SWS SOUTH CENTRAL CHAPTER
Fall Business Meeting Minutes
October 11, 2002 – Baton Rouge, LA

The Business Meeting of the Society of Wetland Scientists South Central Chapter was called to order at 1130 by Marge Holland, President. Holland welcomed all attendees and a quorum was declared by Secretary/Treasurer Rebecca Howard. Past President Ron Boustany handed off the organizational notebooks originally created by Mark Ford to Marge Holland.

Holland thanked and introduced all board members for recognition by chapter. Holland thanked Rebecca Howard for all her hard work and Shannon Holbrook for stepping in as Interim Secretary due to Howard’s new position as International Treasurer. Holland thanked Andy Nyman for all his hard work on putting on this year’s workshops and conference despite interference from Hurricanes Isadore and Lili. Holland recognized guests and visitors to this year’s meeting and then proceeded with the meeting business.

Minutes: A copy of the minutes from the June 2002 Chapter meeting in Lake Placid, NY was distributed by Howard to meeting attendees for review. A motion was made to accept the minutes, and the motion passed. Howard transferred duties of Secretary to Holbrook until spring elections in 2002. A motion to approve the division of duties until the spring election was made and passed.

Treasurer Report: The fall financial report was distributed to attendees by Howard (Attachment A). The report summarized deposits and withdrawals to the Chapter account that have occurred since October 2001. Total chapter assets as of October 1, 2002 were $ $7,873.19 , which included $2,000 in a CD opened in April 2001. The CD will mature in the spring of 2003. Rebecca brought up the issue of the problems dealing with the switchover of the SWS business office. The chapter still has not gotten their cut of membership fees which should be around $1200. Also, the chapter usually has a membership of approximately 470 members and the latest member file from Burk and Associates shows the membership at 435.

Standing Committees:

1. Membership – Rebecca reported that membership from Burk and Associates was reported at 435, however, this number is believed to be incorrect due to problems of the business office switchover. A total of 15 new members – 5 regular and 10 student – were recruited through this meeting.

2. Program – Paul DuBowy talked about the location of next year’s meeting. He suggested holding the meeting in a new area to see new sites and potentially recruit new members. He suggested holding the meeting at Lake Texoma, Oklahoma with Bob Nairn as the contact with an invitation to the Central Chapter to join the meeting. Darrin Dantin offered to hold a chapter meeting in Pensacola and Gary Hahn suggested a chapter meeting in Kentucky. There was concern expressed at getting a big turn out for chapter meeting in 2003 due to the annual SWS meeting in New Orleans. Bob Nairn presented the idea of holding the chapter meeting at the University Biological Facility. Jeff Raasch made the motion to hold the 2003 chapter meeting at Lake Texoma, Oklahoma with a second by Scott Jecker and the motion passed.

3. Nominations – Ron Boustany announced that there will be a new election in the spring for President-elect, Secretary-Treasurer and two board members. Ron announced that Shannon Holbrook is currently serving as Secretary to relieve Rebecca Howard due to her new position as Treasurer of the International Society. Ron asked that people began to consider nominations for these offices. The election will continue with mail in ballots and internet voting. Ron announced that the official nominations would be released with the annual chapter newsletter.

4. Affiliations/Special Issues – No chairs exist for these committees. Sam Faulkner agrees to chair these committees and Marge Holland will follow up with this issue.

5. Archives – Chair Ron Boustany reminded members that the archives are maintained in a file box at the National Wetlands Research Center in Lafayette, LA. The archives document past meetings, national board meetings, registration forms, etc. The archives were started around 1999, and Rebecca invited anyone to look through the files and add any information they feel is necessary.

6. Bylaws & Standing Rules – Chair Ron Boustany reminded members that a proposal passed at the Lake Placid Meeting to make the chapter webmaster a special President-appointed Board position. A vote was called for on this motion. Andy Nyman made a motion to approve the position, Lisa Gandy seconded and the motion passed. Darrin Dantin was appointed at Lake Placid to temporarily fill the position and he expressed interest in remaining in the position.

