Chairman Ed Lieser called the meeting to order at 9:15 am.

While waiting for members to arrive, a discussion of dues distribution began. There may be a discrepancy in how dues are distributed to the Missoula Chapter. Rick will check with the Missoula Chapter by-laws and records and Bryan will check past state secretary records and with the national office.

Do to the lack of a quorum, we decided not to make any decisions and do an information-sharing meeting. Several items on the agenda were deferred to the next meeting. Tracy Muma from the National Center for Appropriate Technology was contacted to not come in the afternoon and maybe she will be able to attend the next meeting. She wants to present some options for the Habitat for Humanity project.

Committee / Chapter Reports:

Executive Report: Ed related no elected officer could be found to attend the National Leadership Academy in Missouri in May representing the Montana SAF this year.

Treasurer’s Report: There is currently $3300.88 in the operating fund and $295.39 in the Dick Guth Memorial Fund. The state meeting in Kalispell netted $1749.00 to the state, after splitting with the Flathead Chapter. The scholarship fund is at $1346.00 but the $200.00 scholarship has not been paid yet to the University. Carl Fiedler will need to report the scholarship amount at the executive committee meetings or forward the figure to the Treasurer. The operating account is at its greatest amount it has been for several years.

Policy: Tim Love and Greg Schildwachter gave a report to Gordy. The report outlined the following six items. In addition to these, the S&K Tribal DEIS for forest management is available for comment. Ed suggested we do a review and comment if someone has the time and energy. Tim has the copy of the DEIS.

1. Critical Issues Forum. Tim and Greg have the list of critical issues compiled by the membership at the March state meeting. They will rank these issues based on their relevance to Montana SAF's mission, on SAF's ability to affect them, and the cost in time, money, and effort. They will report the ranked list to the Executive Committee.

2. A demonstration of small-diameter wood products in home building is in the works. This demonstration may help us with our Habitat for Humanity Project.

3. The Montana westslope cutthroat steering committee met to review the most recent draft of a Conservation Agreement... (Greg will call in any important details).

4. The conferencing team of Forest Service and Fish and Wildlife Service managers is reviewing a draft conservation strategy for lynx. Tim and Greg will advise the Executive Committee if and when any comments are necessary.

5. Bonner Armstrong is preparing a report on 25% funds for the Helena National Forest.

6. Committee of Scientists report has been reviewed in the Forestry Source. Unless there is reason to do more to inform Montana members, we propose just following this issue.

Flathead Chapter: Deb Manley reported:

The recent state meeting in Kalispell was a success. A summary of the state meeting numbers is attached to the secretary’s notes and is posted on the web page. Glenn suggested the major points and lasting impressions that attendees observed could be summarized and compiled into a Montana Forester article and posted on the web page. At future state meetings, these thoughts will be solicited for up front. An announcement on the web page will be posted to send to Deb (by May 15) any attendee’s impressions of the Kalispell meeting presentations. This will be published in the summer issue of the Montana Forester.

Deb also related the recent April chapter meeting that concerned TMDLs and the listing of impaired streams by the state of Montana. Members at the meeting agreed the state is making good progress on re-evaluating the impaired streams listing.

The Family Forestry Expo begins next week and is a large commitment by SAF members to pull it off. Donations this year are way down. Any help by SAF members from across the state will be appreciated. Please see Deb if you have any interest.

The next chapter meeting will be a walk through of a new larch interpretive trail at the Coram Experimental Forest near Hungry Horse, hosted by Ray Shearer, of the Rocky Mountain Research Station, on May 18. This would hopefully lend itself to a Centennial Walk in the Woods in the fall. Members will head for beer and pizza in Columbia Falls after the walk.

Missoula Chapter: Rick Franke reported:

Chapter meeting attendance is up, averaging 28 or so and up to 40 at some meetings. No meeting was held in March but the April meeting concerned a strategic approach to public communications. A suggested approach for SAF is to create a communications plan based on chapter level committees and a state level umbrella group to bring it together.

The recent Forestry Days at Ft. Missoula was a big success.

Forest Discovery Days is the 19^th & 20^th of May; expanded to three days this year. About 500 kids will be there. In the third year, donations are up.

