Meeting called to order by Sam Gilbert at 10:20 AM.

PRESENT WERE: Tim Love, Frank Cuff, Warren Appelhaus, Dick Guth, Sherri McWilliams, Dan Pittman, Michelle Landuyt, Melissa Squire, Sam Gilbert, Dave Stack, Greg Schildwachter, Glenn Koepke, Bonner Armstrong and Tom Tintinger.

-Web Page- Sherri McWilliams briefed the committee on the new State SAF Web Page. Sherri works for the School of Forestry and she will be the contact person for the web page. She stated that the web page can be changed or corrected very easily. The web page is set-up with state information on the main menu with bullets to individual chapter information. The web page has very little information on it at this time and it is vital that the membership supply information for the page and keep it updated. Sherri prefers web page material to be sent to her by e-mail, but it can also be faxed to her or sent to Dick Guth. It is important that chapter and committee chairs provide as much information as possible to the web site. Most information should be approved by either Dick Guth or Frank Cuff before it is placed on the web site, but meeting notices and newsletters can go straight to Sherri. The Montana Forester, SAF application form and possibly a membership handbook will be placed on the web page.

Sherri McWilliams’ numbers and e-mail address are:

Telephone……………….243-2449
Fax………………………243-4845
E-Mail…………………..sherri@forestry.umt.edu

Minutes from the last meeting were approved as presented in the Montana Forester.

Treasurer’s Report - Tom reported $2,226.97 in the State SAF account. Tom will advance $500.00 to the Libby Chapter for the State Meeting.

-Comment Document on Bull Trout Recovery Plan - Greg Schildwachter of IFIA reviewed a draft SAF response document that was drafted by a SAF review committee on the Bull Trout Recovery Plan. Montana SAF was asked to review and comment on the draft Bull Trout Recovery Plan. The Bull Trout Restoration Team asked three main questions of Montana SAF and requested that comments address these questions. The SAF review committee’s main objective was to identify specific points of the scientific report that were weak and comment on them. One point that was emphasized was the lack of current BMP audit data. A question was raised on the science to backup recommended buffer zone widths. Greg was going to do some fine tuning on the draft response and e-mail the final draft to Sam Gilbert. Sam proposed to distribute the draft document to the executive committee and arrange a conference call on Thursday, December 18^th to make final changes to the draft response and approve a final draft.

-Upper Columbia River Basin Study Review: Dan Pittman stated that Bob Pfister put together a package of the draft Montana SAF UCRB Response from the review committee and sent it out to the chapters for review. Dan stated that he only received one set of comments back from any of the chapters. He was disappointed in the response. Dan discussed the proposed changes he received from that response. These changes for the most part were incorporated into the draft SAF response. Dan will rewrite the UCRB response with the included changes and distribute them to the executive committee for a conference call approval.

-1998 Leadership Conference - Frank Cuff handed out the agenda for the leadership conference with the facilities and costs described. Frank has attended the National Leadership Training and promises a very interesting workshop. Frank stressed the importance of having all the new officers attend along with current officers and committee chairs. The facilities at Lubrecht at the new lodge are excellent. The cost is a little higher this year because the food has to be catered in, but it is still very reasonable.

-1998 Annual Meeting - Frank passed out an updated agenda for the state meeting. Frank stated that most of the speakers are committed. Room reservations should be made by February 1 because of school tournaments at the same time which will cause some room shortages. Frank stated that they will have a mailing out shortly after the first of the year for registration, room rates and reservations. Meeting registration will be $60 for pre-registration, $80 for late registration and $30 for students.

NEW BUSINESS

Eastside Chapter - Sam Gilbert reported that their last meeting was held in Butte and the topic of the meeting was the Rosgen Stream Classification System. The next meeting will be held in Bozeman on December 19^th.

-Flathead Chapter- Tom reported that their November meeting was a presentation by Allen Rowly on Amendment 21 to the Flathead Forest Plan - the Old Growth Management Direction Amendment. The Flathead Chapter also presented a $400 Scholarship to Brian Canatta, a Flathead Valley Community College Forestry Student. The December 16^th meeting will be the annual spouse nite Christmas Dinner. Dr. Bob Keane will discuss the effects of greenhouse gas emissions and global climate change on natural resource management. The chapter will also conduct the annual auction to raise money for the scholarship fund.

-Libby Chapter - Warren Appelhaus reported that their November meeting was a presentation on noxious weeds. Their December meeting was on December 10 which was their spouse nite and the meeting topic was the Heritage Program. Up coming meetings will be on January 8^th and February 12^th. Both meetings will discuss the upcoming state meeting. Russ Gautreau was chosen as the Libby Chapter Forester of the Year.

-Missoula Chapter: Dave Stock reported their November meeting featured Jerry William who talked about the role of fire in the ecosystem. Their next meeting will be on December 16^th and will feature Gary Alison on his trip to Chili. They will also have their annual drawing for a free weekend getaway for best attendance at their meetings. New officers will be Chairperson- Tony Liane, Chair Elect - Carl Fielder and Secretary/Treasurer - Rick Franke.

-Student Chapter - Melissa Squire reported that December 4^th was their last meeting. Two students were matched up with mentors. New officers will be Chairperson - Melissa Squire, Chair Elect - Michelle Landuyt.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

-Mentor Program - Glen Koepke handed out and updated mentor instructions for 1997-98.

-Membership - Bonner handed out a status report on Montana SAF membership. Montana SAF membership stands at 452 members, which is up 10 new members since September 1997 although National membership is down 232 members. Bonner also had a current membership printout that was handed out to the Executive Committee Officers. He also handed out a copy of his SAF membership drive program. He pointed out that participation in the membership drive was very poor but there was still time to submit names of potential members.

-Policy/Legislation- Tim Love handed out a copy of the Montana SAF comments on the Selway/Bitterroot Grizzly Bear Recovery EIS. Tim stated that he had met with congressional representatives in November and the meeting went very well. He anticipates they will contact SAF for information in the future. The Forest Certification Program is up in the air right now because the Montana contact person, Mike Roy, has left the Montana Wildlife Federation and a new contact person has not been appointed. Jerry Williams has contacted Montana SAF about the possibility of SAF developing a position statement on fire in the ecosystem. Tim also talked about the role science has played in policy development.

Sam Gilbert talked about the Habitat for Humanity Program and how the Tennessee SAF got involved with labor for building homes for the program. Sam suggested that this is something Montana SAF might consider getting involved with.

Sam also reviewed the State SAF mission statement and the goals for last year. He stated that the membership was close to meeting all of it’s stated goals. He talked about his disappointment in the lack of interest shown in the lack of candidates willing to run for offices. Sam ended up by thanking everyone who helped make this a good year as the State chairperson.

-Next Meeting will be on Friday, January 30^th at the Leadership Conference Room at Lubrecht.

Meeting was adjourned at 3:00 PM

Tom Tintinger
Montana SAF
Secretary/Treasurer