Meeting Called to Order
Chair John Thom called the meeting to order at 10:07 a.m.
Present: David Schultz, Scott Anderson, Dick Nagy, Lih-In Rezania, Kelly Lange, Jon Eaton, Allen Lamm, Bud Krause, John Lapointe, Karla Peterson, Glen Gerads, Jim Haugen, Bob Cockriel, Troy Hall, Gerald Mahon, David Allen, Stew Thornley. Staff present was Scott Franzmeier.
Absent: Terry Reisch, Myron Volker, John Hill, Jim Plahn.
Past Minutes
Motion by Krause to approve the minutes of January 12, 2001 Board meeting with changes. Second by Lapointe. Passed unanimously.
Financial Report
Mahon presented the Finance Committee Report (written report provided). Mahon reported on several items related to the current financial status of the Association. Allen specifically reviewed the current balance sheet and profit & loss comparisons versus the 2001 budget and 2000 year to date. Allen also explained several items related to changes in income versus the 2000 financial statements.
Haugen reported the nomination process for Yasser AbouAish for the National President Elect position. Haugen also briefly explained what obligations the Section would be expected to meet if AbouAish were to be elected. The Board briefly discussed some of the issues related to this opportunity. After considerable discussion, Lamm motioned to form an ad hoc committee to set up financing for the funding of the campaign consisting of John Thom, David Allen, Jim Haugen, Allen Lamm David Schultz, Verne Jacobsen. Seconded by Haugen. Passed unanimously.
Lamm motioned that the Board of Governors support the reception for Yasser AbouAish and Verne Jacobsen in Washington DC and the ad hoc committee set-up a means of funding the reception with approval from the Executive Committee. Seconded by Nagy. Passed unanimously.
The Board briefly discussed setting up a work group to review the possibility of setting up a better means for vendor participation throughout the year. Dave Sheerer, Jim Haugen, Kelly Lange, Tom Mumm, Gerry Mahon, David Allen and John Thom will serve on the work group.
Lamm motioned to approve the financial report. Seconded by Hall. The Board briefly discussed the funding issues for the Regional Officers training Meeting. Passed unanimously.
National Report
AWWA Director Allen reported on National AWWA activities (written report provided) and his involvement on two ad hoc committees: Committee on Organizational Alliances and Committee on Board Involvement. Motion to approve report by Nagy and Seconded by Hall. Passed unanimously.
District Reports
Northwest District. Troy Hall reported a planning meeting would be held in early June for the Dec. 4-6 school.
Northeast District. Krause reported that the 60 people attended the Biwabik School.
Central District. Nagy reported that election for district trustee and officers will happen at the next meeting.
Metro District. Made a profit of about $4,000 at the most recent district school.
Southwest District. Written report submitted.
Southeast District. Written report submitted.
Motion by Anderson to accept the District reports. Second by Lamm. Passed unanimously.
Council/Committee Reports
Administrative Council – Full written report provided by Lapointe.
Action Now Committee. No report.
Breakfast Committee. Schultz and Franzmeier reported on the luncheon program in Washington DC in conjunction with the AWWA Annual Meeting. Minnesota’s Congressional members have been invited. Schultz reported that Mason is planning the event. After some discussion, Gerads motioned that the Minnesota Section subsidize the luncheon up to $1,000.00 in 2001 but that the Minnesota Section charge at cost beginning in 2002. Seconded by Lamm. Passed unanimously.
Commercial Committee. Lapointe encouraged the Board to provide ideas on how to improve attendance at the trade show.
Endowment Committee. Solicitation packet will be going out to members and companies requesting funding for the Endowment Fund.
Finance Committee. No additional report.
Fuller Award Committee. In process.
L.N. Thompson Award Committee. In process.
Meritorious Service Award Committee. In process.
Chair-elect Nominating Committee. Schultz announced that Dick Nagy, John Hill and Glen Gerads had all accepted nominations for the Chair-elect position.
Scholarship Committee. In process.
Public Affairs Council – Full written reports provided by Lange-Haider.
Membership Committee. Lange-Haider reported briefly on the activities of the Membership Committee. Lapointe briefly reported on the success of the membership program over the last few years.
Public Information Committee. Lange-Haider reported on the State Fair Booth
Publications. Lange-Haider reported on the Light Breeze plan and the publication schedule. Lange-Haider also reported that the committee would be reviewing other options for publishing the Breeze and report back to the Board in October.
Water for People. Anderson provided a year-end Water for People report. Anderson also reported that the program was going very well so far in 2001. Anderson also reported on an upcoming solicitation to vendors for Water for People. Lapointe reported that a Water for People project had been approved by Rotary Club International.
Small Systems Council
Small Systems Committee. No report.
Technical Professional Council – Full written report provided by Eaton.
Energy Committee. No report.
Research Committee. Two items coming up: 1) Technology Transfer Conference in conjunction with AWWARF in September in Bloomington. 2) Surface Water Workshop will be in May in Fargo.
Training Council – Full written report from Hill, Jr.
Education Committee. Thornley reported on the one-day education programs being planned in Northwest and Central Districts. Thornley reported on upcoming trainings for operators throughout the State.
Water Management Institute. Haugen reported on the success of the most recent Water Management Institute and on the plans for the 2002 Management Institute.
Safety Committee. No report.
Water Utility Council. Cockriel reported on the legislative efforts of the Section during the 2001 Legislative Session. Next Water Utility Council meeting is scheduled for June 7, 2001. Cockriel announced that Doug Rovang had been named to the National Water Utility Council as a non-voting member.
Lamm motioned to approve the Council reports. Gerads seconded. Motion carried unanimously.Conference Committees
Franzmeier and Cockriel reported briefly on the program planning for the Annual Conference. Franzmeier reported on the status of the budget and asked the Board to approve registrations fees for the conference. Gerads made a motion to 1) have the Conference Planning Committee look at changing the Friday morning session by adding breakfast and taking out the lunch, and 2) to give one prize at the end of each session instead of the small trinkets. Anderson seconded. Gerads motioned to set fees for the 2001 conference at $175 for pre-registration, $185 for on-site registration, and $70 for one day. Seconded by Lamm. Carried unanimously. The Board discussed at length the expense of the guest program. Gerads motioned to keep the spouses fee at $55, which includes banquet, breakfasts, drinks, gifts, lunches (as necessary) and modify program that costs for participation will be on a day to day activities. Seconded by Krause. Carried with one no vote – Lamm.
Franzmeier reported on the agenda and budget for the Guest Program for the Annual Conference. The Board discussed at length the expense of the guest program. Gerads motioned to keep the spouses fee at $55, which includes banquet, breakfasts, drinks, gifts, lunches (as necessary) and modify program that costs for participation will be on a day to day activities. Seconded by Krause. Carried with one no vote – Lamm.
Franzmeier reported on the conference house planning, the hotel arrangements, budget planning and publication/marketing dates.
Unfinished Business
The Board discussed creating a full committee to oversee the activities of the Mentor/Ambassador Program. After some discussion, Haugen agreed to develop a committee and report back to Thom.
Gerads reported briefly on the Youth Chapter status.
2002 National Annual Awards. Allen announced the nomination deadline for the 2002 Awards Nominations.
The Board discussed the current process of paying through the MDH for the schools and whether the process should be changed. Thom announced they were working on the issues.
Next Meeting
The Fall Board of Governors meeting was set for Tuesday, October 1, 2001, at 8:30 a.m. at the Radisson Riverfront in St. Paul.
Adjournment
Meeting adjourned at 2:53 p.m.
