Outreach coordinators in External Affairs (Parham) and Ecological Services (Mitchell) initiated and organized a regional effort to develop a comprehensive communications plan for the region's Ecological Services Program. 

A planning group was organized, with members from the field and regional office, with EA and ES outreach coordinators leading bi-weekly discussions using web-conferencing and teleconferencing. 

This "think tank" group brainstormed communications issues and priorities, messages, audiences and strategies as part of the effort to develop a regionwide communications plan. 

The information gathered during the think tank sessions is being reviewed and organized in preparation for writing the plan.