Washington Geographic Alliance
Minutes of Board of Directors Meeting of
February 20, 2007

Call to Order

The regular meeting of the Washington Geographic Alliance (WGA) Board of Directors was called to order at 6:45 p.m. by Tim Schultz in the home of Richard Kennedy and Heidi Morgan, 18825 6th Avenue SW, Normandy Park, Washington.

Roll Call

Present: President Tim Schultz of Green River Community College (GRCC), Vice-President Meghan Hoyer of St. Philomena School, Amy Chertock of Shorewood High School, Heidi Morgan of the National Geographic Society's (NGS) Grosvenor Council, and Secretary Richard Kennedy of the NGS's Grosvenor Council.

Treasurer Charles "Chip" Dodd of Shoreline Community College (SCC) was unable to attend due to a last minute work obligation. Genya Parks of Lawton Elementary School was unable to attend due to illness.

Approval of Minutes for January 5, 2007

A motion to approve the minutes of the Board of Directors meeting of January 5, 2007 was made by Tim and seconded by Heidi. The motion passed unanimously.

Action Item Review

• Tim wrote Rep. Jay Inslee (WA-1st) and has yet to contact Reps. Jim McDermott (WA-7th) and Rick Larson (Wa-2nd) regarding co-sponsorship of the Teaching Geography is Fundamental Act. He contacted our mailing list about the 2007 AAA High School Travel Challenge. He gave Richard the information needed to complete the application for federal tax exemption. While he did not ask, Tim is certain that GRCC will be able to videotape presentations made at the WGA Summer Institute. Caleb Perkins of the Superintendent of Public Instruction's Office is extremely busy and appears to want our help more than to help us. Drafts of informational brochures and registration materials for the WGA Summer Institute have been distributed to the Board.
• Meghan has had little success getting Keith Eldridge of KOMO-TV to have a story done about the WGA.
• Heidi is still looking for the name of the nternational Baccalaureate Coordinator for Social Studies/Geography in Washington State.
• Richard is awaiting a copy of the National Geographic's travel policy. The web site is slowly being enhanced with new content. The following dates are available to the E. B. Foote Winery:
  • July 6 - 8, 15, 19, 26
  • August 2 - 5, 9 - 12, 17 - 19, 23 - 26
  • September - None
  • October - None
  • November 23 - 30
  • December 3 - 23, 26
  After informal discussion, the Board selected August 23 (Thursday) for a reception.
• Via email, Chip reminds the Board that the Washington State Geography Bee is March 30 (Friday). Evelyn McNeil has indicated she will set up a table for the WGA (flyers, field questions, etc.). The WGA logos being developed by 17 SCC students will be submitted to us on February 23 (Friday). The logo will be designed for use on letterheads, envelopes, business cards, and the web.

President's Report

On Thursday, January 18, I gave a presentation to the Board of Trustees of Green River Community College on the Alliance, as the grant from the National Geographic Education Foundation is hosted through our campus. I was invited by April Jensen, the Executive Vice President of Green River, to give the presentation. It was an honor to be invited to present our organization and activities to the Board.

I gave a 10-15 minute presentation including some PowerPoint slides on the purpose and goals of the Alliance and the Board appeared to be very impressed.

On Friday, January 19th, I traveled to Western Washington University to visit the directors of K-12 Study Canada, an organization very similar to ours but with the purpose of increasing the study of all things Canadian, including the geography of Canada. Our meeting was very productive and turned out to be absolutely worth the drive. Some of the things we accomplished:

• I received sample Summer Institute materials from the Study Canada Summer institute, to be held at the end of June in Vancouver and Whistler, BC. We have been asked to help promote this institute in exchange for reciprocal promotion of our programs. Given that their mailing list is over 800 names, I think this would be wise!
• I learned of the major ways their organization promotes their activities: the WSCSS (Washington State Council for the Social Studies) conferences are key. I had previously contacted organizers at both the Seattle University in-service this February 3rd and the Chelan K-8 conference March 10th, but had received a frosty reception--Tina Storer of K-12 Study Canada is helping to "grease the wheels" for the Alliance.
• I am planning to attend both the Feb. 3rd and March 10th events to promote the WGA Summer Institute, so I will have a more detailed agenda and applications by then...(!) Any and all of you who would like to attend with me are more than welcome!
• Tina Storer and Don Alper of K-12 Study Canada invited one of us to join in their Summer Institute, a week of studying Canada in Vancouver and Whistler...great fun! I will not be able to take part in the Institute, but I recommend sponsoring one of our members. The Institute is scheduled for June 24 - 29, 2007, details are at the Study Canada web site. The cost is $530 and the Institute gives teachers 40 clock-hours or 3 undergraduate credits. Tim mentioned that it would be appropriate for a WGA member to attend.

