Meetings, Meetings, Meetings .......

It's all about the meetings!

Here's a sample of the meeting schedule.  These are just the basics - there are usually a few more each week.

Normal meetings:
Monday - Regular Project Update Teleconference (usually <1 hr)
Wednesday - Design Verification and Transfer Web Meeting (2+ hours)
Thursday - Progress Meeting with Marinette Marine (< 1 hour)
Thursday - Progress Teleconference with Wartsila (Thruster Manufacturer) usually < 1 hr

This week we added two DV&T teleconferences on Friday, and a Master Schedule meeting on Friday.

Add in a number of teleconferences during the week (at least one per day), and you have a pretty busy week.  In addition, we have a bunch of "passageway conferences" in the office.

In spite of all the meetings, we are getting a lot of work done.  Typically, all of us are in the office by 7:30 (usually earlier), and leave between 4:30 and 5:30 depending on what's happening.  Not *all* of the time is spent drinking coffee and telling sea stories ;)  It's a happy crew.

Currently, we are at about 1/2 of our expected office staff.  On site are:

Gary: Shipyard Project Director (The Big Kahuna)

John: Shipyard Contract Manager (The Big Organizer)
Yours Truly: Marine Science Technical Director (The Big -click here-)
  - soon to be joined by -
TBA: Office Assistant
  - to be joined in the fall by -
TBA: Inspectors (2)

Signing Ceremony

Complete with cake and punch, Marinette Marine, UAF and the NSF signed (ceremonially) the contract for SIKULIAQ.  It was a great event, coordinated by MMC and UAF.  On site, Lori Nunemann (UAF) and Marc (pronounced "marse") Jamo did an outstanding job of putting the event together.  There were a number of dignitaries, including Congressmen from Wisconsin and Michigan, the Mayor and Vice-Mayor of Seward, Mayors of Marinette, Menominee and a few other towns around here.  The NSF contingent was sizeable, and there was also a representative from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.  All-in-all, a fine time was had by all.  The event made the paper on Saturday, and I heard a report about it on the radio several times over the weekend, and even Monday morning.

A Few Photos:

(l-r) Dr. Richard McCreary (CEO Marinette Marine), Mr. Brian Rogers (Chancellor, UAF) and Dr. Julie Morris (OCE Division Director, NSF) sign the contract to build SIKULIAQ

Team ARRV

The Cake (remarkable likeness)

Mmmmm, Cake!