IDAHO TREE FARM PROGRAM
Idaho Tree Farm Committee Meeting
9:30am- 12:00pm, Thursday, April 21st, 2016
Kootenai County Extension Office
1808 N 3rd Street, Coeur d’Alene ID 83814
MINUTES
1. Call to Order
ITFC Chair Funk called the meeting to order at 9:37 a.m. Those present were:
Steve Funk, ITFC Chair
G. Kirk David, ITFC and proxy for Rob Keefe
Madeline David, ITFC
Tim Schaffer, District II Chair/Bennett Lumber
Doug Bradetich, ITFC Past Chair/IFG; proxy for Ray Getchius
Russ Hegedus, ITFC Vice Chair/IFG
Andy Eckberg, District I Chair/IFG
Steve Cuvala, ITFC Treasurer/Tree Farmer
Frank Gariglio, USDA/NRCS
John Lillehaug, ITFC District III Chair
Janet Funk, Tree Farmer
Kurt Koetter, Tree Farmer
Gretchen Lech, Hancock/SFI
Jane Thornes, Tree Farmer/PLT
Chris Schnepf/U of I
Savannah Miller, ITFC Administrator/R&A
Excused Absence: Rob Keefe, Ray Getchius, Mary Fritz
2. Anti-Trust Statement
Chair Funk reviewed the anti-trust statement with the members.
3. Approval of Minutes from January Meeting
With a spelling correction, Kirk David moved and Kurt Koetter seconded to accept the Minutes from the January, 2016 meeting. The motion passed unanimously.
4. Communications Chair Report – Madeline David
Constant Contact contract has been renewed for another year. Madeline David suggested that the ITFC is under-using the outlet and would like to utilize it more for local State interests and needs.
5. PLT Report – Jane Thornes
Last year, 20 workshops were completed across the state, including 5 in northern Idaho. A total of 448 teachers were reached state wide, which was an increase from the previous year. Jane Thornes asked the Committee to consider sponsoring a teacher to participate in the Sustainable Forestry Tour for Teachers and Counselors.
6. ILRCC Report (Idaho Lands Resource Coordinating Council) – Janet Funk
Janet Funk provided an overview of most recent discussions from the ILRCC meeting held in January. Next meeting is in June and there may be a possible field trip to the Clagstone Project.
7. Treasurer’s Report
Treasurer Steve Cuvala gave the Treasurer’s Report and Past Chair Bradetich reviewed the 2016 budget against actual income and expenditures as of April 21, 2016. Beginning balance as of January 1, 2016 was $20,523.32. The National Leadership Conference travel costs totaled $3,300 and the AFF/ATFS reimbursed $1,600, costing the ITFC a total of $1680 after reimbursement. FFLC came to a total of $1,250 for all expenses. ITFC has received $8,909.04 from IFG for stumpage premiums. Treasurer Cuvala reminded the Committee that a majority of income comes from IFG stumpage premiums which we receive twice a year. Other income comes from ATFS for completing required inspections. Forecast for the year looks like a surplus of over $5,000 and the current balance is $25,541.46. John Lillehaug moved and Andy Eckberg seconded to file the April 21, 2016 Treasurers Reports for review. The motion passed unanimously.
Donation Requests / New Budget Line Items
Treasurer Steve Cuvala asked the Committee to increase the annual donation (currently $100) for the Sixth Grade Resource Tour. Janet Funk moved and Kurt Koetter seconded to double the donation amount. The motion passed unanimously.
Jane Thornes asked the Committee to sponsor a teacher for the Sustainable Forestry Tour. Steve Cuvala moved and Janet Funk seconded the motion to donate $250 towards a sponsorship. Chair Funk called for a vote of the $250 scholarship and the motion passed unanimously.
8. Old Business
Inspections
All District Chairs and Inspectors have now been notified that 6 inspections still need assigned to an inspector and 13 required inspections are due to be completed and/or entered into the database.
Post Card Triage for Tree Farm Ratification
Post cards mailings will be sent out in groups of 50 until all Idaho Tree Farmers (who have not been inspected in the last 5 years) have been contacted. Post card will notify the Tree Farmer of their current enrollment and will ask them to complete and mail in the short form to update or confirm their information for the database. The card notifies the Tree Farmer that failure to respond will result in decertification of their Tree Farm, although they may reapply if desired in the future. Post card will give the Tree Farmer the option to update their management plan if needed or to inspect to current standards. After group discussion, Doug Bradetich moved and Janet Funk seconded the motion to send the postcards out to Tree Farmers with the agreed upon layout as discussed. Chair Funk called for a vote and the motion passed unanimously.
501(c)3 Status
Chair Funk has contacted the Bynum Group to assist the ITFC in becoming a 501(c)3 and received an estimate of $400 plus state and federal filing fees. He will follow up with the committee at the July ITFC meeting and provide updates.
Overview of the 2016 Annual Tree Farm Meeting
Regional Application for ATFS/ROTFY for Wood Family Tree Farm
Administrator Savannah Miller will contact National about receiving the upcoming ROTFY application for the Wood Family. The sooner the application is completed and submitted, the better, as it takes quite some time to be processed.
9. New Business
Topics for Spring Newsletter
-Annual Meeting, Wood Family OTFY, FOFD, Post Card Triage, Fall Tour
-Include grad student research projects
-PLT workshops
-Idaho Farm Bureau columns
-Inspector recognition and gratitude
Forest Owners Field Day
On Saturday, June 25, 2016 at the Reggear’s Tree Farm in Orofino. Volunteers are needed to set up on Friday and help orchestrate the event on Saturday. There will be 13 topics presented.
Audit Report (Doug Bradetich)
Doug Bradetich reviewed the report with the Committee. All items were in order.
Web Page Discussion
At the next quarterly meeting the Executive Committee will review the costs related to the website maintenance and updates. Administrator Savannah Miller will investigate having a presence on social media (Facebook) and having an Idaho page on the National Website to update Tree Farm members and Prospects.
Reminder: Fall Idaho Tree Farm Tour at Wood Family Tree Farm – September 10, 2016
10. Other Business / Next Meeting Date
Next meeting date is set for July 21, 2016, with the location to be decided.
Chris Schnepf informed the committee that 20 people have signed up for the Master Forest Stewards program.
11. Adjournment
Chair Funk adjourned the meeting at 12:36 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Savannah Miller
ITFC Administrator
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