AFD, Missoula, Montana

Attendees: Ken Brewer, Jane Kollmeyer, Tim Love, Cait Faulkner, Bryan Donner, Gordy Sanders, Rick Franke, Steve Hayes, Dave Stack, Frank Cuff, Glenn Koepke, Greg Schildwachter

Gordy called the meeting to order at 9:20 am.

Bryan reviewed the minutes from the last meeting in October. These were accepted by those members present.

Bryan gave a treasurer’s report. We have $2720.91 in the general fund. The Dick Guth Memorial Fund is at $279.66 and the UofM Scholarship fund is at about $1165.

Chapter Reports

Flathead: The November meeting featured a discussion of Canada lynx and the Endangered Species Act with Flathead National Forest employees. The chapter presented two scholarships for FVCC forestry students at this meeting. A forestry and fire tour of Scandinavia with Steve Arno highlighted the annual spouse’s meeting in December. About 35 members and spouses were in attendance and about $850 was raised in the annual auction of member-made trucks, bird feeders, almond rocca, and Christmas wreaths. Ed Lieser was selected Flathead Chapter Forester of the Year.

Libby: The recent Christmas meeting was well attended this year. Officers will remain the same as 1999 and no elections will be held. Cait Faulkner was selected Libby Chapter Forester of the Year.

Eastside: The Brewery Flats project is still a big focus of the chapter. Dennis Davaz with some help has raised about $15,000 and may be looking for help to plant some trees out this spring.

Missoula: Two chapter meetings have been held since the last Missoula Chapter report was presented in October. The annual spouse meeting was held earlier in the week on Tuesday and was well attended.

Student: No report. The students are either taking final exams or headed home for the holidays.

Committee Reports:

Science and Technology: Ken reported not much has progressed since the last meeting.

Centennial Committee: A new project has been added since the last Executive Committee meeting which is investigating the idea of a time capsule to be buried under the fire lookout at Fort Missoula. Time capsules are fairly complicated to organize since they need to be sealed with nitrogen gas and the contents need to be carefully selected so they can be understandable in the future. The approximate cost of putting together one of these is $1500. The biographies of early Montana Foresters are coming along also.

Mentor Program. No report.

Policy: Tim reported on items discussed at the last executive committee meeting that need updating: 1) Forest Stewardship Certification. The Northern Rockies standards are still at a stand still due to lack of funds at the national levels of FSC. Ed Lieser has sent a letter to the Northern Rockies FSC representative (Steve Thompson in Whitefish) letting him know we want to stay involved. 2) Lynx. A policy statement has been prepared and sent in to the US Fish & Wildlife Service. Tim requested a signed copy of the letter that Ed sent in. 3) Proposed NFMA regulations update. Dave Stack requests to be formally put on the committee that is investigating this item. A meeting was held of a few Missoula area members to establish a policy statement. This comment period has been extended. 4) President’s Roadless Initiative. Tim got some help to prepare and send in a letter that is consistent with the National SAF position that essentially requests an extension of the comment period. Several other issues, including Columbia River Basin EIS, were discussed in relation to the political climate and timing. Jerry Williams of the USFS, R1 has requested the Montana SAF develop a wildfire and prescribed burning policy statement. Tim will initiate that process. The legislative tours for this fall that were discussed at the last meeting will be coordinated through the policy committee.

Newsletter: Cait reported there is no new business and she is looking for articles to include in the winter newsletter. She sent a request for advertising to 60 different Montana businesses recently.

CFE: Dale K. related to Steve Hayes that there are currently eleven certified foresters in the Montana SAF.

Montana Natural Resources Youth Camp: No report. Jim Mountjoy has recently been appointed to the MNRYC board of directors.

Cultural Diversity: No report.

Membership: A follow-up discussion on membership and dues was discussed under the Missoula Chapter section in the last meeting minutes. When Carl’s letter is finished, it will be passed around and printed in the Montana Forester. Cait did some research with the National Office for some information for a newsletter article. She related some of the more interesting membership statistics. Gordy related a National Membership Fund is available from the National SAF Office to specifically deal with membership issues. We will explore this issue later if we want to go after a grant.

BLM Advisory Council (Westside): The Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) issue is very big with this group. The groups in Montana are somewhat political in their appointments and issues they discuss. Most of the activities that occur are centered around the Beaverhead and Deerlodge areas in the Western Montana council, where most of the BLM land is located.

Old Business:

Habitat for Humanity: Gordy and Scott Kuehn met with the Habitat for Humanity advisory board and presented the "stump to home" concept for next year’s state meeting in Missoula. This was approved by their board. We will have a "blitz build" at the state meeting in September. Their responsibility will be to get the site and permits together and we will coordinate most everything else. Accountability at the mills will be an issue but we think we can make it happen. The media has been contacted. Donations of non-wood materials will be critical. Ken Brewer suggested extra raw materials could be turned over to building materials centers for metal and other material needs. Leftover materials can be directed to other Habitat for Humanity homes.

By-laws: Frank Cuff has updated the proposed by-laws to reflect the new national minimum by-laws. Other areas of change discussed included executive committee quorums, committee definitions, use of Italics, and the inclusion of new Article 15 for scholarships and Article 16 for memorials. Frank will make the suggested changes and get it out to the voting membership. The ballots will possibly go out with the Winter Newsletter.

UofM Scholarship: Chapters are reminded they are committed to an assessment of at least one dollar per member to be paid through Carl Feidler by the end of January.

Update on State Meeting 2000: Dates have been established for September 13 through 16 and the location will be the 4-B’s Convention Center. There will be some overlap of activities with the National Tree Farmers Association meeting. The Wilma Theater may be available for some activities. Speakers may be the Governor, Taylor Brown (of Farm Report fame), and Patrick Moore (Greenpeace founder but now a forestry advocate). Moore has been contacted and the speaking fees are substantial. Rick Franke has investigated some funding sources and thinks we can reduce the cost to the SAF. Rick moved to investigate Patrick Moore as a speaker with the SAF contributing up to $2000 to cover expenses. Frank seconded. After further discussion, Rick withdrew his motion and will do further investigation about costs and Chapter Chairs will go back to their members to see if they can contribute money to this effort.

Membership Handbook: Frank Cuff and Melissa Squire are working on an update and it should be distributed soon.

Joint Leadership Academy with Inland Empire: The location will be Lubrecht and the dates will be February 25 to 26. Gordy is still coordinating with the Inland Empire society to organize a program.

New Business:

Transition to New Officers: Bryan and Steve will be getting together in mid January to pass off Secretary/Treasurer responsibilities. Ed, Gordy, and Dave will be doing the same soon.

Next Meeting: The next executive committee meeting will be held on Friday, January 28, 2000, at the AFD in Missoula.