Doc. #2008-01
CAYUGA LAKE WATERSHED NETWORK
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
ITT/Goulds Pumps, Seneca Falls, NY

Directors present: Brian Boerman, Ronda Fessenden, Deb Grantham, Doug Haith, John Mawdsley, Eric Reigel, Ruth Richardson, Bill Shaw, Keith Tidball, Kevin Zippel

Excused directors: Joe Cambridge, Chuck Kroll, Julie Patterson

Also in attendance: Sharon Anderson

The meeting was called to order at 7:03 pm by John Mawdsley, Chairperson. The minutes of the meeting were accepted with no amendments.

Items from the floor: : S. Anderson announced that the Watershed Network received the Merit Award from the NYS Soil and Water Conservation Society for our education and outreach. Lake-friendly Farm and road ditch education programs were specifically noted

Business:
Annual Appeal: to date there have been 48 contributions totaling nearly $3000. S. Anderson requested the Board next year set a goal. R. Fessenden, D. Grantham, K. Tidball, and K. Zippel agreed to make follow up phone calls to past Board Directors.
Decade 2: J. Mawdsley reported there is strong support for continuing to work as a network and to work on the watershed scale. These terms may not need to be part of the organization’s name. One objective is to modify the mission statement so that it is clear to others and clearly guides the organization. Lively discussions have covered how much in our second decade we should focus on education, become advocates, and do field work; should the organization be centered on the health of the lake, the lake and its tributaries or all water resources in the watershed.

Nothing in the history or mission of the organization limits the organization from advocating. The organization did not take a stand on issues when it was a young organization. There has been a perception among the Board Directors as well as the public that we don’t take a stand. Admittedly, it is often difficult to take a stand on issues because even just looking at the environmental ramifications is often complex, let alone balancing human benefits and environmental benefits. Some issues are clear and others take a great deal of time. Board consensus was that there is no obvious limitation on sensibly advocating on issues.

Initiatives and 2008 Plan of Work:
Committee Chairs met via conference call to consider special initiatives for 2008 that go across committees. A major donor campaign, 10th year celebration, the Aurora Initiative and fund raising are all examples.
Committees were reminded to submit plans of work and budgets that include the amount of staff time needed for support. If committees make clear what staff is expected to do, she can estimate time and staff dollars needed to provide that support. S. Anderson noted that the planning checklists used for events such as Lakefest have been extremely helpful for making clear what are volunteer responsibilities and what staff is to handle. Committees are asked to consider how committee activities support the organization and to balance costs and benefits. Plans of work should note the purpose and benefits of each item so they can be evaluated.
Grants and contracts cover many of the plan of work elements that take staff time. S. Anderson listed both traditional and new projects that must have unrestricted funds to cover any costs. Currently there is not enough projected revenue to support staff involvement in everything we would like to do. Some activities could be done by volunteers with no or minimal staff time. Volunteer involvement has an opportunity cost, though some volunteers want to give their time to particular endeavors. Programs could be added as the year progresses if committees and the Board secure funding. Prioritized programs included the Aurora/Wells Initiative, major donor campaign, Lake-friendly Farms, 10-year celebration, educational conferences, and the report card.
There was consensus that some efforts could be combined such as having the conference also be a venue to build relationships with potential donors and a part of the 10th anniversary celebration. J. Mawdsley and S. Anderson were charged with thinking this through.
S. Anderson noted that she received a draft document from the Outreach Committee, with the message that it was not complete. Lakefest could have been left off intentionally or just not added yet. In response to a tie vote on the poster contest, as a new 2008 effort, the Board came to consensus to support the contest in 2008 pending seeing a plan from the Outreach Committee that shows how it can be undertaken with no or minimal office staff support and what funds would be needed. A suggestion was made to consider simplifying the plan for this first year such as not doing a calendar and maybe limiting to photography. Referred to the Outreach Committee for them to finish the plan of work and budget.
B. Boerman explained three of the four areas of focus for the Issues Committee are primarily covered with grant/contract funding: Aquatic Weeds and Invasives, Monitoring and Modeling, and Stormwater. Specific other advisory committees exist to support these efforts excepting the Modeling, which the committee will continue to discuss. The fourth area that as of yet does not have funding is the Report Card. The Report Card fits in with the work being done by Decade 2 and a Cornell graduate seminar has selected the Report Card as a focus project. While the class will not be able to complete the report card in the spring semester, it should provide the foundation for a strong proposal for additional funding. The Committee is eager to be involved. The main cost will be a small amount of staff time to work with the Cornell class, which will do the bulk of the work. S. Anderson to discuss funding with the Issues Committee.

2007 Budget and Financial update. S. Anderson provided current year to date financial information along with projected end of year figures using both a “cash basis” and our “accrual basis.” Both reveal a modest, positive result. B. Shaw noted that while certain invoices are not received, but expected in January, that because we use the accrual accounting system and they will be entered in 2008, the month and year we actually receive the invoices or liability for payment. B. Shaw reported that two of the Certificates of Deposit were cashed, per Board directive in November. The remaining Certificate is Donor Restricted.

2008 Budget: S. Anderson presented her preliminary draft of anticipated revenues, divided into restricted and non-restricted categories. Those initial projected revenues would not cover her preliminary projection of expenses. However, in-kind and cash received in conjunction with the Aurora/Wells Initiative may significantly change the budget as the year progresses. The Finance Committee is reviewing her projections and committee requests and other revenue sources for 2008 at its January meeting and will report back to the Board with a range of proposed budgets for consideration at the February meeting.

WQIP Contract: B. Shaw moved adoption of the resolution provided by the Finance/Development Committee to accept a two year, $60,000 contract for WQIP work for the Tompkins County Stormwater Coalition (Doc # 2007-88). D. Grantham seconded. Unanimously passed.

2008 Retreat: B. Shaw moved that a Board retreat not be held this year, due to existing commitments expressed by Board members and financial concerns addressed earlier. K. Tidball seconded. Doug Haith concurred. The Motion passed unanimously. In response to being asked her opinion, S. Anderson replied that she supported the decision unless something came out of the Decade 2 committee or the planning for a major donor that suggested a longer meeting of the Board was needed.
Reports:

Watershed Steward Report Doc# 2007-
The new policy of the Cayuga County Water Quality Management Agency is that voting members need to be county residents. Directors from Cayuga County should contact S. Anderson if interested in serving or learning more.

The Board adjourned 9:07 p.m.

Task Summaries:
· D. Grantham will draft and send out a sample script and S. Anderson to send out contact information for the annual appeal.
· R. Fessenden, D. Grantham, K. Tidball, and K. Zippel will make calls by the end of this week.
· S. Anderson responsible for polling Directors on the date for the January meeting.
· J. Mawdsley will follow up with Directors who are not currently on a committee.
· Each committee is charged with submitting a plan of work for 2008, creating a budget needed to complete that work, and identifying potential funding. Submitted to S. Anderson ASAP. They were due November 30, 2007.
· J. Mawdsley and S. Anderson to think through how to blend events, such as the conference and the donor campaign.

Next Board Meeting: January 8, 2008 at Wells College, Aurora, NY

Submitted by Brian Boerman, Secretary