The Centennial Committee reported to the Chapter at the April meeting. Historical Biographies and the Ft. Missoula Celebration are two projects they are working on.

Eastern Montana Chapter: Gordy reported since no Eastside members were able to make it.

Chapter Chair Jim Mountjoy is moving from Laurel to Missoula and leadership of the chapter needs to be better defined. Jim may want to remain Chair but Ed will check to see what they are planning to do and what is best for the chapter.

There was a meeting in Great Falls to view the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center and see how it might be used as a focus for the state meeting in 2000. The Spring Creek project in Lewistown is behind schedule and may not be completed before the state meeting in March, 2000. The chapter is currently reviewing which situation may be best. Their financial account is down to $300 and they need a state meeting to generate revenues to operate the chapter. The travel distance for most Montana SAF members to Lewistown is pretty far and is a consideration in deciding where to have the meeting. Missoula may be a better location for the state meeting in 2000 since there will be several projects to showcase, including the Centennial Celebration and a Habitat for Humanity project. If held in Missoula, the meeting would be in September, which is a departure from tradition. The state meeting could be in Lewistown in 2001 when the Spring Creek project would be completed. The State SAF, Missoula Chapter, and Flathead Chapter are all currently somewhat ‘flush’ and could float a loan to the Eastside to allow them to operate until 2001. Gordy will facilitate discussions between the chapters to get the ball rolling for now.

Libby and Student Chapters: No report.

Old Business:

By-laws Update: Review of Frank Cuff and Russ Gautreaux’s draft suggestions for updating the State SAF by-laws need to be forwarded to Frank by June 1.

Review of Draft Budget: The budget could not be finalized since the current balance figures Ed used were well below his early estimates, due to the fine fund raising work of the Flathead Chapter. Also, a $435 surplus was found in the treasurer’s records from 1998 due to math errors. Ed will update the budget and finalize it at the next executive committee meeting in June.

Forest Stewardship Council report: There is a need to form a Montana SAF task force for review of the Northern Rockies regional standards for forestry certification. An announcement for the formation of the task force will be posted on the web page and in the Montana Forester. The standards may be available for review by early May. The standards themselves are too voluminous to post on the web page or publish in the Montana Forester but we will be able to direct folks to the FSC web page for viewing the regional standards. Instructions on our web page and in the Montana Forester will tell members where to focus their reviews. The FSC web site is at: www.fscus.org

University of Montana SAF scholarship: This will be awarded for the first time tomorrow night. The recipient will be Michelle Landuyt, the U of M Chapter Chair. Missoula Chapter Chair and U of M Forestry Professor Carl Fiedler will present the $200 award.

New Business:

Fellow Nominations: The Flathead Chapter is nominating long time active member Dave Klehm. No other nominations are pending in the state right now. Nominations are due May 31 to the National Office.

Advertising in the Newsletter: Ed asked the executive committee at the state meeting to solicit ideas concerning the concept of advertising. There has been no opposition. We will pursue the idea to see if Cait is able to get advertisers and how much help she will need to get it started. We may give up on the idea of electronic versions of the newsletter for now since the advertising would be able to cover the costs and the advertising would be difficult to make compatible with e-mail systems.

Position Statements: Bonner Armstrong is working on a statement for decoupling the 25% funds. A lynx statement will need immediate attention when the draft guidelines for recovery are available to the public.

Participation in IETIC: The Inland Empire Tree Improvement Cooperative will be holding a field trip in September and will be co-sponsored by the Montana SAF. Russ Hudson will be our liason for this effort. The trip is to a seed orchard in Plains.

National SAF Council Nominations: These are due by July 1 to the National Office. If anyone is interested or would like to nominate anyone, please contact Ed soon. A council representative from the Montana SAF would be outstanding. The executive committee feels there are many Montana SAF members that would make fine Council members.

"Forest of Discord" publication available: This is a SAF task force effort commissioned by President Bosworth in 1996. Ed has a copy. It can be purchased from the National Office for $15. See the Forestry Source or the national web page.

 Ed adjourned the meeting at 12:20 pm. The next executive committee meeting will be on June 11, Friday, at the AFD at 9:00 am. Ed will ask Tim to make the arrangements for the meeting location.