Attendees | Discussion

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Attendees:

NAME	INSTITUTION
Alicia Farmer	University of Michigan
Mike Unsworth	Michigan State University
Dennis Moore	Canadian Consulate General - Detroit
Barry Rabe	University of Michigan

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Discussion:

• General items (see also Planners Information):
  • The host institution has great flexibility in the program (starting and ending times, number of plenary sessions, etc.). The Roundtable should provide ample time for people to get to know each other which is why we've focused on having the discussion sessions.
  • An informal tradition is the "night before" dinner at a local restaurant.
• Venue -- Probably the Program in the Environment's (PITE) Dana Building. Having it there would avoid incurring rental costs at other locations. Availability of rooms won't be know until the Fall Term though there probably won't be a demand for the larger rooms on a Friday. There appears to be good flexibility in confirguing the rooms. We looked at these rooms:
  • Commons - might be used unsecured displays and lunch
  • 1028 -- seats 50+. Would be good for AV presentation, plenaries, welcome session, lunch
  • 1024 -- seats 40+. Adjacent to 1028 with a separate door
  • 1006 -- seats 20+. Adjacent to 1024 (can be entered only through 1024). Secure location for displays and exhibits
• Attendance -- In the past, the Roundtable has averaged 35-45 people. Mike and Dennis will review the mailing list and and discuss some marketing initiatives.
• Speakers -- the host institution chooses and funds speakers (luncheon and other plenaries (if desired). Barry and Alicia will pursue:
  • welcoming dignitaries. Dennis would also like a few words on Government of Canada programs
  • Dave Dempsey, author of the MSU Press' On the Brink: The Great Lakes in the 21st Century. He is also Policy Advisor for the Michigan Environmental Council and is an MSU adjunct instructor in environmental policy and law..

  • Donna Erickson, Associate Professor, UM College of Architecture and Urban Planning. Fulbright Fellow in Vancouver
    

• Funding -- the host institution has been responsible for the bulk of the costs but other institutions have helped out. MSU has contributed $300-$500 in the past as part of its outreach; he will get an exact figure. Dennis says that "the Consulate General would seriously consider a request for funding."
  
• Student Participation -- past roundtables have been enriched by having students (usually from the host institution) attend. Barry and Alicia said that they would publicize discussions to PITE. Also having some students to staff registration, put up signs, etc. would be very helpful.
• Special Events --
  • The UM Exhibit Museum of Natural History has a permanent exhibit on invasive species and will be having a special exhibit on Mastadons/Ice Age
  • A tour emphasizing the "green" aspects of the Dana building would be very popular

• Session Topics -- As in the past, these topics will be listed on the registration form. The final selection will be based on the interest indicated by the registrants' preferences. The registration form will provide space for registrants to indicate aspects of the topics. For example:

  Great Lakes Issues: Invasive species
  Border Issues: Customs and Immigration

  Past topics can be see at: http://mcsrt.org/annual/planning/topics.htm New topics discussed were:

  • Publishing/Issues/Outlets -- maybe with the MSU Press' Fred Bohm & Greg Yantz of Broadview Press participating
  • U.S. and Canadian elections update
  • Urban Land Use
  • Public Health (SARS, invasive species)

   

• Alicia and Barry will provide a list of accomodations by Jan. 31. Take a look at: http://mcsrt.org/annual/elaccommodations.htm