[SOS-PCA] SOS Collectors’ Call Notes June 6, 2017

[Hosna, Rachel]

SOS Collectors’ Call Notes

June 6, 2017

·         There were 33 participants on the call

·         National Office Updates

o   The new SOS National Curator is now on board. Please direct all
questions to Rachel Hosna (rhosna at blm.gov or 202.912.7233)

o   The SOS training for CLM interns will be next week on June 14.

·         Target species lists

o   Please send target species list and anticipated number of collections
to the national office ASAP - These numbers are critical for helping the
National Office plan for processing and storage requirements.

·         Datasheets

o   Please send your first few datasheets to the national office to ensure
data is being filled out completely and correctly

o   If you have questions as to what belongs in a particular field – please
see the “glossary” document available on the SOS website.

·         SOS Website Updates

o   Lindsey has worked really really hard to update the SOS website (Thank
you Lindsey!!)

o   Please visit www.blm.gov/SOS and explore all of the resources for
collectors (located on the right hand side of the page). Contact
information was changed on many of the documents,  but the most notable
changes are the following:

§  Under “Quick Links”

·         **new** - link to Smugmug photo website

o   This website contains photos for past SOS collections.

·         **new** Link to the SOSlistserv

o   Includes instructions on how to subscribe and post to the SOS list serve

·         **new** Soil Texture Guide – a link to the NRCS’s flowchart for
assessing soil texture

§  Under “Guides and Training”

·         **newly updated** Data Portal User Guide

o   Now includes instructions on how to print data forms!

·         **new** Estimating available seed

o   A great handout outlining how to determine if a population will yield
10-2000 seed (or more) when only collecting 20% of the ripe seed on a given
day.

·         **newly updated** Voucher Specimen Techniques

o   Thank you to Erika Gardner for helping us put together a new document
that provides guidance for making top notch herbarium specimens and tips on
how to ship those vouchers.

o   If you have any questions about this document please send them to Erika
Gardner at the Smithsonian Institute

§  gardnere at si.edu

·         **newly updated** Herbarium Label Template

o   Examples and templates for the herbarium label that needs to accompany
each herbarium voucher

·         **new** Guide to Shipping SOS Materials

·         Web portal Updates

o   Everyone needs to be trained before using the online data entry portal.
You will not have access to your account until at least one person on your
team has been trained. All CLM interns will be trained next week, and
everyone at the BLM training for mentors in Boise was trained, but *if
there’s anyone else out there who still needs training, please send Rachel
an e-mail and we will try and schedule a webinar.*

o   Everyone will be getting new passwords for the data portal. This is to
ensure the integrity of the SOS dataset. We realize some teams are already
entering data into the portal with their 2016 passwords – this is great! If
someone is listed as “trained” for your team, your new password will be
sent to you as soon as it is changed to minimize any disruption.

o   Remember – all data must be entered into the portal by the end of the
season. Be sure you are working this into your schedule.

o   You can now use the data portal to print off datasheets for Bend.
Instructions are available on the new “Data Portal User Guide” document
located on the SOS website. Please remember: the seed collection reference
number and the NRCS plants code MUST be clearly displayed – by circling,
highlighting, or writing really big at the top of the page. These two
pieces of information are critical for Bend. Lastly, *the printed data
sheets from the data portal cannot be used a substitute for the original
datasheet copy that needs to be filed at the National Office*. We still
want everyone’s raw data in the event there are any discrepancies.

·         Clearance Forms

o   If you are leveraging SOS collections to make larger operational
collections for research or grow out, please fill out a clearance form and
submit it to the *national office* with the corresponding datasheets.
Please allow at least 30 days for Bend to process the order, provide the
FedEx shipping code, and a short description of the intended use of the
material. We will process these requests as quickly as possible but
remember, there may be others requesting seed back at a deadline similar to
yours. Collectors will be notified if it will take more than 30 days to
process your request. If there is no rush to have your seed returned to you
or a partner – like if you know you won’t need it until next fall or
something, then please put the return date as March 1st of next year, the
more time you can give Bend the better. Please consolidate your clearance
requests as best as you can*. *

·         SOS listserv issues

o   A number of you have contacted us with questions regarding your
subscription to the listserv. While we work to find a solution, please
notify the national office if you receive any strange e-mails or realize
you’re not getting SOS call announcements and we will unsubscribe and
re-subscribe you.

·         **BEND UPDATES**

o   Bend has started receiving collections from CA and NV teams

o   Kayla is on maternity leave, so please notify *Sarah Garvin* when
shipping seed

§  sarahegarvin at fs.fed.us

o   DO NOT SHIP SEED BETWEEN JUNE 28 AND JULY 5 – no one will be at the
Bend Seed Extractory

o   Notes on packaging and shipping fleshy fruits:

§  Please ship fleshy fruits as soon as possible. If necessary –they can
stay up to two weeks in a refrigerator - do not freeze.

§  When shipping fleshy fruits, please ship on a Monday or Tuesday so they
are certain to arrive by the end of the week – overnight is preferred. Bend
should be notified when all shipments are in route, but this is especially
critical for fleshy fruits.

§  If shipping overnight, you do not need to include ice packs. If shipping
regular snail mail (not preferred), please wrap bags of fruits in newspaper
and ship with ice packs.

o   Bend has processed all 2016 seed but is still finishing up the testing.
Preliminary results are ready and Rachel will sending those to the state
botanists to distribute. Final results should be available in September and
will be distributed by the national office when available.



***The first Tuesday in July falls on Independence Day,
so our next call will take place on *July 11th*. ***

Thanks to everyone who called in!

-- 
Rachel Hosna
Seeds of Success
National Collection Curator
202-912-7233
rhosna at blm.gov

Seeds of Success
<https://www.blm.gov/programs/natural-resources/native-plant-communities/native-plant-and-seed-material-development/collection>
Plant Conservation Alliance <http://www.plantconservationalliance.org/>
National Seed Strategy for Rehabilitation and Restoration
<https://www.blm.gov/programs/natural-resources/native-plant-communities/national-seed-strategy>
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