The HRI Advisory Council had its first meeting of 2008 with new Executive Director Larry McKinney at HRI during 30-31 October 2008. Starting with a boat ride to and tour of TAMU-CC’s Laguna Madre Field Station on Thursday morning, some council members got a hands-on view of this highly used educational and research facility located on a dredge material island in the Laguna Madre about six miles south of the JFK Causeway, which crosses from Flour Bluff to Padre Island. That evening council members were joined by HRI endowed chairs for a nice dinner at the Corpus Christi Town Club, where they heard a presentation by the newest HRI Endowed Research Professor of Socioeconomics, David Yoskowitz.

At the all-day Friday council meeting, members were welcomed by Council Chair Sylvia Earle, HRI Executive Director Larry McKinney, and TAMU-CC President Flavius Killebrew. After the welcome and introductions, the 15 council members heard first from Larry McKinney on the HRI Strategic Plan and then from each endowed chair regarding their research and Associate Director Wes Tunnell regarding an institutional strategy and building synergy. At lunch a special presentation was made in memory of Tom Theriot. As a scholarship award and recognition for outstanding performance, HRI summer high school intern Leanne Franco was given a laptop computer to assist in her academic studies. Leanne excelled in her summer research project and made a brief presentation on it to the council. Tom’s wife Castine and daughter Leah were both present for the special ceremony.

In the afternoon the council discussed HRI development plans, future structure of the Advisory Council and an HRI outreach program. Council member Raul Rodriguez announced the formation of a Water Center for Latin America and the Caribbean, and Will Harte and Larry McKinney were subsequently able to attend the dedication of its official establishment in Monterrey on 14th November. It could become a great networking and partnership opportunity for HRI, as water is the single most important resource issue for the Americas, if not the entire world.

Late in the day the Council heard from Endowed Research Associate Professor Jim Gibeaut on “Hurricane Ike and the Next Storm,” critical issues for research, safety and living on a hurricane coast. The council closed with a brief discussion of the next Gulf of Mexico Summit to be held in Veracruz during 3-5 February 2009 sponsored by the Governor of Veracruz.

HRI Advisory Council members (left to right): Dr. Alberto Vazuez, Dr. Eric Gustafson, Dr. Larry McKinney, Dr. Sylvia Earle, Will Harte (front), Dr. Roy Lehman (back, Director of Station), and Dr. John Ogden pause during a field trip of TAMUCC’s Laguna Madre Field Station, part of a two-day Advisory Council meeting held at HRI in October.