Michigan Prescribed Fire Council Steering Committee
Meeting Minutes
10 March 2021
Opening
The regular meeting of the Michigan Prescribed Fire Council Steering Committee was called to order at 2:00PM on 10 March 2021 via Zoom by Andy Vander Yacht.
Present
Andy Vander Yacht – MSU, Chair
Stephanie Bradshaw – KNC, Admin/Treasurer
Dakota Szczepanski – MPFC Training Chair
Jack McGowan-Stinski – Lake States Fire Science
Craig Maier – TPOS
Makhayla LaButte – MUCC
Glenn Palmgren – MDNR
Kyle Martin – KNC
Jen Kanine
Kevin Reese
Dennis Ireland
Nathan McNett
John Bauer
Steve Woods
Approval of Agenda
The agenda was unanimously approved as distributed. Via email prior to meeting.
Open Issues
Schedule of future Steering Committee meetings:
· 4 times per year (Andy proposed 2nd Tuesday of Feb/May/Aug/Nov), Andy will send out official schedule and it will be posted on the MPFC website, Burning Issues/Annual meeting will continue to be held the first week of Feb (Tues/Wed/Thurs if virtual)
Burning Issues AAR Summary (Jack):
· 695+ attendees over 3 days (Day #1 = 269; Day #2 = 266; Day #3 = 160)
· Highest percentage of State and Federal agency participation due to being free and virtual
· Different speakers available because minimal cost, no travel, easier to schedule virtual
· Last minute registrations proved a further reach
· Virtual conference ran smoothly due to back-up moderators and tech assistants working behind the scenes
· Thank you gifts will be shipped to speakers. Thank you emails were sent to speakers; a second formal thank you was sent to the speakers’ supervisors.
· Archived recordings, links to papers, and PDFs of presentations are available at lakestatesfiresci.net/BurningIssuesWorkshop2021_02_02_21.html
Regional and MI PFC Survey Result Summaries (Andy)
· Reviewed summary document (results will be shared on website and via email). Top 3 issues in Michigan: #1 Liability, Legislation, and Risk Management, #2 Fire Training Availability and Qualification Standards, #3 Limited Resources for Prescribed Fire
· Top Priorities for MI PFC
In 2021: #1 Establish RX Certification Standards and Certified Burn Manager Program, #2 Focus on Education and Outreach, #3 Provide private landowner and non-agency training, capacity, and outreach
In next 5 years (by 2026): #1 Develop more education and training (Certified Burn Manager Program), #2 Private landowner outreach and volunteer force coordination, #3 Establish sustainable council funding, management, and member activation models
SUB COMMITTEE REVIEWS
Training, Certification, & Capacity Committee:
· Dakota Szczepanski continues to be training subcommittee chair
· Host open-access FFT2 training – Dakota scheduling soon
· Host an advanced training
· Consider creating a system for regional capacity sharing of volunteers
· Establish a Certified Burn Manager Program Committee by 2026: efforts headed by Glenn Palmgren
Michigan State legislation created a burn manager course agenda but provides no training due to fire liability, no certification tracking, questions about capacity and course fee to cover operations. Can a 3rd party run training if not the state? https://foreststewardsguild.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/InsightsRecommendationsCPMBprograms.pdf
Education and Outreach Committee:
· MI PFC outreach efforts can now be managed by Stephanie Bradshaw’s administrator position. Makhayla LaButte also has good connections for outreach through MUCC. Dakota Szczepanski is interested in doing more outreach to get high school students interested in the fire field.
· Establish a system of social media outreach. Send any outreach material or ideas to Stephanie at sbradshaw@naturecenter.org.
· Start outreach events: an annual fieldtrip for fire practitioners AND an annual public/private landowner general event (i.e. learn ‘n burn partnering with other orgs)
Dakota suggested: partner with a KNC hosted event, or Lowell High School and Nature Center student burn project, meet & greet with tools and DNR, school programming to get high schoolers interested in fire field
Makhayla LaButte (MUCC funded by DNR wildlife and habitat): get public aware of fire benefits, partner with MUCC or nature centers, MUCC can share our social media outreach, MUCC provides lunch for all participants at their events
MI PFC Coordinator Position: This position would be funded by Fort Custer, but eventually by MI PFC once financial sustainability is achieved through dependable revenue. This position would cover #1 conference, event, and training registrations, #2 communications via mail chimp, survey monkey, social media, and website updates, #3 file management, and #4 acting Treasurer.
