[SOS-PCA] Greetings from new SOS Coordinator and Clarifications

[Margaret_Haidet at blm.gov]

Hello Everyone,

I hope the collection season is going well.  I'm  getting settled here in
DC and becoming very familiar with all of your data sheets.  You can begin
sending your questions to my attention and I will do my best to address
them in a thorough and timely manner.  Thank you to Fred, Olivia, Emily,
Mike and Krissa for helping out in the interim.

In addition to a couple reminders listed below, please be aware that for
security reasons my email address (Margaret_Haidet at blm.gov) does not match
my name (Megan).  Legally it's Margaret but I've been called Megan for my
whole life; enough said.  I apologize in advance if this is confusing.

As the collection season comes to an end for some of you please keep in
mind the following:

      - When using the USDA PLANTS Database symbol (also referred to as the
      PLANTS code), make sure that you include any numbers listed as part
      of the code (i.e. CHAT is Chenopodium atrovirens while CHAT2 is
      Chamaesyce atrococca) when using it in data forms, photo filenames or
      anything else.

   Clearance Forms for the return of seed over the 10,000 required for the
   SOS National Collection:

      - The process is that you send your shipment of seed and data forms
      to Bend AND fill out the Clearance Form electronically & email it
      with the associated collection data forms to me
      (margaret_haidet at blm.gov).  The SOS National Office will take care of
      approving the request, assigning the number and giving the
      information to Bend.

      - Make sure you're using the current single page copy of the form and
      not the previous multiple page form. (
      http://www.nps.gov/plants/sos/protocol/appendix5.htm)

      - An actual date needs to be used for the return of the seed; ASAP
      should not be used unless it is a special case.  If you do not need
      the seed back for a specific project this fall or winter for your
      2010 collections, just use 3/31/2011.  Bend is swamped at the end of
      the collecting season with shipments from multiple collectors and we
      don't want to provide them with unnecessarily tight turnaround times.
      If there is an issue meeting your requested date, Nita Rauch will let
      you know.

- Data forms can now be sent to me as well.  Please include the seed
collection reference number in the filename to help me stay organized (i.e.
WO230-32324.docx).  You can email data forms or send them on a CD via FedEx
or UPS (see http://www.nps.gov/plants/sos/protocol/18.htm for the address).
Our US Postal Service mail gets irradiated and the may affect CDs, so it's
best to use FedEx or UPS.

- Photos can be sent to Olivia Kwong and should be on a CD via FedEx or UPS
for the reasons mentioned above.  If you're sending data forms this way,
they can be put on the same CD if it all fits.  The following naming
convention should be used: PLANTS Code_Collection Number_Picture Number.
For example Chicago Botanic Garden’s collection of Symphyotrichum
lanceolatum would have photos named SYLA6_CBG-419_A.jpg,
SYLA6_CBG-419_B.jpg, etc.  As mentioned above, make sure your PLANTS Symbol
includes numbers if present.

I look forward to hearing from you and compiling the data from the Seeds of
Success programs biggest collection year ever!

Cheers,
Megan

Megan Haidet
National Collection Curator
Seeds of Success
Bureau of Land Management
202-912-7233
www.nps.gov/plants/sos/