Transition in Great Lakes Observing System Board Leadership
John Carey and Nancy Frank are the new Chair and Vice Chair of the GLOS Board.
The Great Lakes Observing System held its Annual Meeting November 18-19, 2013 in Ann Arbor, MI. The meeting was an opportunity for members, stakeholders and interested parties to share useful information and contribute to the continued development of a robust and relevant Great Lakes observing system. The meeting also served as an opportunity for the GLOS Board of Directors to meet and elect new officers. The Chair has transitioned from Bill Werick, who has served for the past 7 years, to John Carey of Hamilton, Ontario. The Vice-Chair has transitioned from Frank Kudrna to Nancy Frank of Wisconsin.
After the Board elections Bill Werick, outgoing Chair stated, “I joined the Great Lakes Observing System Board because I thought we could manage the lakes better if data products were designed in consultation with decision makers. I saw GLOS as a bridge between those worlds; database manager, meet coastal zone regulator. When we started we got a lot of puzzled looks. Seven years later, we have some examples to illustrate the concept– just one is the Boaters’ Forecast Tool, where modelers and boaters worked together to design a data system including a hydrodynamic model, near real time data and forecasts that answers the question: Is this a good day for me to take the boat over to that favorite fishing spot? We’ve done similar things for beach and water supply plant managers, and we’ve found lots of people who see the same need.”
John Carey, the new Chair stated: “By providing a structure in which observing activities — in situ and remotely sensed observations, modeling and data management – are integrated and made readily accessible, GLOS is an organization that fills a previously vacant niche in the region. In making reliable data available to decision makers, it’s not just the development of a first class data management system that’s key, but the facilitative and connective activity that enables us to strategically support the enhancement of observing activities in the region and make the most of our finite resources. Building on a strong base of public and academic sector participation in the system, GLOS has come a long way in its first seven years. In addition to maintaining and enhancing this existing support base, I believe that now is the time for us to focus on how we engage and benefit the private sector and on broadening our support base.”