· A meeting on 3/1/2021 between MI PFC (Vander Yacht, McGowan-Stinski, Richards) & KNC (Simons, Koziatek, Bradshaw, Martin) discussed options of Stephanie taking on this role as part of her full-time hours through KNC (10-15% of time; 4-6 hours per week)
· VOTE: Andy nominates Stephanie Bradshaw for MI PFC Coordinator position. Stephanie accepts. Motion brought by Glenn Palmgren. All aye: Kyle Martin, Nathan McNett, Jack, Andy, Glenn, Jen Kanine, Dakota, Craig, Steve, Dennis, Makhayla
KNC as Fiduciary Sponsor: Andy presents option for KNC to act as fiduciary/fiscal sponsor and manage MI PFC funds on behalf of MI PFC. MI PFC will still be its own entity, an “unincorporated association” that can operate tax exempt, but the funds will be under KNC legally for tax purposes. Glenn Palmgren agrees. No opposition. Waiting to hear from KNC management approvals before going forward.
Futher resource:
o MI PFC, DNR, and USFS letters indicating drawbacks of 501(3)(c) - granting agencies cannot lead such groups BUT – DNR/USFS participation CRUCIAL!
o “An unincorporated association can operate as a tax-exempt nonprofit as long as the purpose of its activity is of public benefit, and annual revenues are less than $5,000”
o https://www.legalzoom.com/articles/unincorporated-nonprofit-association-vs-nonprofit-corporation
o https://www.thebalancesmb.com/what-is-an-unincorporated-nonprofit-association-2501895
o https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/what-an-unincorporated-nonprofit-association.html
o fiscal sponsor: https://www.thebalancesmb.com/how-fiscal-sponsorship-works-2502140
Election of Vice Chair: VOTE: Kyle Martin nominates Dakota Szczepanski for Vice Chair. Glenn Palmgren seconds. All aya: Andy, Stephanie, Michaella, Nathan McNett, Jen Kanine, John Bauer, Kyle Martin, Glenn Palmgren, Craig Maier, Jack McGowan, Dennis
Discussion of Bylaws: Sexual Harassment and Non-discriminatory Policy Inclusion: https://www.firecouncil.org/mpfc-policy-best-practices Updated Bylaws will be added to website by Stephanie
Regional and National Prescribed Fire Council Meeting Summary (Andy)
· Free for use infographics and social media material from the National PFC will be shared
· EPA and CDC joining to promote outreach on smoke and air quality (Rx Fire vs wildfire and impacts on health). Glenn and Jack shared MI smoke management plan: http://lakestatesfiresci.net/docs/Smoke%20Webpage/Smoke%20Webpage%20V5.html
NEW TASKS
Burning Issues 2022 Planning:
· Decide if next year virtual again? Determine fee and budget. Consider combo with field days/fieldtrips. Desire for networking opportunities.
· Burning Issues is targeted for fire agency folks; consider alternative event(s) for landowner outreach.
· Planning Committee for Burning Issues 2022: Andy, Jack, Craig, Stephanie, others interested should contact Andy/Jack to help on planning team
Top Priorities for MI PFC (via survey results):
· In 2021: #1 Establish RX Certification Standards and Certified Burn Manager Program, #2 Focus on Education and Outreach, #3 Provide private landowner and non-agency training, capacity, and outreach
· In next 5 years (by 2026): #1 Develop more education and training (Certified Burn Manager Program), #2 Private landowner outreach and volunteer force coordination, #3 Establish sustainable council funding, management, and member activation models
Training, Certification, & Capacity sub-committee:
· Dakota scheduling FFT2 trainings
· Glenn Palmgren heading effort to establish Certified Burn Manager training program by 2026
Education and Outreach sub-committee:
· Host an annual fieldtrip
· Host an annual public outreach event in partnership with MUCC, a nature center, high schools, etc.
· Establish social media outreach efforts
Adjournment
Meeting was adjourned at 4:00PM by Andy Vander Yacht. The next Quarterly meeting will be held in 3 months or as the new scheduling states.
Minutes submitted by: Stephanie Bradshaw, MI PFC Administrator
Recording of Meeting and Chatbox: CLICK HERE
