Invasive Plants Association of Wisconsin

                                                Minutes

Board of Directors Meeting

Tuesday, January 13th, 2004, 11:00a.m. – 1:00p.m.

Nature Conservancy Office

633 West Main Street, Madison

Board members present:  David Hamel, Tom Boos, Rolf Utegaard

Members joining via conference call: Dan Undersander, Nancy Braker, Jim Reinartz, Patrick Goggin, Susan Lenhardt, Donna Van Buecken, Loren Ebbecke

Also present:  Kelly Kearns

Minutes of the December 9^th, 2003 meeting were approved as submitted after correcting the typo on the previous meeting date.  Loren later pointed out her attendance had been via phone, not at the table.

Treasurer/Membership report indicated $19,348 in the account.  Tom will email treasurer’s report so approval will be postponed  until the next meeting.

Membership totals 151. There are also 29 contributors  who will be receiving complimentary memberships as well.

An income and expense account list will be polished by Dan, Nancy and Tom for presentation at the next meeting as part of establishing an annual budget for IPAW.

Old Business

September 2003 Conference:  Nancy reported that income of $7,850 exceeded expenses of approx. $6,500 for the conference and symposium.  She will continue asking UW Extension for the list of (216) “Saturday only” registrants for us to use for membership letters.

Newsletter:  Dan reported that Newsletter articles have been submitted to Dave Beckman, but Dave has not reported back.  Dan will remind Dave to forward the layout to Rolf for printing.

IPAW Program Assistant (PA):  Nancy presented a draft revision of duties list (copy attached to these minutes).  Dan needs board approval of the list, but granted a few more days for board members to study the list and email their vote to Dan.  All board members please send your vote to Dan.  Also suggest changes, if any come to mind, such as leaving bill-paying duties on the Board’s list of responsibilities.  Vote results will be first order of Old Business next month.

Dan (IPAW) and Rebecca Smith (TNC) will negotiate an agreement covering the legal and financial arrangements for employing the PA on TNC premises.  It was the consensus that a single board member will be named to act as the supervisor for coordinating the PA’s work assignments/responsibilities.  Nancy  indicated that TNC will also name a supervisor of record for administration purposes.  TNC standard operating policy is to employ new additions “on probation” for 6 months with review of performance at the 6 month point.

Our $5,000 will support $12/hour for 6 hours/week for one year.  We will have to refinance or terminate the position at the end of a year.

Nominations for election to the Board:  The following terms expire in March:

Susan Lehnhardt, Donna Van Buecken, Gene Roark, Dave Spatcher.  They are all willing to be renominated but Susan encouraged nomination of a new Plant Industry name to foster diversity.  Also, Jaime Corbisier has resigned from the board.  Ballots need to be designed and issued.

There was discussion about the need to keep the linking of those board positions with relevant interest groups such as Plant industry, Non Profits, Herbicides, Forestry Legislation, Regional weed groups, Soil & water conservation districts, and Northern Wisconsin.  Perhaps two names can be nominated for a position with the membership electing just one.  Dan again requested the board members to send him suggested names for building a slate of nominations with final action at the next meeting.

New Business: 

Annual Budget consideration was postponed to next meeting.

Science Committee (Jim, Tom, Kelly):  There was a planning meeting on December 18th to start organizing a workshop planned for late February at UW Stevens Point student union building to include people from all over Wisconsin and some neighboring states.  They hope to attract 80 to 100 attendees.  No date has been selected yet.  There was a motion to authorize the committee to spend up to $200 of  IPAW money for workshop expenses including refreshments in the meeting room.  Motion passed.  The committee was applauded for their progress. 

Plant/Industry Relations (Lehnhardt):  Wisconsin Nurseryman’s Association (Mike Yanny) is working with Susan to organize and hold a joint meeting with IPAW to start a collaborative relationship for discussion of strategies concerning sale of invasive species of economic importance.  The board encouraged Susan to continue assisting Mike Yanny in taking this positive initiative and keep the focus of the meeting on just IPAW and WNA for now  Several board members made suggestions and volunteered to attend the proposed meeting if needed.  Mass media publicity should be delayed until a consensus is achieved.  Brian Swindle and/or Susan were suggested as facilitators.

Committee Appointments (Dan):  IPAW policy:  Each committee needs a board member, not necessarily acting as chair.  Every board member needs to be active on some activity of the organization.  Regional Groups should start getting more involved now that the by-laws provide for chapters. 

Tom Boos and David Hamel will collaborate on posting a current listing on the web site (also attached to these minutes) with contact information listed only if individuals have no objection. 

WEEB $19,000 grant (Kearns):  It was moved that:  IPAW will participate in the invasive plant curricula project, the education committee will provide input and feedback on materials and, if requested, IPAW will serve as non-profit grant administrator if it is understood that the other participants handle all paperwork involved.  Motion passed.  It is assumed there will be negligible cost involved in our participation and no reimbursement is requested.

North American Prairie Conference (Kearns)  August 8-12, 2004:  Booth cost is $100.  Supporters contributing $500 get a free booth space.  Tom will send out a summary of the conference.  Action postponed to next meeting.

National Weed Awareness week (Kearns):  Kelly and Nancy will try to get on the WPR program with Larry Mieller.   Nancy will work up a press release about the issue for statewide distribution.  February field trips were discouraged.

Madison Garden Expo Feb. 6-8 (Kearns):  Dane County Land Conservation District will have a display.  Dane County LCD will include our brochures in their display and Tom Boos will plan to attend.

Web Site (Tom Boos):  It was recommended that the web site have detailed information about announced events and the list serve would carry very brief announcements with links to the site.

Next leap year meetings:  Second Tuesday:  February 10^th and March 9^th at TNC offices.  

Respectfully submitted:

David Hamel, Secretary