Terms of Reference and Membership 2006

2006 Terms • 2006 Members • Current Terms • Current Members

The 2006 Terms of Reference are also available as an Adobe PDF • Word Document • Open Document

The 2006 Membership List are also available as an Adobe PDF • Excel Spreadsheet • Open Spreadsheet

Terms of Reference

Southeast Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association (SECOORA)

Purpose

The Steering Committee for the nascent Southeast Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association (SECOORA) has developed these Terms of Reference (ToR) to define the Association’s initial membership framework, objectives, and operating outcomes. Institutional signatories to these Terms of Reference represent organizational commitment to the objectives and outcomes defined below.

SECOORA Objectives

SECOORA is to be designed, implemented, operated and improved to provide data, information and products on marine and estuarine systems deemed necessary to the users in a common manner and according to sound scientific practice. SECOORA will serve the needs of users with measurements and data transmission, data management and communications, and data analysis and modeling.

SECOORA objectives include:

1. represent the interests of those that use, depend on, study and manage coastal environments and their resources in the southeast region;

2. become a legal entity that provides a fiscal agent with final responsibility for acceptance and expenditure of funds according to the rules of grantors of the funds, insurability, and the ability to enter into enforceable contracts;

3. represent a partnership or consortium of data providers and users from state and federal agencies, private industry, non-governmental institutions and academia:

4. provide a means by which the Regional Association and the public at large benefit from and contribute to the development and sustained operation of an integrated ocean observing system for the open ocean (to the EEZ boundary) and the region’s estuaries;

5. ensure continued and routine flow of data and information and the evolution of SECOORA to adapt to the needs of the user groups and the timely incorporation of new technologies and understanding based on these needs.

Operating Outcomes

Initial SECOORA membership under these Terms of Reference is established expressly for the purposes of:

1. Finalizing the formal governance plan and processes under which SECOORA will initially operate. This includes, but is not necessarily limited to, the adoption of initial by-laws, the election of initial Board representatives and officers, the establishment of annual dues, and the completion of the legal incorporation process.

2. Adopting the initial business plan and processes under which SECOORA will operate. This includes, but is not necessarily limited to, the regional operating plan and marketing plan, in addition to the governance plan described above.

3. Establishing initial user-focused regional priorities for IOOS including national backbone enhancements, regional observation enhancements, research and development needs, information infrastructure requirements, and outreach and education strategies.

Participants

Steering Committee: The existing Steering Committee will remain in place under these Terms of Reference and will be charged with preparing the documents described under the Operating Outcomes. The Steering Committee will present these documents to the Membership for ratification. The Steering Committee operates primarily as a consensus body. If consensus cannot be obtained, a vote may be called and actions passed by a majority vote of those in attendance. A quorum for a Steering Committee meeting shall consist of at least sixty percent of members attending in person or through teleconferencing. The Steering Committee is comprised of representatives from the public and private sectors, federal and state agencies, and academia. The Steering Committee also represents the geographic diversity in the region. Steering Committee members include: Peter Betzer, University of South Florida; Otis Brown, University of Miami; Rick DeVoe, S.C. Sea Grant Consortium; Judy Gray, NOAA/AOML; Carroll Hood, Raytheon Corporation; Russ Lea, University of North Carolina Office of the President; Jim Sanders, Skidaway Institution of Oceanography; Harvey Seim, SEACOOS Chief Operating Officer; Bob Van Dolah, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources – Marine Resources Division; Van Waddell, Science Applications International Corporation; and Susannah Sheldon, SECOORA Program Coordinator.

Members: Each signing institution, organization or entity is entitled to designate in writing, a single institutional representative who collectively will comprise the initial voting membership of SECOORA for the purposes described in these Terms of Reference. Organizations are invited to join by submitting a member designation letter on institutional letterhead, signed by an official who is authorized to act on behalf of the organization. Upon the eventual incorporation of SECOORA, membership eligibility will be as determined in the approved By-laws. SECOORA members by means of these Terms of Reference are not obligated to continue as such when SECOORA incorporates.

Affiliates: Affiliated organizations that determine, for legal or other reasons, not to participate as full voting members may be designated as affiliates by the consensus of the Steering Committee. Affiliates may participate fully in SECOORA meetings and other activities; however, approval by Affiliates will not be required to establish SECOORA consensus.

Organization and Procedures

Meetings: SECOORA will convene at least one open plenary Membership meeting under these Terms of Reference for the purpose of ratifying the By-Laws and electing an initial Board of Directors. Attendance at all plenary meetings shall be open to all Members and Affiliates.

Quorum and Voting: A quorum shall consist of at least forty percent of the Members. Each Member shall be entitled to one vote upon any matter properly submitted. All actions shall require a majority vote of members present.

Working Groups: The SECOORA Steering Committee may establish working groups on a continuing basis or on an ad hoc basis, as appropriate, to investigate specific areas of interest, cooperation, and coordination and to report at subsequent plenary meetings. Representatives of each Member and Affiliate are invited to participate in any and all working groups. Representation from outside SECOORA membership on working groups may also be pursued if needed to accomplish specific objectives. The continuation of working groups will be reviewed and approved at the plenary meetings.

Adoption and Amendment

The Steering Committee for the nascent Southeast Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association (SECOORA) developed draft Terms of Reference (ToR) in July, 2005 and presented them before a diverse group of potential stakeholders during the SECOORA Business Planning Workshop on July 27-28, 2005. Based on feedback from the workshop, these Terms of Reference have been modified and approved by the SECOORA Steering Committee. They are to be published on the SECOORA website and announcements are to be forwarded to all stakeholders currently in the SECOORA contacts database to solicit membership.

To ensure that SECOORA membership evolves as a diverse, regional, stakeholder-focused entity, these Terms of Reference will not come into full effect for voting on the operating outcomes until membership in the following categories has been satisfied:

• At least two Members each from organizations located in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina from any sector

• A minimum of five total Members from private sector entities,

• A minimum of five total Members from state, local, or non-profit resource management agencies

• A minimum of five total Members from academic or research institutions

• A minimum of five total Members or Affiliates from federal stakeholder agencies

The Steering Committee shall establish a target date for the completion of the governance plan including By-Laws for ratification by the Membership. Contingent upon meeting the minimum Membership requirements above, this date will serve as a target for Members to vote on the permanent governance structure for SECOORA.

These Terms of Reference may be amended by the Steering Committee and approved by a majority of voting Members at the next plenary Membership meeting.

Members Under the Terms as of September 2006