I. Meeting was called to order by Linda Zaletel at 4:47 pm.

1. Linda Zaletel read minutes of the last meeting

Patti Peterson-Keys motioned to approve.

Heidi Anderson seconded. MCU.

2. Treasurer’s Report

1. Financial Report

There is $2,621.14 in our checking account, $14, 916.25 in our savings account and $5,776.53 in the Joe Halbur account. Jason O’Brien motioned to approve this report. Miriam Patten seconded it. MCU.

B. Membership Report

47 - 2003 Members

4 - 2003 student members

85 – 2004 members

5 – 2004 student members

13 – 2005 members

16 – honorary members

Total Members = 172

C. IRS non-profit status

Greg checked on our 501c3 status with IRS. We DO NOT qualify. We are classified as a 501c6. This is a business organization that does pay sales tax. ICEC’s status is 501c3 because they are an older organization. They applied before the law changed. IAN applied too late. Amy Yoakum suggested sending a letter. Patti Peterson-Keys will talk to a lawyer.

1. Promotions

1. Fundraising – Katie Dalton

The fall auction raised $1, 264.50. Bird seed sold raised $115.00. We will be in need of Good, Quality items for next year’s auction.

2. Junior Naturalist – Joel Van Roekel

Bluegill patches are available. Take what you want. Joel will bill.

3. Joe Halbur Scholarship – Darrin Siefken

Two applications came in. The committee will make a decision tonight. Amy Yoakum and Charlene Elyea will be on committee.

1. Professional Development

1. Scholarships - Patti Peterson-Keys

$400 available. Up to $100 available to attend meetings. Consider this for NIW in Michigan.

Kelly Sonnichsen received $75 to attend the NAI Region V meeting

1. ICEC/IAN Awards – Shane Vondracek

• Pam Holz will step down as ICEC CoChair. Judy Levings replaces her.

1. IAN Grants

The application form was lost in ExCom transfer. We will need to get all the information on the web for projects, criteria and an application.

2. IAN Newsletter – Next deadline is April 15

We need help with grapevine news. Let Dan Cohen know of any.

3. NAI liaison – Amy Yoakum took over for Dan Cohen. The Des Moines NIW workshop raised $3000 for Region V. When budget is stabilized, they will bring back the minigrant program. That money is for members to attend any NAI workshop. The next Region V workshop is March 30 – April 3, 2005 at Starved Rock State Park in Illinois. Jason O’Brien and Darrin Siefken are on the planning committee for the 2006 Region V Mississippi River workshop. Director and Treasurer positions are open in Region V.
4. DNR liaison – Jackie Neely
5. IACCBE Rep. – Working on plans for 2005 Winterfest
6. IEC – Gail Barels

The new director is Rich Leopold. They will lobby the legislature.

7. Upcoming Workshops

A. Summer 2004 Workshop

July 12 – 14 in Benton County

$25 for 5 meals / free housing

B. Fall 2004 Workshop

November 3 – 5, 2004 in Hardin County

Early to avoid Veteran’s Day, National Interpreter’s Workshop in Michigan and Thanksgiving holiday

C. Spring 2005 Workshop

Johnson County

8. Web page – Mark Roberts

1. NEED grant information, mentor information, committee reports, minutes, publications, scholarship, join us page, ExCom meetings, web policy, pictures and other updates.
2. Form a committee – Dana Dettmer

9. REAP CEP – May 15 Deadline

10. Master Conservationist – Anna Belle Major is the grad student in charge.

1. $2,500 available for purchase of IAN booklets on a first come, first serve basis.
2. $250 is available to purchase IAN booklets for each MC class.
3. Nine out of the 10 are still available.

1. Guide to Interpretive Services

1. Old copies are in boxes at Polk County.
2. There is a link from IAN’s website but has somehow been removed from ISU Extension’s website. We hope to fix this problem.

