Minutes of the Wisconsin Walnut Council Semi-Annual Members Meeting
Date: February 26, 2005
Time: 8:00 am
Location: American Family Insurance Headquarters, Madison, Wisconsin

Board Members Present: Jason Sable, Dan Bohlin, Jim Widder, John Ouellette, Matt Singer
Board Members Absent: Larry Severeid, Odell Anderson
Advisors Present: Dale Parker
Advisors Absent: John Nielsen, Bob Weiland, Russ Moody
Approximately 30 other members in attendance.

1. Vice President Dan Bohlin called the meeting to order at 8:00 am.
2. Dan Bohlin extended thanks to Russ Moody (ex-treasurer and membership data base keeper) on the work he did with the membership database. Russ will continue to be the keeper of the database, coordinating with Liz Jackson at the national office.
3. The new board members for 2005 were acknowledged and introduced: Jason Sable DNR Forester- Dodgeville; Larry Severeid, landowner; Jim Widder, landowner and retired DNR Forester.
4. Highlights of the January 4, 2005 Board of Directors meeting minutes were read by Matt Singer and accepted as such.
5. Treasurer\rquote s report was covered by John Ouellette as shown on attached report.
6. Committee Reports were read.
   1. Website Committee: WWC member Wayne Zimmerman was present and will be working with advisor Bob Weiland on the website. Keeping updated information on the website with information on field days and Walnut Council Meetings will be emphasized. It was also noted that there is a link to our Chapter website from the national chapter website.
   2. Membership Committee: Last count there were 162 members of the Wisconsin Chapter of the Walnut Council and 827 members nationally. There are also a few people joining the WI Chapter from Minnesota.
   3. Exhibits: The Walnut Council display is stored at the Dodgeville DNR Office and can be used by any Council member for field days, fairs, etc. To use the display contact a board member or Jason Sable or John Nielson at the Dodgeville DNR Office.
7. Spring Field Day will be held Friday May 20th in Trempealeau, WI at Hawkeye Forest Products, Inc. Lunch will be in Galesville, WI and the afternoon will be at a 15 year old White Pine-Walnut Plantation owned by Troy Stellrecht near Galesville.
8. Fall Field Day to be held at John Ouellette Property, Richland County Saturday, October 8th.
9. Related Events: June is invasive species awareness month. Dan Bohlin will host field day on his property in Grant County on June 11\super th\nosupersub . The Walnut Council's Annual Meeting will be held July 31-August 5, 2005 in Moline Illinois.
10. Old Business: Still the issue regarding no liability insurance for WWC board members. Landowners hosting field days are covered for liability by National. Larry Severeid will report back what he learns after attending National meeting the middle of March. This issue must be addressed either Nationally or Statewide.
11. New Business: Insurance for the board will be discussed at the next Board Meeting (date to be determined)
12. Other Announcements:
    1. If you have something to put on the board meeting agenda, contact one of the board members with that item and it will be brought up at the next meeting.
    2. If you are interested in hosting future field days or have an idea for a future field day topic or location, contact a board member and it will be brought up at the next board meeting.
13. A motion to adjourn was made by John Ouellette and was seconded by Jim Widder. The Council was in favor of adjournment at 8:50 am.