Region 5 GIS Coordination Team Meeting Minutes

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Office - Hadley, MA

May 25-26, 1999

Summary Notes
This is a summary of the two-day Region 5 GIS coordination meeting held May 25-26 1999 in the
Region 5 headquarters in Hadley, Massachusetts.  The purpose of the meeting was to improve
GIS coordination in the region by assessing needs and resources, identifying issues, and
recommending solutions.  

The meeting was attended by approximately 50 people from throughout the region and included
presentations on projects using GIS tools from nine people as listed below in the agenda.  These
presentations were saved on video tape, by Greg Thompson from Realty's Cartography and
Spatial Data Services Branch, and are available for review by contacting Linda Shaffer, also in the
Regional Office Cartography group.  

Of equal importance were the group discussions that resulted in the identification of regional
needs and redundances in GIS capabilities, and related issues and solutions.  In general, the
meeting participants agreed that the effectiveness and efficiency of GIS operations in R5 need
improvement through better coordination and support.  

To address many of the specific needs, the participants suggested that a Region 5 GIS
Coordination Team be assembled to:

• Call regular GIS coordination meetings for interested R5 personnel;
• Represent R5 on the National Fish and Wildlife Service GIS Steering Committee;
• Examine region wide issues including needs for:
  • Training;
  • Technical support;
  • Sharing of existing data, perhaps by posting office data lists at a common computer site;
  • Increased awareness and recognition for the importance of GIS services;
  • New data over broad areas to efficiently serve multiple projects or offices. Partial funding
  • is potentially available through the Atlantic Coast Joint Venture.

The GIS Coordination Team will be composed of existing staff within R5 who will work on these
GIS issues in addition to their existing responsibilities, as time and their supervisors allow.  In an
attempt to provide a broad representation of needs and perspectives the following nine people
have been identified as likely members of the team:  

One particular issue many of the attendees felt needed to be addressed was improved early
involvement with field offices (pre-planning) for the ongoing refuge Comprehensive Conservation
Plans (CCPs).  The RO refuges teams have been using the capabilities of several ES field offices
as well as Realty's Cartography and Spatial Data Services Branch to develop the best possible
CCPs, and plans are to continue to tap these resources.  However, recognition of these support
services, and early requests for staff time have not been achieved consistently.  In response to
these issues, Norm Olson, Chief of Planning and Technical Services, is proposing to meet with
offices that may support the refuge CCP efforts to provide an overview of the planning process
and budget picture, and to establish better methods for office involvement.  

The GIS coordination meeting was originally called by members of the Regional Directorate
Team (RDT).  They identified three people to serve as a steering committee to plan and run the
meeting, and provide a follow-up presentation to the Directorate, outlining the recognized issues
and proposed solutions.  The presentation is expected to take place in July by the steering team:  

Michelle Babione from the Connecticut River Coordinator's Office;
Andrew MacLachlan from the SNE/NYB Coastal Ecosystems office;
Linda Shaffer from the Region 5 Realty Office of Cartography and Spatial Data Services

Special note.  The results of the meeting were due, in part, to the facilitation skills provided by
Marci Caplis of the SNE/NYB Coastal Ecosystems office during the group discussions. 


Agenda for Region 5 GIS Coordination Meeting
May 25-26, 1999
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Region 5 Headquarters Auditorium
Hadley, MA


Purpose:  To assess GIS resources and needs in the Region to help meet program objectives through
collaborative efforts.


May 25

May 26