AISWCD Executive Meeting
Mid Executive Meeting
April 13, 2009
Teleconference
8:00 a.m.
Present Absent
Jim Todd, President, NACD Board Member
Aaron Ferguson, Vice President, NACD Alternate
John Beckhart, Secretary
Rollie Spaniol, Treasurer
Jerry Snodgrass, Area I VP
Darrell Roegge, Area II VP
Eric Suits, Area III VP
Norbert Rider, Area IV VP
Josh Joseph, ISWCDEA RC Co-Chair
Sheila Lane, ISWCDEA AC Co-Chair
Marie Bunting, AISWCD Auxiliary
Richard Nichols, AISWCD
Stacy Stremsterfer, AISWCD
Jim Nelson, AISWCD
Mike Hoffmann
Jim Todd called the meeting to order at 8:03 a.m. Roll call was completed. New business added items: Urban & Community Assistance under #4, legislative newsletter under #7b, and status on hiring new employee under #7. Motion to approved agenda with added items by Jerry Snodgrass and seconded by John Beckhart, MCVV.
Marketing Taskforce
Eric Suits reported the taskforce had finished the three piece mailing to all the legislators in Illinois. The first was the packet of soil, the second was the water faucet and the third piece was a letter describing the work the SWCDs do and directing them to the AISWCD website to see activities that are going on in their local soil and water conservation districts. The Marketing Taskforce is planning on having a conference call before the June Quarterly Board Meeting. Stacy Stremsterfer reported there are still a few SWCDs who have not submitted any information to be posted on the website and asked the area vice presidents to contact their counties to remind them of the importance of getting the fact sheets put together.
Annual Meeting Taskforce
John Beckhart reported things are moving along and coming together with regards to Summer Conference. Stacy Stremsterfer reported she is currently working on getting speakers lined up and finalizing the agenda. Information on the conference will need to be sent out to SWCDs the first part of May or sooner. Rich Nichols reported he will send a letter to Governor Quinn to request his attendance to the Farm Family Banquet to present the Governor’s Farm Family Award.
Illinois Envirothon Taskforce
Stacy Stremsterfer reported that she is working on details for the Envirothon competition. She has secured approximately $15,000 in donations for this year’s event. This year will represent the 15th year for the competition and would like to see some directors in attendance, weather permitting.
By-Laws
Aaron Ferguson reported that the group has reviewed the By-Laws and has commented on them. Jim Todd asked about including the immediate past president as a member on the board. Discussion was held and it was the conscience of the group to add it into the by-law changes. No other changes were added.
Director Training
Stacy Stremsterfer reported she has done some research on the Joomla software program and working on how to get things finalized to get it going. Should not be a problem to adapt Utah’s online director training information to Illinois. North Dakota also has a good director training program online that is also being looked at. There have been a couple of directors and employees who are interested in serving on this taskforce from an e-mail that had been sent out to request more participation. There are a couple of original members from the taskforce that have not responded to an e-mail asking if they are interesting in staying on the taskforce. The first step will be to final taskforce members. Stacy Stremsterfer noted that she will not be able to work on this until the middle of May to the first of June.
Urban & Community Assistance
Jim Nelson reported the AISWCD hosted a Midstate Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Workshop at Heartland Community College in Normal, Illinois. This was the second workshop of its kind in the last two months with both events sold out with over 80 people in attendance.
Kelsey Musich, Stasi Brown, Shannon Allen, and Jim Nelson went to California on behalf of the US Army National Guard to provide training on Soil Erosion and Sediment Control (SESC) in Urban areas for their National Environmental Conference (NEW). The AISWCD will receive $6,600 to cover expenses including travel, per diem, and time associated with development of course materials. The majority of the funds will go to Kane-DuPage SWCD for their extensive work developing the presentations.
Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC): A review course and test were held at IL Department of Agriculture. Rick Macho and Shannon Allen hosted the course taught by David Ward Executive Director of Envirocert. Another review and exam will take place on May 11 and 12 at DePaul University in Naperville, IL. Contact Jim Nelson if your employees are interested in the course or exam.
The Illinois Urban Manual Annual Meeting will take place on April 14th at Heartland Community College in Normal. The event will consist of three presentations and discussion on several important issues regarding the development process.
Area Vice Presidents Report
Area I Jerry Snodgrass - Reported there are more resolutions being worked on for this year’s annual meeting.
Area II Darrell Roegge - No report given
Area III Eric Suits - No specific issues to report
Area IV Butch Rider - Nothing to report
Old Business
IDOA Budget and District Funding - Jim Todd stated the 2010 Budget for Operations contains $3,804,100 from GRF after the 3% reduction and $3,500,000 from the Budget relief bill that is from fund sweeps and not subject to the 3% reduction. There is $4,275,000 for cost share from the Partners for Conservation Fund and two other lines for cost share in Capital Funds; $2,612,500 in Partners for Conservation Projects fund and $2,612,500 in a new line; the Illinois Jobs Now Fund.
Patio Pavers and Sims Memorial Rock - Jim Nelson reported that purchasing an engraved rock would cost the same amount as the plaque from NACD for Olin Sims. There was $250 approved for the purchase of the tree and the plaque however we have come in under budget. A group conscience was reached to purchase the engraved rock instead of the plaque.
New Business
AISWCD Budget - Rich Nichols stated that he needs to sit down with Rollie and work on getting a budget started. Jim Todd reported that - Motion by John Beckhart and seconded by Butch Rider to add line item for marketing taskforce, MCVV. Stacy Stremsterfer reported there are currently 9 SWCDs who have not paid their dues as of this morning.
Legislative items - Rich Nichols reported Senate Bill 286 - Farmland Protection passed Senate and is in the House. The Water Use Act has not passed and should be brought to a vote next week.
Stacy Stremsterfer reported the legislative newsletters have not been completed due to a concern of how they were going to be distributed. The new legislative directories were delivered and most legislators have their e-mail addresses printed along with their other contact information. Therefore, the newsletters can be sent electronically once their addresses have been inputted into a group e-mail. The new directories will be sent to each SWCD as soon as possible.
Stacy Stremsterfer reviewed different options she received concerning the van. Discussion was held. Motion by Jerry Snodgrass and seconded by Rollie Spaniol to purchase a new van with finance information sent out to executive members before the final decision, MCVV.
Illinois River Conference Sponsorship - Rich Nichols reported this event happens every two years and will be held in October. The lowest level of sponsorship is $500 and this is the amount the AISWCD would donate. Discussion held and tabled until June Quarterly Board Meeting.
Lapel Pins - Stacy Stremsterfer reported she is working on getting estimates for the lapel pins. She is trying to incorporate the green AISWCD pins with the service award pins.
New employee - Rich Nichols reported that we have received 35 applications with the deadline April 15th.
Jim Todd noted that NACD CEO, Krysta Hardin has been nominated by President Obama to USDA’s Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations. Jerry Snodgrass gave an update.
Meeting ended at 8:54 a.m.
Minutes submitted by Stacy Stremsterfer