Minutes

Invasive Plants Association of Wisconsin

Board of Directors Meeting

Tuesday, July 13^th 2004, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

The Nature Conservancy

Madison, WI

Board members present: Dan Undersander, Gene Roark, and Rolf Utegaard

Members joining via conference call: David Hamel, Jennifer Baker, Steve Strachota, Donna Van Buecken, and Patrick Goggin

Also present: Kelly Kearns and Angie Ashley

President, Dan Undersander, called the meeting to order.

I.    Introductions

• None

II.   Administration

• Minutes of the June board meeting were approved as submitted.
• Treasurer’s report was approved as submitted.

III.   Old Business

• Director’s and officer’s liability insurance - The purpose is to protect the board against malperformance of duty.  The board is questioning whether it is necessary.  Many are already protected through their employer.  There is a greater likelihood that the organization would be sued rather than the individual directors.  Waivers of liability may be an option for IPAW sponsored field trips.  Rolf Utegaard will contact an insurance agent in Eau Claire for facts and a quote in writing.  Gene Roark will contact the executive director of WI Woodland Owners Association and both will report findings at next board meeting.

• Newsletter Update - Goal is to have it published by July 31st. 
• IPAW annual meeting agenda - Ideas: 
  • General report
  • Invasive weed list
  • Direction of education committee
  • Membership report
  • Financial report
  • Approval of last year’s minutes
  • Discussion of regional chapters - Angie Ashley will invite regional chapters to present short summary of their work
  • Science committee report and mapping activities
  • Undersander will draft a final agenda which Ashley will send out to all active members via postcard.

IV. New Business: 

• Format for economic analysis of invasive weeds - The long-term goal of this is to develop a model of economic impact in the state.   Steve Strachota explained Trefoil and Crownvetch drafts. 

Suggested changes from the board:

• Trefoil document- wording be changed from restoration to soil stabilization
• Crownvetch document-wording be changed from exotic to native legumes. 
• Usage should be specified as grazing or hay. 
• Estimate the number of acres invaded statewide from whatever information is available.  There is some satellite imagery work being done in parts of the state on Reed Canary Grass, but not much on other invasives.  We may want to consider this as a separate issue.
• Expand the invasive section to include the negative economic impacts.
• Spell out LTD and change the “X” to yes or no.
• Type in footnote at bottom stating where the info came from

Undersander and Strachota will meet with reps from the corn and soybean seed companies in WI before the September board meeting to get their opinions on the first two drafts. 

Hope to meet with:

• Jim Sherrel (sp?) - Golden Harvest
• Bob O’Donnell
• Bill Leakey - Ashland
• Another person whose name didn’t come to mind- Dan, did you think of it?
• LaCrosse Seed

Strachota will work on drafts for the next three or four on the list.  They will be sent out to IPAW board members.  The board should pass them on to anyone they think would have valuable input.  The board should review them and send comments to Strachota.  After six drafts are finalized, they will be posted to the website. 

Susan Lehnhardt and the nursery industry should be contacted to discuss involving them in completing the rest of the sheets.  Ashley will send Susan the Trefoil and Crownvetch drafts and invite her to the September board meeting.

• Article templates on IPAW website - Kate Pederman, member from West Bend, suggested having sample press releases on the IPAW website for organizations and individuals to use pertaining to control methods of invasives.  Kelly Kearns will send DNR articles to Undersander for his edit before posting to the website.  Ashley will check with TNC’s communication director for possible articles.  The board authorized the necessary appropriation to post up to 50 articles on the website.

• Science committee chair recruitment - Kearns will contact Jim Reinartz and Tom Boos to let them know that Craig Onim (sp?) would be a possibility.  The board should contact Reinartz and Boos with any other prospects.

• Additional matters from members/board -

Upcoming conferences where IPAW will have a display:

• Wild Ones - Staffed by Boos, Kearns, Utegaard
• Prairie Conference - Table is reserved.  Kearns will staff during poster session.
• Citizen Monitoring Conference - Staffed by Utegaard
• Foreign Technology Conference September 20-23 - Staffed by Utegaard
• Governor’s Council on Invasive Species meeting held last week.  Would like an IPAW representative at the meeting.  Linda Parker is interested in being a rep on the education subcommittee of the Governor’s Council and a member of the IPAW education committee. 
• Fred Clark, from Clark Forestry, led field trip for the Governor’s Council on Invasive Species in the Baraboo Hills.  Senator Breske was one of the participants.
• There is currently a bill in Congress that, if passed, would provide funding to states for invasive species control.  The board approved Kearns suggestion of sending a letter in support of the bill.  Kearns will draft the letter, Roark will review, Kearns will make changes and send on to Undersander for his signature which he will them mail.

Next IPAW board meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 14th from 11:00-1:00.  Location to be determined.

Minutes prepared by Angie Ashley, IPAW Program Assistant