7. Issues Committee – No chair exists for this committee.

8. Special Committees – Lisa Gandy, chair of the SWS 2003 planning committee, provided a brief history of the meeting and the planning progress. The planning for the meeting has been ongoing for 2 – 2½ years. Lisa indicated that the meeting is a big deal for the chapter because the chapter will get to keep a percentage of the profits from the meeting. She indicated that the meeting has a great logo and invited everyone to check out the website to view the logo and meeting information. She announced that the presentation at the Lake Placid meeting generated a lot of enthusiasm and invited everyone to help out with the meeting. The call for Symposia is finished and, she asked everyone to be on the lookout for the call for papers and registration. There was some concern that there may be a problem if the SWS bulletin is not timely. Lisa expressed urgent need for sponsorship monies. Jeff Raasch pointed out the forms for soliciting sponsors on the website. All members were asked to donate items for the silent auction. There is still a need for volunteers for session chairs, etc. The student travel awards will be available in the next 2-3 months. There is limited student housing at Tulane but there will be a room-share bulletin board at the hotel. Lisa pointed out the outstanding social planned at the zoo and the great field trips and children’s programs that are planned. She announced that there will be a planning meeting at LSU following the close of the Fall meeting and all members were invited to attend.

Chapter website: Ron Boustany, reporting for Chair Darrin Dantin, stated that the website was very active in promoting the 2003 meeting and for carrying out the business of the chapter. He reminded members that any information posted on the website must first be approved by the President. Ron asked for submittals of information by members. Darrin is currently working on updating the website including a counter.

Old Business
Fall Meeting – Andy Nyman provided a recap of problems encountered for the 2002 Fall meeting. He indicated that a planned workshop had to be canceled due to government budget problems and travel money for the instructor. Given enough time, the chapter could have picked up expenses for the instructor. As a result of the cancellation, all profit from the workshop was lost. The biggest issue with the cancellation was the loss of new members. Andy suggested pushing the fall meeting back to late October due to federal budgets.

New Business
Paul DuBowy talked about Education and Outreach and its impacts to the chapter. He talked about the Teach the Teachers workshop that was held at this meeting and the plans for children’s programs at the 2003 meeting in New Orleans. Mark Ford is spearheading the high school students’ poster session in New Orleans. Teachers from this meeting’s workshop will get students ready for poster session in New Orleans. Paul announced that the Children’s program that Chrissy Albanese hosted in Lake Placid will continue in New Orleans and asked for help at the 2003 meeting. Ron talked about continuing the student mixer and student symposium that was started in Lake Placid. Although the idea of establishing student chapters was not accepted, the Education and Outreach program proposes to establish a student intern section in each chapter. Paul asked that the South Central Chapter be the guinea pigs for this intern section.

Scott Jecker brought up the issue of the newsletter and Paul suggested including the webmaster and newsletter as part of the communication committee. Ron Boustany suggested tabling this discussion for future consideration at the board meeting.

The meeting was adjourned by Marge Holland at 1235.

Prepared By:
Shannon Holbrook, Acting Secretary

Attachment A
Society of Wetland Scientists - South Central Chapter
Annual Treasurer’s Report - 2002
October 11, 2002

Year Start - Total Assets: October 1, 2001 $7,842.47

Account Activity: October 1, 2001 - September 30, 2002

Fall 2001 Meeting: Net to Chapter = $1,172.75

Year End - Assets: October 1, 2002

Checking Account Balance 5,873.19

CD, 2 Years (04/03 maturity) 2,000.00

Total Assets $7,873.19

1 Note:

The 2002 membership dues, usually deposited in September each year, have not yet been deposited to the South Central Chapter account by the Business Office.

Prepared By:
Rebecca Howard, Treasurer