Wisconsin FFA Alumni Council Meeting Minutes March 24, 2012 10:00 AM 2:00 PM Holiday Inn, Manitowoc Meeting Room: Fleetwing Room Council Members in Attendance: Bob Keough, Anna Keough, Art Plaster, Wendy Kreif, Cathy Jo Luck, Greg Lincicum, Bonnie Walters, Dan Follendorf, Larry Lader, Herman Seebandt, Mike Lewien, Ellen Cary, Eric Treml, Kathy Bruenig, Jim Check, Ricky Kreif, and Regina Oldendorf Non Council Members in Attendance, Ethan Giebel (State FFA President), Ken Harter (Finance Committee Co Chairman) The meeting was called to order at 10:04 AM by President Jim Check. Ethan Giebel spoke on behalf of the Wisconsin FFA Association. Ethan expressed his appreciation for the Wisconsin FFA Alumni holding their meeting in conjunction with the 212 and EDGE Conferences. The proficiency judging went well this year. There were 186 American Degrees submitted. Banquets are going great for the officers. Ethan thanked the Wisconsin FFA Alumni for their continued support. Jim Check set the tone for the year. He laid out his expectations for communication and gave out his cell phone number and asked the sectional representative to keep in touch with him. Approve Minutes of the February 10, 2012 Council Meeting Bonnie Walters asked that the word unanimously be removed after each motion is passed in the minutes. One the first line of the minutes, the word agenda needs to be replaced with the word minutes. Herman Seebandt moved to accept the minutes of the February 10, 2012 council meeting as presented. Bob Keough seconded the motion. Motion passed Treasurer s Report Regina Oldendorf reviewed the Budget vs. Actual Report. Questions were entertained for clarification purposes. Eric Treml moved to accept the treasurer s report as presented. Wendy Kreif seconded the motion. Motion passed FFA Family Reports Cheryl Zimmerman reported on behalf of the Wisconsin FFA Center. The State FFA Degrees have been scored. The proficiency awards have been announced to advisors only. There were 359 state degree applicants. Four of our Wisconsin chapters received Food For All Grants this year. This year is the first year to have online
registration for the State FFA Convention. There are 2 national FFA officer candidates that were currently being interviewed. This year is the second annual COLT conference. Executive Director Report Regina Oldendorf gave a quick overview of the previously e mailed executive director report. Jim Check will create a list of comments/topic along with dates that the sectional representatives can use in their fall section meetings. Bob Keough moved to accept the executive director s report as presented and explained. Greg Lincicum seconded the motion. Motion passed. Committee Reports Executive Committee Jim Check reported that the committee continues to have a conference call every three weeks. Past Presidents Committee Herman Seebandt reported that the committee met in Janesville and dropped the one time donation idea for now. They are investigating the idea of a Tree of Life. Fundraising Committee Jim Check reported that $10,700 was profited from the statewide raffle. The finance committee is looking at what to do with the proceeds. Three affiliates who prizes in the statewide raffle. August 19 th will be the Brewers Outing. At this time the proceeds of the Bucks game are unknown. Finance Committee Ken Harter reported that the committee members meet with James Grasse to review the investment accounts. The committee was advised to move our American Funds into Oppenheimer International Bond Funds as well as Franklin Income Funds. The drafts of the Sectional Representative and Executive Committee Reimbursement Proposals were tabled at the committee level. Statewide Convention Jim Check reported that there were many positive comments received about the convention. There was $22,485 in profit so far with money that still needs to be deposited. One check with all proceeds will be mailed to the state office. Jim Check indicated to the council that they would be taking a break to eat lunch at 11:24 AM. The meeting was called back to order at 12:16 by President Jim Check.
