Invasive Plants Association of Wisconsin

Invasive Plants Association of Wisconsin

Annual Membership Meeting

March 9, 2002, LaCrosse, Wisconsin

The first Annual Membership Meeting of the Invasive Plants Association of Wisconsin was convened on March 9, 2002 during the Spring 2002 annual conference of The Prairie Enthusiasts, held at the UW-LaCrosse campus.  The meeting took place over the noon hour (12:00 - 1:30 p.m.) and was attended by 15 people, including five board members (see attached list of attendees).

I. Introductions were made.

II.Administration

Financial Report

The following financial report was presented by treasurer Tom Brock and was approved by the board.

            IPAW financial statement:  March 2001 - March 2002

            Income:           115 Memberships            $3,400.00

                                    (including individual and corporate memberships)

Expenses:            Administrative           $646.50

                                    Exhibits                      $112.36

                                    Printing/mailing           $1,762.67

                                    Total expenses           $2,521.53

            Balance:                                              $878.47

POOP Conference            $11,842.38 (balance from 2001 Conference to be used for 2003 Conference)

Report of IPAW Activities to Date

Incorporation, 501 3c Status (Undersander/Brock)

Committee Reports

Communications (Utegaard, Board Liaison):

Rolf reported that two issues of the newsletter have been distributed (December, 2001 and February, 2002).  A $5,000 grant, to be distributed over a three-year period, was received from the Wisconsin Energy Foundation.  This generous grant will assist IPAW in future publications of the newsletter brochure.

Education (Van Horn, not present):

No activity was reported.  It was announced that this committee is currently in need of someone to serve as head.

Plant Industry Relations (Lehnhardt, Board Liaison):

The first meeting of this committee is scheduled to be held in March, the dates to be determined based on a response from the current list of 22 individuals representing the landscaping industry, seed producers, agriculture, university extension, government agencies, and native nurseries.  More effort must be made to enlist individuals from other groups not currently represented.

Government Relations (Roark, Board Liaison, not present):

A draft of the Weed Law is scheduled to be completed by April 1, with subsequent review by an advisory committee through May 1.

Plants Out Of Place Conference (Kearns):

The 2003 Conference will be held on September 27 as a one-day symposium, concurrent with the National Natural Areas meeting, in the Monona Terrace Conference Center in Madison, Wisconsin.  The Conference Committee is currently seeking help to organize the event.  IPAW will serve as the primary host of the symposium, with funds coming from the balance remaining from the 2001 POOP Conference held in Eau Claire.

Science Committee (Gerber, Board Liaison; Parker and Patti, Co-Chairpersons, not present)

The invasive plant survey, developed collaboratively by The Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission and the IPAW Science Committee, has been sent out to a long list of people knowledgeable of and working with invasive plants in the field.  The survey is also posted on the IPAW Web site.  It was noted, however, that the survey currently posted on the Web site is not the most recent version of the survey, but this will be rectified by early next week.  Details regarding the survey and its intended use are presented in the February 2002 IPAW newsletter, which is also posted on the web site.  It was emphasized that the official working list of invasive species resulting from the survey is intended to be an educational list versus a legal list, and that the list would be an ongoing effort, with revisions made as new knowledge is gained on each species.  A post-meeting discussion is scheduled to talk further about the intended uses of the survey results.

Nominating Committee (Undersander, Board Liaison)

No activity to report at this time.

Fundraising Committee (Braker, Board Liaison, not present)

A $5000 grant was awarded to IPAW by the Wisconsin Energy Foundation.  The grant will be distributed to the group over a 3-year period and will be used to publish the IPAW newsletter and brochure.  A $700 WDNR Foundation grant was awarded to IPAW on behalf of the Greater Sauk County Invasive Plants Team to install boot brushes and educational signs in state and county parks and nature preserves throughout the County this summer and fall.  It is the intent of IPAW to serve as a conduit for funding to local groups.

Regional Groups (Braker, not present)

A Southeast group is just getting started and other groups are still forming.  Several County groups are already operating, including Brown, Milwaukee, and Monroe, among others.  One guest suggested the growing number of groups should convey the scope of interest in the state to lawmakers.

III. New Business

Election of Directors and Board Members

The following were nominated for 3-year terms: Uttegaard, Braker, Gerber, and Undersander.  There was a motion to re-elect these individuals on a unanimous ballot.  The motion passed.

Next Annual Meeting and Conference

There was considerable discussion on when and where the next annual meeting should occur.  It was generally agreed that the meeting should be held at about the same time in subsequent years.  Several thought the The Prairie Enthusiasts conference was a good match, although others thought that it would be beneficial to move around the State and "mix it up" with other groups representing the various constituencies of IPAW.  It was decided to table the discussion for a future board meeting.

Members Input on Future Direction and Efforts

There was a request for publications and informational handouts on invasive plants, such as the popular one on garlic mustard.  This publication is no longer in print, and perhaps IPAW would consider getting a grant to reprint this brochure.  Weed-Out is also seeking a grant to reprint this publication.  It was suggested that the IPAW Educational Committee could place this sort of information on their website.  Monroe County has recently put invasives information on their website.  IPAW will request a link to this website.  SE Wisconsin UW-Extension Horticulture Dept. has an educational display with fact sheets on invasives and is seeking funding from other groups.  IPAW will identify a board liaison to work with this group.

There was interest expressed in IPAW providing information on the costs of managing invasive species, such as a reasonable per/acre cost range for managing buckthorn.

It was suggested that IPAW provide a list of citations on current invasives research.

There was considerable discussion on the absence of reed canary grass from the IPAW brochure short list of invasive species.  Tom Boos indicated that there was serious concern on the part of representatives from the wetland science community that this species was omitted, and he indicated that they would not continue to support IPAW for this reason.  It was agreed that this issue should be taken up at the next board meeting.

Attendees: