Iowa NACAA Fall Minutes

President Pat Derdzinski called the meeting to order at approximately 3 pm at the Starlight Village in Ames.

Secretary Russ Euken presented the minutes of the spring meeting. He motioned to approve them as presented and Joe Sellers seconded. The treasurer's report was also presented and is attached. John Creswell moved to accept treasurer's report and Neil Wubben seconded.

New members since spring meeting from each area were introduced.

New Members:

Paul Lasley who is chair of a committee on the College of Ag and Extension relationship on campus took a few minutes to explain the committee charge and objectives to the membership and asked for ideas for getting input from CEEDs and field specialists. The committee will be moving fairly fast trying to finish their task this year.

Doug Fricke with the Des Moines convention and visitors bureau explained what the bureau and the city of Des Moines might offer and how it could help if Iowa NACAA wanted to host a national AM/PIC meeting in 2006 or 2007.

Pat Derdzinski gave a report on the national AM/PIC held in Mississippi and some of his unique experiences on one of the tours.

Jerry Dewitt, Ag Extension Program leader, addressed the group on 2 topics. One was budget and the second was in service training.

On the budget, Dr. Dewitt indicated that at this time there were more questions than answers but the goal for all units in extension would be to provide 20% of their base budget from alternative sources of funds. This would start Jan. 1, 2001 and be implemented over a 2.5 year period.

Several questions and comments were asked.

Comment: It was hoped that user fees would be implemented in a manner that they would be equal from one county or area to the next. Dr. Dewitt agreed that equality would be necessary

Question: If extension provides 20% of the budget would legislative funding be cut even more? Dr. DeWitt responded that although that is a possibility that is not the expectation.

Question How does 1.5 % shortfall in funding equal 20% of budget. Response: The shortfall in funding is 1.5 million that has occurred over several years and the 20 % of base budget is a long term goal.

Question: Will working on getting alternative sources of funding take away or decrease ability to do other things? Dr. Dewitt agreed that capacity would be reduced.

Comment: Alternative to finding outside funding is to reduce staff anyway.

Comment: We will become 4^th partner at 20% level of funding along with federal, state and local funding.

Question: Who will benefit b increasing tuition and who helps recruit tuition paying students? Extension does not get any tuition dollars but vice provost Johnson has made an effort to try and get some tuition funding.

Question: What will be Extension council's role?

Question: If 85-95% of budget is people (salaries etc) how will additional dollars from grants etc. help cover those salaries.

Question: Can we maintain unbiased base if we are using soft money to fund programs?

Questions: Would it be possible to hire a specialized team to work on alternative funding so that current staff time is not spent on that?

Dr. Dewitt indicated that he would get additional input from CEED's and field specialists on how to implement the new funding strategy.

The second item of inservice training was addressed by Dr. DeWitt. He indicated that Jim Johnson was working on a project for on call in service. Having scheduled inservice once or twice per year does not meet need for some things. What is envisioned is having module prepared that would be accessible on a timely basis. The first one covers carbon sequestration.

Another question was asked about the goal of becoming the best by the year 2000? Dr. DeWitt indicated that although there is always room for improvement his response was that he would not want to be any other place than Extension in Iowa.

Dr. Wendy Wintersteen made a few brief remarks. She indicated that 2.5 years on implementing the funding strategy was an ambitious goal but she believed that mechanisms would be found to carry it out. She was worried that Extension would lose some good people and hoped that it would not happen. She also indicated that this would give Extension an opportunity to become more focused and businesslike.

Jim Jensen reported that the P& S council report would be the same as given at the ISUCEP meeting earlier in the day. Tim Eggers added that Extension was pretty well represented on P& S council. Shawn Shouse is vice president and Tim is on the executive council. In addition to the 5 Extension representative there are 5 other representatives tied to Extension.

The only committee reports were as follows: Awards and recognition committee. Linda Engelken-Fisher indicated that Pat Derdzinski received the Achievement Award at the AM/PIC meeting in Mississippi and Ralph Mayer had received the Distinguished Service Award. Bob Dodds was presented his Distinguished Service Award since he was not able to attend the Mississippi meeting to receive it. She also indicated that DSA and AA award nominations are due Dec. 15.

Kelvin Leibold submitted a written report from the public relations committee. It is attached.

Two committees did not have a representative. Bob Dodds agreed to serve another term on the Administrative Skills Development committee and John Holmes volunteered to serve on the ISUCEP member issues committee as NACAA representative.

The proposed budget for 2000-2001 was presented. A question was raised by Joel DeJong if the raffle was going to be held again. Paul Kassel agreed to help secure prizes and Russ Euken will work with Joel and Paul on a committee to carry out the raffle.

Question was asked about the support for Wisconsin meeting. It was agreed that membership had indicated that $10 per member per year for four years would go to the Wisconsin meeting.

Other discussion on the budget included use of the raffle funds for AM/PIC meeting support.

Neil Wubben made a motion that all the raffle funds be used for support of AM/PIC meeting in Wisconsin. Discussion followed that possibly some of the raffle funds should be used to start building funds for a possible AM/PIC hosted by Iowa in 2006 or 2007. It was agreed that the fund could be used for other AM/PIC meeting in addition to Wisconsin.

Dale Miller seconded the motion.

Joel DeJong offered an amendment to the original motion stating that 1/2 of each raffle ticket could either go to AM/PIC meeting support or to NACAA scholarship at the purchaser's choice. Dan Burkhart seconded that.

George Cummins called for the question.

More discussion followed. The point was made that with only 1/2 of the estimated raffle funds going to AM/PIC meeting support the budget showed a $250 loss.

The original motion was brought to a vote. Motion passed. The motion as amended was voted on and motion passed.

Dan Burkhart NC region vice director updated the group on committee structure for NACAA and that the NC leadership meeting would be help in Ames or Des Moines in Feb.

He said he had a promo video for the annual meeting in Albuquerque, NM.

A plaque was presented to Pat Derdzinski in appreciation for his leadership as President of Iowa NACAA. Pat presented the gavel to Russ Euken new Iowa NACAA president.

Russ adjourned the meeting

Following the meeting the membership had a evening social with the campus ag staff invited. A meal with grilling and meat supplied by Iowa Pork Producers and a short talk by Frank Randall from the athletic department was given. About 20 campus staff and 50 Iowa NACAA members participated.

Submitted,

Russ Euken Secretary
 
 

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Date Placed on Web: Mon, February 12, 2001
Last Updated: Mon, February 12, 2001