Discussion Topics
John Aho, CH2M Hill
Niren Biswas, Anchorage Strong Motion Project, UAF
Roger Hansen, Alaska Earthquake Information Center, UAF
Tom Murray, Alaska Volcano Observatory, USGS
Bob Page, National Strong Motion Program, USGS
Tom Sokolowski, West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center
Alaska ANSS Regional Working Group membership
There will be a total of six members in the Alaska ANSS Working Group.
Each of the four programs operating a regional seismic network in Alaska
will be represented with one member. These four programs include:
Alaska Earthquake Information Center, Alaska Volcano Observatory, West
Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center, and Anchorage Strong Motion Project.
The chairperson of the Alaska ANSS Advisory Committee will serve as an
ex-officio, non-voting member. A member-at-large position will be
open and filled at the discretion of the Working Group. It was established
that the current member-at-large of the Regional Working Group is Bob Page,
representing the National Strong Motion Program.
Purpose and goals of the Alaska ANSS Regional Working Group
* To enhance the timely delivery of earthquake information to emergency response personnel, engineers, and scientists through improved earthquake monitoring on the ground and in important structures.
* To improve earthquake monitoring and reporting in Alaska through effective cooperation and collaboration among government (local, state, and federal) agencies, academic institutions, and public and private institutions (e.g. lifeline and transportation operators) that engage in earthquake monitoring.
* To implement an outreach program and improve the technology transfer to professional, technical, and public communities.
* To foster the modernization of the current seismic monitoring infrastructure within Alaska.
* To enhance the national standardization of archival and distribution
of seismic data.
Alaska ANSS Regional Working Group meeting procedures
Meetings will be held quarterly with phone conferences held as necessary. Meeting dates and locations and a formal agenda shall be decided by the Regional Coordinator and submitted to all members for approval at least two weeks in advance. Any member can call a meeting by putting forth a request through the Regional Coordinator. Guests are allowed at any meeting upon the approval of the Regional Coordinator.
Minutes and an action item list will be compiled and published within one week of a meeting and distributed to all members for comments. Members will have two weeks to submit comments and corrections. After being finalized by the Regional Coordinator, the aforementioned documents will be posted on the Alaska ANSS website.
Meetings will be chaired by the Regional Coordinator and follow Robert's
Rules of Order. All decisions will be made through consensus if possible;
however, if consensus cannot be reached, a majority vote will be utilized.
Alaska ANSS Regional Coordinator job description
1. Job Description
The Alaska ANSS Regional Coordinator oversees and serves as spokesperson
for regional implementation of the ANSS in Alaska. The Regional Coordinator
fosters cooperation and collaboration of efforts between regional seismic
network operators as represented by the Regional Working Group, members
of the Regional Advisory Committee, and National ANSS committees.
The Regional Coordinator:
a) Chairs Regional Working Group meetings and coordinates efforts between members of the Regional Working Group to meet regional ANSS goals and assist individual members meeting their goals.
b) Ensures that RegionalWorking Group members are informed of ANSS activities and the status of ANSS projects, both regionally and nationally. Ensures that all members of the Regional Working Group may participate at a level they choose in proposing and reviewing new projects to ANSS.
c) Develops plans, budgets, and implementation schedules for ANSS projects by closely working with the Regional Working Group, the Regional Advisory Committee, and the National Implementation Committee.
d) Serves as the chief regional spokesperson for the ANSS, coordinates regional development and, in cooperation with local operators, oversees ANSS network operations in Alaska. The Regional Coordinator is the primary interface between National ANSS management and Alaska ANSS regional components, and reports to the ANSS Manager for ANSS issues.
e) Serves as ex-officio, non-voting member of the Regional Advisory Committee, and promotes interaction between the Regional Advisory Committee and the Regional Working Group as needed. The Regional Coordinator reports on the status of Alaska ANSS, at least annually, in writing to the Regional Advisory Committee.
f) Delegates authority to another voting member of the Regional Working Group to represent the Regional Working Group and to coordinate its activities for a limited, defined duration when the Regional Coordinator is absent or unavailable for duty.
2. Terms of Appointment
a) The Working Group elects the Regional Coordinator by majority vote for a two-year term.
b) There are no limits to the number of terms that a person may serve as Regional Coordinator. At the end of a Regional Coordinator's term, the Regional Working Group may choose to elect a new Coordinator or re-elect the present.
c) An election for a new Regional Coordinator may be held at any time
if two Regional Working Group members request it in writing with reasons
specified. A discussion and decision meeting will be held within one month
of the request, with a majority vote by secret ballot determining the continuance
or replacement of the Regional Coordinator. If the Regional Coordinator
is replaced, the new Coordinator serves only the remaining duration of
the term.
Election of Alaska ANSS Regional Coordinator
Tom Sokolowski nominated Tom Murray for the position of Alaska ANSS Regional Coordinator. Bob Page seconded the nomination. The following discussion ensued:
* Tom Murray announced that he would be very willing to undertake the responsibilities of the position.
* Bob Page mentioned that since the first year or two of Alaska ANSS activities would be focused in the Anchorage area, there is an advantage to having the Regional Coordinator there. Niren Biswas agreed.
* Tom Sokolowski communicated that the Regional Coordinator be a person with whom everyone in the Working Group could easily work. He stated that there needs to be a strong cohesive quality to the group, in order to present the community with a successful product.
Bob Page moved to close the nominations. Niren Biswas seconded the motion.
All voting members voted in favor of having Tom Murray as the Alaska
ANSS Regional Coordinator.
Miscellaneous Items
We expect to get 10-17 new strong motion instruments for the Anchorage
area this year. They are to be installed by September 30, 2001.
An initial planning meeting will be scheduled after the Alaska ANSS Regional
Advisory Committee meets.
Next meeting
The decision of when the Alaska ANSS Regional Working Group would next meet was put on hold pending the meeting of the Alaska ANSS Regional Advisory Committee. The meeting however, will most likely be held in March 2001.