I visited Washington, D.C., on Dec. 13, 2007, to introduce myself as incoming ANPR president to senior NPS management, to staff members of the Subcommittees on National Parks in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, and to the president and government-related staff members of the National Parks Conservation Association. Here's my perception of how the visits went:

NPS Deputy Director
I thanked Deputy Director Dan Wenk for coming to the 2007 Ranger Rendezvous in Park City and invited him to be with us in Santa Fe in 2008. He indicated that Park City was not the first Rendezvous he'd attended, and that he hoped he would be able to come to Santa Fe.

We discussed three areas of cooperation that ANPR would like to see the NPS agree to or understand:

1. We want to be able to send an e-mail in the spring and/or early summer to all employees of the NPS informing them of the availability to purchase health insurance as members of ANPR, without having the attempt shut down by NPS information technology specialists.

2. We would like to establish a cooperative agreement with the NPS so that ANPR is seen as a legitimate training provider for NPS employees, specifically at Ranger Rendezvous. As part of this discussion we want the NPS to recognize Rendezvous as a "professional conference" so that employees can attend those portions of Rendezvous directly related to their employment on government time.

3. ANPR is making an attempt to establish "college chapters" in 2008. If successful, we believe the chapters could have significant benefits for increasing the diversity of both ANPR and qualified applicants for NPS positions.

Dan promised that he would investigate the ethical considerations of #1 and #2 with Jerry Simpson, Associate Director for Workforce Development, and I would describe him as engaged to the possibility that #3 may have beneficial results for the NPS. I am expecting a return telephone call from Jerry during the week of Jan. 28.

Although Director Bomar did not have time in her schedule to meet with me, I was able to shake her hand and introduce myself to her in the reception area while she was taking a short break from her scheduled meetings.

Congressional Subcommittee Staff
I had separate meetings with:

• Thomas Lillie, Republican staff member, U.S. Senate Subcommittee on National Parks
• David Brooks, senior counsel (majority), U.S. Senate Subcommittee on National Parks
• David Watkins and Leslie Ann Duncan, legislative staff (majority), U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands
• James Streeter, Casey Hammond, and Jason Knox, Republican legislative staff, U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands

National Parks Conservation Association
I met briefly with Tom Kiernan, NPCA president, and for a longer time with Craig Obey, vice president for government affairs, and Laura Loomis, senior director of government affairs. We discussed a conceptual fund raising initiative I have that has the potential to improve operational staffing levels in the NPS. They indicated they would give some thought to my proposal to see if and/or how it might fit with NPCA's goals.