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The next annual meeting of the 
North Dakota Soil and Water Conservation Society 
and
Professional Soil Classifiers Association of North Dakota
will be at the
Ramada Inn, Fargo, ND
October 15-16, 2009

Click here for a printable meeting agenda

Click here for a printable registration form

2008 SWCS-PSCCA Annual Meeting
October 9-10, 2008
Days Inn, Dickinson, ND

Click here for a meeting agenda

Click here for a break sponsor form

Attendees tour the Soil Health Demonstration project (top), the scholarship fundraising auction, 
and Schnell's composting facility (bottom)

2008 Meeting presentations:

Advanced Soil Biology - Jon Stika
Discovery Farms for North Dakota - Ron Wiederholt
Uses of LIDAR and IFSAR - Chuck Fritz
Uses of LIDAR and IFSAR - Joe Brennan
CNMP Planning in Relation to Water Quality - Shafiqur Rahman
CNMP Planning in Relation to Water Quality - Ted Alme
Riparian Health Protocol - Mark Gonzalez
The Thirst for Quality Water - Roxanne Johnson
Web Soil Survey - Wade Bott

This meeting was approved for 
Continuing Education Units (CEU) for Certified Crop Advisors.
October 9th for 1 Nutrient Management CEU and 4.5 Soil and Water CEUs
October 10th for 1 Nutrient Management CEU and 2 Soil and Water CEUs

NORTH DAKOTA CHAPTER SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION SOCIETY

Annual Meeting draft minutes, January 10, 2006, Holiday Inn Riverside, Minot, ND

Pam Copenhaver opened the Continuing Education portion at 9:57 AM titled "Developing Better Skills to Make Better Leaders" by introducing the presenter Marie Hvidsten, a Rural Leadership Specialist with NDSU Extension Service to make a presentation in three parts. The first was Ethical Leadership from 10:00 AM to Noon. We broke for lunch. The morning session was finished from 1:27 PM to 1:57 PM. Then the second part was Boards, Councils, and Committees from 2:03 PM to 3:05 PM. After a break the 2^nd part was finished from 3:17 PM to 3:34 PM. The third part was Leadership Development from 3:34 PM to 4:39 PM.

Chapter Awards for 2005 were then presented by Steve Schroeder and Bob Bird. The National Award winners from our Chapter were noted as:

Fellow Award – Myron Senechal

Outstanding Service – Jon Stika

Commendation - Rod O’Clair

Chapter Awards were:

Chapter Professional Award – Ron Luethe

Chapter Service Award – Gabe Brown

Business Stewardship Award – The Coteau Properties Co. accepted by Sara Flath.

The business meeting was then opened by President Cal Thorson at 5:02 PM.

In attendance were:

Cal Thorson, President Fred Aziz, Historian

Bob Bird, Secretary-Treasurer Mark A. Anderson, Legislative Committee

Russ Jordre, Council Representative Rod O’Clair, Fund-Raising Committee

Lena Bohm, Council Representative Ron Luethe, SWC Foundation

Steve Schroeder, Awards Committee Kristin Wild

Pam Copenhaver, Env. Ed. Committee Alan Ness, Env. Ed. Committee

Other Participants in the Continuing Education and Awards portions were:

Connie Howell, Bowbells, ND Jean Brandt, Kramer, ND

Allan Pfliger, Minot, ND Nancy Olson, Mohall, ND

Sara Flath to accept Coteau Award Gabe Brown to accept Award

The Annual Meeting minutes of Nov. 9, 2004, were reviewed and the date of the Northern Plains Regional Meeting in Loveland, Co was corrected to March 18-19, 2005.

Lena Bohm moved to accept the minutes as corrected. Fred Aziz seconded. Motion carried.

The Treasurer’s report was presented for 2005. The Treasurer’s records were audited by Lena Bohm prior to the meeting and she reported that she found them to be an accurate representation of 2005 activities. A motion was made by Steve Schroeder to accept the Treasurer’s Report and seconded by Mark Anderson. Motion carried.

