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Meeting of the Board Of Trustees of the
Foundation for Virginia's Natural Resources

Minutes

April 1, 2008
Neikirk Hall Board Room, Virginia Military Institute
Lexington, Virginia

Board of Trustees Members Present

Board of Trustees Members Absent

Advisory Task Force Members Present

Guests Present

Recorder of the Minutes

Convene Meeting

Jay Gilliam, Chair, called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. and thanked everyone for attending.  He declared that a quorum of the Board was present for motions and/or voting purposes.

Everyone introduced themselves.

Chair Gilliam introduced Rick Linker, Policy Coordinator with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, and complimented Ann Regn, Virginia Department of Environmental Education, for being a great friend to FVNR and for pointing some good opportunities in its direction.  He introduced Mark Carr, who is employed by a subsidiary of Appalachian Electric Power River Operations on the Mississippi.  Mr. Carr has expressed interest in helping FVNR with the mutual goal of teaching people and children about rivers.  Chair Gilliam also expressed his appreciation for the help of Cindy Berndt and Diana Monroe of VDEQ.

Senator Hanger

Chair Gilliam welcomed and introduced Virginia State Senator Emmett Hanger, who briefly attended the meeting.  Senator Hanger stated that he is very supportive of FVNR and its mission and hopes that he will have more time to work with FVNR.  He stated that he has been very active with the Chesapeake Bay Commission of which he was once Chairman and was recently unexpectedly chosen as Chairman of the Rappahannock River Basin.  He stated that he is working on a bond package for the Commonwealth with funding issues related to environmental concerns that could eventually directly impact the work of FVNR. 

Chair Gilliam stated that any support that Senator Hanger could send in FVNR's direction would be helpful. 

Lee Stephens asked Senator Hanger if FVNR could be removed from the non-state agency list or be characterized differently.  Senator Hanger stated that this can be accomplished; there are non-profit entities that technically are categorized as non-state but perform missions for various agencies that receive funding.  He stated that he could assist the Board with this and try to channel some funding their way.  He encouraged the Board to support projects of state agencies and create partnerships to find ways to better expend tax payer's resources.  Mr. Stephens stated that FVNR could be the state broker for private/public partnerships for the environment. 

Chair Gilliam recognized the Advisory Committee of the seven state agencies, especially the Department of Forestry which was chosen as the support agency for FVNR.  He stated that all of these agencies have participated with FVNR in a significant way.  Chair Gilliam requested that Senator Hanger be listed as a member of FVNR's Advisory Task Force.

Senator Hanger stated that the proposed $25,000 for FVNR on the Governor's non-state agency list was zeroed out but may be reinstated in the second budget year if money is available. 

Agriculture and the Environment

Discussion was held about environmental issues regarding agricultural operations.  Chair Gilliam stated that one end result of FVNR's activities should be to help the average interested citizen understand the issues (impairment and degradation) and help them be involved in a meaningful way. 

Scott Johnson stated that fencing cattle out of streams is a means of keeping manure out of streams, keeping banks from eroding, encouraging farmers not to apply their fertilizers within a certain distance from streams, and create buffers.  DCR has a cost-share program for some of these expensive initiatives.  Chair Gilliam cited a survey done about 10 years ago of farm families in the Chesapeake Bay indicating that 80% of the best management practices that are implemented by farm operations are done voluntarily at the total cost of the operator and not because there were cost-share dollars available. 

Roderic Slayton stated that there is a natural alternative pesticide on the market (vinegar based) that is supposed to be better for the environment.  Mr. Slayton will provide Chair Gilliam with the name of the alternative pesticide. 

Chair Gilliam suggested that citizen monitoring is a good way to demonstrate aquatic diversity and show interested citizens the difference between a healthy stream and a stream with cattle access to help farmers understand why it is necessary to consider implementing best management practices.

Changes and Adoption of Agenda

The Agenda was adopted as written.

Approval of Minutes

With a motion from Lee Stephens and a second from Ed Davis, the January 16, 2008, Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes were approved as written.

Financial Report

Brenda Taylor reported that recent donations have been received as follows:

There was one expense payment to Environment VA 2008 for registration/exhibit booth in the amount of $475.

Bobby Wrenn motioned to accept the Financial Report and Lee Stephens seconded the motion.  The motion passed.

Chair Gilliam stated that 10,000 FVNR brochures were printed at the cost of $800-900, but the bill has not yet been received.  Chair Gilliam expressed his appreciation for Janet Muncy's help with getting brochures printed and developing the graphics for the exhibit at Environment VA, stating that she is extremely talented.

[Note:  Board member Shelley Butler Barlow donated $100 (unrestricted) to the Trust Fund in December, 2007, which was unaccounted for at this Board Meeting and will be recorded on the financial spreadsheets.]

Activity Reports

Bobby Wrenn has been working with the Ruritan Club and stated that the project with the Nottoway as a scenic river looks favorable.  He is also working on two outdoor classrooms in Greensville.

Roderic Slayton has been working with Dominion Resources in the environmental area (windmills, solar systems, funding outdoor classrooms).  A local group of teachers in Orange are working with 6th, 7th, and 8th graders in special discovery groups to meet, educate; go on camping trips, hikes, canoe trips; and are constantly learning about the environment and streams.   

Jim Garner was asked to write an article about FVNR for Appalachian Woodlands which is a free publication about issues of forestry and wildlife for landowners published by Charley Finley.  A copy will be sent to each Board member when available.  

