Attendees: Ed Lieser, Frank Cuff, Ed Heilman, Scott Kuehn, Cait Faulkner, Jane Kollmeyer, Bryan Donner, Glenn Koepke, Rick Franke, Jim Mountjoy, Ken Brewer, Gordy Sanders, Greg Schildwachter

State Chair Ed Lieser brought the meeting to order at 9:08 am.

Secretary Bryan Donner summarized the April 29 executive committee meeting minutes.

Treasurer’s Report: Since the last meeting, there was only a House of Society Delegates assessment from the national office in the amount of $153. The account balance is at $3149.33, the Guth Memorial Fund is $290.46, and the scholarship fund is at 1146.00.

Centennial Committee: Ed Heilman reported the committee has expanded to five retirees with Gary Brown the only one with a computer and e-mail. Most of their correspondence will need to be by US Mail or by telephone. The new committee members, in addition or Ed, Gary, and Lorin Hearst, are Ernie Corrick and John Host. Ed has received from the national office a list of twelve early Montana SAF members. Their biographies will be compiled and submitted to newspapers in 2000 as a series to raise the level of visibility of SAF, its history, and its members. A time capsule with submissions of items from the chapters is another idea. Many of the decisions on what the committee could proceed with depend on when and where the 2000 state meeting will be conducted. Another idea would be to document early forestry activities such as timber sales or planting projects. September 5 to 7, 2000 is the National Reunion of USFS Employees; 500 to 700 people are expected in Missoula at the Holiday Inn Parkside. A tie-in to the state meeting might be logical.

Eastern Montana Chapter: Jim has moved to Missoula but will still function as chapter chair for the remainder of the year. The chapter will sponsor a Natural Resources Youth Camp student and continue to work on the Lewistown Brewery Flats project. The account balance for operating funds is low but the exact amount is not known. Jim will request a loan from the state if necessary.

Missoula Chapter: Rick reported the Forestry Discovery Days was a success with good media coverage. The dues distribution issue that was first brought up at the April Executive Committee meeting is still being investigated with chapter members being interviewed and old notes reviewed. Bryan called the national office and Louise Murgia indicated our process for distribution is unusual.

Flathead Chapter: A field trip to the Corem Experimental Forest was the May meeting activity with about 15 members present. Forestry Expo was another huge success with great community attendance. Members are currently organizing to attend the National Convention in Portland in September.

Libby Chapter: Frank related the chapter will not meet again until the fall. The fifth grade school tours were held for the 47th year, with the kids enjoying the lookout and the tree planting most. An Arbor Day celebration was held with about 30 hardwoods being planted in town.

Student Chapter: Students have dispersed for the summer after an active year.

Science and Technology: Ken and Ward will be co-chairing this committee from now on. They met a couple weeks ago to revive the plan for how to make science and technology transfer to the general membership. The Montana Forester will be the place where articles will be reviewed and listed. Upcoming scientific-based meetings will also be posted. Ken has talked with Sherry at the UofM to get science items posted on our web page. Organizing poster sessions at the state meeting will continue to be an objective. Ken should be added to all mailing lists. (brewer@ntsg.umt.edu 406-329-3112, 3175 Terrace Drive, Missoula, MT 59803-4539)

Policy Committee: Greg presented a policy committee report. Lynx is proposed for listing as a threatened species. Conferencing with various federal agencies to develop a conservation strategy is taking place. A draft plan for internal federal comment did not allow for outside comments. A more interdisciplinary team approach is now being used to draft a plan for public comment later in the summer.

Cutthroat trout is currently only a "sensitive" species (not formally listed) but lots of work is being done to keep it off the threatened list. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) is being developed to be signed by land management agencies and others (including the Montana SAF) to allow for conservation activities that will allow for recovery without listing. Greg believes listing is inevitable due to court ruling that will be brought on by advocacy groups. He thinks signing the MOU now would thus be meaningless because the legal risks are not outlined within the MOU. Greg moved to send a letter to the State (who drafted the MOU) asking for them to outline the legal assurances for all fisheries policies in Montana; and not signing the MOU. Gordy seconded. Greg’s position is agencies will be open to lawsuits for "taking" the fish without these legal assurances. The legal risks apply to private landowners as well. The legal assurances would allow for the issuing of incidental take permits by the USFWS. The motion passed. Greg will draft the letter.

Center for Resourceful Building Technology: Tracy Muma presented her organization and some products they are advocating. She represents the Center for Resourceful Building Technology (CRBT), which is a project of the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT). Some of the materials the CRBT is advocating could be used in a Habitat for Humanity project.

NCAT's mission is to champion sustainable technologies and community based approaches that protect natural resources and assist people, especially the economically disadvantaged, in becoming self-reliant. CRBT is dedicated to promoting environmentally responsible practices in construction. It serves as both catalyst and facilitator in encouraging building technologies that realize a sustainable and efficient use of resources. CRBT recognizes the value of demonstration building projects in introducing new technologies to the public and building markets for innovative and sustainable products.

