Executive Committee Meeting
March Quarterly Board
March 2, 2009
Northfield Inn & Suites - Onyx Room
8:00 a.m.
Present Absent
Jim Todd, President, NACD Alternate
Aaron Ferguson, Vice President
Rollie Spaniol, Treasurer
John Beckhart, Area III VP
Jerry Snodgrass, Area I VP
Darrell Roegge, Area II VP
Eric Suits, Area III VP
Norbert Rider, Area IV VP
Terry Davis, President, NACD Delegate
Josh Joseph, ISWCDEA RC Co-Chair
Shelia Lane, ISWCDEA AC Co-Chair
Richard Nichols, AISWCD
Stacy Stremsterfer, AISWCD
Jim Nelson, AISWCD
Tom Anderson, Guest
President Jim Todd called the meeting to order at 8:05 a.m.
John Beckhart completed roll call.
Approval of Agenda
New Business additions: Resolution, Tom Jennings, Marketing checks, affidavits. Old Business additions: AISWCD patio, NACD Dues. Motion by Darrell Roegge and seconded by Jerry Snodgrass to approve amended agenda, MCVV.
Committee and Taskforce Updates
Communication
In the absence of Eric Suits, Stacy Stremsterfer gave an update on the three piece mailing and the amount of money spent on Hendricks and Carr. The first mailing (soils) were sent to the Legislator’s Springfield office and the second mailing (water faucets) were sent to the District offices. A request has been sent to SWCDs asking for them to design a one page fact sheet on a program in their county to post on the AISWCD website that will be highlighted in the letter which will be the third mailing. The Marketing Taskforce will discuss what the next step should be in their meeting later today. Jerry Snodgrass congratulated Stacy Stremsterfer for her work with this project and saving the AISWCD several thousand dollars.
Education
Stacy Stremsterfer reported on Envirothon. There is approximately $1500 received from SWCDs for the 2009 Illinois Envirothon. There was a good turn out on applications for test writers. All applications were reviewed and 4 individuals were selected and sent contracts. It was also noted at the Winter Meeting the amount of grant money Canon is giving the Envirothon is reduced but thankfully it was cut all together.
Jerry Snodgrass reported NACD is working on the national director training program. Stacy Stremsterfer noted that the web-based system Utah uses looks like it could be adapted to Illinois fairly easy. She also noted, after looking over the budget; she had found $1,500 that could be used to get the training up and going. Discussion was held concerning the program.
Water Use Taskforce - Jim Nelson reported he gave a presentation in Whiteside County on water quality/ quantity. His next step will be to work on getting a presentation together that will show ways to save water.
Financial Management
Rollie Spaniol stated dues statements where sent out Friday asking for 3% of the money they received to date. The following line items were reviewed and discussed: insurance and snow removal.
Legislative
Aaron Ferguson noted that Rich Nichols sent By-Laws to the Area Vice Presidents. Jerry Snodgrass noted conference calls on special meetings needs to be addressed.
Focused Legislative Taskforce - nothing was brought forward. NPDES Taskforce should have been deleted off the agenda.
A resolution was received from Marshall-Putnam Co. SWCD. The therefore read as, “ 10% of the total AISWCD dues received for the fiscal year be dedicated to implement the marketing plan developed that assists all 98 SWCD’s in educating our customers about SWCD’s value and purpose. The dedicated marketing account will be managed separately from general revenue funds and any money remaining at the end of the fiscal year shall rollover but not replace funding for the following fiscal year.” Discussion held. The group was in favor of the resolution, but felt it needed to be reworked and defined more.
Planning
John Beckhart noted the Annual Meeting Taskforce has been meeting and working on the details of the annual meeting. They have a meeting later today.
Urban Community & Conservation
Norbert Rider yielded to Jim Nelson. He reported that many things have been going on and will give a full report tomorrow during the Board Meeting.
Area I - Jerry Snodgrass - He noted the at LUC 16 meeting there were concerns with the Open Meetings Act concerning the FSA Maps that are given out with regards to Farm and Tract numbers as well as wetland determinations and would like to see a session at summer conference to address this information.
Area II - Darrell Roegge - Received calls concerning article in Decatur paper concerning comments made by IDOA Director Jennings.
Area III - Eric Suits - Absent, nothing reported.
Area IV - Norbert Rider - Concerns with IDOA Director Jennings comments and SWCDs have received money.
Old Business
AISWCD Dues
Dues notices were sent Friday, asking for first half of allocations.
NACD Auction
The necklace and earrings AISWCD donated brought over $300.00. Jim Todd also reported that Illinois was also able to donate seed corn which brought in around $3,500.
NACD Dues
Motion by Jerry Snodgrass and seconded by Aaron Ferguson to pay NACD Dues at the Gold Level, $1775, MCVV.
AISWCD Patio
Jim Nelson passed out a sheet which reviewed three different options on engraved patio bricks that will be placed in the patio around the flag pole. Discussion was held. Motion by Rollie Spaniol and seconded by Butch Rider to go with option four, MCVV.
New Business
Decatur Herald Article
Earlier last week the article had statement from IDOA Director Jennings SWCDs offices needed to be consolidated. Discussion was held concerning where this information came from since the AISWCD has been under the impression this issue was taken care of and ideas had changed concerning the possibility of consolidating SWCDs.
Marketing Donations
Rich Nichols stated the AISWCD has received 3 checks from SWCDs in the response to the survey that was sent out in December after Quarterly Board. The survey asked SWCDs if they would be willing to donate $200 to marketing efforts, not necessarily asking for $200. Discussion held. Motion by Rollie Spaniol and seconded by Aaron Ferguson that the received stay with AISWCD and a letter should be sent to those SWCDs for clarification, MCVV.
Affidavits
Stacy Stremsterfer noted the AISWCD CD certificates at the First National Bank in Taylorville can not be located. Therefore, an affidavit needs to be signed for each CD to be reissued. Until the CDs can be found or the affidavits signed, no interest rates can be changed. Motion by John Beckhart and seconded by Jerry Snodgrass to sign affidavits, MCVV.
Resolution
Discussed in Legislative Committee report
Mid Exec Meeting Date
April 13, 2009 at 8:00 AM, confirm by the 9th to make sure quorum is reached.
Mid Exec Committee Minutes
Motion by Darrell Roegge and seconded by Rollie Spaniol to approve all sets of Executive minutes with changes on page 20, deleting “Foundation” from heading, MCVV.
Motion to adjourn by Darrell Roegge and seconded by Rollie Spaniol, MCVV.
Submitted by Stacy Stremsterfer