Call the Meeting: Bob Knox, UNOLS Chair, will call the meeting to order and provide an opportunity for introductions. The concept for this meeting will be to hold open discussions leading to the setting of goals and priorities for UNOLS. Most of the agenda should be covered on Thursday leaving Friday morning to wrap up and finalize these goals, priorities and any action items. Some people will need to leave by mid morning on Friday and it is anticipated that the meeting will conclude by noon.

Accept minutes of February 2001.

Nominating Committee : The first terms of Tom Lee and Charlie Flagg are expiring in 2001. The Nominating committee is Denis Wiesenburg (chair), Dennis Hansell, and Curt Collins. Denis will review the status of nominations. (This discussion needs to take place on Thursday)

Long Range Planning for the UNOLS Fleet - FOFC Long Range Fleet Plan: Report on status and discussion on future UNOLS action with regards to Fleet Planning. This could include, but is not limited to such things as formal UNOLS review of the next draft version; formal endorsement or comment on final version; development of a FIC fleet renewal plan with the UNOLS vision; updating Science Mission Requirements (SMR) and the creation of Concept Designs in response to the long range plan; the competitive process for assigning ships to operators; funding requirements for fleet renewal.

Facilities beyond Ships and the National Deep Submergence Facility, the UNOLS Role: It was suggested by John Delaney at our last Council meeting that UNOLS consider what their role might be with regards to developing, coordinating the use of and providing oversight for facilities such as observatory systems like NEPTUNE. Should UNOLS have a role in coordinating the scheduling and access to such facilities? What are the implications for utilization and scheduling of traditional Research Vessel and submersible facilities. What is the role of UNOLS and FIC with regards to new technology development for observatories and other emerging oceanographic facilities? Should new relationships be built between UNOLS and agencies such as NASA that are interested in developing similar tools for exploration and research? What are the implications of the Ocean Exploration Initiative.

Quality of Service Initiative (QSI): It appears as if the proposal to the NSF Innovation and Organizational Change Program to conduct research on improving quality and reliability in the UNOLS system will not be funded in its current version. Whether or not the researchers will resubmit remains to be seen. UNOLS will need to decide how to proceed with regards to this issue in the future. Discussion on this subject would follow a review of the issues involved and a review of post cruise assessments for the last couple of years (the UNOLS office will prepare a summary of 1999 and 2000 post cruise assessments).

Committee Activities: Committee Chairs will discuss issues or planned activities that have not already been covered. A preliminary status on 2002 scheduling will be presented along with a review of any 2001 scheduling issues.

Setting goals and priorities for the coming year, plans for the annual meeting: In preparation for the annual meeting we should review the major accomplishments and activities of the past year and set goals and priorities for the coming year. In addition we need to finalize a choice for the Keynote Speaker, review and make recommendations regarding applications for UNOLS membership, finalize charter changes and review the status of nominations for Council positions.

Other Issues: