WALCE MEETING MINUTES
AUGUST 22, 2002
STEVENS POINT, WISCONSIN
SCHMEECKLE RESERVE

Board Members Present:  Troy Kuphal, Shawn Stocks, Penny Pohle, Rick Mechelke, Don Franke, Mark Jenks, Dan O’Connell, Brad Robole, Greg Baneck, Dale Olson, Tom Sweeney.

Advisors Present:  Pat Murphy.

Call to Order:  Troy Kuphal, President called the meeting to order. 

Minutes:  Motion was made by Penny Pohle to accept the May 16, 2002 minutes as written.  Don Franke seconded.  Motion carried by voice vote.

Treasurer’s Report: 

• Review of a cash flow and register reports for May – August.  Discussion on the WLWCA Web Site took place.  An itemized invoice from WLWCA was requested to give the committee an idea of what gets up to date and hours consumed before paying for their services.  
• Membership Update:  At this time WALCE has 387 eligible members of which 231 are WALCE members in 2002.  Members from 2001 were 213.  The membership percentage from each area is as follows:

Motion made by Greg Baneck to accept the Register and Cash Flow Reports from Tom Sweeney, Treasurer for May – August 2002.  Dan O’Connell seconded.  Motion carried by voice vote.

Conference Planning:

• 2003 Conference Planning update was given by Don Franke.  A spreadsheet was handed out showing breakout sessions.  Don requested reps to have employees review this and make suggestions. All comments are appreciated.  Certification training is going to take a good 8 hours, with 4 hours in the morning and 4 in the afternoon.  Friday sessions are focused on Mississippi River/Western Area issues.  Dr. Stuart Robertshaw is the key speaker for Wednesday evening banquet at a cost of $2,700.00.  He would have a great impact on the WALCE Conference.  Other speakers have not asked for a speaker fee as of yet.  With the exception of Ken Salwey for Friday’s closing.  A coupon towards the purchase of his books which would be given away on Friday for the door prizes.  Next conference planning meeting will take place on the morning of October 9, 2002 @ 9:00 a.m. in Wausau at the Ramada Inn before the County Conservationist meeting.

By unanimous consent, Board approved the speakers for the conference, session and general agenda format. 

• Review of CPC Guidelines and Policies:

Reviewing of CPC guideline and policies was reviewed by Troy.  Dale Olson explained that it is working out thus far.  Don Franke made mention that we should know a couple of years ahead of time when we are going to sponsor the WALCE Conference.  A carry over from year to year of some members so the new planning committee would be helpful to get things started.  Don Franke asked for support on a resolution for rotating from districts to districts to sponsor the WALCE Conference.  Motion made by Dale Olson to sign the agreement with the Hilton in Milwaukee for the 2004 WALCE Conference.  Don Franke seconded.  Motion carried by voice vote. 

Troy suggested that a policy should be set for paying for speakers (travel, hotel, meals, etc.).  He asked the conference planning committee to come up some suggestions. 

Strategic Plan: 

• WALCE Internal Issues: Troy explained the need to identify alternative options for addressing the Internal Issues Committee recommendations.  He noted that their original recommendation to convene a joint WLWCA/WALCE committee, which was adopted by the Board, had headed nowhere and that an alternative must be pursued. Troy suggested that issues related membership diversity and legislative activities still posed a threat to our future success. Don stated that WALCE is a whole but has two distinct types of membership.  On one hand, there are technical staff and other non-administrators and on the other there are administrators. It was discussed that we need an umbrella board that can represent everyone in the association regardless of who is on the board, without fearing that it will not be able to represent the diverse membership.

Motion made by Don Franke to have the Internal Issues Committee pick up where it left off.  It should focus on restructuring to meet the four issues outlined in the Strategic Plan in a manner that reflects the membership of WALCE. Motion seconded by Mark Jenks. Motion carried by voice vote. Troy will follow up accordingly. 

• Web Site:  Several areas had reviewed the site and in general agreed it was not inviting and therefore probably not serving its intended purpose. It was suggested we need to better identify what its purpose is and who our audience is. It cost $1,200.00/year to maintain which is being done by WLWCA. Rick suggestion eliminating it. Troy suggested that perhaps it should be scaled down two one or two pages and just serves as an “online” file cabinet for minutes, agendas, scholarship and conference forms, etc. Don suggested maybe we could be a page from WLWCA’s web site, if that would be cheaper and easier.  Troy will talk to Rebecca to see what it would take and save to link in with WLWCA’s site. 

• WALCE Policies Manual: Troy provided a draft “Policy Manual” which sets forth in one documents all the policies and guidelines adopted by the board over the years.  This is the first time that has been done. Troy asked the board to go through the manual to identify or suggest changes or corrections that are needed.  We’ll go over those comments at the next meeting and finalize the manual. Troy pointed out in particular the need to identify a clearer policy on how awards are decided (e.g. who is responsible for nominations to be sent out?  What qualifies as Special Recognition? What happens if there is only one nomination?)  Dale Olson agreed to write up possible guidelines to bring back to the committee for review. 

Committee Appointments:  Troy Kuphal handed out the committee appointments for committee review. Suggestion was made by Troy to remove the NACD Committee appointment at this time, based on the recommendations of Pete Van Airsdale who served on it. Motion made by Dale Olson to approve the committee appointments.  See attached sheet.  Don asked about the value of our appointment on WASI.  Should we improve guidelines such that the appointed individual should report to the board more frequently than once per year?  Troy suggested Don look at the Policy Manual and comment on this question.  Motion seconded by Don Franke.  Motion carried by voice vote.

