What is the role of the HBWAG within the local community?  We've identified ourselves as "advisory".  How do we fulfill this identification?

1.    What is the role of the HBWAG within the community?

As our mission states, I believe our role is to:

1. Understand the watershed and water quality-related issues by educating ourselves first. Continue to document the facts and eliminate unfounded perceptions through data gathering, partnerships and research. Help identify solutions to documented problems and work with others to implement them.
2. Educate the community (after educating ourselves) on the relevant issues and problems. Collaborate and share resources with other groups and agencies who share common goals. Develop and make presentations to schools, clubs, organizations, agencies on known and unknown issues, regulations, how it affects them and how they can help.
3. Protect the health of Hilo Bay and it’s tributaries through #1 and #2. Continue to monitor the health of the watershed and tributaries for trends and work toward meeting appropriate water quality standards.
4. Use the Public Input Report and Restoration Plan as guidelines.
   

   
2.    We’ve identified ourselves as advisory. How do we fulfill this identification?

The term ‘advisory’ may have been a title assigned to the group, not selected, at the beginning of the grant program (Public Input Report). Tom Y might know since he participated in the first meeting. I do not know the original intention of the word ‘advisory’ or the role. Perhaps it was the typical title for the local contact group for the grant. The ‘advisory’ role may have been between the HBWAG and UH Manoa/DOH/EPA, or between HBWAG and community in that the HBWAG was the agent for the grant and ‘advised’ the community. 

For whatever reason, the name HBWAG stuck. The roles listed in the response to #1 are those that should help fulfill this identification.

3.    Is the list of SC duties (below) adequate to define a member’s role? Should the list be amended? If so, how?

1. Attends and participates in monthly and special steering committee meetings.
2. Provides guidance in the management and operation of the HBWAG, serves as sub-committee team leader or serves as an at-large steering committee member by representing the UH, SWRCD or NRCS.
3. Sets objectives and prepares long term strategy plans and shorter term action plans to achieve overall WAG objectives.
4. Votes on HBWAG business matters including but not limited to: documents, letters, objectives, strategic plans. And HBWAG committee approvals.
5. Assigns and monitors subcommittee milestones and deliverables to foster implementation of strategic action plans.
   

Comments on Bylaws and Roles and Procedures

In reviewing the Bylaws and Roles and Procedures, it appears that:

• There was a lot of thought put into the development of the documents but little to no follow-through. It appears that procedures have not been and are not being recognized, implemented, reviewed or updated.
• The roles and procedures were developed assuming a larger number of active participants who would work in subcommittees to accomplish the SC high priority objectives, goals and strategies that were identified based on the Strategic Plan.
• SC members are ‘participatory’ members who are expected to serve on a sub-committee or participate in at least two HBWAG-sponsored activities/events per year….and…expected to attend the monthly HBWAG meetings.
  

Some questions:

• Is it clear who the SC members and Technical Advisors are? Are they familiar with and understand their roles and responsibilities as stated in the referenced documents?
• Have SC members filled out the HBWAG survey? 
• Do SC members know what subcommittees (such as Candidates Forum and Web Site subcommittees) are currently active and if help is needed?
• Do the Bylaws and Roles and Policies need to be revisited and either enforced or revised?
  

Thoughts and suggestions:

We are fortunate that the SC (including Technical Advisors) includes diverse and valuable resources to work towards fulfilling HBWAG mission and goals. The reality is that we can’t make progress without on-going, active participation from HBWAG and SC members. Some suggestions (some stated in the Bylaws) that may help the group be more productive and effective include:

• SC members should be required to (commit to) attend a minimum number of SC meetings (say 9) per year. Since the group only meets 2 hrs per month (i.e., 24 hrs/yr), each SC meeting is vital to making progress toward HBWAG goals, and promotes communication between members. Business cannot get done and goals cannot be achieved if only some people show up some of the time.
• As noted in the Bylaws, SC members are required (and hopefully want to) attend the General Monthly meetings (maybe at least 6-7 per year).
• The SC should review the Strategic Plan at least yearly and identify the high priority actions for the coming year(s) (such as the WQ and web site projects), and (as noted in the Bylaws) SC members should be required participate in subcommittees. The SC should develop a list of subcommittees (both goal oriented and on-going activities) that SC and HBWAG members can choose from. Subcommittees should present a draft plan on how they will accomplish the goal and measure progress.
• SC members who are not able to commit to responsibilities required by the Bylaws would be more than welcome to participate in SC meetings, on subcommittees, or in whatever way they would like to contribute.
• SC members should identify their strengths and interests and what they would like to do to contribute to fulfilling the HBWAG goals for the year.
• Because the HBWAG has very limited resources (volunteers and money), it is critical to leverage resources through partnerships and by coordinating activities with other groups and agencies that share a common goal.