MA-EPPC Founding Board Meeting

Minutes submitted by: Lisa Smith

Attendees:            Kerrie Kyde - MD
                             Faith Campbell - DC/VA
                             Art Gover - PA
                             Michael Schwartz - WV
                             Chris Firestone - PA
                             Lisa Smith - PA
                             Larry Hurley - MD
                             John Peter Thompson - MD
                             Carole Jelich - MD
                             Joe Demko - PA

Minutes from April, 2001 (Kerrie, mea culpa)

Kerrie (HW) will send out within one week.

1. Organizational status
   
   
   1. Finances and Membership update (Faith, Carol)

      Sun Bank has waived the $11.00 checking account fee per John Peter Thompson's request. As of May, the fee had not been waived. JPT will follow-up with the bank (HW)

      1. New member thank-you letter

         Carol reported that membership is at app. 30. Letter is ready to go out to the 30 members by the end of this week.

         Kerrie questioned when an annual membership might expire or how are we handling renewals. Decision was made to have August 2001 be our annual renewal date.

         Carol asked if she should send brochures to the list of all individuals that we have had contact with. We agreed that she should (HW).

      2. Money?

         Approximately $900 or so in the account currently. Discussion regarding what agencies/institutions "get" for joining the organization. Lisa presented the idea of offering to have logos on the website for membership/sponsorship above a certain monetary level.

   2. BOD and Officers
      
      
      1. Annual meeting vote

         Individuals that have offered to serve as officers will be voted on at the annual meeting in August. The following individuals have been nominated:

         Laurie Anne Albrecht
         Karen Bennett
         Carole Bergmann
         Faith Campbell
         Joe Demko
         Art Gover
         Emily Grafton
         Carol Jelich
         Kerrie Kyde
         Betsy Lyman
         Michael Schwartz
         Lisa Smith
         Jil Swearingen
         John Peter Thompson

      2. Options for appointing officers

         Kerrie pointed out that she, Lisa and Betsy are not in positions to continue as officers. Faith has offered to continue as Treasurer. Kerrie pointed out that the by-laws state that the newly elected board can appoint officers after the annual meeting.

         Discussion regarding staggered terms for new board members. Nominating committee would put forward the "a" slate and "b" slate which will identify those individuals who will serve for one term and those who will serve for two terms. Kerrie will send an e-mail to ask nominees whether they are willing to serve for one or two years of this first term (HW).

   3. Committees (Lisa)
      
      
      1. Make - up of current committees.

         Lisa needs to re-send the e-mail to Kerrie and Larry (HW). Lisa is awaiting information from committee chairs on committee descriptions and goals for the purpose of developing posters for the conference's annual meeting (HW).

   4. Funding source overview (Betsy, Chris)

      Chris and Betsy have identified potential funding sources and Chris presented a spreadsheet. Discussion around the two grants that would be potential for MA-EPPC would be Pulling Together Initiative Grant and the Native Plant Conservation Initiative.

      Discussion about MA-EPPC pursuing corporate funding opportunities and our need to be thinking about what specifically we would want funding for and our need to present that to potential funders in a professional manner. We need to begin to research what all of our potential funding sources might be. Kerrie offered to visit the Foundation Center to begin the process (HW).

      This agenda item led to discussion surrounding the outreach/education products that we need to begin pursuing which is something concrete that we could fundraise around. JPT will outline the approach to take with the industry (HW). Kerrie will forward JPT the name of the person from the Lancaster County Conservancy who is working with the Pa Dept. of Ed. on curriculum (HW). This will lead to ideas for "products", publications, calenders, fact sheets, MA-EPPC info background.

2. Committee reports
   
   
   1. The LIST (Art)
      
      
      1. Finished form, presentation at Swarthmore (EPPC session or meeting or both?)

         Art presented two lists. One is Jil's list of 500+ species which has had app. 2/3 of the species cut out which were only supported as Nat'l Park Service sources. Art will e-mail the key to the codes used in Jil's list (HW). The second list is the list 'tally' that was created as a result of MA-EPPC member contributions which identifies the top 17 species being those with >5 votes and then the remaining list of species with < 17 votes each. 10 people contributed their lists.

         JPT raised the question of how we are going to use the list. Kerrie mentioned that she proposes that this list be presented at the annual meeting. The format of the list was discussed and it was suggested that the list begin with an explanation of IES, the problem, etc. with an explanation also that the list is preliminary, it is subject to change, etc.. We would like feedback from folks.

         Kerrie proposed that we split up the list amongst meeting attendees to write a blurb for each so that we can have the information in time for the conference.

