Education Focus Area Committee Minutes
September Quarterly Board
Northfield Inn
Jerry Snodgrass, Chairman
September 10, 2007

Present:                                                            Absent:
Don Beisiegel                                             Terry Bogner
Paige Buck                                                 Dale Jahraus
Sue Davis                                                   Dwayne Proctor
Valerie Kenner                                            Duane Snow
Marty McManus                                           Stacy Stremsterfer
Jim Nelson
Debbie Ruff
Rollie Spaniol (1:20 p.m.)
Jerry Snodgrass
Jim Todd
Charla Coombe
John Maudlin
Josh Joseph

Chairman Jerry Snodgrass called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. 

Roll call was completed and introductions were done for those present.

Approval of Agenda
Don Beisiegel made a motion to approve the agenda, seconded by John Maudlin, MCVV.

Approval of Minutes
Jim Todd made a motion to approve the June Quarterly Board Education Focus Area Committee Minutes, seconded by Don Beisiegel, MCVV.

INDR Report
Valerie Kenner reported there are 21 Entice workshops scheduled and many will be online.  Valerie stated the Schoolyard Habitat Grant had a new deadline of November 30, 2007 and the grant is for $600.  Valerie stated there are two new posters; Illinois threatened and endangered, and Habitats Are Home.

IDOA
Marty McManus reported he was working with the ISWCDEA on winter training and he held a regional director teleconference that was well received. 

NRCS
Paige Buck reported there was still not a new Farm Bill in place.  EQIP new releases had been sent to all offices to encourage producers to get signed up early.  Paige stated she held sessions in areas 1, 4, and 5 on releasing WRP with the goal to resell WRP with new displays, PowerPoints, posters and fact sheet.  National NRCS campaigns will be unveiled at NACD’s Annual Meeting which is scheduled for February in Reno, Nevada, the title is Conservation: “Our Purpose, Our Passion.”  Paige stated Bill Gradle will return from Washington D.C. in October.  Paige informed the committee she developed a fact sheet for converting CRP to cropland and has a PowerPoint presentation on-line.  Discussion was held on wheat being planted.

McKibben Scholarship Update
No report.

Director Training
Discussion was held about Summer Conference sessions.

Envirothon Taskforce Update
Terry Bogner sent a short report in his absence.  Charla Coombe reported on Canon Envirothon.  She stated fifty-three teams competed, with Illinois placing twenty-third.  Next year’s competition will be held in Flagstaff, Arizona July 28-August 3, 2008 with the theme being “Effects of Recreation on National Resources.”

New Business
Jerry Snodgrass contacted Lake County SWCD to get a better understanding of AISWCD’s Resolution 2007-2.  Lake County SWCD responded to Jerry with a letter, copies were passed out to the committee.  Discussion was held on the Resolution.  Rollie Spaniol made a motion to form the Water Use Task Force to act on the Resolution, seconded by Don Beiseigel, MCVV.

Jim Nelson volunteered to be on the taskforce.  Discussion was held on other possible members, Nancy Pals, Donald Lloyd, Kent Sims, and Don Beisiegel volunteered to serve as well. 

Old Business
None.

Adjournment
Rollie Spaniol made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Don Beisiegel, MCVV.  Meeting adjourned at 2:03 p.m.