Goal 3. Become the premiere resource for plant health information and knowledge dissemination.

Objective 3B. Develop new opportunities at annual meetings for meaningful interaction and information exchange among members, affiliates and the public. Target(s): annual meeting programs examined yearly; member and participant feedback solicited and considered; innovative changes incorporated and evaluated.

Tactic 3B.1 Booth at annual meeting to publicize OPRO efforts to membership, encourage opportunities for involvement (FY00, FY01, FY02, FY03, FY04, FY05)

Tactic 3B.2 OPRO “Outreach in Action” newsletter, distribute to membership with registration materials at annual meeting, the piece is also reprinted in Phytopathology News for the entire membership. (FY00, FY01, FY02, FY03, FY04, FY05)

Tactic 3B.3 Media plan for APS annual meeting to enhance media coverage of meeting and science presented, work with local members to establish media links (FY00, FY01, FY02, FY03, FY04, FY05)

Tactic 3B.4 “Town Meeting”/Plant Doctor Event at annual meeting (FY00, FY01, FY02, FY04, FY05)

Tactic 3B.5 Media training session for members at Annual Meeting (FY98, FY01, FY04)

Tactic 3B.6 Plant pathology booth, with interactive exercises, at the Insect Expo immediately following the 1998 Annual Meeting.  More than 3,000 elementary students participated. (FY99)

Tactic 3B.7 Gary Bergstrom and Cindy Ash participated in the Extension Symposium "Role of Extension in APS Outreach and Certification Programs" during the Annual Meeting. They presented opportunities for cooperative efforts with OPRO. (FY99)

Tactic 3B.8 Facilitated first press conference held during the annual meeting, which was sponsored by the United Soybean Board, featuring presenters on soybean rust. (FY04)

Tactic 3B.9 Distributed postcards with plant disease images and catchy phrases for members to send home to friends and family, spreading the word about plant pathology. (FY04, FY05)

Tactic 3B.10 OPRO Director invited to present at APS 101 Social for early career professionals on activities of OPRO and importance of outreach to APS. (FY05) 

Tactic 3B.11 Facilitated first press conference held during the annual meeting in Austin, which was focused on emerging plant diseases. (FY05)

Goal 5. Promote understanding and increase awareness of plant pathology and plant health science among the public, policy-making, regulatory and funding bodies.

Objective 5B. Provide timely science-based information to national and international policy-making and funding bodies and organizations that are engaged in formulating issues, opinions, recommendations, regulatory policies and funding policies affecting plant health science. Target(s): Policymakers and funding sources, including leaders and other representatives of public interest groups, commodity groups, professional societies, foundations, coalitions and governmental agencies.

Tactic 5B.1 Participate in and monitor government/policy meetings ¾ work with Coalition of Foundation Agricultural Research Missions (CoFARM) and council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST). (FY97, FY98, FY99, FY00, FY01)

Tactic 5B.2 Investigate retaining a legislative consultant in Washington (responsibilities, legal considerations, plan development and review) to help expedite APS activities in the legislative arena. The NPPB should recruit and interview candidates for this position and make a recommendation to the APS President. The Foundation is seeking an endowment from outside contributors to support a half-time government relations consultant at $50,000 per annum for salary and expenses. (FY99, FY00)

Tactic 5B.3 Develop strategy for legislative alerts to speed the communication to and response (Handled by PPB)

Tactic 5B.4 APS brochure to position importance of plant pathology for legislative/regulatory audience distribution. (FY99)
Tactic 5B.5 Assist PPB in distribution of press releases related to their public policy efforts (FY02, FY03, FY04)

NOTE: OPRO is no longer listed as having responsibility for this objective, PPB has primary responsibility.

Objective 5C. Increase awareness of the science of plant pathology by developing and promoting opportunities, independently and/or in cooperation with other scientific groups, to present fundamental positive messages about science, using examples from plant pathology. Target(s): The general public, preschool through college students and teachers are the primary targets, however, collateral targets impacted through the process of planning and conducting shared projects, include colleagues from other scientific disciplines, societies and affiliate organizations.

Tactic 5C.1 National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) convention booth in coordination with the American Society of Plant Physiologists, the American Botanical Society and Wisconsin Fast Plants. (FY99, FY00)

Tactic 5C.2 Distribute APS Careers in Plant Pathology brochures. (FY98, FY99, FY00, FY01, FY02, FY03, FY04, FY05)

Tactic 5C.3 Promote the opportunity for scholarship of teaching and learning through modest seed grants offered by the Carnegie Teaching Academy, brought to our attention via CELS. (Future)

Tactic 5C.4 Coordinate representation at science related youth functions (e.g., International Science and Engineering Fair, FFA, MANNRS, etc.) to gain visibility at key youth events for recognition of plant pathology. (FY97, FY98, FY99, FY00, FY01, FY02, FY03, FY04, FY05)

