Regarding YETI & Biodiversity Asia 2012

[Amit Kurien]

Hi everyone,

Hope you have already received the Biodiversity 2012 invite. We are writing to let you know some aspects about the SCB Asia programme that Dr. Gladwin Joseph had told me, but is not explicitly stated in the invite. The reason for inviting YETI for SCBAsia, as told, is mostly to help organise and plan the event along with the other local organising committees (LOCs). Among the key inputs requested are

1) To help the LOCs reach out to the contacts YETI has made over the years to participate for talks, posters, erecting stalls, etc.
2) Since the event is being held in JN Tata auditorium (and YETI 2010 volunteers being familiar with the workings of the place), is ground support at the event during the three days - most things we did for YETI at the venue. I guess, accommodation will be taken care of by the other LOCs. However, there maybe related work such as pick-up and drop VIPs etc. (maybe some of these are negotiable if YETI decides to co-organise).

The immediate incentive for YETI volunteers is the waiver of the registration fee of around $ 30 (not finalised), and free food. However, I wonder if all YETI 2010 volunteers can participate, as there is a limit to the number of students allowed - some 160, including participants.

Madhura and I have been made the representatives for YETI (tentatively, of course), and we have to let the other LOCs know YETI's final decision soon. We are taking the liberty of going beyond the YES/NO options and providing a few questions that YETI would want to answer

1) Should YETI 2010 volunteers participate as YETI, and offer the YETI logo to go alongside logos of other organising NGOs?
2) If yes, who all form the 'core group'? This group of a few members will have to participate at the monthly meetings of the LOCs until the event.
3) Is it sufficient if YETI members facilitate the event and its organisation as individual volunteers and not YETI members?

Write in with your thoughts soon. Perhaps a few of the volunteers can write in single common email after putting their thoughts together. That way, lesser emails to surf through!

Amit & Madhura

[V.V. Robin]

Hi Amit, all,

i think it is great to partner with different folks. Its also a great opportunity for young ecologists to volunteer and participate in this conference. I think we should go for it.

Can we also ask them to contribute some money, for lets say, a session on conservation science OR travel support for some students? This way we will also list them as our partners on our page and they will get increased coverage. (though their event is before ours?)

In some loose way we are also partnering with SCCS. Should we also put in the same pitch to them?

Robin

[Amit Kurien]

Hi Robin and others,

Issues related to YETI & Asia SCB relations and negotiations could maybe be taken up, but no idea at what point. Not sure if SCB folks will be part of the LOC negotiations right from the start. I'll try and find that out.

But in a way, Robin's question could be a possible criterion for participation, i.e.
will YETI participate as YETI only if there is some sort of sponsorship for a future event? Food for thought...

Others, write in.

Amit

[V. V. Robin]

Well, to rephrase ...we should participate in everything, but we should encourage sponsorship...something that is mutually beneficial. We get the word out for them and also help them out and they support us. I dont think we should place conditions for participation, but only suggest and encourage sponsorship.

By the way, one thing that YETI may have to think about is that there are many who say they dont remember which meeting was YETI and which was SCCS. Same volunteers....Now with this 3rd meet....

Robin

[Chandrima Home]

Dear Amit, Robin and the rest

For the past two years, YETI has been able to carve out a space for itself if not a very big one, atleast to the extent that it is recognized as a student event. Therefore I think (pertaining to the first question) that it would seem to be better if YETI participates with SCB Asia as YETI (with the logo and all). Who all should be the core members is up to the people who would like to be strongly associated with SCB Asia. Like SCCS, SCB Asia is not exactly going to be a student run initiative. I feel that volunteers should facilitate the event as YETI members.

Regards

Chandrima

---

From: "V. V. Robin" <robinv...@gmail.com>
To: yeti-m...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Sunday, April 17, 2011 12:16:09 AM
Subject: Re: Regarding YETI & Biodiversity Asia 2012

--
C h a n d r i m a   H o m e

---

PhD Student,
Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment
Royal Enclave, Sriramapura, P.O. Jakkur
Bangalore-560064
www.atree.org

[Amit Kurien]

Can more people please respond to this invite? The whole thing is in limbo right now.

