News from Headquarters | The Wildlife Society News

Staff Changes
The Wildlife Society welcomes Byron Kenneth (Ken) Williams, Ph.D. as our new Executive Director. Upon taking the position with TWS, Ken retired as Co-Director of the Science and Decisions Center in the U.S. Geological Survey Ken?s first day in the office was March 4.

Katherine Edwards was hired as the Professional Development Coordinator. She will be in charge of the TWS certification program in addition to working with chapters, section, and working groups. She started on February 7 and has been a wonderful addition to TWS team. You can reach Katie at katie.edwards@wildlife.org.

Crowdfunding The Wildlife Society Leadership Institute?
Have you ever said to yourself, I wish I could support a program that supports wildlife conservation and the next generation of wildlife leaders? Now you can by supporting The Wildlife Society Leadership Institute. Check out our Crowdfunding campaign on Crowdrise. Every bit counts.

Drupal Websites Released for Subunits
The long migration from Joomla to Drupal for our subunit websites is over! After many years of unreliable service and outdated versions, we?re ?retiring? Joomla as our content management system of choice. So we?ve spent considerable time setting up new Drupal sites for every subunit that was already using Joomla. Our web producer, Jeremiah Patterson, sent an email to all subunit officers in mid-February announcing the change and providing instructions. If you didn?t receive that email, you can view it now.

If your subunit is currently using Joomla, you?ll want to make sure your actively migrating to the new Drupal site, as we will eventually shut down all Joomla websites. If your subunit doesn?t have a website but would like one, you can request that too. Follow the instructions in the email.

Retirees Center on TWS Website
Retirees, check out the TWS home page, under Centers, for our new Retirees Center where you can see photos of gatherings, join the retiree listserv, read about opportunities to participate in special projects, and access In Memory pages. These are just a few of the items we want to post for our TWS retirees to use and enjoy. We hope to share some historic items from our archives. If you have any suggestions for other material you would like to see in the Retiree Center, please send them to Yanin Walker at yanin@wildlife.org.

Human Dimensions Textbook
The 2nd edition of the Human Dimensions of Wildlife Management is available for purchase. Whether you are a student or a seasoned wildlife professional, you must add this book to your collection. TWS members receive a 25% discount when using code HTWS. Order yours today!

Wildlife News Brief
Are you receiving the Wildlife News Brief? This weekly publication comes out every Friday and provides the latest in wildlife related news. You can subscribe today for free.

Note from Ken Williams, TWS Executive Director
This is my first communication through The Wildlifer since joining The Wildlife Society (TWS). As many of you know, I began as the Society?s Executive Director on March 4, following retirement from the federal government after some 34 years with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Biological Service, and U.S. Geological Survey. As of this writing, I have been on the job for four working days, and I am still learning about the challenges and opportunities in leading TWS. The good news is that I have been associated with the Society for the better part of my professional career, so there is a fair amount of experience and understanding on which to build.

By way of an introduction, let me give a thumbnail sketch of my background. In my most recent position I served as co-Director of the USGS Science and Decisions Center and Chief of the Cooperative Research Units. Previous positions include Executive Director of the North American Waterfowl and Wetlands Office in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Leader of the Vermont Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at the University of Vermont, Chief of the Office of Migratory Bird Management at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and several science and management positions at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Laurel, Maryland. Over the years I have been involved in research and application of adaptive management, biological modeling, vertebrate mapping, waterfowl management, habitat conservation, population monitoring, scientific method, and dynamic optimization in natural resources management. In recent years my focus has been on the integration of science into natural resources conservation and management for the U.S. Department of the Interior.

I share with all of you a concern for the uncertain and potentially difficult times we are facing, as Congress and the Administration establish national priorities and struggles to limit growth of the federal budget. Recent negotiations on the fiscal cliff, the sequestration, and ongoing negotiations on the looming crisis as the FY2013 Continuing Resolution expires, all suggest the potential for near-term reductions in support for natural resources conservation. Under these circumstances it is more important than ever for natural resources organizations in general, and The Wildlife Society in particular, to continue to share information and make the case for science-based conservation. We?re in this together, for the future of our environment, our society, and future generations, and for my part I promise to work as hard as I can for our wildlife heritage.

Source: http://news.wildlife.org/the-wildlifer/the-wildlifer-2013-march/news-from-headquarters-10/

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