Department/Committee / FTA Board of Directors / Date 1-24-15
Meeting Place / White Springs Community Center
Presiding / Carlos Schomaker, President / Meeting Time / 8am – 3pm
ATTENDING
Tom Daniel VP Trails, Holly Parker, VP Dev., Leslie Wheeler Secretary, Pam Hale, Treasurer / Directors: Jan Wells, David Denham, Adam Wiegand
FTA Staff: Janet Akerson, Meghan Donoghue, Jeff Glenn
USFS Staff: Megan Eno, Shawn Thomas / Excused: Eve Barbour, Jim Powell, Megan Digeon
Guests: Dr. Helen Miller, Mayor White Springs
Greg Knecht, Board candidate
TOPIC / DISCUSSION/ACTION / FOLLOW-UP
Roll call and Quorum - Leslie / 15 positions; 8 Directors present.
Quorum established. / Chuck Barrowclough and Meredith Rust have resigned from the Board. VP of Governance position is open.
Eric Mason has resigned from FTA.
Halifax-St. Johns Chapter name has been changed to Black Bear to reflect their involvement with the Ocala National Forest.
Dr. Helen Miller / Mayor Miller discussed the future of White Springs as an eco-tourism destination and how the town wants to continue to partner with FTA on events, such as the IDIDAHIKE.
President’s Report –
Carlos / Carlos reviewed his outline of a strategic plan. FTA has not reviewed this in several years. Board was reminded that all the great ideas still need financial backing to implement. Plan divided as Trail Specific and Organization Specific. Footprint needs improvement. Board was encouraged to review magazine from the Pacific Crest Trail. Better use of e-newsletter.
Develop local speaker’s bureau. Carlos stressed the role of the Board to get donations and grants.
We should consider hiring a Development Director. FTA cannot yet afford an Executive Director. We could even contract for a short term development director. Also need Board Orientation packet and training. Gainesville office critically needs a new member and donor software program. Need new FTA store merchandise.
Chapter Strengthening Initiative (CSI) – to be rolled out soon to chapters. Not meant to be dictatorial, but some chapters are not promoting the mission of FTA. Not much consistency and this has hampered efforts to grow the organization. Board discussed possibility of chapter standards tied to chapter rebate. / Carlos and Holly Parker will attend Hike the Hill week Feb. 7-12.
Jan Wells suggested purchase of member database software is an urgent need and encouraged staff to decide which program they needed. Board could then decide how to purchase it. Office is getting a new phone system.
See attached CSI notes.
Holly Parker described how chapters in the Surfrider organization must meet certain goals in order to maintain their membership.
Pam Hale suggested chapters should submit an annual budget to the Board. This would allow the Board to better plan for next year’s projects.
New Directors / Christopher Boykin was nominated by David Denham. Holly Parker nominated Greg Knecht. / See attached.
Christopher and Greg were approved as Directors by unanimous vote.
Terms of Office / Bylaws not concise on what is a full term.
Officers can only serve 2 full consecutive terms. Several members of the Board have joined to fill a vacancy. Would like to change wording to:
The Officers shall consist of President, …all of whom shall hold office for a term of 2 full years. Time spent filling a vacancy does not apply to the full term limits.
Board also discussed potential for online voting, so all FTA members could participate. Currently, officers are voted on during annual conference. / See Bylaws, Article 7, Section 1
Bylaw change will be sent to Jim Powell for review. Board will vote within 30 days.
2/8/15 – the motion passes with 9 votes YES:
"Section 1. Enumeration and Term of Officers. The Officers shall consist of President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Third Vice President, Fourth Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary, all of who shall hold office for a term of two (2) years. In the event of a vacancy the position may be filled by a majority vote of the Board, and the Officer so chosen shall serve the balance of the unexpired term. The President, Vice Presidents, and Secretary may hold the same office for not more than two (2) full consecutive terms.
An individual who was elected to fill the unexpired portion of a term is not precluded from immediately thereafter being elected to a full two year term and may be re-elected for a second full two year term."
Secretary is responsible for updating Bylaws. Janet will provide Word document so Leslie can make changes.
Staff vacancy / Eric Mason has resigned from his position as FNST Program Director. Carlos suggested the job description is reviewed before posting. / The Board agreed that Eric has done an outstanding job and we all wish him well!
VP Membership,
Eve Barbour / By email: FTA membership still hovering at 4300. Notices for awards at annual conference have been sent out to the chapters. Eve recommends Board postpones rollout of new member categories. Board discussed raising dues to sustain chapter rebates.
Eve and Jan Wells have been working on Activity Leaders Guide. Draft to ready soon. / Board will postpone new member categories. Committee, including Janet and/or Diane, will reconvene and review.
USFS Report –
Shawn Thomas / Reviewed Program of Work. Still in draft.
Megan Eno explained that FNST now must compete with 2 new Scenic trails in the US. This will make likelihood of increase funding very doubtful. Shawn also discussed use of the Optimal Location Review (OLR) for Trail Routing, a process used by USFS and in use now for the Osceola/Orange County Dessert relocation project.
Megan will also start working on some “signature projects “we could use when soliciting donors. / OLR will be in the new USFS-FTA MOU.
Will be used for major relocations, not minor. Shawn said that he did not want the OLR process to be a barrier to minor trail changes. The OLR can be found at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprd3826770.pdf
VP Trails,
Tom Daniel / Trail Manual draft has been sent out for review.
Discussion regarding reimbursement for FTA members working on the Florida National Scenic Trail. USFS will reimburse 100%, but a receipt and form are required. The Regional Representatives can assist with this process.
Jeff Glenn gave update on trail access in Camp Blanding. Although the Trail has been shut out of the Keystone Airpark, Camp Blanding has recently agreed to allow the North Florida Trailblazers extend the Trail on their property. This will be an improvement for the long-distance hikers. / Shawn Thomas reiterated that the Western Corridor still is part of the FNST, and the USFS will reimburse for maintenance expenses incurred for maintenance along any section of the Florida National Scenic Trail.
VP Development – Holly Parker / Holly reviewed results of 2014 Year End Appeal.
$10395 was donated. This is double what we received last year, but by fewer donors. Carlos reviewed what other organizations have been able to do with this same initiative.
This year, she will focus on Planned Giving and more Board training for fund-raising.
Directors will get business cards to use when soliciting donors. / See attachment.
See Pacific Crest Trail Planned Giving program.
Free resources on Network for Good.
Policy Update –
Holly Parker / Amendment 1 passed! / See attached
Treasurer’s Report -Pam Hale / 6 months into the budget and we are $29k in the black. However, the next few months will be lean in donations as people tend to this time to recover from the holidays and taxes. Income target was not met, but expenses were managed to meet the deficit.
Chapters cannot apply for grants without review by the Executive Committee. Since a chapter is not its own organization, the FTA President is the only one who can sign the grant application.
Staff Report – Janet Akerson
Adjournment / Tom Daniel moved to adjourn meeting, Pam Hale seconded. All approved. / Meeting adjourned at 2:40pm.
Submitted by Leslie Wheeler, Secretary
February 11, 2015
See the following attachments:
- CSI recommendations
- Resume of new Board members
- Development plan
- Amendment 1
- Treasurer’s Report
FTA BOD Minutes1-24-2015page 1 of 6