Transition Team Minutes
May 14, 2004
Conference Call

Present
Steve Daniels, Western Rural Development Center
Pam Hearn, Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development
Rod Howe, Cornell University
Sally Maggard, CSREES
Jeri Marxman, University of Illinois
Charles Sheppherd, Alcorn State University
Julie Stewart, North Central Regional Center for Rural Development
Greg Taylor, Texas A&M University
Bonnie Teater, Southern Rural Development Center
Kathy Tweeten, North Dakota State University (Vice Chair)
Mike Woods, Oklahoma State University
Walt Whitmer, Pennsylvania State University

Review of Minutes from April 8 Call
Minutes approved as shown. (Approved: Tweeten/Daniels)

Committee Reports                                    

2005 Conference Committee - Jeri Marxman
Jeri Marxman, reported that the contract, February 15-18, 2005, at Tropicana Hotel had been finalized for the NACDEP annual meeting. The meeting will begin in the evening of February 15, and conclude at lunch on February 18. "Save the Date" cards are being prepared and she reminded the group that this date is immediately before President's Day Weekend. The contract requires that we spend $20,000 for food. The theme for the conference is: "Building our Future Together."

Track Chairs have been named as follows:

• Economic Development-Hank Cothran, Kathy Tweeten
  
• Community Decision -Mary Peabody
  
• Education and Workforce Development-Ernie Hughes
  
• Information Technology-Marie Rumenkapp and Bill Schuffstall
  
• Local Government--Virgil Culver
  
• Land Use and Natural Resources-Craig Hertol and Walt Whitmer

A letter will be sent out to the NACDEP listserv shortly recruiting track committees. The committee is looking for individuals who would be willing to work on Poster Sessions and Research Roundtables. Marxman also requested that the NACDEP transition team put forward some possible keynote speakers.

Conference Committee will studying the possibility of offering student participants at a reduced rate with possible. Walt will further explore the issue on behalf of the Transition Team and a committee was named as follows: Walt Whitmer, Steve Daniels, John Burton and Jeri Marxman.

Database Committee - Julie Stewart
Julie Stewart reported that the file is ready and the team will begin adding more information as it becomes available. The database has been prepared in Access Format. On-line membership registration will be available in mid-Summer.

Membership Committee - Jeri Marxman
Jeri Marxman reported that they have been inactive since the last call. Membership fee was established electronically at $35 annually. It was determined that plans are to accept membership fees at the same time as accepting conference registration fees.

Nominating Committee - Greg Taylor
Nominating Committee has met and has determined that elections of officers will be done electronically. It is anticipated that nominations will be received between September 1 and October 1 with official elections being held in the second phase. Installation of officers will be held during the Annual Meeting in February. The Committee has another teleconference on June 4 to further explore the nominations process.

Marketing and Outreach Committee - Rod Howe
Rod Howe reported that a preliminary marketing brochure is going to be prepared for the May 2004, Southern Community Development Conference, and the group in Tampa will be given an opportunity to review. The conference evaluation included a couple of questions on the evaluation to get feedback on the brochure. The Marketing Committee will be working with CSREES to get the final graphics work done on it.

Some national organizations have a rate for retirees (lifetime member). ANREP has a $100 lifetime fee. This issue will be discussed further prior to putting it on the membership application. The Marketing Committee has discussed some aspects of the Organization in terms of what membership might want from NACDEP. Preliminary discussion outlined the following possible needs:

• Certification Training
  
• Specialized Trainings
  
• Electronic Newsletters
  
• Conferences
  
• Job Openings

The Marketing Committee will be working to further develop the list of possible opportunities to add to the brochure. It was noted that anyone who joins in 2004, and membership will be good through 2005. Only members can present presentations during the Annual NACDEP conference.

A preliminary newsletter was discussed and Bonnie agreed to prepare a draft.

Next Conference Call - June 11, 2004, 10 a.m. Central (662-325-8448)

Appendix A
NACDEP Annual Budget - Proposed, April 8, 2004

Revenue Projections - Discussion to date has been that we are comfortable projecting a membership of 300-400 people. The following projections are based on 350, middle of the projected range. Transition team discussion on 4/8 was to choose either the $30 or $35 dues level:

350 members x $30 membership dues = $10,500
350 members X $35 membership dues = $12,250

Projected Expenditures