Mon Jan 26 2004 - 10:49:58 PST

Contents
1. To infinity, and beyond!
2. On CDs, fleece jackets, and scissor-tailed flycatchers
3. Meeting #5 dates in April 2005!
4. Invasive Plant Species in Illinois Forests

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1. To infinity, and beyond!
From: John Randall (jarandall(at)ucdavis.edu)

The fourth Eastern Invasives Network workshop Jan 13-14 was successful and
fun, although we missed those of you who couldn't make it. One of the
most exciting things to come out of it was a consensus decision by the
participants that the network is well worth continuing beyond its
originally-planned 4-workshop lifespan and a corresponding commitment by
several participants to keep it alive and organize and lead a fifth
workshop sometime in the spring of 2005 (probably April). These new
network leaders even decided to take on royal titles corresponding to
their duties: Beth Bockoven, Queen of network coordination and site
planning; Jennifer Allen, Princess of the Workshop Agenda; Tim Abbott,
Prince of finding a Network Patron; and Bob Nelson, Duke of Homework.

Although the WIST Team (Barry, Mandy, Tunyalee and I) will no longer be
able to lead the network, we completely agree that it should be continued
and will help out as consultants and if possible one of us will join you
all at Workshop 5. Continuing the network like this is a real innovation
and is very likely to influence what many of the other existing and
planned networks will do. I got a lot out of the network and am proud to
be able to help out, although in a smaller role, as it continues.

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2. On CDs, fleece jackets, and scissor-tailed flycatchers
From: Barry Rice (bamrice(at)ucdavis.edu)

A little bit of logistical wrap-up for Meeting #4...

First, if you took any digital photos on the trip and would like them to
be included in the CD to be distributed to the meeting participants,
contact me and we can work out the best way for you to get them to me.

Second, if you presented at the meeting, expect me to contact you with
requests for your powerpoints or other presentation materials. If you have
anything else you'd like to have distributed on the CD, please contact me
with your ideas.

The same goes for your homeworks---my versions are all dated prior to the
meeting. If you have updated versions you'd prefer to be on the CD,
contact me.

Third, the fine folks at Archbold Biological Station told me that someone
left behind a blue fleece jacket. If it is yours, contact Penny DeVane at
Archbold

Fourth and finally, I'm happy to announce that our birding crew was
CORRECT after all, regarding reports of a scissor-tailed flycatcher. My
lovely wife and I verified that not one, but TWO birds were still hanging
out there on the 15th. Whoo hoo! My abject apologies to any who were on
the receiving end of obscene gestures by a doubting-yours-truly.

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3. Meeting #5 dates in April 2005!
From: Queen Beth Bockoven

Tentative dates for the next Eastern Invasives Meeting in 2005 are the
following:
April 12-14
April 19-21
April 26-28.

The meeting would be Tuesday-Thursday with an early morning Tuesday start
and ending Thursday afternoon. All who plan to attend should send me their
date preferences. I hope to have the dates finalized by the first of April
so that you can get this on your calendars for next year.


The meeting will be held at Kanuga Conference Center (www.kanuga.org). The
room/board fee for the meeting is $89.00 per day per person. This fee
includes three yummy meals a day and there is some possibility we could
get a small price reduction since most people will be staying 3 days.
Kanuga is in the western corner of North Carolina, and is 30 minutes from
Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) and one hour from Greenville-Spartanburg
International Airport (GSP).

I know that many of you will be doing budgets for FY05 very soon, so I
wanted you to go ahead and have this information.

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4. Invasive Plant Species in Illinois Forests
From: Elizabeth Sklad (esklad(at)tnc.org)

For your interest, here is a program that effectively uses both
professional scientists and trained volunteers for monitoring of
invasives.

http://dnr.state.il.us/orep/ctap/invasive/