The meeting was called to order by Chairman Keith Argow at 8:00 PM, PDT.

DIRECTORS PRESENT: Chair / SE Keith Argow, WDC Dave Bula; Editor/Treasurer/ NoID/MT Gary Weber; OR Howard Verschoor; WWA Forrest Clark; EWA Rod Fosback; NJ co Ray Grimes

Members present: Rob Hoeye (Election officer); Martin Hochman
 
MINUTES:  January 2011 board meeting were approved as posted

TREASURERS REPORT: Weber reported that income and expenses are on track with the 2011 budget.

MEMBERSHIP REPORT: Weber advised that there has been some loss of membership, a reflection on the economy and of our aging membership, as several have passed away.  Incoming new memberships do not quite offset the losses, but not serious.  Current membership is 900 +/-.

OLD BUSINESS:   

GREEN MOUNTAIN LOOKOUT LAWSUIT

Clark reviewed the status of the lawsuit in US District Court by Wilderness Watch against the U.S. Forest Service asking that the historic lookout be removed, claiming it to be an illegal "new" structure in a wilderness area.  The National Trust for Historic Preservation, the FFLA, and others filed as Friends of the Court in defense of the Forest Service to maintain the lookout on site.  Final decision is expected in December 2011.

LEGACY DONATIONS TO FFLA IN WILLS

Martin Hochman, a retired attorney, made mention of how the FFLA can raise some funds if people designate a donation from their estate in their will.   Hochman offered to draft a sample legal document for consideration of the Board at the January 2012 meeting.

ACTION: Hochman offer was accepted with request that document be submitted prior to the 2012 Board Meeting.

FFLA WEBSITE

Little progress has been made on the changes recommended at the January 2011 meeting of the Board for a number of reasons.   Following discussion, the Board decided to find and overcome the obstacles encountered and continue to pursue the no-cost analysis of the website offered by Western Washington member Joe Chessie.                                                       

ACTION:  Chairman Argow appointed a new committee of Clark, Hoeye and Cobb to find and overcome the obstacles and work with Chessie.

LIABILITY INSURANCE

No progress reported.  Secretary Brad Eells, who chairs the Insurance Committee had indicated at the January 2011 Board meeting that he had a line on a liability insurance program for the FFLA for a reasonable price; that did not prove out.  Some of the directors at the meeting are going to check with other organizations that they belong to and see what they do for insurance and see what costs they have to pay.

ACTION:   The Board reaffirmed its intention get a liability insurance policy for FFLA.

BYLAWS REVISION COMMITTEE

Bylaws Revision Committee chair Weber reported the committee had proposed revisions, the first comprehensive review in the 21 years since they were written.  Copies of the changes were sent to all directors for review, and printed in the Autumn 2011 Lookout Network magazine.

ACTION:  The bylaw changes were read aloud to the Board and a vote conducted for each proposed amendment.    All passed unanimously.   Ballots will be send to the directors not in attendance to achieve the necessary approval of 75% of the Board before the second and final reading at the January 2012 Board Meeting.

NEW BUSINESS:

FFLA MERCHANDISE  

Verschoor suggested that when additional T-shirts are ordered for sale that new artwork be used with an updated selection of lookouts represented.

ACTION: Referred to Weber for action.

FUND RAISING

Clark reported a fund raising program in which some search engines on the web will give an organization a penny every time some uses their web site.   
                                               
ACTION:  Chairman Argow asked Clark and Hoeye to look into the possibility of FFLA being designated as a recipient of the donations and report before the January 2012 Board Meeting.

APPOINTMENT OF EDITOR

For many years Weber has technically been "Interim Editor" of Lookout Network Magazine, a designation he acquired when he agreed to take on the task until a permanent editor could be found.  The Board quickly asked Weber to become permanent and gave unanimous accolades for his outstanding work.

ACTION: Moved by Clark, seconded by Bula, designating Weber as Editor of the Lookout Network magazine.

ADJOURNMENT:    The 2011 Western Meeting of the Board was adjourned at 9:40 PM.

                        Respectfully Submitted:  Ray Grimes, Jr.   Assistant Secretary