Presenter: Walt Dabney
Mike Berger

Commission Agenda Item No. 4
Action
Designation of Representatives Foreign Travel Resolution
April 2006

I. Executive Summary: The Legislature requires the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission to approve use of state funds for foreign travel.

Michael Strutt, Director of the State Parks Cultural Resources Program, has been asked to deliver a lecture on the history and recent archeological discoveries at the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site at the Fields of Conflict IV conference in Leeds, England that will be held September 27-October 4, 2006.

Jeff Raasch, State Wetland Program Leader, will be attending a meeting of the International Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS) that will be held July 9-14, 2006 in Cairns, Australia with a conference theme of "Catchments (watersheds) to the Coast." Catchments to the Coast is an international conference, the major focus of which will be the vital role and value of wetlands within the terrestrial and marine environments.

The Society of Wetland Scientists is the leading International professional organization for wetland professionals. Mr. Raasch currently serves as President of the South Central Chapter of SWS, which is made up of eight states. As President, he serves on the International SWS Board as the Chapter's representative and will be responsible for running the Chapter meeting to be held in conjunction with the conference.

Mike Berger, Wildlife Division Director, has been invited to attend a meeting of the Animals Committee of the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wildlife Fauna and Flora (CITES) in Lima, Peru on July 7-13, 2006. Mike is currently the Chairman of the International Relations Committee of the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.

II. Discussion: Article IX, Section 5.08(i) of the FY 2006-2007 General Appropriations Act, prohibits the expenditure of appropriated funds for foreign travel (except to Canada or Mexico) unless "the board or commission of each state agency has approved the travel before departure. Mr. Strutt will request approval for funding extended parking at the airport only. The San Jacinto Battleground Association will pay registration fees, lodging, transportation, and meals while Mr. Strutt is at the meeting. Mr. Raasch will request approval for funding for meeting registration fees only. The South Central Chapter of SWS will pay lodging, transportation, and meals while Mr. Raasch is at the conference. Dr. Berger will request no reimbursement.

III. Recommendation: The staff recommends approval of the attached resolution by adoption of the following motion:

"The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopts the resolution (Exhibit A) authorizing foreign travel by Mr. Michael Strutt, Mr. Jeff Raasch, and Dr. Mike Berger."

Attachments - 1

  1. Exhibit A - Resolution

Commission Agenda Item No. 4
Exhibit A

Designation of Representatives
Foreign Travel Resolution

WHEREAS, the Fields of Conflict IV is the biennial worldwide conference on battlefield history and archeology; and

WHEREAS, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department recognizes the importance of the conference in providing exchange of technical, historical, and archeological-science information and supports the concept of information exchange among scientists; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Michael Strutt, Director of the State Parks Cultural Resources Program, currently directs the research at San Jacinto State Historic Site, and in that role has been invited to deliver a paper on the research at the conference in Leeds, England in September of 2006;

AND WHEREAS, the San Jacinto Battleground Association has agreed to pay the expenses for registration, travel, lodging and meals;

WHEREAS, the 27th annual meeting0meeting of the International Society of Wetland Scientists is the annual worldwide conference on Wetland Science; and

WHEREAS, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department recognizes the importance of the conference in providing exchange of technical information and supports the concept of information exchange among wetland scientists; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Jeff Raasch, State Wetland Program Leader, who currently directs TPWD’s Statewide Wetland Program and also serves as the President of the South Central Chapter of SWS, and in these roles has been approved by the South Central Chapter to attend the meeting of International Society of Wetland Scientists that will be held July 9 - 14, 2006 in Cairns, Australia;

AND WHEREAS, the South Central Chapter of SWS has agreed to pay the expenses for travel, lodging and meals;

WHEREAS, the next meeting of the Animals Committee of the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wildlife Fauna and Flora (CITES) will take place in Lima, Peru on July 7-13, 2006; and

WHEREAS, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department recognizes the importance of this meeting in providing exchange of technical information and the conservation status of traded wildlife information exchange among CITES states; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Mike Berger, Wildlife Division Director, who currently serves as the chairman of the International Relations Committee of the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies;

AND WHEREAS, all expenses for this trip will be paid for by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission that Mr. Michael Strutt is authorized to travel to the United Kingdom to deliver a research paper for this prestigious International meeting, and TPWD is authorized to reimburse Mr. Strutt for parking expenses as outlined in the General Appropriations Act.

AND that Mr. Jeff Raasch is authorized to travel to the Australia to attend this prestigious International wetland meeting and participate on the International SWS Board as the Chapter's representative, and TPWD is authorized to pay Mr. Raasch’s registrations fees as outlined in the General Appropriations Act.

AND that Dr. Mike Berger is authorized to travel to Lima, Peru to attend this prestigious meeting of the CITES Animal Committee.

In official recognition hereof, we hereby affix our signatures as approved this 6th day of April 2006.

Joseph B. C. Fitzsimons, Chairman

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Donato D. Ramos, Vice-Chairman

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Mark E. Bivins, Member

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J. Robert Brown, Member

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T. Dan Friedkin, Member

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Ned S. Holmes, Member

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Peter M. Holt, Member

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Philip Montgomery, III, Member

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John D. Parker, Member

THE STATE OF TEXAS

COUNTY OF TRAVIS

I, the undersigned Executive Director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution is a true, full, and correct copy of a resolution adopted by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission of the State of Texas on the 6th day of April, 2006.

EXECUTED UNDER MY HAND and seal of said Commission on this the 6th day of April, 2006.

___________________________

Robert L. Cook

Executive Director

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department