Regions 9 and 10 to the Clearinghouse for posting in response to the Members' vote at the International Symposium in Florida.

Governing Structure

Linda Howe-Steiger sent the ad hoc committee a draft of proposed changes to the bylaws; they are reviewing the changes.

LTAP Exchange

Lisa sent a message to Clark expressing concern of use of the LTAP name for a private venture and the possibility of confusing its efforts and listservs with those of the federal LTAP Program.

TRB Session Reports

Four responses have been received so far. We will wait another week, send a reminder, and post the reports.

International Technology Transfer

Lisa and Bruce are participating in talks with Brazil about T² efforts there. There have been no other responses regarding Centers participating in international activities.

Upcoming Meetings

EC calls: New time – 11:00 am ET; March 12th, April 9th, May 7th

Spring EC Meeting: Baton Rouge, April 17th to 19th

LTAP Conference: Chicago, July 22nd to 26th

NLTAPA business meetings: July 23rd and 26th

Due Dates

April 16th: Nominating Committee slate to EC

June 15th: Ballots to Members

Ed moved and George seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously.

Patsy adjourned the meeting at 1:07 pm.

Minutes taken by Cameron Ishaq and edited by George Huntington.