Board Meeting Minutes January 31, 2003

In Attendance: Kris Johnson, Pat Parr (Proxy for Bob Parrish), Nancy Fraley, Anni Self (Proxy for Richard Clements), Regan Ritchie, Jack Ranney, Terri Hogan, David Lincicome, and Dan Brown, and guests Nick Gawell, Tony Kahtz, and Zong-Ming (Max) Cheng

Guest Speaker: Zong-Ming (Max) Cheng, Associate Professor, Department of Plant Sciences and Landscape Systems, University of Tennessee, Institute of Agriculture. Max gave an overview his "Proposal of genetic modification to sterile plants."

Minutes: A motion was made, seconded and carried to approve the minute. Minutes will be forwarded to SE-EPPC for posting on that website.

General Operating Account: $2171.50

Money Market: $8073.28

Total Assets: $10244.78

A motion was made, seconded and carried to approve the treasurer’s report.

TN Invasive Plant Manual – The update, including ten new species, has been finalized by the contractor and submitted to Kris. These will be put on the TN-EPPC and SE-EPPC websites. Only electronic copies will be available. Nancy Fraley will check with TVA about printing hard copies. Kris will check with the GSMNP Natural History Association about getting line drawings of the species included in the manual. David Lincicome suggested that we add site assessment, prioritization, and other management information and he will compile this for addition to the manual.

Speakers Bureau – Reagan got the TN-EPPC speaker contact information published in the current Envirolink Handbook.

Membership mailings – A draft informational letter for the current membership was presented to the BOD for comments. The new membership brochures are ready for distribution.

Letter of Support for Pulling Together Grant –The Stones River National Battlefield, under the direction of Terri Hogan, will do a survey of Chinese yam sites, monitor the population(s) and treatment, replant these sites with native yam, provide an educational kiosk, and utilize numerous volunteer groups. TN-EPPC has written a letter of support for this grant.

Logo – Pat suggested we contact Thomas Brown, illustrator, about designing a TN-EPPC logo. Dan will follow-up on this and contact Pat. Ideas for the logo can be submitted to Dan and he will forward to Thomas.

Articles for "Wildland Weeds" – Pat recommend that the BOD work on articles. These included an article on the Stones River Pulling Together project, something by Sarah Drake on her ORNL work, and Jack’s ‘Getting Started’ article. Pat asked for other ideas and articles to be prepared. Nancy will work on adapting the TN-EPPC list for publication in ‘Wildland Weeds.’

Canned Presentation on Invasives – Jack will continue to work on this presentation to have ready for review by the middle of February. Richard can put this on our web for the BOD to review.

Flash Cards – Jack gave us an update. TVA will print these including the laminated and the non-laminated versions. We are waiting on the edits before they can be printed. There are currently 12 species in the flashcards and more will be added. Monies are coming form TN-EPPC, TVA, and maybe USFWS Asheville.

Forest Service Control Guidelines – Regarding our proposed support, TN-EPPC would like to link their web site to ours. Jack will speak with Jim Miller and confirm that this is possible.

Dye and coloring toxicity in herbicides – no progress on this but Pat will send an action item to Carrie.

How to Get Started – Jack has put together a two page info sheet on how to get started on invasives in small areas. He will send it electronically to Nancy and the BOD can comment. This could be published in Tennessee Conservationist, Wildland Weeds, and other publications.

 

Nick Gawell gave the BOD an overview and brief tour of the Nursery Crop Research Station. At least five scientific programs are underway in an effort to work with the nursery industry and keep them profitable. Scientist work very closely with the nursery industry and under the direction of a nursery advisory group that with the station once a year to ensure that research activities compliment their interests.

Reprints of Middle and West Tennessee Brochures – The BOD will inventory the brochures and report to Pat what they need what is available. A decision on what to be reprinted can then be made.

Plant List - This needs to be re-printed and Pat will discuss with Brian. Nancy will check on the price though TVA on 500-1000.

Participation – Kris got a request for us to provide our display at a Regional Garden Club meeting to be hosted by the Lookout Mountain Garden Club on April 7, 2003. Regan will be speaking and either Jack or Nancy will take our display. Garden Clubs can get access to a small percentage of Interstate Landscape Monies and this might be a good way to tie to the use of natives.

Weed Awareness Week in Washington – Pat provided information in the handouts. Jack may be able to go to this (Feb 24-28) and asked for focus items to be prepared for him to take. His ideas include the Southern Appalachian region as the focus for a place based study. A motion was made, seconded, and passed to provide Jack with up to $250 for this trip.

Tennessee Conservation Voters – Kris suggested that TN-EPPC may want to become a member of this group that is dedicated to the protection of Tennessee’s environment through legislative action and lobbying. David will scope out this group and see if TN-EPPC might want to support this.

Expansion of our liaison with the UT Herbarium and the Tennessee Native Plant Society – David has suggested that we provide them with slides of invasives and new county records. Nancy will send out the site information and the mailing address for the submission of collections for inclusion in the herbarium. Richard will establish a link to the UT Herbarium website on the TN-EPPC website. David will continue to help us to establish a relationship with the Tennessee Native Plant Society. David will also compare their membership list with ours.

TN-EPPC Role in the State Invasive Management Plan – Jack discussed the groups and agencies that would need to be involved in this effort. TN-EPPC could facilitate this by outlining the issues and determining our role in this process. To initiate this we would need to draft a letter or briefing paper to outline the problem and how the state might develop a management plan. Jack and David will work on the development of this.

Field Days - Nick Gawell recommended that TN-EPPC participate in the field days event at the Nursery Crop Research Station on the second Tuesday in August. Anni will take the lead on this.

2003 SE-EPPC Symposium – Jack suggested that TN-EPPC investigate ways to help KY-EPPC in putting on the symposium perhaps web site related.

TN-EPPC Event – Jack discussed the development of a state event or events. Also, developing more projects in middle and west Tennessee. He asked that the BOD do some thinking on this and come up with suggestions. TN-EPPC could work with field days and university groups or others in an effort to engage participation from other parts of the state. A training program was suggested where we would educate individuals on invasives and how to address them. Pesticide applicator re-certification training (in-service hours) was presented as another idea. Dan, David, and Anni will pursue an activity in middle Tennessee with NRCS or TDF. Jack will check with Ames Plantation. Nick will provide Jack with a list of opportunities to participate in nursery related activities and upcoming meetings. Anni suggested the Tennessee Vegetation Management group.

Nominations for New Secretary and Vice President – Jack has been serving on a temporary basis for Anni and will continue. Nancy and Kris will serve as the nominating committee for the secretary position.

SE-EPPC State Representative – Dan is retiring as our state representative. Jack attends already as the SAMAB rep and agreed to be the state representative.

Upcoming Events and Educational Opportunities -

National Public Lands Day is Saturday September 27, 2003

Anni is continuing her participation in the Cumberland Compact. They would like help with some invasive plant removal.

American Chestnut Workshop in Asheville, NC this coming winter

Guest speaker next meeting - Patrick Thurman, TDOT Landscape Architect, was a suggestion. Carol Reese, TN Agricultural Extension Service. Nancy will ask Bob Parrish if he has a suggestion.

Spring Meeting Date – Nancy will contact Bob Parrish about May 22, 29, and June13.

A motion was made, seconded, and carried to adjourn.

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