SWCS-NCC Meeting Notes
April 5, 2007Participants: Chip Ramsey, Tom Hebert, Allison Wiedeman, Ross Braun, Larry Holmes, Bill Boyer, and Oliver Miranda from the Maryland Old Line Chapter.
Minutes of the March Meeting were approved and will be posted on the website.
Joint Activities with Society of American Forester-National Capital Chapter: Bill and Melvin Womack met with Denise Ingram and Eric Norland of the Society of American Forester - National Capital Chapter (NCSAF). See the report attached to these minutes. While reviewing the proposed cooperative activities we proposed the idea of hosting a visit to Washington, DC for conservation/environment students and entry level career employees, probably recommended by SWCS chapters (maybe SAF also). Suggestions include:
1. Bill was asked to chair a committee to develop this idea. Beth Sauerhaft and Allison were suggested as members;
2. Develop a proposal in outline with budget (travel costs, sponsored events, etc.);
3. Work with Environmental Law Committee of the National Bar Association;
4. Tom with check with Krista Harden at National Corn Growers to build on similar work they have done.Annual Meeting-Silent Auction: Chips wife has designed and will donate a stain glass window. Chip will check with Ducks Unlimited and purchase a framed print of ducks. Bill has purchase a hand carved/painted duck decoy. Allison will create a necklace and earrings. Tom Hebert suggested that we get a U.S. flag flown from the Capitol, possibly on Earth Day, and donate it to the Florida Chapter for the auction.
Scholarship: No report.
Northeast Regional Conference: (April 24 & 25) About eleven members of NCC plan to attend and Chip is arranging transportation logistics.
Financial Report, 2006: Total assets, in checking and savings, are $13,792.02. Melvin completed an audit of the financial records for 2006 and reported no negative findings. Larry also reported his research about renewing our status as a incorporated non-profit organization in Washington, DC. To do this the DC government would expect NCC to pay $600+ to reinstate. This issue was tabled until the next meeting.
Mentoring: No Report.
Spring Tour: Ross will begin planning a spring tour at the ARS Visitors Center, possible in June. Another idea (possible 2008) is a tour of Rock Creek Park to see the engineering work done to return the creek to conditions when fish migrated in the creek to spawn.
Fall Tour: Melvin Womack will be asked to plan a tour to possibly include the National Arboretum, Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, the National Botanic Garden, or the Patuxent River Merkel Wildlife Center. It was suggested that new Chapter members, such as Michele Laur, should be invited to become involved and help work on the tours.
Speakers Series: Tom is working with the (Senate/House?)Agriculture Committee folks to ask identify and invite a Congressional staffer on Farm Bill. Later in the year he hopes to set up a presentation on Climate Change.
Treasury: Larry Holmes presented the financial report, $2,715.82 in checking and $11,376.96 in saving, which was approved.
Minutes recorded by Bill Boyer, Chapter Secretary
Next Meeting May 3rd at 11:45 am, Location: Tom will secure a meeting room.
The SWCS-NCC Board meets the first Thursday of each month from 11:45-12:45.
The location will cycle among the organizations represented by Board members and be announced prior to each meeting.