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For further details of the activities of each committee see FISC Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
Bylaws
The Bylaws Committee proposes appropriate bylaws amendments and incorporates approved amendments into the bylaws. The bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of members present at any legally constituted meeting of the FISC.
Chair: Allegra Buyer
bylaws@floridainvasives.org
CISMA (Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area) Grant
The CISMA Grant Committee is responsible for providing funding and soliciting grant proposals from Florida CISMAs who will advance the FISC and the Florida Invasive Species Partnership (FISP) missions through partnership led efforts (e.g. events, workshops, workdays, outreach, etc.), which focus on non-native invasive plants and their impacts on the natural areas and economy of Florida.
Chair: Collin Macgibenny
cisma_grant_chair@floridainvasives.org
Control and Evaluation
The Control and Evaluation Committee develops field demonstration sites to educate FISC members and the public about the most effective methods for controlling invasive plants.
Chair: Greg MacDonald
UF/IFAS Agronomy Department
Professor of Agronomy and Weed Science
pineacre@ufl.edu
Education Grant
The Education Grant Committee reviews proposals submitted to the FISC Kathy Craddock Burks Education and Outreach Grants Program. These grants support education programs aimed at increasing awareness and knowledge of invasive plants throughout Florida.
Chair: Telmah Telmadarrehei
education_grant_chair@floridainvasives.org
Finance
The Finance Committee oversees the financial matters of the FISC and develops recommendations regarding finance-related issues for the FISC Board of Directors that represent the best interest and financial well-being of the organization.
Chair: Patrick Belk
finance_chair@floridainvasives.org
Legislative
The Legislative Committee keeps the FISC Board and members informed about existing, pending, or needed legislative or regulatory actions and makes recommendations to the Board of Directors concerning the course of action to be taken.
Chair: Melissa Smith
USDA-ARS Invasive Plant Research Laboratory
Melissa.smith@ars.usda.gov
Membership
The Membership Committee maintains the membership database with information provided by the Treasurer and online membership renewals, provides current mailing lists of the membership to the Board as needed, notifies members when renewals are due, and assists the Board with developing membership strategies/campaigns.
Chair: Padraic Elliot
boardmember1@floridainvasives.org
Merchandise and Silent Auction
The Merchandise Committee makes recommendations to the Board on FISC merchandise to be sold at annual symposium for fund-raising.
Chair: Jenna Cole
boardmember8@floridainvasives.org
Nominations
The Nominations Committee makes recommendations to the Board of Directors on future Board members. The Past Chair may serve as Nominations Committee Chair.
Chair: Jim Burney
Aquatic Vegetation Control, Inc.
jburney@avcaquatic.com
Outreach
The Outreach Committee provides outreach concerning the activities of the FISC.
Chair: Vacant
Plant Industry Liaison
The Plant Industry Liaison Committee maintains a dialogue with the nursery industry to identify areas of agreement and cooperation between FISC and the industry, explore resolution of disagreements, and to clarify misperceptions held by either group.
Chair: VACANT
Plant List
The Plant List Committee develops and maintains a list of Florida’s most invasive plant species. The list is updated every two years.
Co-Chair: Dennis Giardina
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
dennis.giardina@myfwc.com
Co-Chair: Erick Revuelta
St Johns River Water Management District
erevuelt@sjrwmd.com
Research Grant
The Research Grant Committee determines research priorities as requested by the Board of Directors. Reviews research proposals submitted to the FISC Julia Morton Invasive Plant Research Grants Program and makes recommendations to the Board of Directors.
Chair: Carey Minteer, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Weed Biological Control
Indian River Research and Education Center
2199 South Rock Road, Ft. Pierce
c.minteerkillian@ufl.edu
Social Media
Chair: VACANT
Strategic Planning
SOP’s being developed
Chair: LeRoy Rodgers
South Florida Water Management District
lrodgers@sfwmd.gov
Symposium Planning:
Symposium CEUs
The Symposium CEU Committee makes arrangements for Continuing Education Units at the annual symposium related to the goals and objectives of the FISC.
Chair: Dexter Sowell
Florida Natural Areas Inventory
chair_elect@floridainvasives.org
Symposium Local Arrangements and Field Trips
Local Arrangements
The Local Arrangements Committee makes arrangements for the annual symposium site and associated physical requirements of the FISC’s annual symposium.
Chair: Carl “C.J.” Greene
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
secretary@floridainvasives.org
Field Trips
The Symposium Field Trips Committee makes arrangements, disseminates information, and handles registration for field trips at the annual symposium.
Taylor Clark
St Johns River Water Management District
tclark@sfwmd.gov
Symposium Program
The Symposium Program Committee develops the objectives and theme for the annual symposium and implements the annual symposium program.
Chair: Paul Evans
University of Florida
evansp@ufl.edu
Sponsors
The Sponsors Committee serves as liaison with vendors and manufacturers of herbicides, adjuvants, equipment, and invasive control services to gain financial support for activities that further the goals and mission of the FISC.
Chair: Erick Smith
boardmember3@floridainvasives.org
Website
The Website Committee maintains and updates the official FISC website in accordance with the guidelines determined by the Board and facilitated by the Website Liaison.
Chair: Chuck Bargeron
University of Georgia
Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health
cbargero@uga.edu
Website Committee Liaison
Lynn Proenza
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
chair@floridainvasives.org
Task Forces
Each FISC Species Task Force provides an ongoing forum to share information about the biology, distribution and control of the involved species. Each Task Force shall develop a statewide management plan, generate fact sheets, brochures, etc., and maintain a clearinghouse file of information on the involved species. Each Task Force Chair serves as the primary point of contact to the general public, policy makers, and the media on matters related to the involved species.
Brazilian Pepper
Chair: Dale A. Halbritter
USDA-ARS Invasive Plant Research Laboratory
Dale.Halbritter@ars.usda.gov
Chinese Tallow
Chair: Greg Wheeler
USDA/ARS Invasive Plant Research
Greg.wheeler@ars.usda.gov
Dioscorea
Chair: Christopher Kerr
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry
Methods Development and Biological Control
Christopher.Kerr@freshfromflorida.com
Grasses
Chair: Greg MacDonald
University of Florida
Department of Agronomy
pineacre@ufl.edu
Lygodium
Chair: LeRoy Rodgers III
South Florida Water Management District
lrodgers@sfwmd.gov