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Minutes of the Board of Directors of the Iowa Association of County Extension Councils
June 7, 2008
Those members present: Sybil Soukup, Juli Nelson, Rick Rosburg, Ron Fransen, Gary Nelson, Pat Griffin, Terry Maloy, Diann Anderson, Caroll Schreiber, Kenny Hennings, Tom Ullrich, and Brian Waldstein. Also past Board members: Amy Asmus, Fred Sick, Dale Muntz, Harlan Schurr, and Rosemary Krutzfeldt. Also present were: Mary Holz-Clause, Chuck Morris, Jerry Miller, Lois Hunt, Alan Ladd, Sherry Glenn, Mary Schrandt-Prouty, Jane Ann Stout, Mark Settle, and Julie Baumler.
The meeting was called to order by President Sybil Soukup at 10 p.m. No additions or corrections to the agenda were noted.
Pat Griffin presented the Treasurer’s Report. Pat noted that he replaced checks #1065 and 1090 for Denise Maier. Ron moved to approve checks #1064 - #1094 and the following bills: $61.49 to Julie Baumler (postage $16.51 and cake $44.98) and $750 to Whetstone Resources (web page maintenance). Brian seconded the motion. The motion carried. The committee chairs presented highlights from their committee’s work this past year. Full reports were in the member packets. Overview of Committee Reports for 2007 – 2008
Tom Ullrich gave the Board Elections Report. Those elected to the Board are: NW – Juli Nelson, NE – Sybil Soukup, Central – Gary Nelson, SW – Diann Anderson, SE – Terry Maloy. Balloting was very low this year. We need to think of ways to increase the participation.
The Board reviewed the results of the 10th Anniversary Survey and discussed ways to keep doing what is helpful and how to improve where improvement is needed.
Liaisons are key to the communication flow. It is important that this process works in each and every member county. The survey demonstrated that it seems to be working very well in some counties. Others apparently get little or no communication via their liaison. One idea is to send information to the Board members to send on to counties in an effort to connect Board members with county councils and to have more direct communication between Board members and council members.
The Board discussed how to strengthen the communication with counties. How do we strengthen that network? Could we include Extension Council presidents in addition to liaisons in our e-mailing?
A plan needs to be developed to somehow get direct communication between council members and the Board in specific topic areas.
The Board discussed the ranking council members gave to IACEC activities. Maybe we should spend our money differently – possibly on more multi-county meetings. We also need to tap into our video/digital resources – find ways to communicate with one another without driving.
Folks get a lot of information – don’t know what is important and what can be ignored.
There is a big need for IACEC to represent councils with the administration (advocate for county needs).
We are not a rubber stamp – it is OK to disagree with proposals from the administration.
It is important for IACEC Board to be visible. We need to have some face time with the councils.
Every month you should be on your own council’s agenda. You could also call in to other council meetings.
Rick moved to take the results of the study to the marketing committee for their input on how to proceed. Ron seconded the motion. The motion carried.
Recommendations from members going off the board were shared. Pat Griffin encouraged the Board to set some goals based on what the survey is telling us on how to improve our communications. Brian Waldstein emphasized that this organization is one of the best things to happen to extension for a long time. He encouraged all Board members to be active.
Interim Associate Vice President for Extension and Outreach Mary Holz-Claus shared some thoughts with the Board. She congratulated them on their 10-year anniversary. Extension is part of the Emergency Response System for Iowa and has been helping with the tornado response. The Farm Bill is being reviewed by staff with the intent of them being present at local meetings that will help explain its impacts. Mary thanked IACEC for the legislative support and reiterated that legislative advocacy is important to Extension’s funding.
Program Directors in Ag & Natural Resources, Families, and 4-H Youth Development shared upcoming program thrusts. Area Extension Education Directors also shared highlights of some Extension efforts in their areas.
The Board broke for lunch. They were joined by several past Board members to celebrate IACEC’s 10th anniversary. Time was taken to share remembrances of 10 years of IACEC.
After lunch, new
president Tom Ullrich called the 2008-09 Board of Directors to order. Tom and Sybil reported on thePILD Conference they attended in Washington D.C. They attended Extension-related workshops and networked with other extension reps from around the country. This year they specifically lobbied for the MEP funding (which funds CIRAS) – they were looking for reinstatement of $2 million for Iowa’s portion (with a state match of $4 million). If this funding does not go through, we would lose 19 staff members. Most of our congressional representatives were confident that the funding would come back into the budget.
Election of Officers was held, taking open nominations from the floor. Sybil nominiated Tom for President. Rick seconded the motion. Pat moved nominations cease. The motion carried.
Sybil nominated Rick Rosburg for President-Elect. Caroll seconded the motion. Sybil moved nominations cease. Kenny seconded the motion. The motion carried.
Rick nominated Caroll Screiber for Secretary. Kenny seconded the motion. Sybil moved nominations cease. Ron seconded the motion. The motion carried.
Rick nominated Terry Maloy for Treasurer. Sybil seconded the motion. Sybil moved nominations cease. Kenny seconded the motion. The motion carried.
Sybil moved to approve the Board Process issues as attached. Juli seconded the motion. The motion carried.
Terry moved to name Wells Fargo as the financial institution for IACEC accounts. Juli seconded the motion. The motion carried.
Committees were
formed as follows: Rick – chair Juli Tom Gary Russ Dawn
Policy & Finance Kenny Terry Diann
Sybil – chair Ron Caroll Scott Connie Tori
The new committees met and set goals for the year.
The Legislative Committee plans to hold a legislative day near funnel week again. They also recommended funding legislative coffees in each of the areas after the November elections and before the Legislative session starts. They requested $1,000 be put in the budget for Legislative Day and $2,500 for Legislative Coffees ($500/area). Kenny urged the Board to think of ways to do some multi-co meetings in conjunction with the legislative coffees and also think about focusing the legislative coffee budget where the needs are greatest.
Julie will check out legislative contact system options (similar to voterVOICE).
The Legislative committee introduced a one-word theme that they would like to use in our legislative contacts this year: IMPACT. We would demonstrate how Extension’s programming IMPACTS citizens and then how legislative funding IMPACTS our ability to serve citizens.
The Marketing Committee requested $1,500 for web page development and upkeep, $2,500 for mini grants, and $1,250 for the newsletter. The Board discussed the impact of the newsletter and is considering alternative ways to communicate with members.
Caroll moved to suspend the IACEC college scholarship and awards. Juli seconded the motion. The motion carried with one “no” vote (Ron Fransen).
The Policy & Finance Committee worked on the budget for the upcoming year. General -- $4,200 Marketing – 5,250 Legislative 3,500 ================ $12,950
Kenny moved to approve the budget. Sybil seconded the motion. The motion carried.
In response to council member requests, the Board discussed the progress of Cougar Mountain. They noted that they are still counties that are frustrated with the bookkeeping system. The AEEDs noted that progress is being made and that they are trying to address council/county concerns.
Mark informed the Board that they will be invited to be ISU Extnesion’s guests at the Farm Progress Show on August 26.
The next face-to-face meeting is scheduled for January 10. The Executive Committee will set a date for a Board meeting via conference call in September.
Sybil moved to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
__________________________ Caroll Schreiber, Secretary
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