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2008
Conference Minutes
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IANRC Conference
MADISON, WISCONSIN
JUNE 15 – 17, 2008
Conference Minutes
MADISON, WISCONSIN
JUNE 15 – 17, 2008
Conference Minutes
Conference Attendees
|
Ann Bauer – Wisconsin Curtis Brown – Florida Rob Young – Arizona (retired) Candy Henderson – Georgia Mark Rankin – Kansas Brian Shinn – Montana Scott Thrasher – Maine Jodi Becker – Utah Joe Cales – Indiana Rick Servetnyk – Alberta Jim Herndon – Nevada Chris Wright – Idaho Al Thomas – Minnesota TIP, Inc. Chris Simmons - Maine |
Mike England – Georgia Ron Bailey – Georgia (retired) Bob Thompson – Colorado Tony Wood - Utah Shawn Gruber – Missouri Gene Elms – Arizona Dick Knapp – North Dakota Eric Tupaj – New York Mark Farmer – Indiana John Denchak - Pennsylvania Steve Dermand - Iowa Donna Leighton - Wisconsin Kristin Turner - Wisconsin Adrienne Sullivan - Wisconsin |
Business Meeting, Sunday, June 15, 2008
Officers attending were Tony Wood (1st Vice-President), Curtis Brown (2nd Vice-President), Bob Thompson (West Regional Director), Candy Henderson (Executive Secretary), Mike England (SE Regional Director), Chris Simmons (NE Regional Director), Mark Rankin (Mid-west Regional Director), Rob Young and Ron Bailey (Audit Committee members). Also attending were members Eric Tupaj (NY), Mark Farmer (IN), Joe Cales (IN), Rick Servetnyk (Alberta), Scott Thrasher (ME), Gene Elms (AZ), Brian Shinn (MT), and Dick Knapp (ND).
President Ann Bauer brought the meeting to order. Executive Secretary Candy Henderson advised that 34 state/provinces, as well as 2 Associate Members had paid dues for 2008 active membership. She also provided the following financial information:
- The Association has a current checking account balance of $6,889.12
- The balance as of April 30, 2008 for the brokerage/investment account is $26,711.74
- Grand total of both the regular and investment accounts equals $33,600.86
Financial statements were disseminated to all meeting participants. Each statement provided itemized income and expenses. Candy advised she had discussed the diversification of the Association’s portfolio with brokerage accountant Joel Smith. Joel advised that since the account is made up of about 60% bonds, it carries a lesser amount of risk and with the economy’s current instability we may want to leave the account’s assets alone. He also advised that it is predicted that the economy will level off this fall.
Candy discussed by-law changes and advised there were minimal. One addition in Article V, paragraph 1, deals with the Executive Secretary not voting during the voting process for Executive Secretary. The only other change was pulling all duties for each officer from the by-laws and placing them in a separate document for “Officer Duties, Guidelines, and Procedures”. This change will negate the need for a formal vote each time a duty is added or deleted for an officer.
Each Regional Director gave a brief update on the status of their region’s membership and participation. No region requested Association sponsorship to attend the Wisconsin conference.
Dick Knapp from the North Dakota Game and Fish Department and the North American Game Warden Museum gave an overview of the current status and support needs of the museum. He advised the IANRC could support the museum with a display, paving stone, or some other type of contribution. It was decided to present this information to the membership on June 17.
1st VP Tony Wood asked for volunteers for this year’s nominating committee for the selection of 2nd Vic President, Executive Secretary, and any Regional Director position that may become vacant. Chris Simmons (ME), Ann Bauer (WI), and Eric Tupaj (NY) volunteered.
Brian Shinn (MT) asked if web links for each state or province to verify residency status could be added to the IANRC web site. This information at one Internet location would aid conservation officers when trying to ascertain a person’s legal residency. It was decided to present this request to the membership and for each state/province to provide the information to the Executive Secretary for inclusion on the IANRC web site.
1st VP Tony Wood discussed defining the Association’s standards/criteria for accepting nominations for honorary membership. This discussion was tabled until all conference membership could participate, and lead into discussing incentives for associate membership. Outreach by individual states/provinces to promote associate member participation was encouraged. The possibility of placing an associate member’s logo on the IANRC web site was also discussed. 1st VP Tony Wood moved this discussion to a committee assignment.
1st VP Tony Wood requested suggestions for training during the 2009 conference in Utah. Suggestions included: Internet crime, antiquity trade, promotion ideas to enhance programs, and license fraud.
President Ann Bauer adjourned the business meeting.
June 18, 2007
Colonel Robert Milligan, Law Enforcement Director with Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, greeted all guests and welcomed them to the State of Kentucky.
Each state/province provided an overview of their anti-poaching program.
Tim Moody (Ontario) gave a presentation entitled “Beating Down Negativity”.
General Meeting, Monday, June 16, 2008
President Ann Bauer opened the general meeting and asked all members to separate into regional groups to discuss Association issues and goals. As a result of these break-out sessions, public awareness of anti-poaching programs, license fraud, and bad hunter behavior were issues that were brought to the table. Ann also distributed a directory she and her staff compiled of all state and province anti-poaching programs.