Old Business:

Bob Bird reviewed his findings of ND college curriculums in disciplines compatible with Society membership. Mark Anderson moved we establish a $500 scholarship available to ND colleges to be administered by the Chapter and volunteered to chair this committee. Seconded by Lena Bohm. Motion carried. Scholarship Committee will consist of Mark Anderson, Chair, Lena Bohm, Rod O’Clair, Ron Luethe, and Bob Bird.

New Business (Reports):

President Cal Thorson

Thanked Lena Bohm for taking on Council Rep. and Publicity Chair.

Thanked the group for setting up a Scholarship Committee.

Need a new Publicity and Membership Chair – Kristin Wild volunteered.

Need to do additional fund raising.

President-Elect Jen Hegge was on detail in the South and unable to attend.

Past President Jackie Henderson was at a meeting in SD and unable to attend.

Council Rep. Lena Bohm noted that people need to be involved to get something out of Society membership.

Council Rep. Russ Jordre thanked Lena and Pam for helping with the Annual Meeting.

Rod O’Clair, Fund-Raising Chair, noted that all the soil probes have been sold. He also discussed other possible fund raisers such as popcorn sales and program events.

Pam Copenhaver, Env. Ed. Chair, reviewed past events for the year and explored the possibilities for future events.

Nominations Committee will be reported later.

Publicity, Lena Bohm, referred members to her annual report.

Foundation Report, Ron Luethe, they met once last year, checking account -$1,379.02.

Recent expenditures were $10 for Secretary of State and $76 for the PO Box. Ron indicated he would be willing to be reappointed to the Foundation Board.

Historian Fred noted that archival materials should be sent to him.

Legislative, Mark Anderson, stepped down from Chair of committee.

Election of Officers

Richard Webb was elected to Council Representative

Bob Bird was re-elected to Secretary-Treasurer.

Job Descriptions for Officers and Committees:

Lena Bohm moved that each officer and committee should review and rewrite the job description for their office or committee by the end of March. Steve Schroeder seconded. Motion carried.

Fred Aziz moved to adjourn and Steve Schroeder seconded. Motion carried at 6:19 PM

Respectfully submitted,

Robert Bird, Secretary-Treasurer

Tuesday, January 10^th, 2006
10:00 – 6:00pm
Ionian Room
Holiday Inn Riverside, Minot ND

"DEVELOPING BETTER SKILLS TO MAKE US BETTER LEADERS"

Marie Hvidsten, Rural Leadership Specialist - NDSU Extension Service

                                                            9:30 – 10:00 Registration & Introductions

10:00AM Ethical Leadership -- The ability to do the right thing has a significant impact on everyone around us and is key to an individual’s development as a leader. Discussion of ethical challenges will deepen a participants’ ability to recognize ethical problems and find solutions.

                                                            12:00 – 1:00 Lunch – On your own

1:00PM  Boards, Councils & Committees -- Encouraging groups to work efficiently to make a more productive board, council or committee to move from talk to action. Learning how to manage conflict could be key in increasing board, council or committee production, as well as in the workplace.

                                                            2:30 – 2:45 Break

2:45PM  Leadership Development – How to enhance your communication skills with clients and the public.

                                                            4:30     SWCS Awards

                                                            4:45 – 6:00     2005 Annual Business Meeting

Minutes of the North Dakota Chapter of the 
Soil and Water Conservation Society
2004 Annual Meeting

NORTH DAKOTA CHAPTER SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION SOCIETY

Annual Meeting, Nov. 9, 2004, Ramkota Hotel, Bismarck, ND

The meeting was called to order at 2:53 pm by President Jackie Henderson.

In attendance were:

Jackie Henderson, President Stephen Schroeder, Awards Committee

Cal Thorson, President-Elect Pam Copenhaver, Education Committee

Bob Bird, Secretary-Treasurer Mark Anderson, Legislative Committee

Jennifer Hegge, Council Rep. Alan Ness, Education Committee

Russ Jordre, Council Rep. Jill Howard, Newsletter Editor

Todd Solem, Nomination Committee

Fred Aziz, Historian

The minutes of last year’s annual meeting were presented. Misspelling of Todd Solem’s name was corrected. The ending date of Myron Senechal’s term on the International SWCS board was corrected to July 27, 2004. Jen Hegge moved to accept the minutes as corrected and seconded by Fred Aziz. Motion Carried. The treasurer’s report for 2004 was presented. Treasurer’s records were audited by Russ Jordre and he reported that the records looked good. Steve Schroeder moved to accept the treasurer’s report and Jen Hegge seconded. Motion Carried.