Amit

[anagh purandare]

I think it will be good idea for YETI to join with as many events and organisations as possible. the only problem (or solution based on how you look at it) is that there is no body permanently with YETI. it as fluid as it can get. these kind of associations will force us to think of using the fluidity of YETI in better way. according to me there is direct benefit of this particular association, some of the YETI volunteers will get to attend the event. more than that they will also see a different event being organised and hence this learning will benefit YETI. So i think what we could do is call for volunteers from YETI community (YETI-Gau) Wiki has the list and see  if there are enough people from that group interested. This is indirect benefit I agree.

apart from this i agree with robin about we should also see how this association will help future YETI event in more concentrate way.

i hope i am making sense :P

anagh

--
Anagh


-----
Scientist must also be like a child. If he sees a thing he must say that he sees it; whether it was he expecting to see or not, otherwise he will only see what he is expecting.---Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

[V. V. Robin]

Yes Anagh, I agree with you and with Chandrima (since you agreed with me ;) )

We should join and let individuals decide if they want to volunteer or not.

YETI could use this opportunity to raise some funds for itself. We could think of this innovatively. Like giving out a SCB funded research award or something for the winning student to continue more research (YETI-SCB). It doesnt have to be this, we can decide what later, fund travel for students to attend YETI, fund travel to attend other workshop?? ...all ways that the YETI community can keep interacting and exchanging information beyond the annual event.

Robin

[dipani sutaria]

Hi All,

I agree with Chandrima,Anagh,Robin: that we should be part of these events, but we should be representing YETI, so very much yes for a YETI logo and maybe even YETI Tshirts for our volunteers..and as Anagh said, we can ask from the YETI-GAU list for people who would like to represent YETI. The fluidity would not be that huge a problem once this is done..At the same time SCB-Asia ( forgive me..but I got a bit confused from the first email...so many conferences!!) should not be co-opting us to do ground work right? Considering they want us to help them mainly with logistics and experts - its more about goodwill between conferences, so we get back free registration for those who are interested in volunteering and devoting time to SCB-Asia.We also advertise ourselves, ask for sponsorships, network. 

hope i made sense too :)

d

[M O Anand]

Hey Amit. Sorry for the late response (too late?).

If the individual students who volunteer choose to represent YETI, and the Biodiversity 2012 folks are happy to collaborate with an informal group such as YETI, then yes, YETI should partner and have its logo up. It is quite likely that a lot of the groundwork and running around will be left to student volunteers, irrespective of whether they are representing YETI or their host institutions. But the organizers cannot assume that by collaborating with YETI, they will get expertise in, say, the workings of JN Tata auditorium. What if all the students who have that expertise choose not to volunteer? On that note, I would be opposed to an arrangement where YETI is bound (?) by the organizers to provide N number of volunteers to carry out a set of tasks outlined by them.

Cheers
Anand
p.s. Shouldn't an invitation to YETI go to all registered YETIs? I know it will be chaotic but I also think it is the correct thing to do.

--
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Research Scholar

National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore
http://www.ncbs.res.in/
AND
Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysore
http://conservation.in/
-----------------------------------------------------------------

[Amit Kurien]

Hi Anand and others,

Surely that is the key issue about 'co-organizing' this event as YETI. I agree with you fully that YETI should not be regarded as a body providing workforce. Additionally, YETI's headless nature will make it a bit tricky for Biodiversity 2012 folks, and problematic for whoever volunteers to be part of the core group to co-run the SCB-Asia.

One way around this is to see if it is possible to take specific programme(s) during the three days that YETI members might be interested to conduct - something that is of relevance and interest to YETI. And that will be it. Given that October 2012 is far off, one proposition is to see if YETI 2011 volunteers find this idea interesting, in which case perhaps some of them and other YETI 2010 people (distinguished advisory board ) can talk to the Biodiversity 2012 local organizing NGOs and carve out YETI's role for the three days.

Student volunteers can be their responsibility. Hari told me that SCCS-bng had a website asking interested students to volunteer. If that works for them, I suppose it should be fine for Biodiversity 2012 too. Thoughts? Narayan and others for the YETI 2011, any opinions?

Amit

P.S. - Regarding the invitation, they did not know who it should be sent to. So it was passed on to Madhura and me to be emailed to everyone on the list. Thanks to our acephalous condition!

[M O Anand]

Thanks Amit. What you say makes sense. Sorry for the confusion - what I meant was that we should be discussing this opportunity with the wider YETI community, not just past organizers. That is the correct thing to do but is likely to be super chaotic.

Cheers
Anand

p.s. check out some cool YETI cartoons here http://notfunnycartoons.com/main.html

[dipani sutaria]

Hey..

Is YETI really headless :) ??...would it be a bad idea if there was a
core group YETI which changes every year. At the end of every YETI
when the next YETI is being planned - can there be volunteers who wish
to lead the different committee's , these can then be voted for by all
the members (there is usually one person for each committee doing most
of the communication anyways).