In other news, I have been working on an exhaustive report to the National Geographic Education Foundation on our activities for 2005-2006. 2005 is easy to report as we had no activity, but 2006 is full of accomplishments, so nice work, everyone.

In line with this reporting activity, the NGEF has generously offered to support my airfare to the annual Alliance grantee's meeting this February 28-March 4. The total cost to our Alliance will be per diem costs for meals, one night's lodging, and transportation to and from the airport. I will, of course, work to conserve the Alliance's resources in all of these regards.

In still more news, I've applied for and been awarded a Faculty Development grant from Green River Community College to attend the 2007 annual meeting of the Association of American Geographers April 17-21 in San Francisco. I will use this opportunity to learn more about other Alliances' activities and promotions, as well as to look for future grant writing opportunities.

Finally, I want to thank Richard for his patience with me in working on our application to the IRS for tax-exempt status for the Alliance. I have to admit that looking over lines of numbers is not my favorite activity--but I understand the importance of making sure that it's done right, too. Thanks, Richard!

And thank you, everyone, for the incredible enthusiasm you have shown for the Alliance in the past six months! I am really looking forward to the next six months, when we will have just finished our first Summer Institute and will be planning for the exciting new school year of 07-08.

Washington State Council for the Social Studies (WSCSS) In-Service Day

On Saturday, February 5, 2007, Tim delivered the unused packets from the E. B. Foote Reception to a literature table at the meeting. It was reported to him that all packets were gone within a few hours.

NGS Education Foundation Annual Grantee's Meeting

Tim will represent the WGA at this meeting in Washington, DC on March 1-3, 2007 and will meet with our federal congressional delegation. The total cost to our Alliance will be per diem costs for meals, one night's lodging, and transportation to and from the airport.

WSCSS Annual Retreat at Lake Chelan March 9-11

Tim has registered for this event and Meghan will be presenting information about the NGS "My Wonderful World" campaign. Attendance is expected to be about 300 persons. Printed WGA Summer Institute and other materials will be made available for attendees. It was moved by Tim and seconded by Heidi to reimburse Tim and Meghan for their mileage costs to/from the meeting.

State Funding for WGA Endowment

Rep. Shay Schual-Berke (D-33rd) had David Pringle of the House Appropriations Committee draft the following budget proviso in one of the several agencies that provides grants for similar purposes, such as the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) or the Department of Commerce, Trade, and Economic Development (DCTED):

By Representative Schual-Berke

Proposed language for a budget proviso in (X) $500,000 of the general fund--state appropriation for fiscal year 2008 is provided solely for a contract with a national organization to establish an endowment for the promotion of geography education in Washington state. The contracting organization must have experience operating similar geography education endowments, and is required to provide equal "nonstate" matching funds to the state funds provided in the contract. All funds and earnings in the endowment shall be used exclusively for geography education programs, including but not limited to curriculum materials, resource collections, and professional development institutes for teachers and administrators. A national organization must have an established affiliated advisory committee in within the state to recommend local projects to be funded by the endowment. The contract shall also require that the contracting organization report annually to the director on the recipients of endowment funds, and the amounts and purposes of expenditures from the fund.

EFFECT:

Provides for a contract with a national geography organization to set up a state endowment for promotion of geography education. Requires the organization provide matching funds.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Increases General Fund--State by $500,000.

Rep. Schual-Berke has started the process but she needs our help to get this budget proviso enacted. Call your state representatives immediately and request their support of this budget proviso. Contact Richard with the results of each call. General information about the endowment may be found online.

Summer Institute

Tim reviewed the flyers and brochures for our Summer Institute. Board members expressed appreciate for his work.

Next Meeting

The next meeting regular meeting of the WGA Board of Directors will be held on Tuesday, April 3, 2007 at 6:30 p.m. in the home of Richard Kennedy and Heidi Morgan, 18825 6th Avenue SW, Normandy Park, Washington.

