Board Meeting Minutes

TWS-Oregon Board Meeting, ODFW Office (screen shop) – The Dalles, 30 May 2008, 9:00-3:00

Attendees: Holly Michael, Jennifer Weikel, Matt Hanes, Dan Edwards, Bruce Campbell, Don Whittaker, Betsy Glenn, Theresa Bonn, Lisa Debruckere, Patty Snow, , Marisa Meyer.

Not Present: Jennifer Gervais, Dave Budreau, Christian Hagen (phone in)

9:00am

Discussed and approved April 4 meeting minutes and minutes from retreat. Reviewed retreat ideas.

Retreat notes – identified the need for more participation from chapter members at large (particularly for conservation affairs issues). National membership form asks for people’s skills and interests. We should do something similar for Oregon Chapter members and build a database of member skills. This might be done using an on-line membership application form.

Other Business- Discussed setting up GMAIL email addresses for executive board members ( President, VP, VP-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer). Accounts will be used for archive purposes and continuity between past and future officers. This seems like a good solution (Betsy likes the GMAILl system for the Secretary position that Marcia set up in Nov 2007).

Can board members vote by email if they can’t attend a board meeting? Consensus was “yes”.

Discussed grant request for Leave Tree Workshop sponsored by ODF/ODFW. Focus on Conservation Strategy. Mostly northern Coast Range. Attendees: industrial forest, stewardship foresters. Looks like attendance will be very strong. At retreat – there was a motion to give $300 from Chapter.

Cervid Rule final decision: Conservation Affairs committee wrote letter. Commission response wasn’t in agreement with our position. TWS-OR has concern about health, disease, and genetic issues. Double fencing was not approved.

Discussion about whether we should revise the Chapter Logo-(raven based on 1995 Annual Meeting logo). Lots of people like the logo but it could use updating (make font clearer).

10:00 am

Phone Call from Christian

Treasurer updates – estimated figures for operating expenses for the next year (up to 2009 annual meeting). Note: grants for this year have not been included in printout.

Clarification of “$2100 for grants and scholarship” statement in minutes from April retreat notes. Not clear how money was allocated in the past.

Proceeds from workshops and Vangaurd fund– scholarship vs. rainy day fund. Should we allocate a percentage of each (or one) to build the funds? We have already informed the chapter that proceeds from the Vangaurd will go to scholarships once the fund is > $40k. For upcoming year, put proceeds (or % of proceeds) from workshops into Vanguard? Christian will talk with Marie Morin to get a better sense of how this was handled in the past. Focus scholarship on raffle and silent auction (as designated in the past). If raffle/scholarship fund are insufficient –draw on general fund. If funds allow, build “rainy day fund” in addition to scholarship. OR… should we build the contingency fund first so we have backup for scholarship/grants already in place?

Next steps: Christian will look into how things have been funded in the past. Board will consider options via email discussion. There is support for development of Rainy Day Fund, but we have an obligation to continue to maintain the Vanguard fund for scholarship purposes.

Committee Assignments for 2008-2009

Patty Snow volunteered for the TWS/AFS liason.

Steven and Warren –discussion of “What is a Non-Profit? “

Fill out nonprofit form with state of Oregon

Ethics : Corporate division of OR Secretary of State Office

State and Federal taxes

Non-for-Profit sector –2 types of organizations

Principle role of a board member is stewardship and oversight. If there is an executive director (e.g. a paid position), the board needs to oversee actions of executive director.

Board members have rights to internal operations/information that the organization produces.

Duties:

Missions and Procedures

Personal liability

(Get weblink to on-line document from Stephen K.)

Is there liability associated with statements we make as a chapter regarding conservation affairs issues?

Not unless you make direct accusations against individuals/organizations?

Warren- update

Recent work has focused on cervid rules, funding OR Conservation Strategy. Request for 14.5 million. Feral swine removal, invasive species control at borders (zebra and quaaga mussels). Energy issues. Full costs are closer to 20 million.

Warren – list of funding alternatives (handout) . Should TWS-OR send a letter to the commission regarding funding strategies for the Conservation Strategy? Followed by letter to Governor depending on Commission’s decision? Board opinions: “Yes, we should make statements about needs for and importance of funding, but we should not be proposing specific funding mechanism (these aren’t science-based). Motion to draft a letter supporting the implementation of Conservation Strategy (Lisa D. will draft letter , Warren will sign the letter) . Lisa will email on 31 May. Letter needs to be to ODFW by Tues. June 3, 2008.

Committee Assignments:

Revised and updated the list

Is Legislative affairs a committee or is it just Warren and Stephen.

Moved Gov’t affairs to “team” rather than committee. (it never really was a formal committee)

Membership – does this still need to be a Committee? It is a standing committee. (yes)

Holly will contact Dave B. and Chris M. about taking on the Membership Committee.

Should we have a formal liaison with SAF? Motion proposed by Holly M. All in favor. None opposed. Lisa D. Jen W. are possible liaisons.

BETSY WILL EMAIL AN ARTICLE FOR THE NEWSLETTER REGARDING WEBSITE CHANGE FOR NEXT NEWSLETTER.

EVERYONE ON THE BOARD NEEDS TO SUBMIT A PROFILE AND AN ARTICLE TO LISA BY MID JUNE.

Student Chapter Update

May 13 th : Fish and Wildlife Club elections – no new liaison yet. Currently about 40 (paid) members in the club.

Annual Meeting Update (Don)

Annual meeting theme: Emerging Issues – changed slightly at Retreat from previous board meeting.

Workshop Concepts:

For annual meeting – energy and wildlife –we should move forward on this topic.

Raptors – east side, Mark P. already working on this idea.

Follow up Beaver Workshop – possibly in September 2008. Possibly a separate East side and West side workshop.

Media Training Workshop – rather than a media session at the annual meeting. Doesn’t necessarily need to be done in conjunction with annual meeting. Presentations by “experts” as well as actual training for attendees. How to we take scientific information and introduce it to the popular media? Double publications issues, etc. Bruce and Jen will start to investigate the possibility of doing this workshop. Concern about getting honest answers from people involved in issues rather than bureaucratic response.

Technical writing workshop – Don W. – Not sure who audience would be, but there are plenty of people who would like to improve their writing skills.

Genetics – Updates on status of the science/usage, taxonomy (Don W).

Transportation and Wildlife

Locations for 2009 Annual Meeting (Feb 9-13, 2009)

Bids from Running Y - Bend, Eagle Crest - Bend, Agate Beach - Newport, Salishan - Newport.

Running Y is out of our price range

Eagle Crest – Dates available, Not sure about logistics (how meeting rooms are laid out – is it adequate for our needs?).

Red Lion Pendleton – dates are open

Discussion about east side vs. west side. Can we make a commitment to members to have east side meeting in 2010? Joint meetings (in state – SAF, range folks) or (out-of –state: TWS-ID). Use Energy to promote coastal site again in 2009.

Motion to go West in 2009, East in 2010 – approved by all. Salishan – all members in agreement to pursue this location first.

Next meeting July 25, 2008 – Corvallis or Springfield.

3:00 pm - Adjourn