Minutes

Board of Directors Meeting

Tuesday, June 8^th 2004, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

UW-Arlington Research Station

Arlington, WI

Board members present: David Hamel, Dan Undersander, Gene Roark, Tom Boos, and Rolf Utegaard

Members joining via conference call: Jennifer Baker, Steve Strachota, Jim Reinartz, Donna Van Buecken, and Lauren Ebbecke

Also present: Kelly Kearns, Marsha Vomastic, and Angie Ashley

President, Dan Undersander called the meeting to order.

I.  Introductions

None

II. Administration

• Minutes of the May board meeting were approved as submitted.
• Treasurer’s report was approved as submitted.

III.  Old Business

•  Director’s and officer’s liability insurance: Rolf will mail Steve insurance forms and Angie will email Conserv-a-nation info to Steve.  Discuss at next meeting.
• Tom made the necessary adjustments to the budget.  Website amount will probably need changing after today’s discussion.
• Newsletter:  Deadline is July 10^th to get articles to Dave Beckman.      

Articles to be written:

• Education committee -- Rolf
• Citizen Science Eau Claire County -- Rolf
• Personal comment on purple loosestrife along Lake Superior -- Rolf
• Fall/Winter control of shrubs -- Jim 
• Announcement on Invasive Species Convention -- Kelly
• Update on Regulation of Governor’s Council on Invasive Species -- Kelly/Gene
• What’s on the Web -- Tom/Dan
• Agenda for IPAW annual meeting -- Dan

The board should try to find and ask people/groups to write a couple of paragraphs on their experiences on attacking invasives.  Paragraphs can be sent to Tom Boos.  He will make article from them and send on to newsletter and website.                

Steve will review Dan’s modifications to the impact statement.  The section on less invasive alternatives should be added back in.  Steve will compose a couple more estimates of the economic importance of invasive species before the next meeting.  The board should have a discussion on principle.

IV.  New Business: 

Website Review Committee Report

1. Simplify the website

• Take out some text on homepage

2. Add:

• More categories on the left such as resources,  PowerPoint slides
• List of native plant nurseries and consultants
• Experts list -- Tom and Kelly will put it together
• Funding opportunities -- Tom will email info request to DNR Div. of Forestry , NRCS, and FWS
• List of educational materials from education committee
• Top 30 species on IPAW list and link to DNR website

3. Organize the FAQ’s

4. Keep the IPAW logo and link to homepage on every page, but remove the mission on each page except the homepage.

5. Website budget:

• Marsha figures an average of five hours per month on the website.  The charge is $35/hour.  Marsha will notify Dan if she needs to go over the five hours.  Dan will then consult with the executive committee to authorize.  Marsha and the IPAW board will discuss this on a yearly basis and will work toward a flat maintenance fee.

6. The Midwest Invasive Plant Network (MIPN) is developing a larger website.  There may be some things that can be handled on their website instead.  Marsha is also involved in developing the MIPN website.

Meeting adjourned at 12:35 p.m..

Respectfully submitted by Angela Ashley