Board Meeting - March 23, 2010

NSAC -- Far Western Chapter
Board of Directors
Meeting Minutes
March 23, 2010
Attending:
Keith Hesterberg
Gary DeYoung
Roger Coutts
Allen Ludlow
Bryan Andersen
Tom Watkins
Renee Avilla
Ilene Jacobson
Richard French
Carrie Parrish
Not Attending:
Cindy Holland
Agenda
Meeting opened 9:00 AM
Roger’s shares two haikus, which are well delivered, and well-received.
Committee Updates:
o Treasurer:
 Allen confirming we are solvent
o Program: Gary
 Announcement for 2010 meeting went out, it’s also on website.
 Finalizing tentative agenda – speakers are set, just working out time slots; Carrie
continuing to finalize tax/accounting update.
 Keith, et al discussing modifications to format and updating version of
registration announcement.
o Membership: Bryan
 Responses from mass e-mail indicate some addresses are outdated, Bryan
following up as feasible to determine if new addresses are needed, or if the
“host” company wants to designate a replacement member.
 We don’t have addresses for some members, following up as feasible; sending
out registration packet by regular mail.
 Far West chapter had 2 new members from February 2010.
o 2010 Time and Place: Gary
 All set to go for rooms, etc.
 Gary to check in with Catering to confirm they’re ready to go with plans as
discussed last fall.
 Gary reminder that room rate available for the entire week preceding the
conference and through the following weekend.
o 2011 Time and Place: Ilene
 Checking with Embassy Suites in both Tahoe and Tahoe, and the Tenaya Lodge
in Yosemite.

Napa has fond memories of Keith and Gary; Tenaya Lodge expansion to be
completed June 2010, extended conference rooms. Tahoe suggesting they may
be able to get us same room rate as the last time in 2008.
 Gary noting the Embassy Suites are competitive among themselves, could use
that to our advantage.
o Early Bird: Renee
 Sent letter. So fary, 15 responses so far, and commitments for $2,600 in cash
donations, consistent with rough average from prior years of $3,500.
o Communication (formerly, Newsletter): Keith/Bryan
 Continuing discussing of redistributing registration announcement.
o National Directors: Richard
 No report
Website update – Allen
o www.nsac-fwc.org.
o About 95% complete, Blog is still under construction; subject to determination of
whether to make it “open” to anybody or designate specific blogger.
o Allen describing potential use for various pages.
Sponsors for annual meeting:
o CoBank to sponsor President’s Reception;
o Bill Wilson, Summit Point Consulting wants to sponsor morning coffee;
o Keith inviting discussion re: allowing sponsors, in light of impact on registration fees;
general consensus to allow sponsors.
Other
o Strategic planning session:
 Scheduled for afternoon of 5/26/10, no firm time yet.
 Gary confirming rooms available.
 Carrie, Richard, Roger responding to Keith’s solicitation for volunteers for
advance planning to help focus Board’s efforts.
o National Director nominations:
 Keith providing insight into National’s nomination process and balloting;
 Our next milestone is April 15th, which is the date in which the national office
will notify our Chapter of the number of vacant Director positions that need
filled.
 We agreed that we will not fill the open national director position vacated by
Ana Klein’s resignation through the remaining term up to our annual meeting in
August 2010.
 We will undertake a nomination process at the Board level after receiving
notification on April 15 from the national office.
 Process varies by whether nomination is for an expiring term, or mid-term
vacated term
Next meeting:
o Tuesday, April 21, 2010
o 9AM
Adjourned 9:47 AM.