Washington Geographic Alliance
Minutes of Board of Directors Meeting of
May 11, 2007

Call to Order

The regular meeting of the Washington Geographic Alliance (WGA) Board of Directors was called to order at 6:32 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, 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), Amy Chertock of Shorewood High School, and Genya Parks of Lawton Elementary School were unable to attend.

Approval of Minutes for April 3, 2007

A motion to approve the minutes of the Board of Directors meeting of April 3, 2007 was made by Tim and seconded by Meghan. The motion passed unanimously.

Action Item Review

• Tim stated that NGS's lobbying firm asks that contacts with Senator Patty Murray be suspended for the time being while they are working with her office. Rep. McDermott's staff is still not very helpful. GRCC will supply video taping equipment for the Summer Institute but they will not supply anyone to run the camera. Due to his work on the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction's Geography Grade Level Expectations, Tim believes that staff member Caleb Perkins is more likely to champion our cause in the OSPI's office. Based on this meeting, Tim is changing the Summer Institute agenda to include the Geography Grade Level Expectations and hiring the curriculum writers from the meeting. Tim sent Richard a copy of the report he made to NGEF for 2005-2006. The persons running the Advanced Placement Geography Board have not replied to Tim's numerous contacts. Our application for federal tax exemption status was mailed to the IRS on May 10. Finally, Tim said that Meghan's tuition to the Study Canada K-12 Summer Institute was paid.
• As Genya, Chip, and Amy were absent, their action items were not reviewed.
• Meghan is still working on her action items.
• Heidi is still working on her action items.
• Richard is still awaiting a copy of the National Geographic's travel policy. The Summer Institute application was revised and placed on the web site. Richard paid $100 to E. B. Foote Winery to reserve the facility for a reception on August 23 (Thursday). He emailed Comcast requesting an interview about the WGA to be broadcast on "Comcast Local Edition". Tim has been contacted by Comcast and a taping date was been set. A tip sheet to aid in requesting co-sponsorship of the Teaching Geography is Fundamental Act was distributed to board members.

Report on OSPI Geography Grade Level Expectation Meeting

Tim reported that the meeting went extremely well. Other than himself, no one has a background in Geography. A number of substantial changes were made to the Geography Grade Level Expectations based upon his comments. In staying for the entire two days of the meeting, Tim created a great deal of good will with staff member Caleb Perkins.

Report on the Passport Club [K-6 Place Name Geography Program]

Tim met with Lynn Erickson of Olympia, Washington on May 4. She is the creator of and markets the Passport Club. It is a kit sold to schools that contains "passports", maps, a teacher's guide, and cancelled stamps from many nations. The lessons progress through five levels and students earn visas stamps for their passport upon mastering certain facts. More details are located on their web site. Tim mentioned that she might be looking for someone else to take over the Passport Club. Tim will contact her.

NGEF 2007-2008 Grant Announcement

The 2007-2008 NGEF grant application form will be on their web site by the end of May. The deadline for submitting the application is June 30. Tim will complete the application with Richard's help as needed.

Comcast Taping

Tim will be taping an interview on May 17 at 2 p.m. in Puyallup about the WGA. It will be broadcast on "Comcast Local Edition" hosted by Tony Ventrella.

State Funding for WGA Endowment

On May 6, we received the following email from Lanny Proffer. "Actually, I think we did very well for the first time out. These things typically take some time. I think the thing to do would be to try to generate some contact with legislators by teachers. If they would tell their legislators that the Alliance workshops, materials and activities help their teaching and that NGS will match the state contributions, we may do better next session.

Congratulations to you and Tim and the teachers for the good work you did this year."

Richard will be contacting Rep. Shay Schual-Berke (D-33rd) in June to develop a strategy with her for funding the Washington Geographic Alliance's endowment in next year's legislative session.

Teaching Geography is Fundamental Act

Rep. Adam Smith (WA-9th) still has not become a co-sponsor for H.R. 1228. Richard will be meeting with Senator Cantwell on June 28 to discuss her co-sponsorship of S. 727.

Reception at E. B. Foote Winery

Richard made a $100 non-refundable deposit with the E. B. Foote winery in Burien to reserve their facility for Thursday, August 23. We will have the facility from 6 to 9 p.m.

WGA Logo Selection

It was the consensus of the board members in attendance that the apple logo should be selected. It was asked that the apple globe could somehow contain a state outline along with a few other modifications. Tim will ask Chip to send the original artwork files to Richard.

K-12 Study Canada Institute Meals and Travel Costs

A motion that Meghan's meals and mileage expenses in conjunction with the K-12 Study Canada Institute be reimbursed by the WGA was made by Tim and seconded by Heidi. During discussion, the motion was clarified that the mileage be paid at the current IRS rate. The motion passed unanimously.

President's Stipend

A motion that Tim's stipend of $10,000 as budgeted in our current grant be paid on or before June 30 was made by Richard and seconded by Meghan. The motion passed unanimously.