Chair Gilliam will be manning the exhibit at the Environment VA Conference with a display of photos, brochures, maps, and packets of information regarding projects for potential sponsors/contributors to support.  He stated that he looks forward to speaking with potential donors at the conference.

Chair Gilliam announced that a field trip would be held after the Board meeting to visit two outdoor classrooms--Boxerwood Gardens, a facility that serves multiple schools, and the Roots and Shoots Program at Waddell Elementary School.  Ann Regn asked the group to pay particular attention to the pre-school program at Boxerwood Gardens which is in the spirit of Richard Louv's recommendation for structured playing for younger children, and the waste-water treatment system.

Chair Gilliam asked guest Mark Carr to comment about his company, American Electric Power who was a sponsor for the NAAEE meeting and is a sponsor for Environment Virginia 2008.  Mr. Carr stated that his industry is a good environmental steward because of their low environmental impact, such as moving cargo on major rivers with less diesel emissions than any other mode of transportation with no damage to roads.  They focus on issues of clean water and river cleanups.  They are involved with the River Works Discovery Program which is designed for 7 to 12 year olds that includes outdoor projects and economic cultural conservation issues around the big rivers and their watersheds (i.e., Ohio and Mississippi Rivers).  He spends time traveling around the country talking to conservation/education groups about activities in watersheds and about this program.  Ann Regn stated that there is very little education in Virginia that links the science and watershed issues to the economic and cultural issues (why cities are where they are), and this program would relate very well to Virginia's SOL's and social studies.  Chair Gilliam stated that what Mr. Carr is doing is extremely interesting and hopes that FVNR can be of benefit to him and that

Mr. Carr can be an advisor to FVNR. 

Public Relations Photo Session

Chair Gilliam introduced Dennis Treacy of Smithfield Foods and former head of VDEQ.  Mr. Treacy was instrumental in the formation of FVNR.  Smithfield Foods made a generous contribution in sponsoring the NAAEE Conference in November, 2007.  Mr. Treacy stated that he supports FVNR and is a great believer in environmental education and citizen involvement; if the facts are dealt with, any environmental issue can be solved.  Smithfield has developed a new program which teaches young people the avenues for success in environmental matters so they can be the environmental leaders of the future.

Photos were taken with Mr. Treacy presenting a representation of a donation in the amount of $25,000 to the FVNR and VDEE which represents the contribution from Smithfield Foods to sponsor educators to attend the NAAEE conference.

Following the photo session, Smithfield Foods sponsored a delicious luncheon for attendees of the meeting.

Catalog of Projects

Chair Gilliam circulated a proposed Catalog of Projects that was included in packets to be given to potential donors and interested people at the Environment Virginia Conference.  Prior to this meeting, the Grants Committee reviewed six projects received from Cowpasture River Preservation Association, the Leesville Lake Association, Claytor Nature Study Center of Lynchburg College, Friends of Chesterfield's Riverfront, Virginia Save Our Streams, and Piedmont Environmental Council.  No adverse comments were received from the Grants Committee at that time.  Since then, one additional request was received from the Nature Camp Foundation in Vesuvius.  The Board chose to consider all projects individually.  All were approved except the project submitted by Piedmont Environmental Council. 

The Board agreed that some approved projects (i.e., benthic illustrations) may need to be legally protected by copyright.

All proposed projects received in the future will be forwarded to the Grants Committee for review and to ensure compliance with established grant criteria before approval by the Board.

Jim Garner stressed the importance of supporting reputable groups and projects that meet FVNR's criteria.  The basis for denying projects was discussed.  Scott Johnson noted that, if a project is denied, the Board needs to supply feedback to the organization and make recommendations for improving their proposal if applicable.  After further discussion, a question was raised if the grant criteria needed to be modified.

Ed Davis made the motion to refer to the Grants Committee the task of reviewing grant criteria.  Lee Stephens seconded the motion.  The motion passed.

FVNR Website Enhancement

Ed Davis reported that Gary Kappesser, retired USFS hydrologist, has volunteered, through an online mapping program, to assist FVNR to locate potential projects, funding sources, elementary schools and outdoor classrooms within the 13 river basins as a potential way of attracting donors.  Chair Gilliam and Mr. Davis recommended that, although Mr. Kappesser has volunteered his time, he should be paid for his services.  It was suggested that a college intern could also work with Mr. Kappesser to learn the technology.  Lee Stephens stated that the mapping technology is very powerful and fundamental to FVNR's mission in terms of communicating the projects to potential donors.  Chair Gilliam stated that he met with Neosentials about improving FVNR's web site.  He plans to speak with people at the Conference regarding sponsoring the cost of web site improvements. 

Miscellaneous

Chair Gilliam asked the Board to carefully review an email he sent them on March 31, making suggestions on contacting school systems, counties and/or cities to determine their interest in establishing at least one outdoor classroom within their river basins by fall including design, budget and maintenance plan.  Attached to the email is a list of river basins and counties within. 

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The next Board meeting is scheduled to be held on Wednesday, July 9, 2008, at the Central Office of the Virginia Department of Forestry in Charlottesville, Virginia.

The meeting adjourned at 2:00 p.m., at which time an optional field trip was held to visit Boxerwood Gardens (an outdoor classroom facility that serves multiple schools) and to Waddell Elementary School's Roots and Shoots Program (a single school gardening program).

NOTE:  Tapes of Board meetings are on file in the Department of Forestry Central Office.

Last modified: Wednesday, 25-Jun-2008 13:54:27 UTC