Tactic 5C.5 Teacher workshop at Annual Meeting. An event educating high school teachers on the science of plant pathology and assisting them in implementation of plant pathology into their curriculum. (FY99, FY01)

Tactic 5C.6 Plant pathology poster for K-12 classrooms, highlighting the science and building recognition for plant pathology as a possible career choice.(FY00, FY03)

Tactic 5C.7 Plant Pathology: Past to Present” booklet depicting the history of plant pathology in line drawings. Designed for middle school youth. (FY99)

Tactic 5C.8 Supported efforts of the “Plant Pathways to Science” program through the application process for a NSF grant. The first submission of the grant proposal was denied.  (FY98)

Tactic 5C.9 Developed APS Biotechnology Statement for use in public communications. (FY01)

Tactic 5C.10 Supported APSnet Education Center with funds for promotion and development.  (FY02, FY03)

Tactic 5C.11 Supported efforts of the APSnet Education Center by providing $6,000 in funding for development time. (FY03)

Tactic 5C.12 Sponsored “Plant Detective” 8^th grade program in Ohio Middle Schools. (FY03)

Tactic 5C.13 Supported Georgia Plant Science Scholars program. (FY03)

Tactic 5C.14 Developed new “Plant Detectives” poster and reprinted existing “Plants Get Sick Too” poster for distribution to educational audiences. (FY03)

Tactic 5C.15 Uploaded Chinese version of “Plant Pathology: Past to Present” storybook for worldwide distribution.

Tactic 5C.16 Established the Soybean Rust Information Center portal as part of PMN to provide best clearinghouse of information on the disease (FY05).

Objective 5D. Develop strategic alliances and partnerships to form an international umbrella of plant health. Target(s): New or stronger alliances with sister societies, strategic plant health groups and agricultural affiliates worldwide.

Tactic 5D.1 National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) annual convention coordinated with the American Society of Plant Physiologists, the American Botanical Society and Wisconsin Fast Plants. (see tactic 5C.1)

Tactic 5D.2 Promoting the scholarship of teaching and learning through modest seed grants offered by the Carnegie Teaching Academy, brought to our attention via CELS. (see tactic 5C.3)

NOTE:  OPRO is no longer listed as having responsibility for this objective.

Objective 5E. Develop an image for plant pathology as a vital and important profession and promote understanding of the contributions and roles of plant pathologists in science, agriculture and society. Target(s): Mechanisms developed to access and promote the recognition of plant pathologists ("who we are" and "what we do") by constituent groups, other scientific disciplines and societies, affiliate organizations and the public.

Tactic 5E.1 Develop and disseminate press releases and respond to media inquiries to enhance APS name recognition. Monitor press coverage. (FY98, FY99, FY00, FY01, FY02, FY03, FY04, FY05)

Tactic 5E.2 Pursue Plant Doctor concept to improve recognition of plant pathology by the general public. Plant pathologists would answer questions from the general public about their gardening and landscape issues. Exhibit at Garden Writers Association Annual Meeting to introduce this portion of media to APS as a resource. (FY00, FY02)

Tactic 5E.3 Provide and maintain OPRO webpage including media room on APSnet to facilitate coverage of plant pathology by the media. (FY98, FY99, FY00, FY01, FY02, FY03, FY04, FY05)

Tactic 5E.4 Continued monthly e-mail to the internal APS media list featuring a brief statement on articles which have an interpretive summary in Plant Disease. A link is also included at the end of the email to the full table of contents for the month. The goal of this effort is to increase awareness of APS publications and to position APS as a valuable resource for new research. (FY04, FY05)

Tactic 5E.5 Publish OPRO accomplishments in Phytopathology News as an Outreach column to build member support of OPRO efforts, recognize member activities with the public and encourage involvement. (FY99, FY00, FY01, FY02, FY03, FY04, FY05)

Tactic 5E.6 “Plant Doctor” presence in national gardening magazine and television show, Rebecca’s Garden magazine. Participate in Prairie Public TV, Prairie Yard and Garden Show. (FY97, FY98, FY99, FY00)

Tactic 5E.7 USDA extension directory online. (FY00)

Tactic 5E.8 Establishing new Plant Pathology Journalism award to recognize outstanding achievement in increasing public awareness, knowledge, and understanding of plant pathology by science writers and journalists of general media publications. (FY06)

Objective 5F. Promote understanding of plant pathology among allied sciences. Strategy: Encourage integration and cross training for disciplines and sub-disciplines in plant pathology.

Tactic 5F.1 Cooperative efforts with the United Soybean Board to hold a press conference at the annual meeting helped build relationships with this commodity group. (FY04)

Tactic 5F.2 Science writers have been personally invitated to attend the past two APS Annual Meetings (Susan Milius, Science News and Kathryn Brown, Science) to help build visibility with AAAS. (FY03, FY04)

Tactic 5F.3 Attended the AAAS annual meeting to network with science media and familiarize them with plant pathology and the research done by APS members. (FY05)

 

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 The American Phytopathological Society