NACDEP Transition Team Conference Call
February 11, 2005

Present:
Cindy Bigger
John Burton
Hank Cothran
Steve Daniels
Neal Flora
Pam Hearn
Rod Howe
Al Kowitz
Rick Maurer
Jeri Marxmann
Julie Stewart
Greg Taylor
Bonnie Teater
Kathy Tweeten
Deborah Tootle
Walt Whitmer

Welcome & Introductions
Kathy Tweeten called the meeting to order. The minutes were approved with one addition - the amount of the request that Sally Maggard submitted to the CSREES budget ($5,000).

Hank Cothran provided the treasurer's report and discussed incorporation procedures in Florida. For 501C (non-profit) status we do not need a change in by-laws. In the state of Florida this will cost $96 and an annual fee. If we decide to pursue a 501C3 status, which would allow us to receive funding, we will have to undergo an IRS review. However, if we plan to act as a lobbying group, we are ineligible for 501C3 status. We will talk about this at the Board meeting in Las Vegas. We also need to talk about how the organization will be handled when the treasurer (or a designated board member) is no longer in Florida. Hank has agreed to do some checking on how similar organizations have addressed these issues.

Committee Reports

• Conference Committee - John Burton and Julie Stewart
  John Burton and Julie Stewart reported that we have approximately 390 members registered for the Conference. Some members have complained that they were unable to get the block rate at the Conference hotel. This is most likely a consequence of the unexpected number of attendees and members making their reservations toward the end of the period for obtaining block rates.
  
  
• Database Committee
  No Report
  
  
• Marketing and Outreach Committee - Rod Howe
  Rod Howe reported that the NACDEP traveling display is on its way to Las Vegas. Members can borrow this display for other meetings.
  
  
• Membership Committee - John Amrhein and Jeri Marxman
  Steve Daniels will be taking John Ahrmein's place on the Membership Committee.
  
  

Old Business

Standing Committees - Walt Whitmer reported that the regional representatives are getting good responses to the calls for committee participation. We will ask regional representatives to contact the interested members and to forward the names to the committee chairs. We will announce plans for committee meetings at the general session in Las Vegas. Walt will also leave sign up sheets for the different committees at the registration desk.

New Business

• RRDCs - Neal Flora addressed the role of the RRDCs on the Board. The RRDCs are discussing the possibilities of rotating representation and whether or not their status should be official or ex-officio. She suggested that CSREES and maybe the RRDCs have an ex-officio role. After much discussion of the role of the Centers (whether they are invited or there by the right of their office) we decided to discuss this at the Board meeting in Las Vegas.
• RSS Association Management Proposal - We will discuss the proposal at the February 15 Board meeting.
• Member Survey - Walt Whitmer and Steve Daniels will provide a sneak preview of the member survey in Las Vegas.
• New Committee - Rod Howe announced the organization of a new committee for the Community Development Foundation. We will discuss this more in Las Vegas.
• Public Issues Information Request - Steve Daniels brought up the issue of public issues information questionnaires sent out through our list serve. We decided we needed to develop policies for this type of activity before initiating it.
  

Next Conference Call
The NACDEP Board meeting is scheduled for February 15 in Hawaiian IV. The business meeting is from 4:00 to 6:00 on February 17. The final Board meeting will be from 12:00 to 2:30 on February 18.