At 10:30 January 19th, the 2008 board meeting of the FFLA was called to order at the Tillamook Forest Interpretive Center, Tillamook Oregon by FFLA Board Chair, Keith Argow.
Jim Quining, Center Director, welcomed us to the facility.
Keith
Argow – Chairman
Gary Weber
– Treasurer
Rob Hoeye – Secretary
Dave
Bula – Western Deputy Chairman
Howard
Verschoor – Oregon Director
George
Morey – S. CA Director
Ray
Grimes – past Secretary
Sue
Bula
Doug Decker
Joey
Hodgson
Shannon Hodgson
Jim
Kelley
Harry Justice
Diana
Justice
David Stockner
Don
Allen
Rick McClure
Jim
Liddicoat
Jim Quining
Ron
Northway
Hoeye moved to approve the Minutes of the 2007 annual FFLA board meeting, Forest History Society, Durham NC. January 2007. Bula seconded, motion passed unanimously.
Argow presented the Doug Newman award to Pam and George Morey for their contribution to lookout preservation in southern California.
Argow reports:
There were 24 ballots returned for the 2008 elections. Chairman Argow appointed Ray Grimes and Diana Justice as the Tellers Committee, to tally the ballots.
Chairman: Keith Argow
Treasurer: Gary Weber
Eastern Deputy Chair: Bill Price
The elections results were approved as presented without dissent.
A resolution to recognize and thank Henry Isenberg for his long service on the Executive Committee was passed, along with the hope that he will continue as the "Answerman".
Doug Decker, ODF, presented the motivation and work to move the Sexton cupola lookout from Southern Oregon to the Tillamook Forest Interpretive Center.
Rick McClure, Archaeologist for the Mt Hood and Gifford Pinchot NF’s presented the work done on the Red Mountain Lookout restoration project.
George Morey, S. CA FFLA Director, presented the work done towards the disassembly and loading of the Prospect lookout cab, Lassen NF, for transport to the San Bernardino NF, where plans are to reassemble it on the Cajon Mountain lookout tower.
<see the Restoration Grant report for details>
In summary, five grants were funded in 2007.
Weber reported that the membership has grown by 39 members to a total of 843, with Louisiana and Indiana accounting for a large part of that change.
| 2007 National Account | |||||
| Approved | Actual | 2006 +/- | |||
| 1/13/2007 | 12/31/2007 | ||||
|
Income | |||||
| Balance Forward |
$5,084.00 | $5,084.11 | $0.11 | ||
|
Dues |
$12,000.00 | $10,859.50 | -$1,140.50 | ||
|
Donations |
$500.00 | $251.45 | -$248.55 | ||
|
Merchandise Sales |
$1,000.00 | $1,218.00 | $218.00 | ||
|
Total |
$18,584.00 | $17,413.06 | |||
|
Expenses | |||||
| Newsletter |
-$7,000.00 | -$6,875.84 | -$124.16 | ||
|
Chapter Distributions |
-$1,800.00 | -$733.89 | -$1,066.11 | ||
|
Brochures |
-$200.00 | -$117.12 | -$82.88 | ||
|
Welcome packets/cards |
-$250.00 | $0.00 | -$250.00 | ||
|
Restoration Grants |
-$3,000.00 | -$2,500.00 | -$500.00 | ||
|
Merchandise Purchase |
-$1,000.00 | -$454.70 | -$545.30 | ||
|
Web page mgmt/host |
-$150.00 | $0.00 | -$150.00 | ||
|
Executive committee |
-$184.00 | -$110.32 | -$73.68 | ||
|
Historian |
-$1,000.00 | -$992.37 | -$7.63 | ||
|
Forest History Society Membership |
-$130.00 | -$130.00 | $0.00 | ||
|
Endowment |
-$1,000.00 | -$1,000.00 | $0.00 | ||
|
Total |
-$15,714.00 | -$12,914.24 | |||
|
Balance 12/31/2007 |
$2,870.00 | $4,498.82 | |||
| 2008 FFLA Budget | ||
|
Approved | ||
| Income | ||
|
Balance Forward |
$4,498.82 | |
| Dues |
$12,000.00 | |
| Donations |
$500.00 | |
| Merchandise Sales |
$1,000.00 | |
| Endowment interest [1] |
$750.00 | |
| Total | $18,748.82 | |
|
Expenses | ||
|
Publication |
($7,000.00) | |
| Chapter Distributions |
($1,000.00) | |
| Brochures |
($3,000.00) | |
| Restoration Grants |
($2,500.00) | |
| Emergency Stabilization Grants [2] |
($500.00) | |
| Merchandise Purchase |
($1,000.00) | |
| Operations [3] |
($400.00) | |
| Forest History Society Membership |
($130.00) | |
| Endowment (reinvestment of interest) [4] |
$0.00 | |
| Salvage and Evaluation Reimbursement [5] |
($1,000.00) | |
| Total | ($16,530.00) | |
| Year-end Balance | $2,218.82 |
[1] The interest accrued from the endowment will be used as income.
