Steering Committee Quarterly Meeting May 25, 2021 AGENDA

Michigan Prescribed Fire Council
Steering Committee Meeting
9-11 AM Eastern, May 25th, 2021

9:00 – 9:10 Welcome and brief introductions (Name, Title, Affiliation)
9:10 – 9:15 Future steering committee meetings

1. 4/year, 9-11 AM, last Tuesday of May, Aug (31), Nov (30), & Feb (22) - Discuss?

9:15 – 9:45 Fire season review

1. USFS and Brittle Fire Summary

2. MI DNR, NGOs, Fort Custer, Consultants, Educators, Others?

9:45 – 9:50 Review of MI PFC near-term goals

1. Top 3 perceived barriers to RX fire in Michigan, based on surveys:

   1. Liability, Legislation, and Risk Management

   2. Fire Training Availability and Qualification Standards

   3. Limited Resources for Prescribed Fire

2. Top priorities for MI PFC this year…

   1. Establish RX Certification Standards and Certified Burn Manager Program

   2. More education and outreach

   3. Private landowner and non-agency training, capacity, and outreach

3. Top priorities for MI PFC over the next 5 years…

   1. More education and training – Certified Burn Manager Program

   2. Private landowner outreach, volunteer force coordination

   3. Sustainable council funding, management, and member activation models

9:50 – 10:30 Subcommittee Reports and 2021-2022 Actionable Goals

1. Training, Certification, and Capacity

   1. Chair: Steve Woods or John Taylor?

   2. Members: Szczepanski, Reibel, Rehagen, Vander Yacht, Taylor, Palmgren, Martin, McGowan-Stinski

   3. State Certified Burn Manager Program

      1. MSU – MiWORKS Potential

      2. NE MW RPFC Coordinating Group – Latest Networking Forum

   4. Capacity Sharing/Enhancement via MI PFC Website

      1. 3 pages under “Get Involved” - replacing “Volunteer and Job Opportunities”

         1. Job Opportunities

            1. Intro text: paid MI ops in wildland and RX fire?

            2. Too big? Cluttered? Organized? Expire? Take down?

            3. Michigan specific? Regional? National?

         2. Volunteer Opportunities

            1. Intro text: unpaid exp in wildland and RX fire

            2. Consistent offerors with links to websites/contact lists

            3. Request to add org/opportunities to this page

            4. Specific events (crosslisted on broader Events tab?)

            5. Sign-up for separate email list?

         3. Seeking Opportunities

            1. List groups consistently looking to help (GVSU, MSU)

            2. Resource exchange?

            3. Other contact list – coded email? Contact us, we will send?

            4. Another link to consultants?

   5. Other Trainings

      1. Ember Alliance, Szczepanski at Fort Custer?, ANNUAL PACK TEST!

   6. Bylaws related to proposed trainings

      1. 8-week prior approval?

      2. Task group review? – subcommittee?

      3. Fire council’s fee schedule?

      4. Must meet NWCG standards? “workshops” exempt?

2. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH

   1. Chair: Stephanie Bradshaw?

   2. Members: Richards, Marshall, Frye, Rehagen, Taylor, LaButte

   3. System of social media outreach (fed to Stephanie Bradshaw)

      1. 1 per week - BI session recordings, SE regional infographics, other content

   4. 2 annual/biannual events: 1 targeting fire practitioners (BI?), 1 targeting general public and private landowners (e.g., learn ‘n burn event or a fire festival)

      1. Partner with MUCC to deliver a Learn ‘N Burn event?

3. Burning Issues 2022 Planning Committee

   1. Chair: Jack?

   2. Members: Maier, Vander Yacht, Marshall

   3. BI 2021 Speaker gifts?

   4. Feedback survey?

   5. Craig and Jack’s new model? Business model flow chart with alternatives?

10:30 – 10:40 MI PFC Finance Update

1. KNC as MI PFC’s fiscal sponsor – status update

   1. PNC Bank Account Status – transferred funds?

   2. KNC atm/credit cards and checks?

   3. Tracked as MI PFC expense – print reports

   4. Can use the KNC registration portal to collect payments

2. Current Funds and Budget Review – Biannual Report 1?

3. Expense tracking sheet?

4. Treasury related bylaws:

   1. Treasurer’s responsibilities

      1. annual budget

      2. biannual report

      3. annual audit by two officers – one being the chair

      4. fiscal year runs from BI to BI

   2. Procedures for requesting/spending money?

10:40 – 10:45 Website Store? Restock merchandise inventory? New items?
10:45 – 11:00 Additional items and roundtable discussion