President Howard Coffield asked for a Moment of Silence for Dick Rice, Council Chairman of the Southern Alleghenies RC&D (PA) and past Vice President of the Mid-Atlantic RC&D Association, and others we lost this past year. Howard also informed everyone that Mary Seccombe had passed away the day before. She was one of the people who started the Mid-Atlantic Association.

The Mid-Atlantic RC&D Association Annual Meeting was called to order by President Howard Coffield at 2:18 pm following the delegate sign-in. A roll call was conducted by Vice President Jim Ghent. Secretary Cathy Skwara announced eighteen delegates were present, establishing a quorum for the meeting.

Sheelagh Bailey (NY) agreed to serve as Parliamentarian.

Olga Walter (MD) made a motion to approve the Minutes of the September 23, 2005 Annual Meeting held at West Point, NY. Rick Mickowski (DE) seconded the motion. Motion passed.

Sheelagh Bailey (NY) asked if the Code of Ethics was available to board members. Pat Pinnell stated that each council had received a copy.

Bylaws: Jim Ghent read his suggested corrections and changes for the MA RC&D Association Handbook, Constitution and Bylaws which he sent by email on May 23, 2006 to the Executive Committee (Copy attached to the original of these minutes.) noting that he had used the latest amended versions. A copy of Jim’s suggestions was also emailed to each MA RC&D Council on May 24, 2006.

Comments made regarding these suggestions were: Irvil Kear (PA) stated that on page 2, Suggestion 3 of Jim’s emailed comments, the word "public" needs to be inserted prior to the word "office" at the end of the typed version of the current Article II, paragraph 3 wording, as it is contained in the original version. Michael Hill (NJ) stated that when the South Jersey RC&D office completes its move, the registered office address of the MA Association will need to be updated. Sheelagh also added that the IRS and MA Treasurer Pat Pinnell will also need to be notified of these changes. It was also noted that on page 3, Suggestion 5, the word "Council" should read "Association" per the current Bylaws and under Suggestion 7, IRC and I.R.C. should both be IRS. Further discussion/action regarding Handbook, Constitution and Bylaws changes was deferred to new business.

Jim Ghent also stated that the Lake Plains RC&D requested him to make the following statement: "The Lake Plains RC&D recommends that to strengthen the local, state and national programs that the Mid-Atlantic Association of RC&Ds be dissolved with the duties and responsibilities absorbed by state and national associations." He said that after lengthy discussions, his council felt that there was a redundancy.

Howard Coffield tabled discussion on this correspondence to New Business.

2006 Financial Report

The Financial Report was given by Treasurer Pat Pinnell. Copies of the Financial Statement (June 1, 2006 Expenses & Receipts) were distributed. (Copy attached to the original of these minutes.) Pat thanked the councils for getting their dues in, noting we have 100% participation this year.

Audit Report - Pat reported that the annual audit will be done in September. The 2005 audit cost $225.

Pat is evaluating, with Board input, a new financial statement format provided by Jim, who offered to send the program to Pat should we decide to adopt this format.

Olga Walter (MD) made a motion to file the Financial Report for audit. Irvil Kear (PA) seconded the motion. Motion was passed.

Pat Pinnell read the proposed 2007 budget (copies distributed and copy attached to the original of these minutes). Jack Preston (PA) questioned provisions for covering the Member-At-Large expenses. Further discussion on the budget was tabled until Policy discussion is held (Sheelagh Bailey (NY) motion, Jack Ward (NY) second). Motion was passed.

Strategic Plan - Pat Pinnell reported that she, Olga Walter and Pat Wood were appointed to look over the strategic plan. Each MA RC&D Council binder contains the five year strategic plan created in 2002. A committee is needed to work on a new strategic plan for next year, and should address Productive Lands and Healthy Environment items. Pat reported that she sent an e-mail to coordinators asking for suggestions but did not receive any responses. She requested each council to review their strategic plan and forward suggestions to her.

Pat suggested councils use the national website to publicize what they are doing and to send council information, project articles, etc. to MA President Howard Coffield who can inform the region of current activities. Sheelagh Bailey suggested this information also be sent to coordinators, along with the MA contacts (council chairs, MA officers, etc.).

Change in Agenda - Roberta (Bobbi) Jeanquart, Executive Director, National Association of RC&D Councils, arrived and was provided an opportunity to address all present. Bobbi thanked everyone for responding to the Legislative Alerts and reported that the Senate had restored funding to the RC&D program. She encouraged use of the NARC&DC website and to contact the national office for training or any other needs the councils may have.

Pat Pinnell noted that we will need time at the 2007 MA meeting to work on the strategic plan but that preliminary work should be done ahead of time.

Pat stated that the Mid-Atlantic Association does not have a Policy Statement and suggested considering these items:

Following discussion, a motion to present a balanced budget at future annual meetings was made by Sheelagh Bailey (NY) (second, Irvil Kear (PA)). Motion passed.

