Wisconsin Chapter of the Walnut Council
Minutes for the Board of Directors meeting

Tuesday, August 3rd, 2004 @ DNR South Central Region, Fitchburg, WI

Present: Board member: Matt Singer, Mike Pfanku, Russ Moody, Dan Bohlin, Odell Anderson. Advisors: Aaron Young, Al Goetch, Bob Weiland.

Meeting called to order by President Odell Anderson at 9:40 am.

Minutes of the May 25th, 2004 B.O.D meeting on file with secretary Matt Singer. No corrections or additions. Motion to accept by Russ M., 2nd by Dan B. passed

Treasurer’s report submitted by Russ Moody. On file with secretary Matt Singer. Net worth is 4,487.56 No corrections or additions. Motion accept by Dan B., 2nd by Matt S. passed

Motion by Dan B. to reimburse president Odell Anderson’s expenses of $395.75 for attending the National Meeting at Purdue in July 2004. 2nd by Mike P. passed.

Membership report by Russ Moody. Treasurer Russ Moody is now the keeper of the membership database instead of secretary Matt Singer. Russ will keep it up to date and forward it to Matt for backup and as Matt needs it to make mailings. 175 people on list from 2003, 152 have renewed so far in 2004. Matt has sent a letter contact to these 23 non-renewals. In July Matt and Russ had a conference call with National Secretary Liz Jackson. Both of our membership databases are now accurate.

Tree Improvement: Larry Severeid (not at meeting) submitted a report (on file) on his proposed 5 year study of walnut stem deformity. The USFS has matched $2,500 from the Walnut Foundation for this project. Total of $5,000 for this study.

Odell gave a report on his attendance at the National Meeting at Purdue in July 2004. Very well done conference: a good mix of research and practical hands-on demonstrations. 10 or more people from WI attended.
He spoke with Liz Jackson-National secretary and she said that by this winter we my be able to gain access (read only) to the National Membership Database so we can continue to maintain an accurate membership database.
We have found out recently that the National has discontinued liability insurance coverage for the State chapter board members. The consensus at the meeting was that landowners that have field days are probably OK with their own insurance that covers their land. However, the board members need to be covered somehow. Bob Weiland volunteered to talk with Nancy Bozek from WWOA to seek her advice on how they handle this within their organization. Bob will then seek some information from some carriers.

We discussed extensively the upcoming fall field day and membership meeting to held on Saturday, Sept 25th. Mike Pfanku is the chairman for the fall field day. The field day is going to held at Ed Soleska’s property. Mike is currently working on the final details of the field day agenda and the restaurant information for the meeting. Details are to worked out. Registration will be from 8:30-9:30, the field day will run from 9:30 to 3 pm, with ½ hour for a catered lunch. The membership meeting will be held from 4 pm to 5:30 pm at Highway Charlie’s, 3 miles from the Soleska property. A buffet meal will follow the meeting from 5:30 to 6:30. Nearby motels will be listed in the mailing brochure if people want to make reservations to stay overnight after the meal. Mike will mail the brochure to Matt for mailing when it is completed.

Membership Committee Programs presented by Dan Bohlin. He is sending a WWC application to all new MFL applicants in Grant county. On October 1st and 2nd 2004 Dan will be a presenter on invasives at the 2nd annual Light On The Land Field Day near Sauk City. He will bring the WWC display, we need someone to man it. Dan has mailed the Ad for this event to Ron Jervis so Ron can include in the WWC website for upcoming events. Matt will bring 200 copies of the updated WWC application to this field day, and also send 200 copies to John Nielsen so the Dodgeville DNR forestry staff can include them in other MFL mailing packets other than Grant County.

Marketing committee: discussion on how foreign markets are driving up the price of fine quality hardwoods. To obtain the best price for trees landowners most likely need to find buyers who are able to market the trees overseas.

Website and P.C. technology: There is lots of spam coming through the e-mail addresses posted on the WWC website. Don’t know what to do about this yet.

Bob Weiland-public relations committee is going to advertise the fall field day in the local papers and the Farm Journal. He will use the fall field day brochure to write appropriate articles or ads.

Dan Bohlin (and Larry Severeid) is organizing the winter WWC conference and membership meeting,. It will be held at the American Family Complex on the north side of Madison on January 15th, 2005. Cost for meals will be about $15.00 plus a waitstaff fee of $150-225. Agenda and speakers being set by Larry Severeid.
There will be a BOD meeting at a nearby hotel the afternoon or evening prior (1-14-05) for election and introduction of new board members (and other usual business). With the help of all the board members, Vice President Mike Pfanku is in charge of recruiting people to run for the two open BOD spots (Russ Moody and Ron Jervis). This is usually done by the middle of October, we can recruit people to run for office at the 9/25/04 fall field day and membership meeting.

We may need another B.O.D. meeting possibly in October to organize for the winter conference.

Potential 2005 European tour: there is no information from Arthur Luttig regarding this yet.

No old business.

No new business.

Next B.O.D. meeting not set.

Meeting adjourned at 12:40. Submitted by Matt Singer, WWC Secretary