April 17, 2009

 

Randolph County Extension Center 

 

President Stanley Holloway called the meeting to order at 10:10 am.  This meeting was held at the Randolph County Extension Center, Asheboro.  Barry Foushee welcomed everyone to Randolph County. 

 

Board Members Present:  Stanley Holloway, NCACAA President, Kelly Groves, NCACAA President Elect, Gerda Rhodes, NCACAA Vice President, Nancy Keith, NCACAA Secretary, Barry Foushee, NCACAA Treasurer,  Becky Spearman, Della King,  Randy Wood, Will Strader, Michelle Wallace, Diane Turner, Allison Brown, Charles Young, Lewis Smith and Craig Ellison. 

 

Secretary’s Report:  Nancy Keith

Gerda Rhodes made a motion that the minutes be accepted a sent out via email.  Randy Wood seconded the motion.  Motion carries. 

 

Treasurer’s Report:  Barry Foushee

A copy of the treasurer’s report was passed out to all board members:

January 1 – April 17, 2009

                    Sponsorship money for 2009 meeting = $5100.00 plus $600.00 not deposited                  

                    Checkbook   -    $ 5,570.14

                   Money Market- $##

                   Savings        -     $      28.36             

                    Total            -     $##

The National Meeting Checking Account was closed and this money ($##) was put into the money market account.  The money that was managed by the Foundation is still in the Foundation until options are discussed and presentation made to board for decision.  Lenny Rogers and Mark Tucker are meeting with Sharon Rowland on this matter. 

 

Administrative Update – Dr. Ed Jones 

Currently the budget situation is a tremendous issue.  Dr. Ort and Dr. McKinnie sent a letter out about the state budget restrictions and furlough restrictions and indicated that they are working with Dr. Leffler (Vice Chancellor for Finance and Business) to come up with some guidelines for Cooperative Extension.  The University is behind Extension as far as economic development is concerned.  Dr. Leffler is working with the state on the situation.  The bottom line is having enough funds to meet payroll.  We should try to continue with field days, no hiring on state funds between now and July 1^st, continue to do programs and training is limited to public health and economic development.  There has been no federal dollars since February.  They are doing the best with the state dollars as possible.  VERA has some impact but this impact will not be seen immediately.  The first of the early retirements is June 1, July 1 and October 1.  It will be a while before these positions are filled.  Extension has to honor contractual agreements and the MOU is a contractual agreement.  Hopefully positions will not have to be held open for a long period of time because if they are, the positions may be completely lost.  There are four District Extension Directors projected to retire within 6-12 months. 

 

Restriction on Association Meeting – all we get is time to attend the meeting.  There is some discussion that in the future we would have a time period considered to be in service training.  Dr. Jones would be in charge of the training component of the meeting by working with the association and specialists.  Evenings and lunch would be times for association business.  If this proposal passes on further discussion, travel dollars could be used to attend meeting because it would be in service training.  Many board members are concerned that this would turn into an annual conference for agricultural agents.   

 

Dr. Tom Melton has moved into the NSF Center for Integrated Pest Management but is still working 25% with Dr. Jones.  They have put together a programming Council who will work with Dr. Jones and currently Mike Yoder and Bob Barden are on the Council.  They would like to have a representative from the Agricultural Agents Association to have input on the Programming Council.    The board indicated that we would like to have a representative on this council. 

 

2009 State Meeting Update – Will Strader  

The state meeting budget was submitted which shows a proposal with a reduced registration fee.  The registration fees are as follows:  Agent - $50, Spouse - $25, retired agents - $40, and children - $20.  The tours will all be local so they feel that money can be saved by reducing travel to tour stops.   The recognition breakfast will be Wednesday morning and award winners have to be present at the breakfast to receive awards.  

 

We are committed to meet 66 room nights with the hotel.  There is a penalty of having to pay for the 66 rooms even if not filled.  The cost of the hotel rooms is $85/night.   

 

Lewis Smith made a motion to approve the 2009 NCACAA State Meeting Budget as presented.  Randy Wood seconded the motion.  Motion carries. 

