Minutes

Board of Directors Meeting
Tuesday, April 13^th 2004, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Nature Conservancy Office
633 West Main Street, Madison

Board members present:  David Hamel, Dan Undersander, and Gene Roark

Members joining via conference call: Patrick Goggin, Rolf Utegaard, Nancy Braker, Steve Strachota, and Lauren Ebbecke

Also present:  Kelly Kearns and Angie Ashley

Vice President, Rolf Utegaard, called the meeting to order at 11:08 am.

I.              Introductions

§         Angie Ashley was introduced as the new program assistant. 

II.            Administration

§         Minutes of the March 9th, 2004 meeting were approved as submitted.

§         Treasurer’s report was approved as submitted.

III.  Old Business

§         Program Assistant: (Dan)  Dan spoke with Rebecca Smith regarding PA position.  The agreement is being drafted.  Dan will email the board highlights of the final draft for approval.  If approved, Dan will sign.

§         Newsletter Update:  Next newsletter should be mailed out in May.  Deadline for submission of articles to Dave Beckman is April 15^th. 

Ø       Kelly will ask David Eagan about article

Ø       Nancy will remind Susan about N.A. article

Ø       David H. will remind articles for newsletter

Ø       Articles are to be sent to Dave Beckman

Ø       If articles are missing contact David H.

Ø       Kelly has article on Clean Water/Clean Boats.  Pat will send to Dave B. with note that it should be added as newsletter article

§         American Seed Trade Association(ASTA): (Steve) ASTA doesn’t want to approve list since they often become prohibited lists.  Dan proposed that ASTA list those plants that have economic value and IPAW will add that column to its list and continue to identify where invasives are a problem – wetlands, forest, prairie, etc.  It was determined by the board that economic value needs greater definition such as annual sales volume and the adverse cost of an invasion.  (see “committee reports” below)

§         Election of Board Members:  Nancy will keep trying to contact Bernice Popelka, but if she hasn’t heard from her within a couple of days, Nancy thinks we should proceed with the nomination process.  The letter and ballot will be sent out the week of April 19^th.

§         Statewide Forestry Plan:  Pat will draft a letter and will have it available for board member comment at the next board meeting.  The Draft Plan is on the DNR website. 

§         EPA GLNPO:  (Kelly) A grant proposal was submitted.  Should know by September if we get it.  Grant would pay for:

-early detection and control work

-continued coordination

-getting information on websites (IPAW and Midwest Invasive Plant Network) and linking info

-David H asked if Kelly can find an easy way to inform the board of the proposed grant program details.

IV.                 New Business: 

§         Committee Reports

1.  Education Committee:  A proposal will be made to the board at the next meeting on what the committee is working on.  It was agreed that the board will approve items that they should be working on.  Rolf will work with Lauren to see that each subcommittee comes up with an objective and timeline as to when each project would be complete.  Lauren again stressed the need to find a new Chair with more time to devote to the committee.

2.  Plant Industry Committee:  The board needs three things from the committee:

a)       Define a proposal for how economic value will be determined.

b)       Decide if the definitions of where crops invade are adequate.

c)       Write an Impact Statement.  Define economic impacts of the crop.  Beyond the economics, why do farmers grow it?  Committee can pick one crop from the working list and use as a model.  Keep it short; one page.  Model needs to be approved by board.  Report on initial progress at next board meeting.

§         Chapter Affiliation/Policy Review: (Nancy) Mark Feider from SE group would like IPAW to advise them on what they need without becoming a chapter.

§         Partner Groups/Relationships:  The Governor’s new Council on Invasives Species will hold their first meeting on April 23^rd.  Jim Reinartz was asked to give an overview of IPAW. They plan on meeting once every three months the first year, then once every six months thereafter. Becky Sapper, from The Nature Conservancy, is a member.  The board would like to invite a member to an IPAW board meeting.

§         IPAW website:  It was approved that the executive committee may approve $20.00 more per month to pay for space to upgrade website.

§         Kelly reported that the Federal Highway Administration is hosting a Weeds Across Borders conference either June 1-3 or 2-4.  Attendees will be mostly state transportation and ag agencies.  Bonnie Harper-Lore is the contact.

Meeting adjourned 12:52 p.m.

Respectfully submitted:

Angela Ashley, IPAW Program Assistant