Forest Fire Lookout Association
Board of Directors
2009 Annual Meeting
January 17^th 2009

Call to Order:
At 08:45 January 17th, the 2009 board meeting of the FFLA was called to order at the Florida Division of Forestry’s Myakka River District Office, Bradenton, Florida by FFLA Board Chair, Keith Argow.  District Manager Duane Weis welcomed the FFLA group to the facility, followed by introductions of others present:

Board of Directors
Keith Argow – Chairman/Southeast U.S. Chapter Director
Gary Weber – Treasurer/North Idaho-Montana Chapter Director
Bob Spear – Historian
Henry Isenberg – Southern New England Chapter Director
Jack Sargent – Florida Chapter Director
Ray Grimes – New Jersey Chapter Co-Director

Members
Chuck Helms – Keystone Chapter (PA)
Tom Quink – Florida Chapter
Bill Farris – Florida Chapter

Agenda
Chairman Argow presented the agenda for the day and asked for additional items.  He then appointed Gary Weber as Parliamentarian for the meeting.

Florida overview
Jack Sargent gave an overview of various fire and fire tower activities in Florida.  Most towers are no longer used regularly for detection, but many are used on an as-needed basis.  Jack and his group are looking into NHLR registration for several Florida towers.  They are also looking additional member recruitment.

Myakka River District activities
Duane Weis provided an overview of the Florida Division of Forestry and how the Myakka River District compared to other districts in the state in various statistical categories.  He then went discussed the district’s fire towers, starting with the five (of the eleven in use in 1999) that they no longer have - Venetia, Bliss, Arcadia, King, and DeSoto, and then gave both the current status and the potential future for each of the remaining six - Bradenton, Kibler, Myakka, Frizzell, Punta Gorda, and Babcock.   

Elections
After no response to a call for additional ballots, Chairman Argow appointed Ray Grimes and Gary Weber as the Tellers Committee, to tally the ballots.  There were 17 ballots returned for the uncontested 2009 election.

Western Deputy Chair:   Dave Bula                       
Secretary:   Rob Hoeye
Historian:   Bob Spear

Resolution
The election results were approved by voice vote of all voting members present with the exception of Isenberg who abstained.

Approval of the 2008 Executive Committee activity

Resolution
Spear moved that the 2008 actions of the Executive Committee be confirmed, Weber seconded; motion approved by voice vote by all voting members present with the exception of Isenberg who abstained.

Reports

Treasurers Report
Treasurer Gary Weber passed out copies of the 2008 Treasurer’s report (report available online).  Questions arose concerning merchandise sales; the list of available items was reviewed and suggestions additional products were made, as well as an idea presented for “20th Anniversary” products next year.  Isenberg moved and Spear seconded to accept the report; motion approved by voice vote.

Membership Report
Membership report (available online in combination with the Treasurer’s Report) showed a growth of 31 members over the year, with 128 new members, while 97 dropped.  Complimentary memberships vary by chapter, but it was observed that directors may need to review old comp memberships. 

Membership numbers have now brought Florida up to the required minimum number of members to be a chapter.  Jack Sargent, who has been serving as the Florida Representative, was appointed to the Director position.  Isenberg moved and Spear seconded to accept the appointment; motion approved by voice vote. It was announced that the New Jersey Chapter has named Ray Grimes as “Co-Director” with Bob Wolff.       

Endowment Report
Chairman Argow provided a review of the endowment fund, which was established in 2007 with the proceeds from a Challenge Cost Share agreement with the U.S. Forest Service.  A portion of the fund has recently been invested in the stock market, in a guaranteed fund that so far has shown a 31% gain.

Historian Report
Historian Bob Spear summarized his report (available online).

Answerman Report
Henry Isenberg summarized his report (available online).

Web page Report
Henry Isenberg summarized Bill Cobb’s report (available online).

Special Presentation
After a lunch break, Chairman Argow presented the book, “Land Remembered” to Florida Director Jack Sargent, welcoming this newest chapter.

