Minutes and Chapter Reports

Western Chapter Report
14 May 2007

Prepared and Submitted by:
Chad Roberts
Western Chapter President

ABSTRACT: The Western Chapter of the SWS has advanced the Society’s primary goals in the past half-year by: (1) revising the chapter’s bylaws and standing rules to accommodate overall SWS goals and objectives as well as chapter needs; (2) conducting a chapter election; (3) initiating development of a Western Chapter website; (4) sponsoring student awards for the upcoming 2007 annual SWS meeting (which is indirectly a chapter function, but which is covered by a separate report to the Board); (5) soliciting interest in developing student chapters at universities in the Chapter region; and (6) holding discussions with representatives of regulatory and public trust agencies and the public regarding the application of wetland science to public policy.

Western Chapter Report
14 May 2007

1. Chapter Objectives

The Bylaws of the Western Chapter identify the objectives of the Western Chapter in the following statement:
“The objectives of the Chapter shall be to encourage communication of wetland issues and research activities among members and interested parties within the boundaries of the Western USA Chapter (California, Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii, and the U.S. Pacific Trust Territories), and to sponsor meetings and other activities which foster interaction of wetland scientists and managers in the region.” 

The Chapter’s bylaws also include the following admonitions and directions with respect to the Chapter’s relationship to the Society as a whole and its mission:
“The Chapter shall be governed in all of its operation by the constitution and bylaws of the Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS).
“The Chapter shall have the power, either directly or indirectly, either alone or in conjunction with others, to do any and all lawful activities for fostering, advancing, or accomplishing Chapter affairs and objectives, and to aid and assist other organizations whose objectives may further foster, advance, or accomplish Chapter objectives.
“The Chapter shall not have nor exercise any power, nor directly or indirectly engage in any activity, that would cause the SWS to lose its exempt status from Federal income taxation as a corporation as described in Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 and its regulations, as the same now exist or as they may be amended in the future.”

2. Activities, Actions, and Accomplishments

During the preceding six months the Chapter has focused primarily in issues relating to Chapter organization and operation.  The following summary indicates actions taken and underway.

A. Chapter Bylaws Revision

The Chapter has developed a functioning Board of Directors that manages a variety of Chapter operations.  The enhanced capability of the Chapter’s Board of Directors has resulted in the recognition of several inefficiencies in the Chapter’s adopted Bylaws and Standing Rules.  Chapter President-elect Eric Stein and President Chad Roberts provided a recommended revision of the Bylaws and Standing Rules, which will be adopted by the Chapter following ratification by the Chapter’s membership.  This carries out at least Goal 7 as identified in the SWS Strategic Plan.

B. Chapter Office Elections

The Chapter is currently carrying out balloting for Board positions President-elect, Treasurer, and Arizona Chapter Representative; voting will close 15 May 07, and the results will be presented at the Old Board meeting in Sacramento.  This action helps the Chapter and the Society in achieving the aims of Goal 7 in the SWS Strategic Plan.

C. Chapter Website Development

The Chapter solicited proposals for website development and executed a contract with Green Tea Consulting to develop a new website for the Western Chapter.  The contract was executed following substantial interaction among President-elect Eric Stein, Secretary Crystal Acker, Society Vice-President Pat Megonigal, and Webmaster Richard Chinn regarding the Society’s requirements for hosting the Chapter’s webpages within the SWS website.  This action assists the Chapter and the Society in achieving at least Goal 2 and Goal 3 of the SWS Strategic Plan.

D. Annual Meeting Planning

The Western Chapter is the Host Chapter for the 2007 Annual Meeting.  The planning activities for the Annual Meeting have been allocated to a separate planning committee, chaired by Mike Josselyn.  This committee will make a separate report to the Board.  Many Chapter members have been involved in the conference planning, covering a variety of conference elements. 

In addition, the Chapter Board approved the development of materials for a booth at the 2007 Annual Meeting in Sacramento.  The purpose of the booth is to provide information to conference attendees about the Chapter and the Chapter’s activities.  The materials developed for this outreach are expected to be used for future outreach activities in the Chapter region.

These activities are implementation measures for at least Goal 3, Goal 5, and Goal 6 of the SWS Strategic Plan.

E. Student Sponsorship for Annual Meeting

The Chapter Executive Committee (i.e., the Board of Directors) approved allocating Chapter funds to establish two awards for students for the SWS 2007 Annual Meeting.  Each award would be $750.00.  These awards are based on the Chapter’s desire to increase student participation in wetland-related activities in the Chapter region, and would be in addition to any other awards already provided by the Chapter.  The awards were expected to be made available to student participants in the annual meeting through the awards process included in the Annual Meeting.  This student focus would assist the Chapter and the Society in meeting at least Goal 2 and Goal 7 of the SWS Strategic Plan.

F. Student Chapters

The Western Chapter has begun developing an outreach program directed toward students enrolled at college/university campuses in the Chapter region, with the primary initial development work being provided by Northern California Chapter Representative Elizabeth Brusati.  The purpose of the outreach program is to engender interest among students and faculty in creating “student chapters” on campuses.  This outreach implements, in part, an action adopted by the Society’s Board at the 2007 Mid0year meeting in Portland.  As part of the process of developing this outreach, Chapter members consulted with Beth Middleton regarding the Society’s current interest in student chapters.  This student chapter focus would assist the Chapter and the Society in meeting at least Goal 1, Goal 2, and Goal 7 of the SWS Strategic Plan.

3. Planned Activities and Actions

A. Chapter Website

In 2007 the Chapter plans to activate (i.e., bring online) the Chapter’s new website; the site’s programming is not yet complete.  The Chapter has identified a need for, and is planning to solicit, website maintenance activity from appropriately talented Chapter members and/or their employers, treating the support as a professional contribution to the Society and as a contribution for tax purposes.

As with item 2.C, this activity implements at least Goal 2 and Goal 3 of the SWS Strategic Plan.

B. Outreach to Local, State, and Federal Agencies and Other Interested Parties

The Chapter has been engaged for some time (significantly longer than just the past six months) in discussions of options for communicating wetland science to governmental organizations and others, particularly with respect to activities in the broader society that affect wetlands.  Two primary means of engagement appear feasible for the Chapter:

1. “White Papers” – These are identified as potential statements of wetland science that are germane for issues of concern within the Western Chapter region, but which are not directly related to specific policy items or proposals.  The papers would be crafted by Chapter members pursuant to the Bylaws and Standing Rules, with consultation also with members of the Society’s Wetland Concerns Committee.
2. Reponses to Agency Science Queries – In many cases the best option for injecting wetland science into discussions about wetland regulation are known to be via providing responses to questions from the relevant agencies.

For example, the Chapter recently was presented with a request to assist the California State Water Resources Control Board in evaluating proposed policies regarding wetland and riparian regulation pursuant to California law.  While there was substantial interest in assisting in this discussion, the request was not timely provided and the Chapter’s Board felt that it would not be possible to provide information pursuant to the adopted Bylaws, the Chapter elected not to participate in this still-current discussion.

The members of the Chapter’s Board intend to develop the Chapter’s capability in this context.  The Board expects that there will be additional discussion among Board members regarding the parameters under which comments or information should be provided; these discussions are expected to involve members of the Society’s Wetland Concerns Committee, and perhaps other members of the Society’s Board or Executive Committee.

These actions would assist in implementing at least Goal 2, Goal 4, and Goal 5 of the SWS Strategic Plan.

4. Recommendations for Board Consideration

At the present time the Western Chapter recommends no specific actions by the Board of the Society.