cc: "Philip Newton" , , , , "Noguer, Maria (GA)" , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , "Meric Srokosz" date: Fri, 21 May 2004 11:15:19 -0400 from: "Lloyd D. Keigwin" subject: RE: RAPID statement -round 2 to: "Bob Dickson EQ CEFAS" Dear Bob, and all others, I have followed the recent discussion but have not chimed in because we at Woods Hole are on the hot seat as well. NSF calls it "outreach," but if I reach out much farther my shoulders will dislocate. Instead of "Day after Tomorrow," I am responding to the threat of your resignation letter that is "still on the stocks." When I agreed to chair the SC of RAPID it was based on three things: (1) what I knew of the original proposal, (2) the opportunity to lever complementary efforts at other international funding agencies, and (3) the names of a few people I was assured would be on the SC. You were among them. I think you are irreplaceable. In addition to being a distinguished physical oceanographer, what you bring to the committee is your insight to problems on the "paleo" time scale. That is very unusual and is something I have cultivated in P.O. colleagues here for >20 yrs. If I'm not mistaken, you have been working with geologists for at least 20 yrs (eg., Rob Kidd, Nick McCave). We need that cross fertilization on the SC. And we also need people who don't have vested interests. So I hope I'm speaking for the entire committee when I threaten that your resignation letter will never be accepted. I recommend you watch the movie when it opens, chill out (so-to-speak), and try to guess which character is you. Cheers, Lloyd -- Lloyd D. Keigwin (Lkeigwin@whoi.edu) McLean Lab., m/s 8 Woods Hole Oceanographic Inst. 360 Woods Hole Rd. Woods Hole, MA 02543 T:508 289 2784 F: 508 457 2183