When decisions like these have to be taken external to YETI too, then
the core group of the year receives invitations, and again all members
provide their opinions.

On 5/3/11, Amit Kurien <amitk...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi Anand and others,
>
> Surely that is the key issue about 'co-organizing' this event as YETI. I
> agree with you fully that YETI should not be regarded as a body providing
> workforce. Additionally, YETI's headless nature will make it a bit tricky
> for Biodiversity 2012 folks, and problematic for whoever volunteers to be
> part of the core group to co-run the SCB-Asia.
>
> One way around this is to see if it is possible to take specific
> programme(s) during the three days that YETI members might be interested to
> conduct - something that is of relevance and interest to YETI. And that will
> be it. Given that October 2012 is far off, one proposition is to see if YETI
> 2011 volunteers find this idea interesting, in which case perhaps some of

> them and other YETI 2010 people (distinguished advisory board ) can talk to

>>>>>> ------------------------------
>>>>>> *From: *"V. V. Robin" <robinv...@gmail.com>
>>>>>> *To: *yeti-m...@googlegroups.com
>>>>>> *Sent: *Sunday, April 17, 2011 12:16:09 AM
>>>>>> *Subject: *Re: Regarding YETI & Biodiversity Asia 2012

>>>>>> ------------------------------

>>>>>> PhD Student,
>>>>>> Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment
>>>>>> Royal Enclave, Sriramapura, P.O. Jakkur
>>>>>> Bangalore-560064
>>>>>> www.atree.org
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Anagh
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> -----
>>>> Scientist must also be like a child. If he sees a thing he must say that
>>>> he sees it; whether it was he expecting to see or not, otherwise he will
>>>> only see what he is expecting.---Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> -----------------------------------------------------------------
>> Research Scholar
>>
>> National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore
>> http://www.ncbs.res.in/
>> AND
>> Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysore
>> http://conservation.in/
>> -----------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>
>

--

dipani nitin sutaria
foundation for ecological research, advocacy & learning
'shefali' - No 27, 2nd Cross, appavou nagar
vazhakulam, pondicherry- 605 013 - india
phone: 91 (413) 2225441
mobile: 91 8940476960

adjunct research fellow
school of earth and environmental sciences
james cook university
queensland 4811 - australia

[Manish Kumar]

Hi all,

Sorry for the delayed replay as I was traveling...

I agree with others that YETI should participate as partner organising
the event and that our logo shud be put along with others..
The bone of contenton may be with who among the yeti organisers would do
it... or to rephrase... in the condition that more than required YETI
volunteers turn up.. then whom to restrict... since there is a cap on
no. of volunteers requires/paid for...

I feel we shoud send a call for YETI volunteers to the event with dates,
time to be devoted, possible role & responsibilities, max. no of
volunteers required etc and select ppl on a first-cum-first serve basis.
The final list of volunteers from YETI can be sent to the organising
committee of the event officially and someone among us can take the
responsibility of coordinating the activity. Any other YETI member who
is attending the event from any other financial source can always add-in
to the list of official volunteers from YETI.

I feel providing a official list from YETI will help in provide it a
sense of responsibility to us.. including those volunteering...

Also... the sponsership idea is great... we should ask them to help us
in return (though not as a precondition) in any way possible... we
havent done this with SCCS in past but since we are more established
now... we shud try this form of collaborations as well....

Regards

Manish

>>>>>>> *Subject: *Re: Regarding YETI& Biodiversity Asia 2012

>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Well, to rephrase ...we should participate in everything, but we
>>>>>>> should
>>>>>>> encourage sponsorship...something that is mutually beneficial. We get
>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>> word out for them and also help them out and they support us. I dont
>>>>>>> think
>>>>>>> we should place conditions for participation, but only suggest and
>>>>>>> encourage
>>>>>>> sponsorship.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> By the way, one thing that YETI may have to think about is that there
>>>>>>> are many who say they dont remember which meeting was YETI and which
>>>>>>> was
>>>>>>> SCCS. Same volunteers....Now with this 3rd meet....
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Robin
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Apr 16, 2011, at 11:38 PM, Amit Kurien wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Hi Robin and others,
>>>>>>>

>>>>>>> Issues related to YETI& Asia SCB relations and negotiations could

>>>>>>>> Amit& Madhura

[Amit Kurien]

