NOAA IN NEW ENGLAND EFFORTS It’s always good to keep abreast on NOAA activities outside of the Carolinas, to have a “pulse” on what’s going on elsewhere in the organization. Bob Thompson, Meteorologist-in-Charge of the Taunton, MA National Weather Service office near Boston, shared with NOAA in the Carolinas recent activities of the NOAA in New England initiative. Bob wrote, “NOAA managers in New England gathered together for the first time on November 21, 2005. This group met again on May 31, 2006 to further collaborative efforts among NOAA entities in New England. The group has decided to hold regular meetings on roughly a six monthly basis to more effectively integrate ideas and resources in the spirit of ‘one NOAA.’ The two NOAA in New England meetings have resulted in initiatives to develop a comprehensive inventory of ongoing collaborative efforts (as a catalyst for more robust practical partnerships), a NOAA in New England website (both external and internal and consistent with broader NOAA guidance), and a Harmful Algae Bloom Team (designed to better understand the phenomena and develop a collaborative approach to predictive modeling and response to events). The group has begun a look at coastal hazard issues and priorities. The May 31 meeting featured presentations by partners from the Massachusetts and Rhode Island Coastal Management programs to help highlight states’ needs for the group. The NOAA in New England group views itself as a forum to promote practical partnerships and improved communication across line offices to address regional needs. The current emphasis of this group is to work within existing line office resources until such time a clearer path exists through the budgetary process to access integrated funding opportunities.” We certainly wish NOAA in New England the best in its OneNOAA initiatives, and thanks, Bob, for sharing with us! Media
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