 

Gerda Rhodes reported that there are $5700 sponsorships to date with another $1750 promised.  Have just recently gotten up with RJR, have $1000 from Pork Council and still trying to get up with Philip Morris.   

Barry Foushee made a motion that the agenda for the 2009 NCACAA State Meeting be approved.  Kelly Groves seconded the motion.  Motion carries.

 

NACAA Treasurer Campaign – Barry Foushee 

Barry is running as a candidate for Treasurer of NACAA.  The candidate cannot send any information out.  The information has to be sent from the state association.  Barry will need help with hospitality and passing out fliers at the national meeting.  Parman Green from University of Missouri is running against Barry for treasurer.  A lot of supplies will have to be bought in Portland for the hospitality and campaign for Barry.  Gerda Rhodes made a motion that the board provide up to $3000 for the National Treasurer campaign.  Nancy Keith seconded the motion.  Motion carries. 

 

NCACAA Voting Delegates to Portland – Stanley Holloway 

NCACAA gets 9 voting delegates.  The voting delegates to the NACAA AMPIC will be: 

Charles Young – West Central District

Ray Harris – Southeast District

Randy Wood – South Central District

Ben Chase – North Central District

Craig Ellison – Northeast District

Diane Turner – West District

Stanley Holloway – President, NCACAA

Kelly Groves – President-Elect, NCACAA

Gerda Rhodes – Vice President, NCACAA 

 

Administration is not providing support this year to attend the national meeting.  DSA and AA winners will receive $1000.00.  For DSA and AA - $500 is an award and up to $500 for travel (have to have receipts).  Voting Delegates and Officers get up to $500 (receipts must be provided).  

 

2012 NACAA AMPIC Request – Stanley Holloway  

A request has been received from Chuck Davis, Jr. for sponsorship of the national meeting which will be held in Charleston, SC in 2012.  We need to check with Lenny Rogers to see if money from 2008 has been sent to them and how much.  Find out how much South Carolina contributed to the 2008 meeting in North Carolina and let Chuck know that we will help.  Find out how much meals are running and consider sponsoring a meal. 

 

Trust Fund Report 

Lenny Rogers has a committee in place to look at the Trust Fund Account from Charlotte ’88 as well as the money in the Foundation from the NACAA 2008 meeting.  Committee will bring a proposal to the board as recommendation for approval. 

 

Federation Report

The last Federation meeting was held via Elluminate.  The Federation Forum was cancelled due to the travel restrictions.

 

Vice President/President Elect Position – Stanley Holloway, Gerda Rhodes  

Gerda Rhodes who currently serves as the Vice-President and would move into President Elect position is interested in the VERA.  What is the procedure for replacement of an officer?  The bylaws need to be reviewed to determine what to do in the situation of a vacancy of an officer. 

 

JCEP Report – Kelly Groves, Stanley Holloway 

The JCEP meeting was held in Orlando, Florida.  Ethics in the Workplace was a topic of discussion.  At the Southern Region Meeting, SC indicated that they are to submit 30%, 40% and 50% budget cut proposals.

Galaxy IV is to be held in 2013 in the Northeast Region.  Pennsylvania is interested in bidding to host the AMPIC but is also interested in bidding to host the Galaxy Conference.  They have indicated that they will only host the AMPIC if it is combined with Galaxy. 

 

District Reports   

West District – Diane Turner – met via Elluminate 3/26/09

West Central District – Allison Brown – met March 13 in Burke County. There was a large representation of membership present.  A presentation on sustainable agriculture was made.

South Central – Randy Wood – next meeting March 8 in Scotland County

North Central District – Michelle Wallace – Met March 18^th and made a trip to a buffalo farm.  Working on finalizing plans for state meeting

Southeast District – Della King- Meeting May 18^th in Pender County

Northeast District – Lewis Smith – Meeting held March 6^th in Pitt County.  Talked about biodiesel, cogeneration.  Working to assign committees for 2010 state meeting 

 

Next meeting will be held June 16, 2009 at 6:00 pm at the Brownstone Inn, Raleigh. 

Motion and second to adjourn meeting.  Motion carries.  Meeting adjourned at 1:10 pm.