The following operating policies were adopted by the Committee on 8 Dec 1995 and revised on 1 Apr 1999, 12 Oct 2001, 20 Mar 2002, 28 Aug 2007, and 3 Aug 2021.
Mission
Develop and help implement a plan to restore and maintain a variety of ecosystems in the University of Florida Natural Area Teaching Laboratory (NATL) while maximizing the use of the area for teaching and public education.
Meetings
NAAC meetings are set up and led by the NATL Chair. NAAC meetings will occur once a year, usually in the Fall semester. Other meetings may be called by the Chair or upon request to the Chair by two or more members. Meetings are open to all who are interested, but only those on the NAAC may vote on motions during the meeting. Anyone who wishes to be notified of meetings will be put on the NAAC e-mail list.
Membership
The NAAC membership shall consist of the following individuals:
- The NATL Chair, Vice Chair, and other members of the NATL Operations Committee
- The Chair of the UF Lakes, Vegetation and Landscape Committee (or their designated representative)
- A representative from UF Facilities Planning and Construction
- Representatives from departments, schools, or other groups that make significant use of NATL, including [but not limited to]: Entomology & Nematology, School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, Wildlife Ecology & Conservation, Biology, and the Florida Museum of Natural History
Any person who wants to join the NAAC may do so if approved by a majority of NAAC members. The interested person must submit a brief self-nomination statement (300 words max.) to the NATL Chair via email. In this statement, the candidate should outline their interest in NATL and reasons for joining the committee, as well as the specific resources and/or expertise they would bring to the NAAC. The Chair will then disseminate the nomination to the NAAC for a vote.
There are no term limits for NAAC members; once approved to be on the committee, a representative may serve for as long as they are willing and able to. If a member no longer wishes to be on the NAAC or is unable to continue serving, they shall contact the NATL Chair to inform them of their decision to leave. They will then be removed from the NAAC, and a replacement representative from their unit may be solicited. The outgoing committee member is welcome to recommend a replacement from their unit, but that nominee must still submit a statement and be approved by the NAAC (as described above).
The maximum size of the NAAC shall be twenty members. Each year, prior to the Fall NAAC meeting, members who have not attended 2 previous NAAC meetings or otherwise participated in NAAC business during the previous 24 months will be contacted by the Chair and asked if they wish to continue serving on the committee. If such a person wishes to leave the committee, or if no response is received, they will be removed and a replacement representative from their unit may be solicited. If they wish to remain on the committee, they must commit to attending the following NAAC meeting (or contribute meaningfully via email). Otherwise, they will be removed from the committee and a replacement representative from their unit may be solicited.
Every two years, the NAAC membership will be discussed at the Fall meeting to ensure that the committee remains representative of the units that use NATL. Any changes to the membership or associated policies must be approved by a majority vote.
Officers
Officers will consist of a Chair, elected by a majority of NAAC members for a term of two years, and a Vice-Chair, appointed by the Chair and confirmed by a majority of NAAC members. Voting may be by email.
The Chair and the Vice-Chair may serve an unlimited number of terms. New chairs may self-nominate and must have served on NAAC.
Committee Business
Committee business may be accomplished either at meetings or via email.
At meetings, a quorum of seven members (including officers) is required for issues to be decided. If a quorum is lacking, decisions will be made by email after issues have been discussed by those present at the meeting and the discussion summarized for those absent. A person, designated by the Chair, will be responsible for keeping minutes that include a statement of each motion for which a vote is taken and the count of yes and no votes unless the issue is decided by a voice vote. No later than one week after a meeting, draft minutes of the meeting will be emailed to the NAAC members for members to review and provide additional information and corrections. If no substantive changes are suggested within one week, the draft minutes (including minor changes) will be considered approved and posted on the NATL website. If substantive changes are suggested, the issues will be resolved by those who attended the meeting. If substantive changes are needed, the minutes will be modified and posted on the website and NAAC members will be notified.
For business via email, the Chair will propose an action and allow a week or more for discussion. The Chair will then call for a vote, drop the matter, or begin again with a modified proposal. When a vote is called for, members will have one week to respond with a yes, no, or abstention. For a vote to be final, half the membership must respond and at least seven must vote yes or no. The Chair, or a person they designate, will report the vote to the NAAC and maintain a record of actions proposed via email and how they were disposed of. This record will be an information item at each NAAC meeting and will be made an addendum to the minutes of the meeting.
Annually, the Chair will propose a spending plan that will be an voted upon at the Fall Semester meeting.
Duties of Chair
- See that NAAC Operating Policies are followed (or updated).
- See that the long-term management plans for NATL are followed (or updated).
- Schedule the Fall Semester meeting at least 1 month in advance.
- Call special meetings on their own initiative or at the request of two or more members.
- Prepare and circulate an agenda prior to each meeting.
- See that minutes of meetings are kept, approved, and put on the NATL website.
- Initiate proposals for actions via email and see that such proposals and their outcomes are recorded.
- Prepare a spending plan for the fiscal year to be acted on at the Fall Semester meeting.
- Oversee spending of NAAC funds.
- Select, with the approval of a majority of NAAC members, the NATL Graduate Teaching Assistant.
- Select, with the approval of a majority of NAAC members, a Vice-Chair and keep them apprised of NAAC and NATL affairs.
- See that the Graduate Teaching Assistant fulfills their NATL obligations.
- Keep UF Facilities informed of NATL's maintenance needs.
- Report each Fall Semester to the Lakes, Vegetations, and Landscaping Committee on issues important to NATL, on the previous year's uses of NAAC funds, and on the current year's NAAC-approved spending plan.
- See that the NATL website and kiosks are kept current.
The Chair may delegate these duties to others but is ultimately responsible for their fulfillment.
Duties of Vice-Chair
- Serve as Chair when the Chair is temporarily unable to serve.
- Keep apprised of NAAC and NATL affairs.
- Assist the Chair in mutually agreeable ways.
If the Chair is permanently unable to serve prior to the end of his or her term, the Vice-Chair will serve as Chair until a new Chair is elected, which should occur no later than the next meeting.