Budget Requests
Chairman Argow called for any last minute budget requests to allow Treasurer Weber time to make adjustments prior to presenting a proposal later. Henry Isenberg requested $300-$400 for a printer/scanner with which to accomplish Answerman duties.  After questions and discussion, it was noted that such equipment is available at a much lower cost. A request was presented to include funding for current Lightning Protection standards handbooks for member Dick Morrison, who should soon become certified.

Restoration Grant Report
Treasurer Weber summarized the three restoration grants awarded in 2008, Fairview Peak Lookout (CO), Mount Beacon Firetower (NY), and Basin Butte Lookout (ID) and noted that there had been no requests for the “emergency” grants established last year.  He also noted that there is already one pending restoration grant request for 2009, Mineral Peak Lookout (MT).  The question was raised as to whether the Pinnacle Knob (KY) restoration had received a grant; no request was received, the agency involved had sufficient funds from other sources. 

Lightning Protection Report
In addition to previous discussion concerning Dick Morrison’s upcoming certification, the recent USFS Tech Tip on maintenance of lookout lightning protection systems was circulated. 

NHLR Report
Chairman Argow reported on the NHLR website and updates taking place on it.  This report then led into discussion of the “lookout steward” program.  The new Historic Fire Lookout Sites Register was also reviewed.  These programs are initiatives of American Resources, Inc, but are supported by the FFLA.

Director’s Reports
Gary Weber provided an overview of the annual report from the North Idaho-Montana Chapter, as well as summaries of the reports from the following western chapters: Arizona, Colorado, Louisiana, New Mexico, Wyoming, and Central California-Nevada.  He also gave a summary of a report received from the San Diego-Riverside local chapter in Southern California.  Chairman Argow circulated a copy of that group’s recent newsletter.   Keith Argow provided an overview of his Southeastern US Chapter report, as well as overviews of the reports from New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, New York, and Indiana.  Ray Grimes reported on New Jersey and Henry Isenberg on Southern New England. 

Chairman’s Report

“State of the FFLA”

• A year ago, Chairman Argow asked all FFLA Directors to answer, “What are the strengths and weaknesses of the FFLA?”  He read Kathy Ball’s very insightful response. 
• Highlights from the “What’s New” on the FFLA webpage will be considered for inclusion in LOOKOUT NETWORK.

2009 Budget

[1] Operations includes executive committee expenses.  Up to $150 for Answerman equipment and up to $150 for lightning code publications is included.

 Resolution
Weber moved to accept the 2008 budget, seconded by Isenberg; Motion approved unanimously by voice vote.

Old Business

Non-Profit state registration
It was noted that last year’s initiative to have all chapters establish non-profit recognition with their respective states turned out to be much more complicated than expected, and has been left up to each chapter to determine whether they wish to follow up.  The FFLA’s non-profit status at the national level has been reaffirmed.

Professional Fundraising and Grant-writing
Chairman Argow will follow up with the Oregon Chapter regarding the decision at the Western Conference to proceed with working with grant writer Ron Nottaway.

Brochures
Brochures will be reprinted by spring, 2009 and distributed.

New Business

Bylaws Amendment Proposal
Henry Isenberg presented an amendment to the bylaws that he and Steve Cummings have submitted.   The proposal would change current by-laws and require that all votes of the Board, including elections, be recorded.
After numerous questions and considerable discussion, a vote was taken by those present and included those directors who had expressed their choice by email.  The proposal was defeated.  Although this vote would have normally killed the proposal according to the bylaws, it was decided to put the proposal up to the vote of the entire board.  Chairman Argow will conduct the vote by email.

Next Annual Directors Meeting
The next annual Board of Directors meeting will be held the 16th of January 2010, potentially in Southern California.  Sargent moved to approve this date selection, Spear seconded; motion approved by voice vote with Isenberg abstaining.     

Regional Conferences
The 2009 Western Conference is tentatively planned to be held in the Wenatchee, Washington area in September.  No proposal has been offered for a 2009 Eastern Conference, but both Massachusetts and Pennsylvania have been proposed as sites for 2010.

Tower Inventory Request
A renewed plea was made by Isenberg for all directors and reps to have missing tower lists provided to the Webmaster and the Historian by the end of 2009.

Adjournment
With no further business for the 2009 FFLA board meeting, the meeting was adjourned at 14:58 pm.