Minutes recorded by Michele Richards (MPFC Secretary)
Virtual via Zoom
Attendance: Jack McGowan-Stinski, Dave Borneman, Mary Parr, Kristina Kennedy, Steve Woods, Andy Vander Yacht, Stephanie Diep, Michael Hahn, Megan Martin, Glenn Palmgren, Kyle Martin, Bruce Miller, Craig Maeir, Lee Osterland, Keith Murphy, Vic Bogosian, Keith Murphy, Mark Marshall, MI State Firemen’s Association
Newer folks introduced themselves. Michael Hahn representing Ann Arbor Natural Areas, replacing Dave Borneman at the end of this week, but Dave will still be around as a consultant. Mary Parr from Pierce Cedar Creek Institute. Doing fire at the institute. Working with Stephanie to host learn and burn event at PCCI. Kristina Kennedy from MUCC (replacing Makhayla LaButte) is on the call leading habitat improvement projects.
Summary of Burning Issues –
Recordings are available online http://lakestatesfiresci.net/BurningIssuesWorkshop2021_02_02_21.html
60 of 145 total people took part in survey after the event. Map in summary of affiliations and geographic distribution of attendees. Average response was slightly above very useful regarding how useful the workshop is. Main takeaway from growing season burns, lessons learned from the Brittle Fire and Increasing Capacity. 85-90% useful from each of these units. CPBM has a lot of support from the community, may be helpful to Glenn as he moves us through the process of making that mandate an actuality.
Would be good to have a Tribal perspective at next BI. Little Traverse Bay Band has reached out to Huron Pines about fire collaboratives, he may have contacts. Vic will do some digging. And it there’s a virtual option there might be National Guard connections we could lean on to get the Tribal perspective. Tall Timbers has done a lot of TEK (traditional ecological knowledge), may have programs or speaker options we could connect with.
Total gross income this year (2022) was $3225, expenses 723.04, total profit 2501.96.
Burning Issues 2020 income 7,070.00; profit 1,093.00.
IFTDSS workshop brought in $300. S130/190 in 2020 brought in 2,180 (but that doesn’t take into account expenses).
We need to keep our annual meeting logistics in mind, and it would be good to try to keep some amount of virtual to maintain the larger reach that it provides. Maybe we also try to plan two years out to let folks know where it’s going to be.
Burning Issues Finances – Burning Issues 2022 total expenses was $723. The expenses were mailing gifts to speakers, mailing stickers, and Eventbrite charges. Generally in the past, the gross was ~$6,000. We need to start tracking in-kind contributions that occur to make BI happen. Expenses for speaker travel, housing and food come out of the gross.
Funding Request - LSFSC is working on a “Fire History of the Upper Great Lakes Region: a Review and Synthesis for Managers. Discussion of what MPFC could contribute to the effort. MPFC is interested supporting in some way. We’ll take a vote, likely at next MPFC steering committee meeting, to determine what we can do. (Jack McGowan-Stinski)
NE MW Regional Fire Council update forum on liability – legislating the right to burn held last week. Covers CPBMs, liability insurance, etc. Another forum on 13 April 22 John Stivers dfd. All virtual and free access. 1400 eastern time. Fundraising and management. And IPFC prescribed fire mapping project. (Jack McGowan-Stinski)
Fiscal Review – CLICK TO VIEW FULL REPORT
Stephanie Diep is our treasurer, the Board nominated her to have access to the bank account and they voted unanimously to approve adding her name on the account.
Stephanie set up a square account so MPFC can accept donations and payments for merch to be deposited directly into the Lake Michigan Credit Union account. The donate button is up and running, so anyone can donate. Language is on the page to let folks know that donations larger than $100 they should contact us to send a check.
There will be discussions in how to use the White Oak Grant ($8000 to use 2022-2023 for expanding use of prescribed fire on private lands in southeast Michigan) in subcommittees meeting TBD soon.
Merchandise restocked. Preorders we profited $174.
Approximately $13,000 between the two bank accounts.
Draft 2022 budget linked above in Full Report
Summary of Fiscal Year 2021-2022 (March 1, 2021—Feb 28, 2022)
TOTAL EXPENSES: $ 3,046.61
TOTAL INCOME: $ 4,423.39
FY21 TOTAL NET: $ 1,376.78
LMCU Balance: $ 3,196.54
PNC Balance: ~$ 10,000.00 (waiting for transfer to LMCU account)
TOTAL MPFC Funds: ~$13,000.00
$174 profit from Merch presales alone (12 orders)
TREX update (Michele Richards)
Training exchange events happen around the US where everyone learns from each other, collaborative, 10-day event. Scheduled for end of Sept beginning Oct at Fort Custer Training Center. Many potential burn units. Working on workshop on writing a burn plan soon, open to public, advertise on MI PFC.
Outreach and Education Committee (Stephanie Diep): Proposed Learn & Burn event for White Oak grant outreach partnering with PCCI June 4th (rain date June 11th). Council approves advertising as an MPFC event. MPFC volunteers will be needed for talking to public participants; sign up to go out soon. White Oak grant should cover any expense needs, discuss amounts in subcommittee meeting and present in next steering meeting or via steering committee e-mail vote to approve specific amount. Funds to be used for snacks, mileage reimbursements, table rental, other needs? Any volunteer time is counted as match at $28/hr.
New Chair/Vice Chair Needed: Steering Committee to think about who would be good in the role and elect/vote in next steering committee meeting in May.