V. Action/Discussion Items (5 minutes each)

1. IAN Booklets grant with ICEC – Diane Pixler

1. Native American Booklets – REAP will not fund anything but the printing.
2. IAN could not apply for an Iowa Community Cultural grant because of a lack of 501c3 status. ICEC will be applying for this grant. Notification will occur in April.

1. Mentoring Committee

1. Certificates were given to mentors for 9 current & 2 "old"

Mentors Mentees

Shane Vondracek Amber O’Neil - OLD

Karen Roosa-Hansen Charlie Bray

Aaron Hershberger Ben Schlader

Sunday Ford Robby Mason - OLD

Kelly Sonnichsen Josh Carr

Karen Johlas-Szalkowski Kristi Karwal

Heidi Anderson Angi Reid

Pam Holz Carrie Johnson

Charlene Elyea Lisa Anderson

Michelle Olsen Nicole Moestchen

Greg Wolf Linda Roy

2. Moles revealed were Katie Dalton, Shane Vondracek, Greg Wolf, Julie Brazell & Jerry Keys.

1. List Serve – Jason O’Brien

1. Currently, IAN uses a moderated list. Members contact the vice president with messages. The VP, Shane, sends appropriate messages out to entire membership.
2. An unmoderated list serve would eliminate the time commitment of IAN’s VP. We could use an invited or uninvited list of members.
3. Yahoo has list serve capabilities that IAN could use. There is an archival function that might be helpful.
4. After some discussion, Larry Stone motioned to have an unmoderated list. Rochelle Ebel seconded the motion. MCU.

1. Professional Development Awards for 2003 – Miriam Patton

Committee – Heidi Anderson, Nan Geske & Charlene Elyea

1. Yearly recipients - Julie Brazell, Ann Burns, Sondra Cabell, Katie Cantu, Dawn Chapman, Katie Dalton, Kathy Dice, Rochelle Ebel, Charlene Elyea, Anita Fisher, Sunday Ford, Bradley Freidhof, Heather Freidhof, Laura Hamilton, Jerry Keys, Maria Koschmeder, Theresa Kruid, Jody Moats, Heather Niec, Michele Olson, Miriam Patton, Kim Perlstein-Rowley, Diane Pixler, Tina Popson, Kelly Sonnichsen, Shane Vondracek, Todd VonEhwegen, Greg Wolf, Amy Yoakum, Linda Zaletel
2. 5 year recipients – Heidi Anderson, Dana Dettmer, Pamela Holz & Mark Roberts

5. Policy and Procedure Manual for IAN

1. A committee would create a manual for each position on the Executive Committee. This manual would be passed down to new Executive Committee members. Greg Wolf, Shane Vondracek and Linda Zaletel from the ExCom volunteered. Brad Freidhof, Heidi Anderson, Kelly Sonnichsen & Patti Peterson-Keys volunteered to be on the committee as well. This committee could go through the archives together. Once this information is established, it should contain IAN’s history and be put online.

1. 6. Carpooling Efficiency Award

A. Christina Groen, Kelly Sonnichsen, Shane Vondracek and Jody Moats.

1. Other

1. Mike Havlik announced the Young Naturalist’s conference August 8 – 14, 2004.
2. Jason O’Brien has Nature Mapping brochures available.
3. Joe Boyles mentioned a 36 star flag that was purchased by Lewis Major, Wendy Zohrer, Jason O’Brien and Joe. It was first flown at Ft. Abraham Lincoln then went to IL. Now it’s in Iowa. It will be returned to Region 5 at Starved Rock, IL where it will be auctioned off as a fundraiser. It is meant to fly as many places as possible between now and then.
4. Brad Freidhof talked about the Iowa Environmental Education Project. This is the $50 million Rainforest project going on in Johnson County. He hopes to have David Oman speak to IAN at the Spring 2005 meeting in Johnson County.
5. Lewis Major spoke about using the ICN network for programming. He wanted to let everyone know it will be a program at the fall workshop. This would be a modern technology that would be free and require minimum effort.

VI. Adjourn

• Dana Dettmer motioned to adjourn at 6:03 pm. Brad Freidhof seconded the motion. MCU.