Regina Oldendorf had the council pop balloons with puzzle pieces in them. Then the council put the puzzle together to find out that the 2013 National Alumni Development Conference will be held in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Regina Oldendorf and Bridgett Neu are working on preliminary arrangements. Regina encouraged everyone to keep this a secret until after it is unveiled at the Montana ADC. Old Business Sectional Representative Expense Account Proposal Ken Harter announced that this was tabled in the finance committee Executive Committee Expense Account Proposal Ken Harter announced that this was tabled in the finance committee Code of Conduct Jim Check announced that more work was being done and suggested that it be tabled until more research could be done. The council was encouraged to continue to evaluate it and give feedback. Spring Sectional Meetings a. Section 1 April 21 st or 29 th in Luck at Hog Wild b. Section 2 TBA c. Section 3 TBA d. Section 4 _April 11 th River Ridge Agriculture Room at 7:30PM e. Section 5 _April 9 th @ 7:00 PM in Stoughton at Banushi s Bar and Grill f. Section 6 _April 22 nd g. Section 7 April 19 th Thorp High School Agriculture Room at 8:00 PM h. Section 8 April 12 th, 6:30 PM social 7:30 PM dinner @ Northwinds Banquet Hall in Marion i. Section 9 North meeting, April 11 th, 6:30 PM social 7:00PM meal at 21 Gun Saloon in Denmark j. Section 10 TBA If a sectional representative would like an executive committee member present at their sectional meeting, they will need to let the executive committee know. Otherwise the executive committee will not plan on attending that sections event. Sections 4, 5, 8 and 9 would like an executive committee member present. Sections 2, 3, and 7 would not like an executive committee member to attend. New Business Unlock the Legacy Display at State FFA Convention Regina Oldendorf announced that the State FFA would like the state alumni to develop and interactive display that incorporates the theme of how the Alumni has left a legacy in the FFA and agriculture education. Kathy Bruenig and her son BJ Chrisler will be co chairing this effort. They challenged each section to come up with a story about a legacy left behind.
State FFA Convention Expo Booth Workers Kathy Bruenig asked for council members to sign up to help at the State FFA Convention Career Show on June 13 th. A sheet was passed around. Appointment of Section 9 Representative Position Ellen Cary from the Elkhart Lake stepped forward and accepted the position of Section 9 Representative. Ellen gave a quick background about herself. Branding Initiative Update Regina Oldendorf reported on behalf of Nicole Nelson of the FFA Foundation about how the foundation is moving forward with branding. There are currently efforts being made to give all of the FFA Family member s websites a similar look and functionality. A new graphic was developed with a one year trial period of use. Anna Keough moved to have Regina Oldendorf sign off on having the alumni use the graphic on a one year trial basis. Bonnie Walters seconded the motion. Motion passed Alumni Development Conference Proposal Ken Harter reviewed the changes to the proposal. Bonnie Walters moved to amend the motion to accept the revised ADC proposal by inserting the word legitimate in front of the word Expenses and eliminating the words lodging and incidentals so that #3, item b. would now read, Legitimate expenses for travel not including inroute meals by the vice president will be reimbursed by the association up to the limit of funds budgeted for ADC participation, using the existing expense reimbursement procedure. Ricky Kreif seconded the amendment. Amendment passed. Dan Follendorf seconded the amended motion. Motion passed State Officer Scholarships vs. Paying for National Lifetime Dues (Procedure Update) Regina Oldendorf explained that periodically the council should review procedure to ensure that they continue to fit the mission of the organization. The procedure for giving $200 scholarships to the State FFA Officer Team with the intention that they will use the monies to pay for their Wisconsin FFA Alumni lifetime dues was reviewed. Kathy Bruenig moved to continue to give $200 scholarships to the State FFA Officer team while removing the intent that it is to be used for their national lifetime dues and have the monies given out as a thank you instead. Anna Keough seconded the motion. Division of the house was called and a hand vote was taken. There were 9 yes votes, 4 no votes and 1 abstention. Motion passed Discussion (ONLY) on How the Wisconsin FFA Alumni Can be Proactive in supporting our Affiliates The executive committee led a discussion on possible ways that the Wisconsin FFA Alumni could be proactive in supporting our affiliates. Ideas of possible services that could be provided were: education to guidance counselors/administrative staff on the importance of agriculture education and developing a train the trainer program for the sections. Ideas for possible education to provide to affiliates were: teaching communication skills on how to promote (advocacy skills) and put council agenda s on the website. Ideas on possible
advocacy effort were: be present at school board convention (booth), promote enrolment in agriculture programs, and working with Jeff Hicken at the DPI. Ideas for possible communication increases would be including council happening in newsletter. Other ideas of possible proactive activities were: promote who can be a member, help train youth, and promote enrolment in agriculture programs. Other The Clinton advisor was named the National Agriculture Science Ambassador. They will be doing a workshop at the National FFA Convention and WAAE s PDC. Larry Lader would like to use the two free foundation golf outings tickets that the Wisconsin FFA Alumni receives for our $6,600 donation to the FFA Foundation. Ricky Kreif will like to receive bids on mass e mailing possibilities. The council encouraged him to look into possibilities for future reference. The next meeting will be held on June 23 rd at the Best Western Park Oasis in Mauston. Bob Keough moved to adjourn the meeting. Kathy Bruenig seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned at 2:18 PM. Respectfully Submitted, Regina Oldendorf, Executive Director, Wisconsin FFA Alumni Association