We need volunteers, but only 3-5 (probably) to form the core group that will attend the meetings with the local organizing committees (LOCs). The other YETI volunteers needn't be too many because we will be doing only a small portion of the three day programme (going by what was suggested in my email on 3May). If what is mentioned in the email is clear and ok with people, then the things to do are:

1) Form core group (maybe 3-5) - I assume it will be most beneficial for YETI if YETI 2011 volunteers take the lead role
2) Hand over logo to folks at ATREE - they are doing the local coordination
3) Decide what YETI can and should take on at Biodiversity 2012. This will require that the 3-5 will have to go and talk to Gladwin, Kartik and others and figure out what programme is available that needs coordination by YETI and is of interest to us; if nothing's available if YETI can come up with something that is new and in line with the larger mandate of the programme and what exactly this is.
4) YETI (the way I understand it) will be providing only a few volunteers for the particular programme(s) that YETI is doing within the three days - nothing else. The no.of volunteers can be decided after figuring out what kind of programme we are doing, after negotiating with other LOCs. There is no need to worry about it right away.

To make things crystal clear, the regular volunteer for the Biodiversity 2012 will not be representing YETI, and will have to be found by the LOCs (like how SCCS-bng did). This will have to be made clear by the core group to the LOCs.

Funding etc. can be discussed after 1-4 is set.

Amit

[Hari Sridhar]

Sorry for the aside - but i thought it apt that Local Organizing Committee
and Line of Control have the same acronym:)

> We need volunteers, but only 3-5 (probably) to form the core group that
> will
> attend the meetings with the local organizing committees (LOCs). The other
> YETI volunteers needn't be too many because we will be doing only a small
> portion of the three day programme (going by what was suggested in my
> email

> on 3May). *If what is mentioned in the email is clear and ok with people*,

> then the things to do are:
>
> 1) Form core group (maybe 3-5) - I assume it will be most beneficial for
> YETI if YETI 2011 volunteers take the lead role
> 2) Hand over logo to folks at ATREE - they are doing the local
> coordination
> 3) Decide what YETI can and should take on at Biodiversity 2012. This will
> require that the 3-5 will have to go and talk to Gladwin, Kartik and
> others
> and figure out what programme is available that needs coordination by YETI
> and is of interest to us; if nothing's available if YETI can come up with
> something that is new and in line with the larger mandate of the programme
> and what exactly this is.

> 4) YETI (the way I understand it) will be providing *only a few volunteers
> for the particular programme(s)* that YETI is doing within the three days

> -
> nothing else. The no.of volunteers can be decided after figuring out what
> kind of programme we are doing, after negotiating with other LOCs. There
> is
> no need to worry about it right away.
>

> To make things crystal clear, the *regular volunteer for the Biodiversity
> 2012 will not be representing YETI*, and will have to be found by the LOCs

> --
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> believed to be clean.
>
>

--
Hari Sridhar
Ph.D student
Centre for Ecological Sciences
Indian Institute of Science
Bangalore - 560012
Karnataka, India
http://ces.iisc.ernet.in

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This message has been scanned for viruses and
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[Karthik T]

Dear all,

sorry I have not been active on the group. I get back from arunachal by june 1st and will write more often here. There is little internet in the district I work in.

cheers to everyone. I hope its okay that i sent this on a common mail.

Karthik

[Amit Kurien]

Hey people,

There has been some developments. A flyer is about to be launched by these folks and they have sought our permission for the YETI logo to go on it alongside other LOCs. It is going to be circulated at the ATBC conference in Tanzania in mid-June. Gladwin asked me to let you all know this and needed us to agree for or against the idea (the alternative open to us was to not be featured on it, and get involved at a later stage if doubts exist right now with regard to YETI's participation). I was approached, rather reminded (since I had told him we would get back to him soon on the overall participation decision) about the flyer in particular only yesterday and they wanted a decision by tonight.

Six of us were available for a chat about this this evening (Hari, Narayan, Joy, Nandita, Jahnavi and I), and we decided to say OK to the logo on the flyer (following the enthusiasm shown by others on the group). So we are in, I guess! Apologies for not being able to inform in advance over email. There was hardly any time!

What follows, I suppose, is that a few from YETI need to have a chat with Gladwin after he is back on what role YETI might be interested to play for Biodiversity 2012. This is also what Kartik Shanker, who proposed our inclusion has suggested, rather than simply volunteer as an LOC. So do think about what we can do for one or two sessions (or how many ever, however) at a three day conference.

Do fill in if I'm missing anything - the five of you!

Amit