Action Items

Tim

1. Immediately call his state representatives for home and GRCC and request support for the WGA Endowment budget proviso:
   1. Rep. Eileen Cody (D-34th)         (360) 786-7978
      Committees: Appropriations
   2. Rep. Joe McDermott (D-34th)   (360) 786-7952
      Committees: Appropriations, Education
   3. Rep. Geoff Simpson (D-47th)     (360) 786-7918
   4. Rep. Pat Sullivan (D-47th)         (360) 786-7858
      Committees: Appropriations, Education
2. Immediately call out-of-district legislative contacts that would in turn call their representatives to support the WGA Endowment budget proviso.
3. Will have printed at GRCC sufficient posters, flyers, and brochures for both the WSCSS Retreat from March 9-11 and the Washington Geography Bee on March 30.
4. Will contact/follow-up with the following about becoming a cosponsor for H.R. 5519 (Teaching Geography is Fundamental Act).
   1. Rep. Jay Inslee (WA-1st)
   2. Rep. Jim McDermott (WA-7th)
   3. Rep. Rick Larson (WA-2nd)
5. Will schedule GRCC personnel to videotape the presentations made at the Summer Institute.
6. Will contact Caleb Perkins at the Superintendent of Public Instruction's Office to find a champion in their office to support our request to fund our endowment.
7. Will continue to work with Chip on presentation materials for the Summer Institute.
8. Email Richard the NGEF Report mentioned in the President's Report.
9. Try to get a reply from the Advanced Placement Geography Board.

Meghan

1. Immediately call the Catholic Diocese of Spokane's Education Office at (509) 358-7330 to request support of WGA Endowment budget proviso and request they contact eastern Washington members for the House of Representatives for support (especially Rep. Timm Ormsby D-3rd, a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Education).
2. Immediately call out-of-district legislative contacts that would in turn call their representatives to support the WGA Endowment budget proviso.
3. Will continue to prod Keith Eldridge of KOMO-TV about having a story done on the WGA.
4. How may teachers be better made aware of the existing lesson plans, etc. that are already prepared?

Richard

1. Immediately call out-of-district legislative contacts that would in turn call their representatives to support the WGA Endowment budget proviso.
2. After receiving the NGS travel policy, will propose revisions to the Travel and Expense Policy further defining reasonable expenses and incorporating relevant portions of the GSA payment schedule and the GRCC travel policy.
3. Will continue adding new features to the web site including Summer Institute descriptive and registration materials.
4. Complete the required forms for WGA to receive a federal tax exemption.
5. Contact E. B. Foote Winery and reserve Thursday, August 23rd for a wine tasting.
6. Contact Tony Ventrella about setting up an interview with Tim and Meghan on his show "Comcast Local Edition."

Chip

1. Immediately call his state representatives for home and SCC and request support for the WGA Endowment budget proviso:
   1. Rep. Maralyn Chase (D-32nd)   (360) 786-7880
      Committees: Community & Economic Development & Trade
   2. Rep. Ruth Kagi (D-32nd)   (360) 786-7910
      Committees: Appropriations, Appropriations Subcommittee on Education
2. Immediately call out-of-district legislative contacts that would in turn call their representatives to support the WGA Endowment budget proviso.
3. When available, will email all WGA logos designed by SCC students to Richard.
4. Will ask the AWG board for a resolution supporting passage of the Teaching Geography is Fundamental Act.
5. Will continue to work with Tim on presentation materials for the Summer Institute.

Amy

1. Immediately call her state representatives for home and request support for the WGA Endowment budget proviso:
   1. Rep. Jim McIntire (D-46th)        (360) 786-7886
      Committees: Appropriations, Higher Education
   2. Rep. Phyllis Kenney (D-46th)    (360) 786-7818
      Committees: Appropriations, Appropriations Subcommittee on Education, Community & Economic Development & Trade (Chair)
2. Immediately call out-of-district legislative contacts that would in turn call their representatives to support the WGA Endowment budget proviso.

Heidi

1. Immediately call out-of-district legislative contacts that would in turn call their representatives to support the WGA Endowment budget proviso.
2. Locate the International Baccalaureate Coordinator for Social Studies/Geography.

All

1. Email Richard a categorized list of good geography links and other content for the web site.
2. Email Richard copies of your institution's travel and expense policy.

Respectfully submitted,

/ss/ Richard T. Kennedy
Richard T. Kennedy
Secretary

Approved April 3, 2007

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