Summer Institute

Six applications have received so far. They represent south King, Snohomish, Pierce and Clark counties. We are planning for a total number between 12 and 15 attendees.

Meghan asked if guests could attend sessions or field trips. Tim said as long as there is room for them they could attend.

Each board member needs to recruit potential attendees. Meghan will be passing out applications at the NGS event at Woodland Park Zoo this weekend. She will also investigate getting this information placed on the Seattle Archdiocese web site. Tim will contact pre-service teachers and mentioned that Genya will try to put something on the Seattle Public Schools web site. He will also contact the K-12 Study Canada group. Richard and Heidi will contact local teachers that they know.

NGEF Geography Action!/My Wonderful World Workshop July 9-13

Meghan will represent the WGA at the Geography Action! Workshop. Richard will represent the WGA at the My Wonderful World Workshop.

Federal Income Tax Forms

Our fiscal year ends on June 30. At that time, we will need to file IRS Form 990-EZ (Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax). Richard offered to look at this form and its lengthy instructions. Tim will have GRCC send Richard a complete financial report shortly after June 30.

Handout — Program Planning and Proposal Writing

Richard distributed copies of the handout "Program Planning and Proposal Writing" to the board.

Roundtable

Tim mentioned that it is important to increase the geographical representation of the board. Board members are encouraged to look for persons interested in geography education.

Tim offered to create an Assessment of Geographic Knowledge for 5th, 8th, and 12th grades. This would be used to provide feedback on the effectiveness of WGA programs.

Next Meeting

The next meeting regular meeting of the WGA Board of Directors will be held on Friday, June 8, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. in the home of Richard Kennedy and Heidi Morgan, 18825 6th Avenue SW, Normandy Park, Washington.

Action Items

Tim

1. Will contact/follow-up with the following about becoming a cosponsor for H.R. 1228 / S. 727 (Teaching Geography is Fundamental Act).
   1. Rep. Jay Inslee (WA-1st)
   2. Rep. Rick Larson (WA-2nd)
   3. Rep. Jim McDermott (WA-7th)
2. Will obtain a draft copy of the Superintendent of Public Instruction's Geography Grade Level Expectations and will distribute them to the board.
3. Will contact Lynn Erickson about the future of Passport Club and any possible role the WGA might take.
4. Will complete the 2007-2008 NGEF grant application with help from Richard well before the June 30 deadline.
5. Will have Chip send the artwork for the WGA Apple logo to Richard.
6. Will email Richard a revised copy of the Summer Institute agenda.
7. Will email pre-service teachers about the Summer Institute.
8. Will have GRCC send Richard a detailed description of grant disbursements shortly after June 30.
9. Will try to get a reply from the Advanced Placement Geography Board.
10. Will develop an Assessment of Geographic Knowledge for 5th, 8th, and 12th grade students.

Genya

1. Will contact the Seattle Public Schools web site to request publicity for our Summer Institute.

Meghan

1. Will contact/follow-up with the following about becoming a cosponsor for H.R. 1228 / S. 727 (Teaching Geography is Fundamental Act).
   1. Rep. Adam Smith (WA-9th)
2. Will reserve a table for the WGA at the Seattle Archdiocese in-service day scheduled for sometime in March 2008.
3. Will start developing materials for the web site on how teachers may be better made aware of the existing lesson plans, teaching aids, etc. that are already prepared.
4. Will distribute applications for the Summer Institute at the NGS event at Woodland Park Zoo this weekend and leave extra copies with the Zoo staff.
5. Will contact the Seattle Archdiocese web site to request publicity for our Summer Institute.

Richard

1. Will contact/follow-up with the following about becoming a cosponsor for H.R. 1228 / S. 727 (Teaching Geography is Fundamental Act).
   1. Rep. Adam Smith (WA-9th)
   2. Senator Maria Cantwell
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 create several variants of the WGA Apple logo after receiving the originals from Chip.
4. Will contact local teachers about the Summer Institute.

Chip

1. Will contact/follow-up with the following about becoming a cosponsor for H.R. 1228 / S. 727 (Teaching Geography is Fundamental Act).
   1. Rep. Jay Inslee (WA-1st)
   2. Senator Maria Cantwell
2. Will email Richard the original artwork files for the WGA apple logos.
3. Will ask the AWG board for a resolution supporting passage of the Teaching Geography is Fundamental Act.
4. Will continue to work with Tim on presentation materials for the Summer Institute.

Amy

1. Will contact/follow-up with the following about becoming a cosponsor for H.R. 1228 / S. 727 (Teaching Geography is Fundamental Act).
   1. Rep. Jay Inslee (WA-1st)
   2. Senator Maria Cantwell
2. Will contact local teachers about the Summer Institute.

Heidi

1. Will locate the International Baccalaureate Coordinator for Social Studies/Geography.
2. Will obtain quotes from restaurants in Enumclaw for breakfast between 7:30 and 8:00 a.m.
3. Will contact local teachers about the Summer Institute.

Respectfully submitted,

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

Approved June 8, 2007

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