Doc. #2007-82
CAYUGA LAKE WATERSHED NETWORK
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Old Jail Building, Ithaca, NY

Directors present: Mark Delaney, Ronda Fessenden, Deb Grantham, Doug Haith, Chuck Kroll, John Mawdsley, Julie Patterson, Ruth Richardson, Bill Shaw, Keith Tidball and Kevin Zippel

Excused directors: Joe Cambridge, Eric Reigel

Also in attendance: Sharon Anderson, Diane Emmons

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by John Mawdsley, Chairperson. Acceptance of the minutes of the October 9, 2007 meeting were moved by B. Shaw, seconded by K. Tidball and unanimously approved.

Items from the floor: B. Shaw shared an editorial on water monitoring from the Ithaca Journal.
K. Tidball reported Finger Lakes Trout Unlimited is interested in a joint water monitoring effort with the Watershed Network for Canoga Creek. It could be a good pilot of the monitoring guidance document.

Business:
Priorities in the next decade:
John reported on the creation of an ad hoc committee to re-visit and refine our mission and focus for the next decade. At the last Board Meeting on October 9, 2007 K. Tidball suggested the Development Committee look at the focus of the organization to see if it needs to be tightened. By knowing exactly what we hope to achieve in the next decade it will be easier to get funding. It will also have marketing implications. The work will build on previous work (existing mission, strategic plan, etc.) The proposed committee (Decade Two Task Force) will be J. Mawdsley, K. Tidball, D. Haith, D. Grantham, R. Fessenden and S. Anderson. Charge includes Mission of the Watershed Network and direction.

Plan of work:
J. Mawdsley reported on plan of work for 2008. He charged the Committee Chairs to prepare their plan of work and budgets and submit by November 30, 2007 which goes to the Finance Committee and the Board at Dec 13, 2007 Board Mtg. The budget should include an estimated of staff time needed (supply estimated hours).

The goal is for committee plans and activities to fit into and support the direction of the organization as a whole and support organizational priorities, rather than committees going off in their own directions. Committees are encouraged to think about and suggest funding sources for their activities, however any ideas, suggestions must go to Finance Committee first and then be approved by the Board to ensure all funding requests are coordinated. The committee budgets are needed so we can organize the total budget for 2008. Everyone is encouraged to think creative ways of raising long-term funds.

The committees are encouraged to do detailed planning for the first 4 months in 2008 and remember that the activities planned after that might need to go through some changes based on the Decade Two Committee.

J. Mawdsley will be calling together the Committee Chairs for a coordination meeting.

Resolution #R2-2007 Funding Opportunities:
Whereas there are multiple, financial and cost and consequences to projects and funding requests to support them; and
Whereas a single voice to potential funders and review of overall costs and budgets are desirable;
NOW THEREFORE IT BE RESOLVED, that committees planning events and projects for the succeeding year submit preliminary budgets with all costs to the Finance Committee pursuant to the Annual work plan and budget process in the Fall of each calendar year, and
The Finance Committee will forward its’ recommendations to the Board regarding amounts to be requested of potential funders and showing unfunded costs to be incurred by the Network; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that supplemental and unique opportunities for projects and funding that arise during the year be submitted to either the Finance Committee or the Executive Committee for expedited review thereafter.

Resolution moved by B Shaw and seconded by D. Grantham and unanimously approved.

Finances 2007 & 2008:
B. Shaw reported on committed revenue for 2007/2008. B. Shaw moved to do #3 on the Decision Tree (Doc.#2007-82): FY 2007 EOY options - Sell neither CD yet and decide at December Board Meeting. Keith Tidball seconded. Did not pass with a vote of 1 for and 9 against.

Motion made by Deb Grantham on behalf of the Finance Committee and seconded. Whereas projected further revenues and expenses for EOY 2007 yield a potential shortfall of $17,000.00 ; and
Whereas approximately $15,000.00 is available in Certificates of Deposit; and

Whereas cutback in staffing and other alternative savings would impair the delivery of programmatic services and progress towards attainable goals in 2008 and thereafter;

Now therefore be it Resolved that the committee recommends that the Board direct the application of funds in Certificates of Deposit to the Operating Costs for 2007, coupled with aggressive efforts in the interim or bridge funding alternatives. Passed by a vote of 9 for and 1 opposed.

There were suggestions to build up our reserves in CD’s as soon as possible using non-restricted funds such as the Annual Appeal and Member Dues. Further effort on this was not assigned.

Aurora Initiative Task Force: Doc.# 2007-77, Doc.# 2007-78 and Doc.# 2077-81

B. Shaw reported on the Aurora Initiative Task Force meeting on October 30, 2007. He passed around two sample budgets. S. Anderson and he will work on further.

Motion by D. Haith and seconded by J. Patterson to have the Aurora Initiative Task Force move forward with this, unanimously approved.

Report Updates & Questions
Watershed Steward Report Doc#2007-79. S. Anderson requested Directors contact her if they have suggestions for changes that would improve the usefulness of the report.

Committee Reports:
Finance/Development:
Doc.#2007-74, Doc.#2007-76, & Doc.#2007-80
Outreach Committee:
J. Patterson provided preliminary information on the arts contest.
Issues Committee:
Doc.#2007-75

Task Summaries:
· Treasurer will sell CD’s and deposit proceeds in checking.
· Let J. Mawdsley know if there are specific documents and history that the Decade 2 Task Force should consider.
· J. Mawdsley will set up meeting of Committee Chairs.
· All Directors not currently on a committee are to select and participate in a committee before the December meeting.
· Each committee is charged with evaluating their progress on their 2007 plan of work, drafting a plan of work for 2008, creating a budget needed to complete that work, and identifying potential funding. Committee plan of work and budget are to be submitted to S. Anderson by November 30, 2007.
· B. Shaw and S. Anderson to work further on the budget for the Aurora Initiative

Motion to adjourn by, adjourned at 9:05 pm

Next Board Meeting: December 13, 2007 at Gould’s Pumps in Seneca Falls.

Submitted by

Diane Emmons