WA-BC – AFS Chapter
EXCOM Teleconference Meeting Minutes
July 12, 2011
Role call/Introduction of new participants: Mark Pedersen, Lisa Harlan, Mark Celedonia, Brian Missildine, Stephanie Caballero, Jim Shannon, Chris Clark, Yvonne Muirhead
Email in: Caroline Storer
Absent: Erin Lowery, Orlay Johnson, Nicole Casper
Minutes: Approved minutes for June 28th , 2011 teleconference.
Officer Reports (20 minutes)
President – Mark Pedersen: Completed the joint welcome letter from the Governor, WDFW Director, and Mayor for 2011 program as well as the welcome letter from Mark P and Lori Martin. Mark is working with Eric Knudsen on 2011 fundraising – there is a discount with Alaska Airlines.
President Elect – Mark Celedonia: Very busy with Master Scheduling for 2011 conference.
Vice President – Yvonne Muirhead: Will brief us on the 2012 MOU and budget below.
Past President – Jim Shannon: Working on the Spawning Run and student career fair. Good group of volunteers. Inviting input and suggestions for people who would like to have a table at the student career fair – any suggestions send contact info to Jim.
Treasurer – Erin Lowery: No report, he is out in the field. He will be transitioning over to the new treasurer, Emily Pizzichemi.
Secretary – Lisa Harlan: Keeping up with minutes and posting them on the website. Working on the Social Responsibility Committee.
Communications Officers– Orlay Johnson/ Stephanie Caballero: Welcome to Stephanie! She is looking forward to working with the local chapter. She is a fish biologist with the USFS on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.
Student Sub-Unit Representative – Nicole Casper: Has a scheduling conflict during the summer and will not be able to make the teleconferences.
UW Student SubUnit Caroline Storer: Chris Clark, President-Elect for University of Washington is looking forward to being involved. Caroline is trying to help other AFS student subunits on a budget find housing for the national meeting. Right now we have four or five students that we are looking to host.
New Officers – Brian Missildine, Vice President-Elect, works for Skillings-Collins and is planning on keeping the momentum from 2011 moving forward and increasing involvement of more members in the chapter.
Old Business: (35 minutes)
2012 AGM @ UVic – Yvonne: Sent out letters, and is looking for a fundraising conference chair. Looking for suggestions on potential folks. Need to set up committees and appoint chairs. Look for recruits in the ranks of members helping with the 2011 AGM.
Chapter Scholarship program implementation – 1 additional award approved for Chris Clark and attendance at the GIS workshop. Two WSU students applied to WDiv – shall we fund? Motion made and seconded to fund the two students – final vote will be done by email so that all Excom will have an opportunity to review the applications. If there is money left over we should send out another listserve.
2011 update:
Nominations for Chapter awards – Will consider members that have gone above and beyond for 2011. Jim will head up awards committee this year. Jim will send out a listserve today.
Info booth in the registration area? Pittsburgh did have a local chapter booth at 2010 selling tshirts and hats. Tshirts were conference shirts.
Chapter business meeting – All: Monday the 5th noon – 1:15, immediately after plenary sessions. Mark P is seeking input on the agenda – state of the chapter, present awards, introduce new officers.
Meals – Pricy and not much room for negotiation. Early bird registration date is July 29th so we will have an idea of how many have checked the box to attend the chapter business meeting. Mark P will send an updated budget to all Excom for review, then discussion on whether the chapter will pay for the lunch or only a portion.
Excom Retreat – Incoming and out-going excom as well as interested folks meet and talk about the coming year. Mark C will send out an email to everyone regarding preferences and availability.
Website update – Orlay: deferred
Newsletter – Orlay: Needs articles focusing on 2011 symposia in Seattle by 7/29.
New Business: (10 minutes)
Habitat enhancement support grant: (No action) We would like to require the grant be used for post construction monitoring of a fish habitat project. We are looking at $5,000 for the grant amount. Jim will write up a paragraph outlining the goals of the award.
New award for Chapter: (No action) Habitat Restoration Project of the year. To be submitted to ExCom for review with other annual awards. Jim will write up a paragraph outlining the goals of the award.
Action Items for next meeting:
Action: Need articles for newsletter: focus on upcoming symposia, 2012 in Victoria, new officers – hard deadline July 29
Action: Need nominations for Chapter Awards.
Next Teleconference: July 26, 2011, 9:00am – 10:15pm, via WebEx Mark C to lead