Radio, Millimeter and Submillimeter Planning Group
Summary of telecon  25Apr05    12nEST

Present: Don Campbell, John Carlstrom, Neal Evans, Martha
Haynes, Ken Kellermann, Steve Myers, Mark Reid, Jack Welch


1. Letters have been received by AUI and Cornell (as well as AURA) from NSF
   requesting specific input to the AST senior review on priorities among
   the existing facilities and research components. The respective
   letters are posted at the NAIC and NRAO home pages
      http://www.naic.edu    and     http://www.nrao.edu
   and messages from the directors of both centers asking for
   input have been sent to their user communities.

   The letters from NSF are virtually identical. We note the inclusion
   of "ALMA operations" in the NRAO letter, and the exclusion of the 
   NSF-ATM component at NAIC. The dollar amount of the funds to be
   reallocated is stated to be $30M/year (up from $20M previously).
   It was agreed that we must coordinate with the NAIC/Cornell and
   NRAO/AUI responses to make sure that all inputs to the Senior
   Review are consistent.

   Because the date requested for input in these letters is 31 July 2005,
   it was agreed that we should not issue our final report until we are
   sure that there is broad agreement and consistency on the plans
   and strategy. We therefore anticipate that we not be able to meet a 
   mid-May schedule as a result.
 
2. The AAS has invited representatives from AURA, AUI and Cornell,
   as well as the current URO's (CARMA, CSO, FCRAO) to a meeting
   at the AAS HQ on May 5 to discuss issues associated with the
   impact of the Senior Review process on existing facilities.
   The inclusion of the URO representatives comes about because it
   has been noted that the URO program solicitation issued in
   March shows a budget reduction of 20% over FY05.
 
3. The CAA has invited a presentation from members of the RMS community
   at its next meeting on the morning of May 20. An agenda has not yet
   been posted, but will be shortly at 
      http://www7.nationalacademies.org/bpa/caa.html
   MH iterated with Roger Blandford and Meg Urry to develop a list of
   speakers. The RMSPG activity will be presented by John Carlstrom.
   Others presenters on behalf of US RMS science will be Jim Cordes,
   Lee Mundy and Jim Ulvestad. This group will be meeting in advance
   to develop this RMS community presentation. 
 
4. All of the input received so far on the posting of the draft 
   version 1.2 has been circulated. It is generally perceived that
   we need to streamline/tighten the science section, but that
   it is important to make the science case. Several people have requested
   that we append the charge to the committee. In fact, the charge as
   excerpted from the letter sent by R. Dickman to E. Schreier is posted
   on our webpage. However, the nature of our activity has evolved over
   time in response to similar evolution of the Senior Review process and
   input to it requested by NSF.
 
5. Discussion was help of how to proceed to edit the report. Section editors
   are asked to tackle the shortening/streamline effort in the coming week.
   Revised science sections are due to Neal by May 1; he will then try to edit
   the science part by May 8. After that, Martha will work on overall assemblage.

6. The process of presenting the missing roadmap session was laid out with
   the understanding that it must be consistent with major project plans. It
   was noted that the EVLA-II proposal is under review with a reverse site visit
   scheduled for early June. The Ad Hoc Radio Planning Group report is now final
   (links posted on the RMSPG website). Information is being gathered from 
   the ALMA and EVLA projects (from NRAO), FASR, and the SKA. Much coordination
   is required. Neal will leave a subgroup including John, Geoff and Lee Mundy
   to look at the MS roadmap. Martha will be in consulation with Ken, Mark, Jack,
   Fred Lo, Jim Ulvestad, Bob Brown and Jim Cordes on the longer wavelength
   roadmap. It was agreed that we should consider the possibility of a
   2nd face-to-face meeting.

7. NSF and AUI have had further exchange on the issue of RMSPG funding. A revised
   budget has been submitted. It was noted that AURA did receive funds to support
   the OIR Long Range Planning group.

8. A next telecon is scheduled for Monday May 9th at 12 noon EDT.