Pat suggested that the Member-at-Large position expenses be included in the budget. Jim Horn (WV) made a motion to give him/her same privileges/options as others (Conway Gregory (MD) second). Motion passed.

Michael Hill (NJ) moved that the Executive Committee meet and approve any budget expenditures that are outside the budgeted amount and the minutes of such actions be sent to the member councils’ chairs. Motion was passed.

Howard thanked Jim Ali (WV) for the new website design and the South Jersey RC&D for hosting the Mid-Atlantic RC&D Association website at no charge. The address is http://www.sjrcd.org/ma/maindex.htm Send information to the South Jersey RC&D to be posted on the website.

Lake Plains RC&D Correspondence - Discussion was held concerning the letter submitted and read by Jim Ghent including questioning what would occur in the absence of the MA Association, rotating board representation among the states, considering term limits for officers, increasing communication such as using the website more and distributing national board meeting minutes. No action taken.

Olga Walter, National Board delegate, reported RC&D councils should look locally for other funding sources; $2,700 of national dues were not received from councils unable to pay; the $50 dues increase from National will go towards training and other tools to benefit the councils; and councils should contact the National RC&D office whenever they need help with anything.

Howard Coffield added that the National Association is working on mandatory funding and Nels Warner (Western US) is looking at the NRCS Strategic Plan and RC&D.

Jack Preston said that the next Mid-Atlantic RC&D Conference will be held in Pennsylvania September 16-19, 2007. To help cover costs, each Mid-Atlantic council is being asked to provide information on 10 business contacts/partners they feel might be interested in being a sponsor for the conference. A drawing for free conference registrations is being held as part of this sponsorship, details are in the information packets distributed. The businesses should be valued partners in RC&D projects over the years. There will be tours at the conference and time allotted to work on the strategic plan. The Southeastern PA RC&D Council is the contact council for information. Discussion occurred on the auction proceeds from the 2005 Annual Meeting hosted by NY. The funds were put into the general funds rather than being set aside for the next host state or to help with any of the conference costs. As a result, Jack stated that that there is no money available to the host council although PA had inquired about using those funds. Further discussion is needed as we move forward with the 2007 meeting and for the future regarding any auction or other meeting funds.

Conway Gregory (MD), Jim Horn (WV) and Jack Ward (NY) nominated Howard Coffield for President, Cathy Skwara for Secretary and Jack Preston for Member-at-Large. Jim Ghent (NY) moved to accept the nominating committee’s report. Michael Hill (NJ) seconded. Motion passed. Howard thanked the committee for their work and turned the meeting over to Pat Pinnell to conduct the elections.

President – Howard Coffield

Secretary – Cathy Skwara

Member-at-Large – Jack Preston

Ken Bush (NY) made a motion for the Secretary to cast a unanimous ballot for all three positions. Irvil Kear (PA) second. Motion was passed.

Jim Ghent (NY) agreed to chair the ByLaws Committee which will include Mike Hill (NJ), M. Irvil Kear (PA), Jennifer David (MD) and Howard Coffield (WV). Rick Mickowski (DE) stated he would serve pending employer approval after an upcoming employment position change.

Pat Pinnell (MD) will chair the Strategic Plan Committee which includes Olga Walter (MD) and Cathy Skwara (PA).

Conway Gregory from Maryland Eastern Shore RC&D, Jack Ward from Black River/St. Lawrence RC&D (NY) and Ralph Bucca from Southern Maryland RC&D volunteered for next year’s nominating committee. Positions will be Vice President, Treasurer and Member-at-Large.

Conway Gregory (MD) spoke about a farm audit project. The State of Maryland received $30,000 from the Maryland Energy Administration and NRCS provided $20,000 to Maryland Eastern Shore to pilot study 30 farms. California RC&D wants to turn their pilot program into a national program and hold three workshops across the country: in Baltimore in December, in the Sacramento area in February and in Oklahoma in the spring. The program will help farmers reduce energy costs. Notices will be sent out to NRCS, farmers, Soil Conservation Districts, Cooperative Extension Services, and RC&Ds. Contact Conway or the Maryland Eastern Shore RC&D for more information.

Pat Pinnell presented a revised 2007 budget for the Mid-Atlantic RC&D Association (Copy attached to the original of these minutes.). Jim Horn (WV) motioned and Jack Ward (NY) seconded that we accept the revised budget as presented. Motion passed. Pat will distribute the revised copy to the Councils.

Cathy Skwara (PA) suggested that in order to increase communications within the MA Association we have the council delegates serve as contacts. She asked that all delegates willing to provide an email address for this purpose, to do so. Jim Ghent (NY) stated that he would be contacting the Bylaws Committee members by email.

Jim Ghent made a motion to adjourn. Meeting was adjourned at 4:15 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Catherine Skwara

Secretary

Mid-Atlantic RC&D Association