[Agenda Jan 27, 2007]

Please see attached file for the agenda.  The focus is on the Conference and Committee reports.  See you on Saturday, Jan. 27.

Shirley

[Re: Agenda Jan 27, 2007]

I wont be able to make it to Gainesville for the Ex Com. Just wanted to pass on my comments and give a brief report.

The insurance question and the exec director position are my 2 main 
VP Admin issues right now.

Shirley posted the announcement and related material on the website re Executive Director. Thanks.

Questions were raised about the cost of Directors & Officers Insurance. I am gathering information from a variety of sources. The premium charged was for 2 years. It could be paid out on an annual basis. This will be a matter for discussion at some future date, although it could cause discussion earlier due to fiscal matters. I would not want to see us drop the coverage simply because of cost. We need to understand what the coverage actually is.

During budget  discussion, here are some bits of information and thoughts.

Re cutting back on the amount sent to chapters

I would be in favor of that given that we spend $76 in insurance for 
each, a total of $2280. Perhaps the smallest chapters which may rely 
on the rebate to do their projects could be pro-rated in some 
proportional way?

Also do not see cutting either the Palmetto budget or Admin 
Consolidated Services. (NB Memerbship numbers also affect money paid 
for membership services, ie contract amount reflects a certain amount 
per chapter and per member:  $3.35 monthly per member processing; 
$4.38 monthly per chapter reporting; $7.72 quarterly per chapter 
reporting.)

I hope grants can be found to cover exec director position, but if 
not, we may need to cut back on the time/ services that we expect 
from that position.

Have a good meeting, Regards, Joan

[Re: Agenda Jan 27, 2007]

Just a quick note to tell you that I attended the Everglades Coalition Conference in Orlando last week as FNPS member representative. It was filled with interesting discussions, important statements, and a few questions.

It was the 22nd annual conference! called Kissimmee to the Keys: Standing Firm for Everglades Restoration It was held at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort Hotel, which stands alongside the creek which is known as the headwaters of the Everglades.

Last year's conference was held in Martin County at the mouth of the St Lucie estuary which has suffered mightily over the years due to excessive discharge of water from Lake Okeechobee (which receives its water directly from counties to the north.)

Next year's conference will be held on FL's west coast near the mouth of the Caloosahatchee, also hit with discharges from Lake O.

The best news from this conference is the way nature rebounded after the first phase of the Kissimmee River restoration. Officials from the Army Corps of Engineers say this will guide Everglades restoration.

There is a "balancing" act that water management agencies are charged with:  water supply for people & farmers, prevent flooding, and the care of the natural system.

Trying to get the best solution entails tugging and pulling from many different interest groups. Those of us interested in the natural system need to be in there tugging & pulling as well!

As soon as I have an electronic file on the "Essentials and Action Items for 2007" that the coalition members voted on at the winter meeting, held on Thursday afternoon before the conference got underway, I will send to our policy co-chairs and also post under policy in discussion forum

Joan