----Original Message-----
From: Steven Bard [mailto:steven.bard@jpl.nasa.gov]
Sent: Friday, February 11, 2000 3:11 PM
To: kevin_dalsted@sdstate.edu
Subject: SAR User Working Group

Kevin:

As a follow-up to the Houston workshop, it was recommended that JPL facilitate the formation of a SAR Users Working Group (SUWG). This group is being formed to provide direct communication between the Users of SAR data products and the managers, planners, developers, and operators of the new U.S. Earth Imaging Radar Satellite Mission, and to provide strong, unified mission advocacy.

We are presently preparing a draft SUWG Charter. We envision that this group will consist of about 10-12 members, representing major User segments, including forestry, agribusiness, precision farming, petroleum industry, value added industry, science, operational, environmental, University remote sensing, etc. These SUWG members would represent the interests of, and be expected to establish communication with, other Users from their segment. We expect that there may be approximately 4 SUWG meetings per year, as necessary, to address mission issues that arise. However, the initial focus of the SUWG will be to articulate and inform key decision-makers of the benefits and importance of this new SAR mission.

John Vona of The Timber Company has been appointed as the Acting SUWG Chair by Ghassem Asrar. I am writing this message to invite you to be a member of SUWG, as a representative of Precision Farming Users. There will be a separate SUWG member representing agribusiness from industry. Your experience and background in remote sensing and SAR precision farming applications, knowledge of potential SAR Users, and past strong mission advocacy would provide a vital asset to the success of the SUWG. I hope we can count on your participation.

We are planning a SUWG meeting on March 15-16 (tentative) in the Washington, D.C. area. The first day will be an open meeting that addresses action items from the Houston Workshop, introduces the SUWG members, and has the Users align themselves with their SUWG representatives. The second day will be a smaller meeting of just the SUWG representatives to develop a focused advocacy action plan. SUWG representatives will then contact their constituents to solicit their assistance in implementing the action plan.

I will contact you shortly, when the SUWG meeting logistics are finalized, and then again prior to the March meeting to discuss meeting objectives and strategy.

With the interest and pro-active participation of yourself and other SAR users, we have an exciting opportunity to convince the decision-makers that the U.S. should move forward now with this preeminent SAR mission. Please let me know of your interest and availability as soon as possible, and feel free to contact me with any questions or comments. If you accept, a formal appointment letter from NASA will follow.

Thanks for all your support so far. I am looking forward to your response.

Best regards,

Steve

_______________________
Steven Bard
MS 300-329
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
4800 Oak Grove Dr.
Pasadena, CA 91109

Voice: (818) 354-4487
FAX: (818) 393-3343
Steven.Bard@jpl.nasa.gov
_______________________

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