Michigan Association of Extension Agents Meeting
March 6, 2001
President Longstroth called the meeting to order at 10:40 a.m. in the Lincoln Room of the Kellogg Center.
Agenda items were discussed.
The minutes of the January 29, 2001 MAEA Board Meeting were reviewed. Moved by Wylie to accept as printed. Birkey support, motion approved.
Wylie reported that we have 138 regular MAEA members and 2 associate members as of this date. Wylie exhibited and reviewed the cash flow report 12/31 through 3/1, 2001. The report showed an ending balance of $7,087.26 year to date. The budget report for 10/01, 2000 through 3/1,2001 was also exhibited and reviewed. A net income year to date was $8,346.99. Our balance sheet as of 3/1/01 showed and equity position of $16,024.91.
The question was raised as to what was the dollar amount committed to Wisconsin for the meal we are putting on Monday night. Longstroth reported that we have committed a $5,000 item to this meal and we are not sure what total expenses would be but we definitely will need more money. Marks raised a question as to whether or not we need to allocate more money to that activity now. Moved by Durst, seconded by Marks to commit another $5,000 to the Monday night meal at the NACAA meeting in Wisconsin. Motion approved.
Wylie raised the question as to the possibility of moving some of the balance out of our checking account into a Certificate of Deposit. Moved by Zook, seconded by Norman to move some of the balance of the checking account into a Certificate of Deposit. Discussion ensued as to how the decision should be made as to how much and what length of Certificate of Deposit should be purchased. Betz moved, seconded by Durst to amend the motion to have the Executive Committee make the decision as to the quantity and type of CD to purchase. Amendment to the motion approved; motion also approved. Motion by Betz to accept the Treasurer’s Report, seconded by Birkey, motion approved.
Southwest: MacKellar reported that Southwest met February 23. They discussed the new National Committee structure and how it relates to our State Committee structure. The National Meeting was also discussed and Pioch shared the opportunities for resources to help pay the expenses of individual agents. Program plans for counties of the region were shared. Dean Solomon is setting up a meeting for the region at Kellogg Biological Station in August.
East Central: Seamon reported that Zook has moved to Tuscola as County Extension Director. Jim Mantey has been hired as Extension Ag and Natural Resources Agent in Huron County, Marilyn Thelen has been hired as an Agent in Clinton County, Dennis TenWolde has been hired as Extension Watershed Agent, housed in Bay County and responsible for programs in 22 counties.
Regional Directors were encouraged by Wylie to please submit names and addres information of new agents to him so that he can include them on his database.
West Central: Griffith reported that the region met in November. Acting Director Maggie Bethel gave an update on the pending search for a new Extension Director. Another meeting has been scheduled for April 26. Guikema has taken the responsibility as Acting Regional Director and Betty Blase is Acting as Kent County Director. Tim Beemer has resigned and the Small Fruits Position will be posted again soon. New member Wayne Beyea, Ionia County Economic Development Agent, was introduced.
Southeast: Varner reported on two meetings that had been scheduled. The region met at the Whole Foods Coop in Ann Arbor for a tour and also last Friday toured the Fermi II. Another meeting is scheduled for March 30 at The Anderson's in Toledo, and followed by another meeting to be scheduled at Cabela’s.
Moore who is serving as our National Committee Chair for 2001 reported on the National Meeting in Albuquerque, New Mexico which is scheduled for August 5-9, 2001. He showed a promotional video from the New Mexico Agents Association, emphasizing the low humidity and dry heat of the region. Visitor guides and more information can be accessed from www.albuquerque.com
Moore also discussed the MCEA Scholarship possibilities that are available and that he and Durst have secured tickets at a very reasonable price through PriceLine. He reminded agents that are using University funds to travel that their tickets must be cleared through the MSU Travel Office.
Moore discussed the possibility of making a bid for the National Meeting to be held in Michigan in 2007, the next time the North Central would be eligible to host the meeting. The bid would have to be made in 2003. He discussed the need for a serious commitment of the membership if a bid is to be made. He reported that possibly Iowa and also Indiana may also be thinking of bidding. He stated that Wisconsin has raised around $200,000 to do the meeting in their state and if things go as planned they should make a profit at the activity. Moore asked for a show of hands giving a sense of the feeling of the agents, and many indicated that they would support investigating this further. Moore plans to get further information to share with the Board and the full body of agents at a later date.
Longstroth reviewed the new NACAA Committee Structure. Three National Committees now consist of the Professional Improvement, the Extension Development Committee and the Program Recognition Committee. The Program Recognition Committee has the committee structure that we were formerly familiar with as sub-committees. Longstroth detailed the opportunities available in the Professional Improvement Committee for different subject matter committees. There have been suggestions from Michigan to fill the Agronomy Committee, the Ag Economics Committee and the Forestry Committee and members still need to be recruited for Animal Science, Horticulture and Aquaculture. Longstroth also reported that the Extension Development positions including Public Relations, Early Career Development, Administrative Skills, Teaching and Communications have not been filled as to date. Discussion was raised as to how these different committee responsibilities would relate to our present structure of Area of Expertise Teams.
The matter of the new ED/NR Association was discussed. Longstroth reported conversations that he had with members of the proposed new association. The Board had discussed this at length at their last meeting and the Board felt that we want to try to meet the concerns of the people who want to form new associations. The best way to do this may be to have representatives of the groups come and meet with the Board or possibly have representatives of the Board meet with these groups to discuss their needs. Solomon suggested that in the case of the ED/NR group their decision to form a separate association may have more to do with our overall Extension organization rather than the MAEA not being able to meet their needs. Durst moved Birkey seconded that we move to communicate with the ED/NR group to see what we can do to meet their needs. Further discussion was offered. It was stated that we should be supportive of the group forming their own organization, but also move to try and address what they see as their needs to try to get them to support MAEA also. Question was called, motion approved.
Longstroth stated that he sees the need for some updating of our bylaws. He proposed to make some changes that will be discussed on the Board and publicized to members through the newsletter and web site by July or August so that they can be voted on at our meeting at Fall Conference.
Marks suggested that we add an additional committee to our Committee Structure to accommodate Community and Economic Development. It was also suggested that we change our Forestry Committee to Forestry and Natural Resources Committee. It was suggested that more work on the details of what these committees do should also be put together and shared with the group. Bivens challenged the organization to move proactively to meet the needs of the members so that we can have their support. Moore also supported that we need to meet this challenge by being pro-active.
Motion to adjourn meeting by Lindquist, seconded by Zook. Motion approved.
Respectfully submitted,
Donald R. Smucker
Secretary