NOAA TALKS WITH STAKEHOLDERS: TELL US WHERE AND HOW TO IMPROVE
National Forum in Washington, D.C., on April 16

March 29, 2004 — NOAA will host a national stakeholder forum on April 16 in Washington, D.C., to identify ways to improve agency programs and make them more effective and responsive. Forum input will shape the upcoming strategic plan for 2004.

The interactive forum, entitled “Moving NOAA into the 21st Century,” will be hosted by Undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator, retired Navy Vice Adm. Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Ph.D., and NOAA Deputy Undersecretary John J. Kelly, Jr., Brigadier General, USAF (Ret.). The forum will consist of facilitated breakout sessions organized around NOAA’s four mission goals and several cross-cutting themes.

“Strategic planning at NOAA is a progressively fluid process that allows those who benefit from our programs to actually have a hand in shaping and improving our products and services,” said Lautenbacher. “The valuable input from our stakeholders, employees and partners helps us in identifying goals and objectives that address important issues that fulfill NOAA’s vision and mission.”

The breakout sessions will be conducted by members of NOAA leadership. The morning sessions will cover NOAA’s mission goals and include; ecosystems led by Michael P. Sissenwine, climate led by Chester J. Koblinsky, weather and water led by Frank P. Kelly and commerce and transportation led by Charles Challstrom. The afternoon sessions will address NOAA cross cutting themes—integrated observation and data management led by Gregory W. Withee and Richard W. Spinrad, environmental literacy, outreach and education led by Marlene A. Kaplan and research led by Richard D. Rosen.

Specifically, NOAA is seeking input on identifying issues of national and regional importance and strategies to address them. To assist in organizing these breakout sessions, participants are being asked to register early online or by fax at (301) 713-0585.

Results from the Washington, D.C., meeting will be posted on this Web site, and constituents can make comments after the meeting directly via the Internet. Results from this and other constituent meetings will be used in NOAA’s future planning and priority-setting. If you have administrative questions about the Washington meeting, please call the NOAA Strategic Planning Office at (301) 713-3318, ext. 179, and ask for Nicky McClurkin.

NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of the nation’s coastal and marine resources. NOAA is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Relevant Web Sites
NOAA Strategic Planning Office

Media Contact:
Maria DeCillis, NOAA, (301) 713-1622, ext. 198