Mid-Atlantic Exotic Pest Plant Council

Meeting Minutes

August 14, 2001
4:30 pm – 6 pm
Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA

Attended by:

Note: If HW is seen after someone’s name, that means that person has Homework to do for the next meeting.

1. Call to Order

Founding Board President, Kerrie Kyde, called meeting to order at 4:30 pm.
Founding Board members were introduced and agenda was reviewed.

2. Organizational History & Update


1. Kerrie Kyde gave a quick overview of the MA-EPPC’s formation and accomplishments to date. She covered the group’s early meetings in 1999, wide-ranging membership, the effects of the 2/3/99 Executive order, the projects the EPPC planned. Approval of 501(c)(3) status, publications, formation of the invasive plant notification list, grants and partnerships, participation in various meetings and planning of the Swarthmore conference were described. She urged members to get involved, to contribute their ideas, time and membership dues.


3. Old Business


1. Approval of Minutes from January minutes

The last MA-EPPC meeting for the full membership occurred on January 18, 2001. Minutes from that meeting were approved.



2. Website Development

Carol Jelich has been working on the development of the MA-EPPC website this past year. She is now looking for someone who can take over the development work. Marc Imlay suggested using MD Native Plant Society web material. Kerrie Kyde has other resources that she will investigate (HW).



3. Committee/Task Force Reports


1. The List Task Force

Art Gover distributed the latest iteration of the "Publicity List." This list was compiled by field researchers and land managers and those familiar with invasive plant literature, members of EPPC with firsthand experience of invasive species. It is meant to serve as an introduction to the problem of invasive plants in the Mid-Atlantic region. It has a good cross-section of problematic plants in the region. The purpose of the list, what it is and is not, is presented in the text that accompanies it. Because the MA-EPPC is not a governmental body, the list has no regulatory power. It was designed strictly as an information tool for those concerned about invasive plants in natural areas.

The next task of the List Task Force is to decide where to go with this list. Is it ready for the website? Do we want to create different lists for different audiences?

Discussion:

Faith Campbell felt we should be using the list now—get it out to these various audiences.

John Peter Thompson suggested that the newly elected Board should move ahead on these issues with the newly formed committees.

Laurie Anne Albrecht offered to put together a list of alternative plant species which can be used along side the invasive plant list (HW).

Another issue raised was how to handle controversies that may arise from publication of the list—e.g., crown vetch is listed but it is selling well now on lots of construction sites. Where would MA-EPPC stand on something like this?

Discussion:

Art Gover pointed out that crown vetch is a good illustration of the problem—you need to look at any plant material and weigh its pros and cons for the specific location and use.

Kerrie Kyde pointed out that the list has no enforcement or regulatory weight. It has been put together for information to help people.

It was also pointed out that we need to educate the public and green industry people on the real problems of some plants, like porcelainberry—even though it may behave in your backyard, birds eat the berries and spread the plant to areas where it never was or should be planted.

John Peter Thompson noted that nursery and trade people are coming to the table now—maybe late, but still coming. Seed trade associations will have to come around eventually.

Also, we need to change behavior of groups like landscape architects as well as the public. Nursery folks are looking for help on how to do things right—it’s easier to point out what’s wrong instead of explaining how to do things right.

Kerrie Kyde announced that this Publicity List is public now. Please pass it out. It will also be posted on our website (once our website is up and running) with further modifications. Be sure to tell people this is a dynamic list and will be changing as new information comes in.

Kudos to Art Gover and the List Task Force for all their great work!



2. WeedBusters Handbook

Jil Swearingen announced the draft version of the WBH, a guidebook for those seeking life history and control information for invasive plants. Jil plans to send out draft copies to a dozen or more reviewers in the near future. She is seeking funding to produce the handbook for public use.



4. Treasurer's Report – Faith Campbell

Balance as of 7/31/01: $1,180.84
Outstanding Check as of 7/31/01: $ 627.50 (tee shirts)
Corrected balance: $ 553.34

Each month, the bank charges us an $11 maintenance fee.

4. New Business


1. Election of Board of Directors

Kerrie Kyde read the slate of nominees and then asked for nominations from the floor. Jeanne Knight, Debbie Herr and Mary Jane Seipler nominated themselves. There was a motion to elect the existing slate plus three nominees by acclamation. The motion was seconded and was passed unanimously.

The newly elected Board members, their affiliations and the states they represent are:

Board Member	Affiliations	State
Laurie Anne Albrecht	President Consultant	PA
Karen Bennett	DE Invasive Species Council, DE Natural Heritage	DE
Carole Bergmann	MD National Capital Parks & Planning	MD
Faith Campbell	Treasurer American Lands Alliance	VA
Joe Demko	PennDOT	PA
Art Gover	Penn State University	PA
Emily Grafton	WV DNR	WV
Debbie Herr Cornwell	Adkins Arboretum	MD
Marc Imlay	MD Native Plant Society	MD
Carol Jelich	MD Native Plant Society	MD
Jeanne Knight	MCC; MD Native Plant Society; Chesapeake Audubon	MD
Kerrie Kyde	USDA-ARS, Maryland Invasive Species Council	MD
Betsy Lyman	The Nature Conservancy of PA	PA
Michael Schwartz	Freshwater Institute	WV
Mary Jane Seipler	Audubon Society, Western PA Native Plant Center	PA
Lisa Smith	Ecological Consultant	PA
Jil Swearingen	NPS - Center for Urban Ecology	DC
John Peter Thompson	Behnkes Nurseries	MD



2. Standing Committee/Task Force Formation


1. Overview of Committees

Lisa Smith gave an overview of the current committees and task forces and their purposes. She had written out the purposes and goals of each committee on posters taped to the walls around the room. Attendees then split into work sessions with the chair of the committee or task force in which they were interested. Each group reported back to the full membership on their committee’s homework for the upcoming year.

2. Small Group Work Session/Reports

Descriptions of the goals of each committee/task force is summarized in the table below. The current homework (HW) for each committee and task force is listed after the description. The Nominating Committee did not meet. Unless otherwise listed under the HW section, the chair of each committee ran the work session for that committee.

All committee/task force chairs will send out solicitations for membership to their committees/task forces, giving a brief overview of the purpose of their group and what they hope to accomplish in the next year. (HW for all chairs).

Meeting was adjourned at 6:45 pm.

Special Meeting of the Board to Elect Officers

The newly elected Board met at 6:50 pm and appointed Laurie Anne Albrecht as President of the Council and accepted Faith Campbell’s continuation as Treasurer. The Board will elect the two other officers at a later time. This special meeting of the Board was adjourned at 6:55 pm.