Legislative Update: 

• Preliminary staff and cost share Allocation Plan has been sent out to all counties.  Joe Van Berkel conducted a survey, of which the results were presented to the LWCB. The survey revealed that with a shift of nearly $900,000 from counties with existing staff, the result will be a loss of 20 staff combined.  Those counties receiving increases will be hiring 5 staff combined.  This is a net loss of 15 conservationists statewide, and does not include staff losses due to watershed closings.  Troy said most of the counties have already started on their budget, so he thought that the plan would not change much. The LWCB asked Dave Jelinski to work with Joe and see if there were any alternatives the agency could suggest. Jelinski offered to send out a survey to see if counties that got increases would be willing to accept less than $85,000 to help reduce the staff losses.

• Wisconsin Buffer Initiative: See attached sheet.  DNR will research and study buffer’s in preparation of creating a buffer standard.  Troy would be willing to serve on this committee if the WALCE Board approves.  Motion made by Don Franke to allow Troy to represent WALCE on the WBI Board.  Motion seconded by Shawn Stocks.  Motion carried by voice vote.

• Ag Standards Implementation Strategy:  Overview of a Draft Proposal: Troy explained that shortly after the rules were passed by the senate committee the DNR approached Troy and Rebecca. They asked if we would be willing to help lead in putting together an implementation strategy for the performance standards. Troy and Rebecca agreed and began working on a draft strategy. Don Franke mentioned that before WALCE & WLWCA provided major input to the DNR it should be presented to the WALCE Board before hand. Troy explained that the first draft went to the legislative committee and then it was presented to the DNR. The DNR provided comments back in June, and suggested minor changes to ensure it was consistent with their rules.  It was again sent to the legislative committee and at that point only received a couple of comments.  They were incorporated into the changes and went back for final draft.  Don Franke mentioned again that should have not gone out to the DNR until the WALCE Board reviewed it.  We are being pushed out in front and then we’ll pickup the criticism when it comes back to us on this set of rules.  Troy did bring it up to the WALCE Board at the May meeting, and explained that he did not want to present something that did not have the DNR’s approval.  He also mentioned that it is still a draft and recognizes that the Board still has the right to comment on it and decide whether or not to support it. He further accepted criticism if the manner in which was handled was not appropriate. What was presented today had support from the DNR. Don wanted to know how we are going to pay for this.  Is it based on our LWRM Plan and what impact will it have on grants?  Will your grant amount depend on how much of the strategy your county assumes?

Discussion on the whole strategy for NR151 will be reviewed at the county conservationist meeting in October.  Don Franke suggests taking no action until after the county con meeting and approval of the legislative committee.  Troy will tell the DNR that WALCE has recommendations but we are not acting on this yet. Motion made by Rick Mechelke to support the process from here.  Would like Troy to continue with the process and keep us updated how it is going to affect future funding.  Motion seconded by Tom Sweeney.  Motion carried by voice vote. 

• LWRM Plan Guidelines:  Troy presented a memo from Keith Foye of DATCP requesting the WALCE board suggest members to participate on a DATCP & DNR advisory team.  The team will provide recommendations of issues related to LWRM plans. Troy mentioned that if we do not put a call out then they will pick members themselves. Several people had already expressed interest in serving on the committee.  Pat Murphy also suggested taking them up on the offer but we need to have the sideboards for how the committee would operate and function. We also need to know what sort of grant ramifications may result from the committees work.  It was suggested that a LWCB member should also participate since they are the ones who approve the plan.  Motion made by Don Franke to agree to solicit members for this advisory committee, subject to DATCP providing sideboards and purpose of the committee prior to the meetings, that a LWCB member be invited on it and that possible grant ramifications be clarified.  Motion seconded by Dale Olson.  Motion carried by voice vote.

Agency Reports:

NRCS – Pat Murphy handed out the Abbreviated Conservation Planning Certification Process.  30 people since l998 training were approved for certification.  Another training of Module 6-8 which would include another 40 people by end of next week.  If you have not completed the inventory then you should do a special training with a forester or such.  As this is going on, Pat needs to hear the feed back.  Pat has been respecting the supervisors to make sure it is going correctly.  Early spring/summer of 2003 everyone should have been completed.  Troy mentioned that the people are having difficulty understanding the time lines and process.  Any information is great people just need to understand the whole process so they can plan accordingly with all their other workload.  Pat tried to get information out but it takes a long time line to get to technicians and such.  October 16 is the next session.  80-90 people will be certified by this fall.  80% are LCD employees (certified planners).  

Cost Sharing – Release of funds for EQIP funding will probably be late or mid winter. (No acceptance in writing contracts until late winter).  Third party vendor rules are not out yet and there will be no agreements to counties until then.  Things are looking promising for contribution agreements where counties would agree to provide 50% of needed serves for free in return for a guaranteed level of technical assistance dollars. Counties could get 100% for technical assistance but this would be a competitive bid process which would not guarantee counties anything. Regardless, farmers get to decide first who will provide their technical assistance.  The farmer would get reimbursed for this.  At the county conservationist meeting the base line information will be given. 

State Technical Committee – Work will be done to revise EQIP cost sharing so that it matches as close as possible to new state cost share requirement.  Pat is also looking into buffer maintenance requirements which may prevent adoption by dairy and other livestock producers who would like to mange buffers for feed value as well and water quality. What are needed are different management alternatives which reflect the purpose of the buffer (e.g. (wildlife, water quality, feed value, etc.).   

Any Other Business:  NACD Report Dale Olson reported from the last NACD Meeting in Branson, MO. 

Adjourn:  Motion made by Rich Mechelke to adjourn.  Motion seconded by Greg Baneck.  Motion carried by voice vote.

Respectively Submitted By:

Shawn Stocks, WALCE Secretary