Wisconsin Chief Warden Randy Stark gave a presentation entitled “The Future Landscape – Same Mission: New Challenges, Strategies and Opportunities – Preservation of Natural Resources our Common Ground”. Cultural diversity, the environment, urbanization, public education, and preservation for future generations were offered as key issues conservationists must recognize and act upon.
Diane Brookbank (Customer Service Bureau Director, Wisconsin DNR Call Center) presented her unit’s program, the Wisconsin Hotline and Spill Line, and its partnerships with other agencies.
Wisconsin Chief Warden Randy Stark presented an overview of the Vang Shooting (see http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/9-16-2005-76952.asp for details), and how his agency was involved. He also described the events involved in the Marinette County Incident (see http://badgerherald.com/news/2007/01/19/hunting_for_hate_in_.php for details).
Eileen Hocker, Wisconsin DNR Diversity Outreach Coordinator, presented “Harmony in the Woods” which is her agency’s outreach efforts to the Hmong community as well as other cultural groups who enjoy the sport of hunting. Outreach includes connecting Hmong sportspeople with other WI sports clubs, hunter education, and the continuation of safety messages via Hmong media outlets.
Warden Brian Ezman, Wisconsin DNR Special Investigators Supervisor, presented the Blue River Outfitters Case (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1519835/posts).
Warden Bill Engfer, former Wisconsin DNR Safety Section Supervisor, described his agency’s “Wall of Fame”. It displays photos of family, tradition, memories, and our heritage in outdoor sports. It sparks the interest of children who want to take advantage of participating in outdoor sports. The display is used at fairs, festivals, conservation organization meetings, expos, etc.
General Meeting, Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Members gave five-minute overviews of their individual state or province program.
Warden Tom Krsnich, Wisconsin Environmental Criminal Investigation Administrator, discussed pollution impacts on the community and the importance of reporting polluters in his presentation “Pollution is Poaching”.
Dick Knapp with the North American Game Warden Museum gave a status report on the museum’s progress. He encouraged the Association to support the museum with displays, a paving stone purchase, and/or any other type of support. A motion was made by Gene Elms to purchase a $250 paving stone and Scott Thrasher a seconded the motion. The membership approved the motion. Tony Wood advised he would email members for TIP program video clips that would promote an IANRC display.
Rob Young gave an overview of Poacherchronicles.com that Jim Solomon (radio show host) is supporting. Www.poacherchronicles.com is that conduit that folks around the world can refer to and see what wardens are doing. Rob encouraged all states and provinces to participate in this free service.
The remainder of the meeting involved discussion of Association business matters. Executive Secretary Candy Henderson reported the Association’s financial statement and brokerage account information. Auditors Rob Young and Ron Bailey gave their audit findings of the Executive Secretary’s financial statements and found them in order. A motion was made by Bob Thompson to accept the financial statements and a second motion made by Steve Dermand. Motions passed unanimously.
Candy Henderson presented changes made to the Association by-laws. A change in Article V, #1 includes the sentence “The incumbent Executive Secretary will not vote during the voting process” for the position of Executive Secretary. Another change is also in Article V whereas all officer duties have been taken out of the by-laws and placed in a separate document which does not require a majority vote. Gene Elms made a motion to accept the new by-laws and Bob Thompson seconded the motion. The motions were approved by the membership.
Brian Shinn (MT) asked if there is a possibility for each state or province to provide contact information for the IANRC web site for officers in North America to gain residency verification on license holders or on persons wanting to obtain a license. 1st VP Tony Wood advised all members he would be emailing all states/provinces to obtain the requested contact information. Tony also asked all members to promote IANRC associate membership with various individuals and organizations within their respective state or province. The criterion for honorary membership was also discussed. It was decided that members can sponsor a person or persons for presentment and vote by the membership at annual meetings.
The Nominating Committee presented the following persons for officer positions: Candy Henderson - Executive Secretary, and Joel Wilkinson – (Interim) Second Vice President. Eric Tupaj made a motion to accept the Nominating Committee’s nominations and Curtis Brown seconded the motion. The membership voted in favor of the nominations. With Joel Wilkinson as interim 2nd Vice President, the 2011 conference will be held somewhere in the northeastern United States. Gene Elms advised he may be prepared to hold the 2012 conference in Arizona. All Regional Directors will maintain their positions for another year.
Tony Wood discussed the 2009 conference which will probably be held near Salt Lake City at Daniel’s Summit Lodge http://www.danielssummit.com. There will be shuttle service available to/from the Salt Lake City airport. Activities include horseback riding, ATV use, swimming, fishing, boating, fly-fishing, and a spa. Tony asked that all members send him agenda topics that are of interest to the Association.
Out-going President Ann Bauer turned the gavel over to new President Tony Wood and adjourned the meeting for a dinner cruise on the “Betty Lou”.