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co-ordinator


30 May 2005

Dear CHARM partners

It is a pleasure for me to inform you about the formal approval by the Commission of the final CHARM report. The letter from the Commission dated 18th May 2005 and the Final Report are available under Documents/Project documents. It is my general impression that the Commission has reacted very positive and that they have understood the outcome, the complexities and constraints in our work. The evaluation process has been very long, and I have asked the Commission several times for an explanation for this delay. At the end of April, I was more or less convinced of a negative reaction, which could have explained the delay in their response. Nevertheless, the evaluation was positive, and I believe that we can be proud of the work.

I would like to take the opportunity to thank you all for a very efficient process; one meeting in Copenhagen, application and sucessful funding. Then a first year with a lot af frustrations, and a second year where a number of activities between the WP's began to occur and were viualized at the second workshop at Vilm, and finally a third year where the third workshop in Tallin gave a comprehensive presentation of the progress and the results. In my mind, CHARM as such was not a powerful scientific project. It was a contribution to the understanding of compex ecological features and mechanisms and a step towards the implementation of the Water Framework Directive. In addition to this, the partners produced a number of important scientific papers which certainly contributed to the overall positive evaluation of the project. As another benifit, I believe that a significant part of the CHARM product already are in use in other project activities. The CHARM web-site will be updated soon, hopefully also with a coming final version of the User's Guide.

Personally, I want to thank you and congratulate you all for your responsible attitude to the project, to your products, and to your positive and constructive communication with me. It has been a privilege for me to meet such a nice group of people. I look forward to collaborating with you again in new projects and wish you luck for the future. I expect the final financial transaction will take place soon. As soon as the money is here, I will distribute them to you.

All my best wishes
Bo


2 December 2003

Dear CHARM group leaders and participants

It is a pleasure for me to annonunce that the 18-month report covering the period 1 December 2002 - 31 May 2003 has been accepted by the Commision. The report is available under "Documents/Project documents" in the restricted area.

The second annual report covering the period 1 December 2002 to 30 November 2003 is coming up. A list of content is presented below:

1. Introduction (Bo)

2. Administrative part (Bo)

    • Administrative part (Bo)
    • Objectives (Bo)
    • Status for delayed deliverables (Bo)
    • Status for deliverables (Bo)
    • Other plans (Bo & Group leaders)

3. Technical part (Group leaders)

    • WP 1
    • WP 2
    • WP 3
    • WP 4
    • WP 5
    • WP 6
    • WP 7

The annual report is a broader document than the 6-month reports. I need input to the following from the WP leaders:

  • An updated Gantt chart (see DoW)
  • An updated table on the planned and used manpower
  • Science status and progress in relation to deliverables. In case progress cannot be justified by published papers or manuscripts, data examples are needed to illustrate the work
  • Published papers and manuscripts/reports/ presentations, etc.

I shall have your input as soon as possible and no later than 10 January 2004. The annual report must be in Brussel by 31 January.

Best wishes and Merry Christmas
Bo


18 February 2003

Dear CHARM participants

I am happy to inform you that Cathy Eccles from the European Commission has notified me about the acceptance of the first annual report. I have therefore presented the full text of the annual report on the web site. The report is available under "Documents/Project documents" in the restricted area.
I look forward to seeing you at the Isle of Vilm in April.

Best wishes
Bo


16 September 2002

Re: Second Workshop and the Annual Report
1 December 2001 to 30 November 2002


Dear CHARM participants

Second Workshop: I will like to draw your attention to the second workshop. You have previously been informed in a separate mail and on the web page about this workshop. There is a deadline on 27 September 2002 for registration. Please hurry up and mail your registration as soon as possible and no later than 27 September.

The first Annual Report is coming up. The report will be submitted on 1 December 2002. The Annual Report deviates from the first progress report. Fist of all there should be data, graphs or even better draft manuscripts and clear justifications of deliverables. We have some non-fulfilled deliverables from the first report and a number of new ones. Below you will find a timetable for everybody and particular for the WP-leaders.

  1. 15 November 2002: Submission of material from WP-leaders to Co-ordinator
  2. 22 November 2002: First draft of report from Co-ordinator to WP-leaders
  3. 28 November 2002: Comments to first draft from WP-leaders to Co-ordinator
  4. 2 December 2002: Submission of First Annual Report to Brussels

This is tight but simple. The content of the report is divided into the following sections:

  1. Introduction (Co-ordinator)
  2. Administrative status and overview (Co-ordinator)
  3. Status and progress of deliverables (WP-leaders)
  4. Scientific status and progress of Work Packages (WP-leaders)

So, the WP-leaders are expected to present input to point 3 and a comprehensive contribution of data, scientific status, progress in point 4. Even a small and simple plan can be destroyed by delayed reactions. I expect that everybody will do what is needed in order to produce an excellent report.

Best wishes
Bo

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20 August 2002

Dear CHARM partners

For your information the vegetation group has taken initiative to hold a strategy meeting in Copenhagen in September 2002. The agenda for the meeting can be seen on the "WP activities" page under "Activities of WP-3". The Minutes from the meeting will be presented soon after the meeting.

Best wishes
Bo

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1 August 2002

To all CHARM participants

Dear CHARM partners

On 22 July 2002, I have been notified by letter about the Commissions acceptance of the first six-month management report for CHARM. The short report (PDF file) is now on the web-page on the Documents page and I have enclosed it in a mail to you today.

I want to draw your attention to the plan for the delayed deliverables, and I expect that the partners involved in the delayed deliverables will make the neccessary steps to meet the revised schedule for the deliverables.

All my best wishes
Bo

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15 May 2002

To all CHARM participants

The European Commission has made a request on ”access to and timely delivery of useful knowledge” from all projects including CHARM. Their rationale is to support existing research and policy interests – ”in order to make effective use of results in the policy process, delivery of reports immediately after their completion is required”. According to their request they want access to mid-term report and the final report, and as far as I know, they already have these rights. So, on behalf of the project I cannot see that this request interferes with our interests, and I therefore recommend acceptance. If you have other ideas, please contact me right away and no later than 20 May 2002. If I do not hear anything, I will tell Brussels that we accept this.

Best wishes
Bo

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29 April 2002

CHARM 6-month report

Dear WP-leaders

Now it is time for our first 6-month report. According to our meeting in Copenhagen, I promised to mail you a list of content for the report. There is no need for data or any long story. Concentrate on aspects of what has been promised and the plans for the next 6 months in relation to the deliverables. I expect that you present progress and plans of your WP. No more than ½ page for each WP in point 3 and 4. Any problems need more attention in the text. Be careful to check the list of deliverables.

CHARM - First 6-month report 
(1 December 2001 - 30 May 2002)

List of content:
1. Introduction (Bo)
2. Administrative status (Bo)
3. Status for Work Packages (WP leaders)
4. Progress for Work Packages (WP leaders)
5. Other plans (Bo)

I expect your input as soon as possible and no later than 15 May 2002.

Best wishes
Bo

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The minutes from the kick-off meeting is now available at charm_int_messages

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