IDAHO TREE FARM PROGRAM
9:30am-12pm, Thursday, April 25, 2019
Edgecreek Properties-Janet & Steve Funk
4873 S. Wolf Lodge Creek Rd., Coeur d’Alene, ID
1. Call to Order
President Sean Hammond called the meeting to order at 9:30a.m. Those present for all or part of the meeting were:
Sean Hammond, ITFC Chairman/ Tree Farmer
Kurt Koetter, IFOA/Tree Farmer
Steve Funk, IFOA/Tree Farmer
Janet Funk, ILRCC/Tree Farmer
Colleen Meek, ITFC Administrator
Madeline David, ITF Incoming Treasurer/Tree Farmer
Kirk David, IFOA/Tree Farmer
Steve Cuvala, ITFC Outgoing Treasurer/IDL
Mary Fritz, IDL/ITFC Certification Chair/IDL
John Lillehaug, ITFC District 3 Chair/ All About Forestry
Chris Schnepf, UI
Diane Partridge, IDL
Angela Wells, AFF-ATFS Western Region Manager
Marcus Smith. IFOA/Tree Farmer
2. Anti-Trust Statement
The Anti-Trust Statement was referred to at this time.
3. Q1 2019 Meeting Minutes-Approval-Committee
Sean asked if there’s any correction to the 1st Quarter Meeting Minutes. Kurt Koetter moved we accept as read. Steve Funk Seconded the Motion, with voice vote, the motion passed.
4. Q1 2019 Treasure Report-File for Review-Committee
Madeline David presented the Treasurer’s Report Program Funding year to April 24, 2019. Cash balance is currently $43,745.36. Income as of April 24, 2019 is 15,096.49. Total expenses as of April 24, 2019, $4,450.32. ITFC received a check from NLC Support for travel expenses and a check for Annual Program Funding. Mary Fritz moved we file the Treasurer’s report for review. John Lillehaug seconded the motion. With a voice vote the motion passed.
5. 2019 Budget Review-Treasurer
Treasurer Madeline David presented the budget update. Madeline said, there probably won’t be any expenses at the present for the accountant since Madeline completed the tax form for the IRS. Therefore the $750 will stay in the budget. As it gets closer to October it was suggested the ITFC look into a different web server and one that provides IT help as well. Diane Partridge suggest that ITFC also start an account on Facebook. Facebook could bring another generation and another outlook for ITF. Constant contact is also associated with Facebook. ITF committee did vote on sponsoring a teacher on Teacher’s tour plus give PLT monies. PLT does need to ask for a donation with a written letter. Budget is being reviewed and letting everyone know where the budget is at therefore it does not need to be approved.
6. Communications Report-Erin Bradetich
Communication Chair, Erin Bradetich, was not present. There was no communication report. It was suggested that our newsletters have more information regarding Wildlife, what you can do for seedlings, how to get better success on the land. There is a lot of technology out on the websites for different land issues. UI extension does have a lot of information on different issues on the land. Madeline David reported that 28-30 percent are only opening the newsletters on line but not one person is actually reading the newsletters out of 300 emails sent out. It’s needed to be looked into why there’s problems with constant contact with the newsletters. It was suggested that Erin needs to address the issues.
7. Old Business
a. 2019 ATFS FLY-IN, Washington, D.C.- Marcus Smith
Marcus will have meetings on Tuesday, with AFF Representatives, Chief of Forest Service to talk about Restoration on Private, State, and Federal Lands, needs to maintain the forests. Wednesday, Marcus will have meetings with District #1 and 2nd District Representative Simpson, Junior Senator Risch and Senior Senator Crapo. Marcus wanted to know what would the Tree Farm Committee like to see being discussed. Sean Hammond said, like to see IDL maintain control over water ways, funding issues. Committee would like to see more forest practice in the state, how to improve forest industry marketing far as private landowners, issues with transportation, and wildfires. Ask if there’s any help as timber landowner as a business, right off. Timber landowners are not getting substantiable return due to the timber market. One of the biggest issues is cost sharing. Like to see how to improve private land owners need to be part of the share stewardship. Maybe there is a need to form Coops. Landowners want to be treated equally, with state and federal. Private Landowner maintain work demand & supply is the message. Landowners need to maintain their incentives while transition is happening. It was suggested taking literature from IFOA and ITF.