[2] See $100 Emergency Grants in New Business below.
[3] Executive committee expenses.
[4] The interest accrued from the endowment is not being reinvested into the endowment.
[5] See Salvage and Evaluation Reimbursement in New Business below.
Weber moved to accept the 2008 budget, seconded by Bula. Motion passed unanimously.
<See the individual chapter reports for details>
Sand Mountain Society has lots of projects for 2008, finishing up the Carpenter Mountain outhouse, continuing the Bull of the Woods stabilization, and starting the Pearsoll Peak deck restoration.
SE US chapter is attempting to divest of all states by actively forming chapters in the remaining states.
Hoeye moved that the actions of the executive committee be approved in whole, Weber seconded, all present approved.
The next Directors meeting will be held the 17th of January 2009.
The program is proceeding well. Rod Fosback would like to develop stamps for each state.
Weber moved, Bula seconded that Rod Fosback continue the postage stamp project. Motion passed unanimously.
It was noted that the FFLA is not yet listed with each state's Department of Justice as a non-profit. This oversight makes it difficult for non-FFLA-aware persons to validate the legitimacy of the FFLA as a non-profit.
Motion made by Hoeye that each director register with that state's Department of Justice as a non-profit. The secretary will distribute the Oregon registration as a sample, Verschoor seconded, motion passed unanimously.
The accuracy of some web content was raised by Verschoor. It was noted that webmaster Bill Cobb has and will continue, upon notification from a director, correct the content.
No progress has occurred with respect to sponsoring a member of the FFLA to become an LPI Certified Lightning Inspector.
Recap of past discussion. The need exists for a PowerPoint or DVD about the FFLA which could be used to raise awareness of the organization to other groups. Through Verschoor’s efforts, Oregon Public Broadcasting in Portland is willing and eager to produce such a video if the organization 1) provides an outline and 2) allows them use the material in other programs. We are need of a committee chair to author such a presentation. It should include organization history, organization events, success stories of restoration and brokering of relationships, and be no longer than 25 minutes. One goal is to entice youth involvement. Argow will author this presentation.
Oregon member Joey Hodgson will work with forest personnel to track the progress of the group doing work on Devils Peak, Mt Hood NF.
The FFLA is partnering with Historic Lookouts, LLC to explore securing excess FS square footage for active lookout restoration projects and storage of salvaged lookout materials.
Bula moved that the FFLA reaffirm the need and support of timely notification of lookout related PIT projects with the intent to publish the opportunities (web and newsletter). Weber seconded, motion passed.
A small budget item is included to be available for reimbursing directors who have been asked to evaluate or salvage lookout condition or components. The intent is to offset excessive out-of-pocket expenses incurred while acting as a representative of the organization with respect to lookout health assessment and lookout part salvage. The distribution of these funds will be at the discretion of the executive committee.
The intent of these grants is to provide for urgently needed repairs of lower cost and less planning than the larger grants. A tower should not fall into jeopardy of removal just because a small grant is not available.
Attendee, Ron Northway, related best practices on fund raising, including the use of a welcome packet that includes the description of how to donate to the organization. Having an endowment is an indication of a group's intent. He then went on to talk common methods of coaxing money from members. He noted that the FFLA does not aggressively ask for donations in the newsletter or on the web, Ron recommended we modify this. Additionally, we need to succinctly state the purpose of the organization in plain sight where all who visit the web site or read our newsletter can see it. In order to be awarded large grants for projects the organization needs to pass the “balanced fund raising strategy” test.
Will be at the Douglas County fairgrounds, Roseburg, Oregon, September 19-21, 2008.
With no further business for the 2008 FFLA board meeting, Weber moved for adjournment and Bula seconded. All were in favor, none opposed. Adjourned at 3:50pm.