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June 6, 2006 Board Meeting

Meeting Minutes of Oklahoma Recycling Association (OKRA)
Stroud Public Library

In Attendance:
Garold Beasly, Tricia Brown (guest), Ellen Bussert, Paul Bussert (guest), Ben Davis, Ilda Hershey, Sarah Kimball, Kathy Moore, Traci Phillips, Ande Reed, Susie Shields

  1. Welcome and Introductions were made by Susie Shields. Ben Davis was appointed as time keeper.

  2. Official appointment of OKRA board members (Decided to send approval request to OKRA voting members via e-mail and it was approved by a majority.)

  3. Reports from workgroup chairs
    1. Advocacy – Report presented by Ande Reed. They tried to get a State Goal passed in last legislative session, but bill with language in it was killed. Garold Beasly agreed to chair the committee.
    2. Education – Sarah Kimball
      Sarah Kimball asked members to complete K-12 Resource Sheets and return them to her.
    3. Communication/Outreach – Report presented by Ande Reed.
      1. A list serve has been developed for Communication subcommittee and the Board. If you are not getting information, e-mail Ande and let her know.
      2. The newsletter has been censored and delayed by edits from the DEQ. In the future, OKRA will do our own (online) as needed to expedite dissemination of current information.
      3. Website Development – DEQ is not able to do it. OKRA will need $300 - $500 per year to pay Emma at Red Earth Designs to maintain it. Susie will be in charge.
      4. Susie passed out brochure and asked everyone to review and get back to her ASAP so she could print more.
    4. Market Development – A report was presented by Susie Shields. The Committee has met once via conference call. The June phone meeting canceled. Larry Wright is checking on cotton trailers to haul recyclables in western OK. Tasks not completed by Susie were sending a letter to Commerce asking for a board member and compiling funding opportunities (there is only one). Mike Reyes asked about OK Recycling Procurement Act. Kimball recommended joint resolution to enforce the laws. A discussion was held on doing a resolution as OKRA and a press release about it.
    5. Waste Exchange – A report was presented by Ilda Hershey Discussion was held about partnering with Keep Oklahoma Beautiful (KOB) to operate a waste exchange. Putting on line will cost about $40,000 to set up database. To maintain the waste exchange would need 25% FTE to maintain it. Dianne Wilkins at the DEQ is looking at getting the database started. The group hasn’t decided on what waste should be included in the list but are going to focus on business and government sectors. The big thing is how OKRA is going to pay for it. Committee has been reviewing other state sites. Ideally, they would like to find something that is already on-line and just needs approval to get posted.

      A discussion was held on groups to collaborate on getting the waste exchange published.

  4. Nominating Committee Report – A report was given by Traci Phillips. She proposed the following slate of officers.
    1. Susie Shields- president
    2. Ande Reed - Vice president
    3. Ilda Hershey - at large
    4. Ellen Bussert -secretary
    5. Michael Patton - treasurer
    6. Traci Phillips – at large Traci led a discussion on potential additional board members and presented a formula for recommending board size for consideration. She asked how large or small do we want the board to be? We have 12 right now. The bylaws say we could have from 11-40. Traci took an OK map and carved it up to make regions. She asked what other categories, if any, may we want to consider depending on conclusions made. Traci talked about her rationale in building a well-rounded board. She presented her development of several categories and opened discussion about what categories should be included.

      Susie talked about limiting the Board to a small number. Utilize busy people with expertise by putting them on workgroups. She is concerned about communication between members of the workgroups.

      Sarah Kimball said if we wanted better board participation at attendance, OKRA should decide Board meeting dates one year in advance and post them.

      Traci Phillips said she thinks OKRA needs to get more membership from industry. Although she said she didn’t want to make any assumptions, she said that is why she was posing the questions about membership. She reminded everyone that we are here to promote recycling in the State of Oklahoma.

      A decision was made for Traci Phillips, Ande Reed, Kathy Moore, Kara Cowan, and Michael Patton to work on Board make-up.

  5. Committee Reports
    1. Financial – A report was given by Ande Reed On the last financial Statement, there was $955.35 in the balance. Adding a check for $248 from the MET brings the total to $ 1,203.35
    2. Membership - A report was presented by Susie Shields. Sarah Kimball said she would be at upcoming ITEC conference and try to recruit participation. Susie Shields will continue to be in charge of membership.
    3. Internal workgroup communication tried to figure out who is in charge. This group coordinates talking electronically, via telephone, etc.

  6. New Business
    1. Affiliation with NRC - It’s OKRA’s insurance policy to continue to be affiliated with the NRC.
      1. Benefits: on-line Mobius as contents provided of national movement. Members only website with information. Discount on membership through OKRA. Discount for members to attend annual conference. Cost/formula of cost = (get from Susie) Base cost $1,000 + fee for each voting member
      2. Kathy suggested looking into conflicts of US Composting Council. NRC will not allow members of US Composting council to join.
      3. Ande Reed made a motion that OKRA continue affiliation with NRC. The motion was seconded by Traci Phillips . A voice vote was taken. All votes were aye except for one abstention (Moore).
    2. Reed passed out a document about Senate Recycling Caucus. (Supply improving; Market development; Design for recycling; Energy savings; Education/communication)
    3. Ande Reed discussed The M.E.T. report about recycling in communities and offered to provide copies for those interested. Susie thought there were some ways we could use it, like send out press releases.
    4. Revisit bylaws. Susie Shields (Tabled for the time until other things are accomplished.)

  7. Set next meeting date and location. Face to face meeting with workgroup in July.
    1. Take a field trip to Garold Beasly’s Midland facility. Meet at INCOG (Ande getting room) meeting at 11:00 a.m. Optional tour will be after the meeting in Sand Springs. Date: Tuesday, September 26th
    2. Workgroup meetings at the DEQ in July: Susie will take a poll to choose date 2:00 p.m. Tentatively on (all work groups to meet) - Tuesday, July 11 or July 25.

  8. Announcements:
    • SWINO seminar on ill-legal dumping at OSU Tulsa
    • July 10th Sarah doing conference for ???
    • July 20 – 21st ITEC
    • OKRA leader should meet with SWMAC or give a report. EB to get OKRA on SWMAC Agenda to discuss issues.
    • Paul Bussert gave his suggestion to raise money for OKRA from schools.
    • Paul Bussert suggested OKRA put together an event to take around the State like the H2Oklahoma Festival or Recycle Olympics. (Paul was appointed to the OKRA Youth Advisory Council.)
    • Meeting was adjourned.





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