         John made a motion that we accept the whole list as is with addenda. Chris seconded the motion. Michael proposed a motion for an amendment to remove the native plants on the list which include Robinia, Ambrosia, Phragmites and Phalaris, and Faith seconded the motion. The motion was made to vote line by line.

         If yes is the vote, native comes off the list, no, it stays on:

         • Phragmites - no
         • Phalaris - no
         • Robinia - yes
         • Ambrosia - yes

         JPT made a motion to change Morus spp. to Morus alba on the list. Seconded by Michael. All in favor.
         JPT made a motion to change Vitis spp. be removed from the list until a specific species is identified.
         Carol seconded the motion. All in favor.

         The original motion to accept list as published with addenda (blurb and species information) and motions for amendments. 1 no, 1 abstained, 7 yes.

         Information identified to be included for each species will be as follows and all meeting attendees will provide Art with (HW) July 21, 2001 this information by:

         Exclusive of Common and Scientific Name, description = 100 characters

         • Habit
         • Place of Origin, date and method of intro.
         • Habitat
         • Impact

         Faith will write the introductory paragraph (HW).

   2. Website (Carol)
      
      
      1. Design

         Carol is no longer in the position to continue with designing the website given a change in personal plans. We should be thinking about identifying a student who would be willing to take this project on. Kerrie will talk to her contacts about potential for website design (HW). Everyone should contact any local colleges/universities for potential website designers (HW)

      2. John Snitzer's memo

         John captured his thoughts on the direction that MA-EPPC should head with web-based programming after attending the Millersville Native Plant Conference chat room.

   3. Publications (Jil)
      
      
      1. Weedbuster's Handbook - No new information to date.
      
      
   4. Conference
   
   
   
   1. Plan for EPPC Session

   Kerrie is doing this session and will be looking for some assistance from board members. Kerrie has also been asked to give the closing comments.

   2. Organization of committee posters for meeting, structure

   Lisa will create committee posters for the second half of the business meeting.

   3. T-shirt design and prices

   Idea to design a t-shirt for sale at the Swarthmore conference that will benefit MA-EPPC solely. Could get 100 t-shirts printed for $6 -7/t-shirt. Emily Grafton tentatively committed $200 from the WV Native Plant Society which leaves app. $500 for EPPC to come up with.

   JPT made a motion that we do the t-shirt, Art seconded.  All approved.

   JPT made a motion that the exec. comm. make a decision about the color of the t-shirts, Michael seconded the motion.  All in favor.

   Lisa made a motion that we sell the t-shirts for $15, Art seconded. All in favor.

3. Participations/Partnerships



1. June 21 talk at the MNLA workday in Davidsonville, MD (Larry/JPT)

Update. Carole Bergman presented to a group of between 50-60 people. Seemed to be generally well-received. Carol got very good feedback from a small nurseryman.

JPT and Larry felt that we have made enough progress with MLNA that we could set up a poster and information and have a presence at a number of MLNA venues in the future.

Art reported that Feb. 5, 2001 is the PLNA conference at PSU where he will be doing an invasives control program - Jim Selmar at PSU is responsible.

2. Co-sponsorship of NEWSS meeting Jan 7-10, 2001 (Art)



1. Planning topics and speakers

Art gave review of conference. Planning topics suggested for the 90-minute session included:

1. Laying out the scope of the problem from a natural areas perspective - John Randall?
2. Reviewing the status of potential funding sources - Gary Kania (NFWF), Gary Johnson (DOI), Bonnie Harper Lore (FHA).
3. Status of natural areas impact research - Joan Ehrenfeld, John Randall, Sarah Reichart.
4. Genetically engineered organisms

Three species - need speakers for these sessions

3. Native Plants in the Landscape, Millersville Conference



1. Chat room success

Lisa and Kerrie reported on the success of the chat room. 50 - 60 people in attendance with a variety of themes being represented.

4. PA Noxious Weed Task Force Share Fair Update

The space at the farm show complex has been reserved. No publicity to date. No date except for the week of October 29.

4. Industry contacts (JPT)

May 9 and 10^th Mtg. of the MD Invasive Species International Movement of Plant Propagation Material

Faith will be presenting to the Perennial Plant Association Mtg. on Aug. 4-5, 2001. Faith will take Cole Burrell's Native plant alternative list as well as a number of existing state lists, but not MA-EPPC's.  Lisa will get Cole's contact information to Faith (HW)

5. Other



1. MD Native Plant Society Meeting

Carol reports that Maryland Native Plant Society will be holding it's annual symposium on Sept. 29 and is hoping the MA-EPPC poster will be available. The theme is Impacts of disturbance on Native Plants.

2. MA-EPPC Board Meeting at Swarthmore

Kerrie will send a location for a breakfast meeting on day 2 (HW)