WA-BC – AFS

EXCOM Meeting Minutes (Teleconference)

October 2, 2008

Attending: Larry Dominguez, Mark Pedersen, Jim Shannon, Eric Knudsen, Rachel Keeler, Geraldine Vander Haegen

1. Minutes: The minutes for the Sep 18, 2008 meeting were approved.

2. Officers Reports:

President

  • Larry cannot attend the Western Division ExComm Meeting in Sedona. Jim Shannon will confirm his availability for attending otherwise Mark Pedersen is available. WA-BC Chapter will pay all expenses not covered by employer.
  • National Fish Habitat Action Plan. A letter will be prepared and provided to chapters which they send to State representatives, senators and others to support the Fish Habitat Action Plan. This will be presented in the coming weeks to determine if our Chapter will send a letter forward.

Past-President

  • Jim and Eric discussed Eric’s role in the AGM. It is proposed that Eric will facilitate fundraising through the Sustainable Fisheries Foundation (SFF) and the SFF will retain 20% of the proceeds to support publication of the book “Life History Models for Pacific Salmon”. The book is nearly ready to print and will be published by AFS.

President Elect

  • Jim was contacted by the NCER (National Conference on Ecosystem Restoration) who are requesting that the Chapter post a link to the website of their 3rd AGM (July 20-22) on our website, and email details of the meeting to Chapter members. Both were accepted. The link will be such that it opens a new page, rather than moves away from the Chapter website, and the email will go out with the next newsletter.

Vice President

  • Mark is looking at the awards for the AGM and will solicit nominations in the next newsletter. The ExComm makes the final award decisions. The call for nominations will go out 8 to 10 weeks in advance of the AGM.

Secretary/Treasurer

  • Julie was absent, but we discussed how the Chapter will partner with the Northwest Fish Culture Conference to accept prizes and supply letters to the donors stating that the prizes were donated to a non-profit (i.e. they are tax deductible). In exchange, the Chapter will be given a booth and registration at the meeting. Since no cash is exchanging hands, no problems are anticipated with the Chapter’s accounting. Geraldine will work with Pat Phillips to facilitate this.
  • We need to develop the Chapter budget for 2008-2009.

3. Logo: We need to make progress on our logo which is now outdated because of our name change. Jim will contact a graphic artist who has worked with the Chapter before to design a new logo. The logo needs to be simple, show that the chapter is not just about salmon and show the geography of the Chapter. Logos that members find attractive can be sent to Jim.

  1. Insurance: AFS has received notification from our insurance broker, the Novick Group that certificates of liability will be issued for any Division, Chapter, or Section if enrolled on the parent Society Insurance policy when it renews. The Division, Chapter, or Section can request a certificate of insurance with the Novick Group at any time during the policy year. The AFS policy runs from 10/15 to 10/14 each year. We are currently in the process of updating our policy.The estimated cost to add each chapter is around $150.  The chapters are covered for Regular Monthly Meetings, Seminars, Conventions, and Tradeshows.  Outside events within these shows are not covered and would need to be covered under a Special Events Liability policy.  Meetings can be in someone’s home, a hotel, motel, community center, town hall, etc.

A motion to get the insurance was approved. Larry will have Julie forward payment.

5. Student Coordination: Tad gave a presentation at the UW fisheries students about how to start a student subunit of AFS. The ExComm needs to keep in touch with Tad to keep interest going. There is also consideration of starting a student subunit at The Evergreen State College.

  1. Marine Fisheries PS/GB Conference: Mark Pedersen reported on progress. The original idea of a session on POST and telemetry has not worked out because there is a conflict with the State of the Salmon Conference. Therefore, Mark has been getting a mixed response from organizers on what they want us to do. Mark is now developing a symposium about sharks and their status that would feature new research particularly on the 6-gill shark and its role as an indicator species. The deadline is approaching. If the shark symposium does not work out, we will sponsor a symposium about coho, working with Dick Beamish.
  1. AGM 2009 Planning – Managing Fisheries in the Face of Uncertainty
    1. Jim received one symposium proposal (rockfish). Volunteers are starting to take roles on organizing committees.
    1. The November 6 ExComm meeting will be in-person at Little Creek Casino. The meeting will also include all organizers of the 2009 AGM. The Chapter will broadcast an invitation via listserve email to anyone who wants to help organize the AGM, inviting them to come to the Shelton lunch. Larry will provide the text of the message as soon as he makes arrangements with LCC.
    1. The next announcement for the 2009 conference should be publicized soon. Jim will work on the “Final Call for Symposium Proposals and First Call for Papers”.

Next meeting by teleconference October 15, then November 6 at Little Creek Casino.