b. 2019 Tree Farm Annual Meetings, Moscow: After Action Review – Committee
Annual Meeting is always on the last Monday in March. It was appreciated that the social hour was all together. It was believed there was a lot more than 60, could have been around 100. The people liked the format. It was appreciated the college kids came to talk, the next generation. Registration fee is mostly the cost of the meal, people are welcome to just listen. Always looking for a different facility location, but there needs a building big enough for around 300 or more plus have a motel in area to accommodate enough people that’s at the event. The location should be a central location.
c. 2019 NLC – Louisville, KY: Report – J. Lillehaug/E. Bradetich
Per John Lillehaug, it was interesting but more for the younger generation, more tree farm information in the older days. The new concept for younger American organization. There was a lot of break off sessions, hard to figure which one to go, trying to get more on Landscape. Most of the states assess landowners. Idaho is lucky to have IFG’s incentive support. John said, it was amazing the number people at the event. The tours were excellent, The Kentucky Churchill Downs and Bourbon Tour. The last day John was there they had a big storm 1 to 3 inches of snow. It was asked, Idaho’s point of view should someone go to represent every year. Yes, there should be someone to represent Idaho. There was more emphasis on new blood in leadership role. Talked about change but really didn’t explain. There’s not a lot of 30-year old’s in tree farm. There a need to be more background about tree farm to the younger generation.
d. 2019 ATFS Idaho State Tree Farm Program Assessment – Mary Fritz
Per Mary, Foresters are doing a great job, everything is here and will be submitted today. Main audit is June 10th but will be doing drive run with driving schedule, May 13th to the 20 tree farms in Silver Valley, St Maries, McCall, Kamiah areas, the main concern is drivers. Mary asked what is she allowed to spend, lunch, snacks and what? Some of the rigs are older and not so dependable, can rent rigs? She will have couple of rigs but might need more. Angela Wells said, the money is for lunch, snacks, rental of cars. Per Kirk David you probably won’t ever need to have a landowner drive the group (because they will be on-site when the assessment team arrives!). Rental vans probably run around $200 a day. The inspectors have contacted the landowners. The management plans are all current. They’re all updated to the 2015-2020 standards. All of the landowner did new inspections except 3 that were current. Angela was asked, if she knew what Jim likes to target if any specific items? She didn’t know anything specific. Talked about FORI Last inspections were 5 years ago, but Jim didn’t emphasize on anything specific. Kirk David explained that each audit is allowed to count as an inspection, so Inspectors should fill out a 004 form to get updated inspection credit for that date! Majority of all Idaho inspections are in District 1.
e. Inspections for 2019
John – is done with requires and has 2 optional
Mary Fritz is proxy for Andy- Andy had listed 19 but actually there’s only 14 requires left and 35 optional. There are 3 more new inspectors.
Tim Schaffer was absent due to sickness – left to be done is 1, optional 8 and 2 Pioneers
How many inspections are cross overs with the requires and the audits? There are 3.
