WA-BC – AFS Chapter

EXCOM Teleconference Meeting Minutes – FINAL

May 18, 2010

Attending: Jim Shannon, Mark Pedersen, Mark Celedonia, Geraldine Vander Haegen, Orlay Johnson, Erin Lowry, Yvonne Muirhead, Lisa Harlan (Asst to Secretary/Treasurer – taking minutes).

Minutes:  Minutes for May 6, 2010 were approved.

Officer Reports

President – Jim Shannon: Jim took part in the WDAFS conference call.  They reported that their annual meeting in SLC made a profit after re-negotiating the hotel contract.  The COTY plaque will reside with the Chapter president and be passed along.   Erin will scan the plaque and distribute the pdf to EXCOM, and Geraldine will include an announcement in the spring newsletter.  Jim has been working on items for spring newsletter and listserve.  The Bristol Bay resolution will be posted on the website.  We now have a Facebook page, as well as a Twitter account which are both linked to our website.

Past President – Larry Dominguez: No report.

President Elect – Mark Pedersen: Working on 2011, participating in conference calls and committee activities.  He has submitted items for the spring newsletter.  See BCHydro Scholarship below.

Vice President – Mark Celedonia: Sent an update on membership numbers to EXCOM, looking at whether membership increased as a result of our annual meeting and general state of the Chapter membership.  He has a listing of all active members and their contact information.  Action: Compile list of delinquent members (those who paid dues in 2009 but have not yet paid 2010 dues), and compose email to these members encouraging them to renew their membership for 2010.

Secretary/Treasurer – Erin Lowry: Attended the WDAFS conference in SLC.  Attendance was low, mainly people from adjacent states.  They had a business breakfast instead of business lunch, which worked out well.  Erin accepted the COTY for our chapter.  The Pebble Mining Resolution was passed.  Another resolution was passed to have state agencies put an emphasis on native fish management.

Final payments have been received from 1-2-3-Signup.  The USFWS sponsorship should come through soon.  Erin is hopeful he will be able to have a budget update by the end of this week.

Newsletter Editor – Geraldine Vander Haegen: Could use more submissions for the spring newsletter.  Send items to Geraldine.

Assistant Newsletter Editor – Orlay Johnson: Orlay will train with Geraldine for the spring newsletter.

Topics

Old Business:

Rules and Procedures Draft – Mark P has edits he will add over the next couple weeks.  Jim is considering finalizing this document at the EXCOM retreat in September.

BC Hydro scholarship – The selection committee has been set up and the process is on track to make a selection by the end of June.

New Business:

UW Spring Picnic – This is an annual event in the Fisheries Sciences Dept, and will occur this Friday, May 21.  Students have requested $200 assistance to help pay for food for this event.  Undergraduates attend this event so it will be a good opportunity for outreach to that group.   Mark P moved we contribute $200 for this event; the motion was seconded, and passed.

USFWS Fisheries Academy Day Camps – Our previously approved $500 sponsorship of  these events will be purchase of about $400 in radiotelemetry gear and the balance in a donation of granola bars, at the request of USFWS.  Direct cash  sponsorship was not possible due to USFWS restrictions.  These events are part of the USFWS Connecting People with Nature initiative, and are designed to teach children between the ages of 10-14 principles of aquatic and fisheries ecology, general conservation ethics, and hand-on experience with various fisheries and aquatic ecology field techniques..  Five Day Camps will be held this summer – one each in Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, Shelton, and Chehalis.

Coastal Watershed Institute Proposal – Tabled until the next meeting.

Spring Newsletter – Will be sent out by the end of this week.

SERNW partnership; specifically, distribution of SERNW announcements to WA-BC Chapter members – Tabled until next meeting

Action Items for next meeting:

Action: Mark C will compose an email to members who have not yet renewed for this year.

Action: Erin will scan the COTY plaque and distribute the pdf to EXCOM.  Geraldine will include an announcement in the spring newsletter.

Next Teleconference: Tuesday, June 1, 2010 at 10:00am.