CRBT has a strong interest in small-diameter timber and the role that it can play in local sustainable development and in building construction. CRBT is working to link ecosystem restoration activities with the capacity of local entrepreneurs to utilize the small-diameter timber resource in the manufacture of building products. In turn, CRBT plans to demonstrate application of those building products in order to build markets for them and supply the materials needs of the building industry. In carrying forward this multi-faceted project, CRBT is cooperating with the USDA Forest Service, Montana Economic Development Corporation, and the National Forest Service Museum. They are seeking additional groups and projects to cooperate in producing and demonstrating small-diameter timber building products.

CRBT is also interested in promoting the use of certified, sustainably produced wood products in construction in Montana - in particular products certified through the Forest Stewardship Council. CRBT is pleased to offer project facilitation, materials recommendation, product procurement and project interpretation services.

Newsletter: Cait updated the committee on the bulk mailing permit information. She has investigated newsletter costs and we will be at about $600 per issue for mailing and publication in Libby. A different format using larger pieces of paper could possibly save us $100 per issue. Advertising would cover the cost of doing an issue if we could get 16 to 18 quarter page ads for each issue, or 10 half-page ads. Ads would have to be "print ready" or JPEG files. Set publishing deadlines would be necessary if using ads and publishing four issues per year would be the best to be consistent. Twenty percent of the newsletter coverage could be advertising and then we could break even financially. Cait gets most of the material for the newsletter off the web pages and would always welcome articles from anyone at anytime. The costs and income from the newsletter will become complex and a financial report for the newsletter will be necessary.

Mentor Program: Glen has been hoping to get a local Missoula Chapter member to help with the mentor program, due to the distance he has to travel to participate with UofM activities.

Montana Natural Resources Youth Camp: Frank moved to send $100 to the camp and Jane seconded, and it passed.

Membership: Our current State membership is 453 and the National Office has assigned us a goal of 476 by the end of the year. The newsletter will be sent to prospective members.

Habitat for Humanity: Gordy has been speaking with the Habitat for Humanity representatives. If we were to help build a house during a state SAF meeting, it would be possible to start building on a Wednesday and finish the house on the following Saturday. The materials cost for a home runs about $6600. The "stump to house" concept would allow for good media coverage but requires about two months to get logs removed from the woods, milled, and ready to be delivered to the home site. The location of the next state meeting was discussed next as a component of the Habitat for Humanity idea. The Eastern Montana chapter conceded the 2000 meeting to Missoula with the 2001 meeting to be head in Lewistown. Gordy moved and Rick seconded to allow up to a $500 loan from the state to the Eastern Montana chapter to get them through the next year. The motion passed, and the loan, if needed, will have no interest charged. The date of the state meeting was the next issue. The Missoula Chapter may opt for a September meeting instead of the traditional spring to allow them more time to put together a terrific centennial celebration as well as allow for some tie-ins with some other meetings that are taking place at about that same time.

Budget: Ed presented a budget that has been revised several times so far this year. A $400 charge will be applied to either supporting UofM students going to the National Convention or to a bus if there is sufficient interest. The students would be allowed to travel on the bus for free. Newsletter costs in the budget will be estimated now at $825 for the year and revised when costs and advertising income are better defined.

By-laws Revision: Frank and Russ’ suggestions for revisions were summarized. Changes to their suggestions were to 1) Add a provision for paying half of the dues for the state chair, chair-elect, and secretary/treasurer, 2) Drop the idea of a 2 year term for elected officers, 3) Revise terminology regarding delinquent dues payment as being in "bad standing," and 4) Include language regarding management of memorial funds. The by-laws will be voted on by the general membership at the same time as the fall elections.

Forest Stewardship Council: The task force has completed standards for the Northern Rockies and comments are due by July 15 to Steve Thompson’s FSC committee. If we want to have a consolidated SAF response, comments should be to Tim Love by June 25. The standards are on the internet at: www.fscus.org/rockies Ed and Tim’s committee will organize comments and then have an SAF executive committee conference call to decide on the Montana SAF’s position.

Membership Handbook: No activity but Frank will be working with Melissa Squires soon.

Forester’s Fund Request: A request was presented for the Brewery Flats project in Lewistown to be a Forester’s Fund special grant for $5000. A motion by Rick and seconded by Jane to forward the request to the National Office was passed unanimously.

Participation in the Inland Empire Tree Improvement Cooperative: September 29, 1999 in Plains at the Plum Creek seed orchard and at the Chippy Creek tree improvement site will be a field trip the SAF is co-sponsoring. Mark Montville requested from Frank to have the SAF get involved. Other possible sites to visit on the field trip could be contributed by SAF members.

Video: Ed has a copy of the SAF produced "Foresters - Growing Forests for Our Future." Please see him if you want to borrow it.

Use of the term "Forester": Rick presented an advertisement for a radio program that describes logger Bob Love as a forester and wildlife advocate. All present thought this was inappropriate since Love is not qualified. Ed will investigate with the radio station and with the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks who are sponsoring the program.

Next Meeting: The next meeting is scheduled for October 15 at the AFD in Missoula.