Legislative Report – Mark Anderson

CSP in ND involved a very small area. Next year the program will expand to 3 watersheds. The Society should stay involved in making comments because the program is expanding. Mark has comments on the program for those interested.

Bylaws – Jen Hegge reviewed the bylaws and found no need for changes.

Long Range Plan – Jackie Henderson. See attached for Jackie’s comments.

Awards Committee – Steve Schroeder

The plaques this year were ordered from Dakota Awards.

Local awards given out prior to the annual meeting were:

Professional Award - Fred Aziz

Service Award - Ron Sando

Business Stewardship – Ducks Unlimited

National Award nominations being submitted following the annual meeting:

Fellow – Myron Senechal

Outstanding Service – Jon Stika

Commendation – Rod O’Clair

Annual reports should be submitted to Jackie by the end of the month.

Nomination Committee (Election Results) – Todd Solem

Council Rep. – Jill Haakenson

Secretary-Treasurer – Bob Bird

President – Elect – Jen Hegge

New Business:

Foundation Report – Bob Bird

The Foundation Board of Directors is made up of 5 staggered terms of 5 years each. Ex-Officio members are the Past President and President of the ND Chapter.

Board Members are appointed by the NDSWCS Exec. Committee.

Currently all directors terms have expired. There is no activity. Assets are $ 1,385.02 in the checking account. PO Box and registration with the Secretary of State are current.

Question: Should we let the Foundation die and dissolve?

Or

Should new directors be appointed and revive the Foundation?

If we want to revive, I recommend we form a committee to propose directors or nominate Jon Stika and Myron Senechal to the Board and have them help get 3 more directors.

The Foundation and the ND Chapter need to be partners to make this work. The Foundation needs a project or projects to work toward. The Directors need to be committed to making it work. Anybody can work with the Foundation on a project, idea, scholarship, or whatever. Steve Schroeder moved to send email asking members for suggestions on directions and suggestions for what the foundation should do. Fred Aziz seconded. Motion Carried.

Educational Workshops – Pam Copenhaver

Pam has talked to some members and former members. Some feel the workshops aren’t what they are interested in. Groups that require CEU’s are Soils & Crop advisors. Cal Thorson moved to form a committee of Pam Copenhaver as Chair, Bob Bird, Fred Aziz, and Alan Ness to talk to various groups and get a consensus of what they want at these workshops. Steve Schroeder seconded. Motion Carried.

Scholarships – Wait to see what the Foundation is going to do.

Smithsonian is trying to establish a soils exhibit to reach 6-9 million a year. They are looking for a donation through the Agronomic Science Foundation to raise $1-3 Million nationally or $10,000 statewide. Barnes soil will represent the ND soil. Fred Aziz moved to donate $250 in memory of Ed Vasey. Jen Hegge seconded. Motion Carried.

Next Northern Plains Regional meeting is in Loveland, CO, March 18-19, 2004.

Steve Schroeder moved to adjourn. Mark Anderson seconded. Meeting was adjourned at 4:06 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Bob Bird, Secretary-Treasurer

11:00 - 12:00 Lunch

Seasons Café, Ramkota Hotel (Cost on your own)

12:00 – 12:15 Awards Presentation

12:25 - 12:55 Conservation Agriculture

Sharon Clancy, Coordinator of Conservation Agriculture Program; North Dakota Natural Resources Trust

1:05 - 1:35 How Does Soil Scum (Glomalin) Improve Soil Health?

Dr. Kris Nichols, Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory, USDA Agriculture Research Service

1:45 – 2:15 Soil Health and Cropping Systems

                                                            Jay Fuhrer, Natural Resources Conservation Service; Bismarck ND

2:25 – 2:45 Envirothon

Diane Olson, North Dakota Envirothon Coordinator; Coalition for Conservation and Environmental Education

2:45 - 3:30 2004 Business Meeting

Awards, presentations, and business meeting will be held in the Heart Room, Ramkota Hotel

Questions???  contact Jen Hegge at: jennifer.hegge@nd.usda.gov