Organizational Meetings Minutes ~ Galaxy Conference
September 21 - 24, 2003

Sunday, September 21, 2003

Steve Daniels, Director of the Western Rural Development Center, welcomed the group on behalf of the CRED Base Team. Nearly 40 persons were in attendance, and each person was given a moment to introduce themselves and provide their title and state. Walt Whitmer, chair of the CRED Team, provided an overview of activities to date on behalf of the organization of a national organization. His remarks are found in Appendix A. Kathy Tweeten, provided an Overview (Appendix B) of the draft constitution and bylaws which had been distributed prior to the meeting. Bonnie McGee, president of JCEP, provided welcoming remarks to the group. She encouraged those present to be diligent about organizing a group of community development Extension professionals. She indicated that the time was right.

Following the overviews, everyone present was provided time to meet in small groups and discuss important organizational questions. A summary of the responses is included in Appendix C.

The group was given the charge to consider the discussion of the morning and to continue in talk with potential members and among themselves. Everyone was also reminded of the reception hosted by the Regional Rural Development Centers on Tuesday evening, and then final organizational meeting scheduled for Thursday morning, September 24, 2003.

Thursday, September 25, 2003

Walt Whitmer and Steve Daniels served as moderators/chairs for the meeting. Nearly 50 persons were in attendance and all were asked to introduce themselves to the group. Also, persons who were not in attendance on Sunday were given an opportunity to record their participation. A total participation list from all three events is included in Appendix D.

The Design Team met prior to the meeting and presented options to the group regarding elections. It was suggested that instead of electing officers, that a Transition Team be ratified and elected and one of the Transition Team's first duties would be to present a slate of officers by December that would take office by January 1, 2004, as outlined in the preliminary bylaws. The group agreed by consensus.

It was also suggested that a Conference Planning Team be elected from each region. Region for the purposes of this election included the 4 geographic regions and the 1890 region. This designation was further discussed during the Bylaws discussion. Therefore, the group divided into 5 groups and the following persons were ratified/elected:

Transition Team

Original Base Team
North Central: Jeri Marxman, University of Illinois
Northeast: Walt Whitmer, Pennsylvania State University
Southern: Greg Taylor, Texas A&M University
Western: Bob Coppedge, New Mexico State University
Regional Rural Development Center Representatives:
Neal Flora, Stephan Goetz, Steve Daniels, Bo Beaulieu, Bonnie Teater
ECOP Representative: Kathy Tweeten

Elected Team Members
North Central: John Amrhein, Michigan State University
Northeast: Rod Howe, Cornell University
Southern: Mike Woods, Oklahoma State University
Western: Barbara Andreozza, Montana State University
1890: Charles Shepphard, Alcorn State University
1994: to be named

Conference Planning Team

North Central:
Shelley Bush, University of Missouri
Marie Ruemenapp, University of Nebraska
Larry Wilson, University of Illinois
Craig Hertel, Iowa State University

Northeast:

Southern:
Hank Cothran, University of Florida
Virgil Culver, Mississippi State University
Western:
Bob Coppedge, New Mexico State University
John Burton, University of Nevada
Jody Gale, Utah State University

1890:
Ernie Hughes, Southern University
Bill Woodrum, West Virginia State College

1994:
to be named

Constitution and Bylaws

Walt Whitmer reported to the group that suggested changes to the Bylaws that had presented on Sunday were incorporated in the revised version that was distributed to the group. He then went item by item and offered the group an opportunity to discuss changes and determine final action by the group. Final action follows:

Article I: Name
The name presented was National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals (NACDEP). A motion was made and seconded to accept the name. After much discussion about the options, the motion to accept the name was approved: (Motion Approved: Cothran/Woodrum)

Article XII: Governance
A motion was presented to remove the inserted comments "by consensus." The group discussed the impact of the motion and approved the motion by consensus. (Motion Approved: Barefield/Cothran)

Article IV: Officers and Executive Committee
Section 7. Executive Committee.
A motion was presented to add 1890's in every reference to regions. An amendment was presented that would include 1994's in those same places. The amendment was approved and the motion passed. (Motion Approved: Daniels/Leuci)

Article XIII: Amendments
The reference to having a quorum present should add, "provided at least a quorum of the membership responds
(Motion Approved: Amrhein/Darger)

Article I: Name
The name of the organization was brought up for discussion again. It was mentioned that the name was really too long. A motion was made to change the name of the organization to Extension Communication Development Association. There was much discussion and the motion failed (Motion Failed: Darger/Hertel). There was a motion that the name be sent back to the Transition Committee. There was no second.

A motion was made to keep the name of National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals (NACDEP). The motion was approved (Motion Approved: Hobson/Broadwater)

Article XIV: Strategic Partnerships
Build strategic partnerships by seeking reciprocal relationships that lead to activities such as, but not limited to, sharing information, communications, conference notifications, and joint professional development (i.e., Rural Sociological Society, Community Development Society, American Agricultural Economics Association, USDA Agencies).

A motion was presented and approved that would remove all examples of partnerships. (Motion Approved: Leuci/Whitmer)

Total Bylaws
A motion to approve the bylaws as amended was approved. (Motion Approved: Cothran/Marxmann). Revised Bylaws are found in Appendix E.

Dues
A motion was made to have the Transition Team study the dues structure carefullyIt was suggested that the Team look at some possible reciprocal/affiliate status be considered with persons who may be members of other Associations. The group also requested that the Team look at a low cost organization based on budget and look at voting memberships. (Motion Approved: Hertel/Amrhein)

Next Conference
There was much discussion about the need for follow-up events. Because of the momentum generated at the Orlando meeting and now during this event, individuals expressed a desire that in order to keep the movement going positively, the Conference Planning Team should plan a conference no later than Spring, 2005. It was suggested that it may not be appropriate to tag on to other events and/or meetings. It was the desire of the group to have a NACDEP meeting independently of other events with a balance of substantive staff development and organizational business. A motion was made to have the Conference Planning Team convene the next meeting no later than April or May 2005. (Motion Aprpoved: Leuci/Woodrum)

Transition Team Work Plan

In addition to the items already generated for the Transition Team, it was suggested that the Team explore opportunities and guidelines for organizing State Associations and how their affiliations would be handled. Connie Hancock agreed to be involved in those discussions with the Transition Team.