8. New Business
a. Angela Wells of Montana – ATFS Regional Manager for Western Regional
Angela introduced herself as the new ATFS Regional Manager for the Western Regional. Angela let everyone know about herself and family. ATF did assessment in 2018, 1. Western Representation-state program. 2. Gap between ATF and tree farm/conservation. 3. Grow Impact-Strength committee, develop new projects. How to make program better, transition the tree farm, grow and strengthen the program. There is no conservation program in the State of Idaho, Mary and Angela will discuss at their luncheon meeting. Angela has grown up on tree farm, therefore it’s very important to her. What grow and impact means, strengthen the state ability of resources, Madeline discussed that the Idaho Program needs to shrink not get larger. Kirk David mentioned ATFS’s change in emphasis over the years from quality (ATFS 50th Anniversary announcement) to quantity (ATFS 75th Anniversary). How many don’t meet certification anymore? Colleen Meek offered to make a list that are not certified for the 2015-2020 standards. Angela would like to follow up with Nationals on the survey. Angela said, please use her as resource to strengthen the program. National has financial support means of new resources. Marketing Outreach is very specialized to bring more member to services that already that exists. Huge portion of the operating budgets come from outside support and grants. Mary wanted everyone to be aware that she will bring back what her and Angela discussed. Sean spoke about that a lot of the inspectors and like himself can’t give up their time or their job to volunteer to do a lot of inspections.
b. PLT Report-Mary Fritz
Per Mary upcoming May through July there will be 8 workshops. The Teachers tours will be June 24th through June 28th, The Opinion Tour in September, Arbor Day, and Photo contest. PLT needs to submit a written request for donation. In the budget approval for Teachers Tour is $500. Janet Funk said, there will a teacher’s tour Thursday, June 27th at their place Edgecreek Properties, Kennon McClintock will be giving a slide show at the dinner hour.
c. ILRCC Report – Janet Funk
Per Janet still up dating the Forest Action Plan.
d. 2019 “Forestry in Southern Idaho” Tour – John Lillehaug
Wednesday, May 16th is the Forestry Tour in McCall. Do have some real good speakers, fire legislation and good sites in the afternoon, Valley District. Try to keep it down to around 35 but there’s usually 40 to 50 attendees. Is there any direct mail? Yes farmers, operators, soil district, county provided list district 6 and 7. Money comes from the county for the mailing. ITFC provides the refreshments.
e. 2019 Idaho Forestry Contest, Delay Farms, Athol, May 9 – Kurt Koetter
There’s a lack of volunteers. There are 640 kids this year and majority is novice, 420 kids. Maybe next year might have to limit the novice. If, anyone wants to volunteer contact Karen Robinson. It was heard that there’s another Forestry contest in Moscow and Spirit Lake. There is a variety of 6th grade tours, Larry Cooke has a tour on his place. Chris Schnepf asked, when will the assignments be out, it is out now. For everyone that hasn’t heard get ahold of Karen Robinson.
f. 2019 ID Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year Tour, Forever Green Tree Farm– T Schaffer
Tim is absent due to illness. Sean reported that he and Tim met with Larry Cooke in St. Maries. There will be no need to rent of automobiles. Larry does have a shop. Don’t know if there will be a need for table and chairs but if so Scheffeimair does have table and chairs for rental. Would like to explore more options for food this year, need to think about it for the next meeting. What will the date be September 7th or 14th, it was discussed to let Cooke family decide which they prefer. Janet Funk said, that the Cooke’s was receptive to be nominated for Western Regional Tree Farmer of the year. Janet suggested that Colleen Meek look into the current format. Discuss further when Tim Schaffer is at the next meeting.
9. Other Business-Committee
a. Madeline went to the Comprehensive Plan Update Meeting for Kootenai County workshops. She talked about Wildland Urban Interface, there was only emphasis on timber, agriculture, and wildfire in one sub-section of the Plan. Madeline’s concern is that there needs to be more on wildfire. People need to speak and stand up that there more need on wildfire. There’s alternating meetings in Medimont, Athol and Rathdrum. A person can go on line to keepingkootenai.com.
b. Sean talked about LEAP, Chris Schnepf said, there will another meeting May 14-16th, since there was so many interested. LEAP is good for landowners, too.
c. Angela Wells asked if she can be on the ITFC mailing list. With voice vote unanimously approved
d. Next meeting date: Thursday, July 18, 2019-UI Extension-Kootenai Cty-1808 N 3rd St. CDA
10. Adjourn
Sean Hammond adjourned the meeting at 12:30p.m.
Respectfully submitted by,
Colleen Meek
ITFP Administrator
admin@idahotreefarm.org
