"One thing I've found as AA is that some committee officers are a lot better at planning ahead for annual meetings than others are. Even though I might
get the meeting authorization out in timely fashion, the committee members may not get dates, agendas, hotel info, and things like this early enough
to plan their schedules, make travel arrangements, prepare reports, etc. I periodically have to push a few committee leaders more than I'd like to get
these done earlier."

"Including meeting time/travel and on-going communications I estimate 6 days/year for each committee...4 days for travel and meeting attendance, remainder time allocated to reviewing and editing reports, email and teleconferences."

"I try to keep the full committees familiar with the required reporting processes, the multistate and NCA committee review processes, and other
requirements, many of which are listed in Appendix O. If the whole committee is aware, they can be a little more helpful in responding to
report deadlines, proposal preparations, and generally make the life of the committee chair and the AA a little easier."

"I try to keep committees familiar with the review forms, and reporting requirements so they'll know the criteria they're being evaluated on by
NCAs and the MRC. I also urge them to do a little informal self-evaluation each year on their progress toward objectives and their activity. Whether
it helps or not, at least the discussion keeps them thinking about accountability."

"Several times each quarter...primarily email + one or two teleconferences each year"

"4X per year. Usually e-mail but we have teleconferences depending on the nature of the issues.  I usually have teleconferences during re-writes."

"Sometimes committees, especially NCR committees, seem to think that all they need to do is get together annually to accomplish their objectives,
that is, everything can be done at the annual meeting. In most cases this isn't true, so I sometimes have to convince the committee members and
leadership that there's a lot of work to be done during the year between meetings."

"Committee officers are always elected, but not all members are good officer material. I try to stay out of this, but in the rare instances where I
might see a disaster coming, I might try to convince some of the better potential leaders to seek or accept the leadership roles."

"For certain committees for which I've been AA, a strong extension component is important. In these, when I've been involved during the organizational
stage, I've contacted Cooperative Extension Directors in the region to solicit participation by extension reps. This is not always successful,
but has been in several instances and the extension reps have been valuable participants."

The "Appendices" are additional forms and information that supplement the National and Regional Multistate Research Guidelines.  The Appendices you've probably heard of most often are:

• Appendix A:   Proposal Format for NC-type Projects
• Appendix B:   Proposal Format for NCCC- and NCERA-type Projects
• Appendix D   SAES-422 Annual Report Form Format
• Appendix E:   Format for Reporting Project Participation
• Appendix F:   Format for A Rapid Response Research Activity Proposals (NC-500)
• Appendix H:   Evaluation Form for Multistate Research Projects (NC-type projects)
• Appendix I:   Midterm Evaluation Form for Multistate Research Projects (NC-type projects)
• Appendix J1:   Evaluation Form for Coordinating Committees (NCCCs) (Formerly NCR-type committees)
• Appendix J2:   Evaluation Form for Education/Extension Research Activities (NCERAs) (Formerly NCR-type committees)
• Appendix K:   Midterm Evaluation Form for Coordinating Committees (NCCCs) and Education/Extension Research Activities (NCERAs)  (Formerly NCR-type committees)

While each of the above forms can be found in the National Information Management and Support System, each can also be found on the NCRA Hardcopy Submission Form website. FINAL SUBMISSION must take place in NIMSS though.

The main difference between these two project nomenclatures has to do with extension components.  That is, if your project has an extension component to it, it is an NCERA project.

No!  Absolutely not!  While some AAs are very hands-on and enter their committee(s)'s reporting requirements into NIMSS, this is not necessary.  AAs may assign participants the authorization to edit information in NIMSS on behalf of a project.  Refer to this document to see how. 

Yes, these are required for all participants because they are searchable in both the CRIS database as well as in NIMSS.  When filing an Appendix E in NIMSS, the CRIS Manual linked on the NCRA Homepage can point you in the right direction.  For SY/PY/TY, just fill in .1 for SY and leave PY and TY blank. 

“It is important for both SAES directors and participants to feel attending meetings is important. For participants, this includes an engaging agenda and adequate/fair travel funding. For SAES directors, it includes the committee filing a complete SAES-422 so we can see the committee actually doing something both at their meetings as well as the rest of the year.”