wKREDA Quarterly Business Meeting Thursday, September 15, 2011 Norton, Kansas

Present: Neal R. Gillespie, Diane Stiles, Kara Renz, Nikki Pfannenstiel, Dan Steffen, Aaron Cannon, Bob Muirhead, Lona DuVall, Randy Hrabe, Roger Hrabe, Ralph Goodnight, Christy Hopkins, Lea Ann Seiler, Michael Solomon, Simone Cahoj, Linette Miller, Clare Gustin, Eric Depperschmidt, Rodger DeGarmo, Katie Eisenhower, Gabe Schlickau, Janae Talbott, Pam Barta, Connie Grafel, James Foster, Scott Sproul, Carolyn Applegate, Megan Horinek, Jeff Hofaker, Mendi Alexander, Ron Newman, Kim Goodnight and Richard Boeckman.

Also present at the meeting were Goodland City Manager Doug Gerber, Norton County Commissioner John Miller, J. R. Behan and Justin Pike of Kansas Housing Resources Corporation, Senator Allen Schmidt, and Norton County ED Assistant Verla Grysch.

1. Call to Order President Neal Gillespie called the business meeting to order at 12:05 pm at The Rock Youth Center in Norton.

2. Minutes The minutes from the June 16, 2011 meeting were distributed for the members’ review. Following discussion, Roger Hrabe moved and Ralph Goodnight seconded approval of the minutes as distributed. Motion carried.

3. Financial Report Treasurer Nikki Pfannenstiel distributed the balance sheet to the membership, reporting a balance of $55,224.76 in the checking account and $30,471.06 in the savings account as of August 31, 2011. The balance sheet was accompanied by a profit and loss statement, as well as a fund allocations report. Eric Depperschmidt moved and Simone Cahoj seconded approval of the financial report as presented. Motion carried.

4. New Business 4-a. Nominating Committee – President Gillespie reported he has asked Clare Gustin, Carol Meyer, and Roger Hrabe to serve on the Nominating Committee.

4-b. Budgets President Gillespie asked all Committees to get their budgets to him by November 1.

4-c. Audit Committee President Gillespie stated an Audit Committee will be appointed in December.

4-d. Other/LTF/Discovery Day President Gillespie reported 8 communities in southwest Kansas are participating in the longest tail feather contest.

He added Hugoton is hosting a Discovery Day on October 10 with guest speaker Cinda Baxter of the 3/50 Project. 5. Old Business 5-a. D & O Insurance Discussion – President Gillespie reported a quote of $450/year was obtained. This will be discussed by the Board, and a recommendation will be brought to the December meeting.

5-b. Kansas BIO Dues –President Gillespie reported contacting Director Angela Kreps regarding the benefit of the $250/year dues. The Board will bring a recommendation to the December meeting.

6. Committee Reports 6-a Business Development Committee 6-a-1. Dairy Team President Gillespie reported the Dairy Team will meet via conference call. Clare Gustin reported selection of the dairy grant (applied for in June in partnership with the Department of Agriculture) should be announced in late September.

6-a-2. We Have Jobs – Jeff Hofaker reported over 70 students signed up for information at the FHSU Career Fair. Upcoming fairs will be at Fort Riley, Fort Carson, Lincoln NE, and Kearny NE, with an additional volunteer needed for Lincoln and Fort Riley. Roger Hrabe spoke on the new website features, noting when jobs are entered, be sure to list a job tag on it. The Committee will meet following today’s meeting.

6-a-3. Value-Added Ag Scott Sproul reported they will have a report in December.

6-a-4. Other Committees/Task Forces Wind Component Manufacturing – Aaron Cannon reported on behalf of Susan Nickerson, noting over 180 attended the Wind Component Manufacturing Seminar in Wichita. He also distributed a Convergys update.

Wholesale Grocery Outlet - Clare Gustin reported wKREDA and others have funded this project to have a K-State graduate student develop a business model for a cooperative distribution system to get inventory to small rural grocery stores.

6-b. Professional Development Team – CD 101 6-b-1. NWKTC Rural Economic Development Certification President Gillespie reported he, Clare Gustin, and Diane Stiles will meet following today’s meeting.

6-b-2. December Annual Meeting/Secretaries President Gillespie reported the Annual Meeting will be in Russell. KDHE Secretary Dr. Robert Mosier will present there, and Secretary Pat George has been invited. Christy Hopkins asked the members to let her know of any topics they want Dr. Mosier to present on.

6-c. Legislative Committee Nikki Pfannenstiel distributed a brief summary of submitted legislative issues, including Housing, Ogallala Aquifer, Kansas Universal Service Fund, Kan-Ed Funding for Schools, Cap on County Funding, Retail Business Development Incentives, Rural Development Tax Credit Program, and Entrepreneurship Tax Credit Program. The Legislative Committee will meet soon to finish developing the list. Clare Gustin reported speaking with John Pinegar, lobbyist for the Kansas Legislative Policy Group, regarding having a joint Legislative reception with wKREDA. 6-d. Public Relations Committee No report was given.

7. Adjournment With no further business, Jeff Hofaker moved and Rodger DeGarmo seconded to adjourn the meeting at 1:09 p.m.

Respectfully submitted: Kara Renz, wKREDA Secretary