EN2017
Innovation and Partnership
2017 Exchange Network National Meeting
May 15-18, 2017
Sheraton Philadelphia Society Hill Hotel
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Thank you to all who attended in person or watched via webcast! Slides and video recordings have been posted to the agenda page.
EN2017, the 2017 Exchange Network National Meeting, convened May 16-18, 2017, at the Sheraton Society Hill Hotel in Philadelphia. The theme for EN2017 was “Innovation and Partnership.” During the Meeting, we explored examples of:
- How innovation can cross Federal, State, Territorial, and Tribal boundaries;
- How working creatively together as Partners can identify innovative solutions;
- How Partnerships are the new “best practice;” and
- How we can all employ innovation in our daily work.
EN2017 Tri-Chairs and Program Committee
The EN2017 Agenda is available here in printable format. Links to the webcasts are on the agenda page.
The Environmental Council of the States (ECOS) will reimburse each State and Territory for the travel expenses of up to two employees. Each State and Territory must determine which two of its employees will request reimbursement. In the event that multiple agencies within a State or Territory wish to participate, those agencies, not ECOS, must determine which two employees will apply for reimbursement. Notification to ECOS will occur automatically when the employees register. To see who has already registered from a particular State or Territory, visit: http://en2017.eventbrite.com/.
In order to be reimbursed, States and Territories requesting travel support must update their EN Partner Profiles prior to registering.
Reimbursable travel expenses include:
- Air or rail transportation in Coach Class.
- Privately owned vehicle (POV) mileage of $0.535 per mile and tolls. Interstate use of POV in lieu of less expensive air or rail must be preapproved by ECOS.
- Airport, train station, or hotel parking.
- Ground transportation (e.g., subway, shuttle, bus, taxi) to and from originating airport or train station.
- Ground transportation (e.g., subway, shuttle, bus, taxi) from and to Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) or Amtrak’s 30th Street Railroad Station.
- Lodging of $188 + tax per night for the nights of May 15, 16, and 17, 2017, only. Additional nights required to accommodate international flight schedules must be preapproved by ECOS.
- Meals and Incidentals Expenses (M&IE) of $49 per day ($64 GSA Federal per diem less $15 for breakfast, which will be provided each day.) In accordance with GSA guidance, ECOS will reimburse 75% of M&IE ($48.00) on the first and last days of travel.
The following expenses are not be eligible for reimbursement:
- Sleeping room charges in excess of $188 + tax for three nights (e.g., room upgrades, reservations made after the cut-off date, rooms at other Philadelphia hotels, or additional nights not preapproved by ECOS).
- Internet access fees.
- Travel insurance.
- Rental car in lieu of less expensive ground transportation.
- Premium air or rail seat fees.
- Early check-in fees.
- Checked baggage fees (except for Frontier Airlines and international flights).
- Breakfast on May 16, 17, and 18.
Attendees requesting travel reimbursement must make their own travel arrangements, and email an ECOS EN2017 Expense Form no later than 30 days from the conclusion of travel. A correctly completed Sample ECOS EN2017 Expense Form will be available here. Requests for reimbursement received by ECOS after June 21, 2017, will not be processed. Please complete the Form electronically, sign and date it, and e-mail it along with scanned copies of receipts for all expenses exceeding $25 to eortiz [at] ecos.org. Keep all original receipts and your signed form for your records. Do not mail forms or receipts. Do not submit receipts for M&IE; ECOS will reimburse M&IE in accordance with the GSA Federal per diem. If you have any questions, please contact ECOS’ Eddie Ortiz at eortiz [at] ecos.org.
The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) will provide a limited number of travel scholarships to eligible individuals representing Federally recognized Tribes and/or eligible Tribal organizations. Support for airfare, mileage, lodging, and per diem is available. Funding will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information or to request a scholarship, please contact ITEP’s Lydia Scheer at lydia.scheer [at] nau.edu.
The following ECOS Exchange Network National Meeting Project Code should be included in your travel authorizations to allow tracking and reporting of EPA staff attendance and travel costs for EN2017, per Agency requirements: MS181807