Mojave National Preserve Conservancy

Minutes of the meeting September 25, 2012 Conservancy Board Members present on call: David Lamfrom, Dennis Schramm, Sid Silliman, Lynn Davis, Michael Gordon. David opened by apologizing for having to delay call from last week. We have important discussions that are needed regarding the direction of our group and recruitment of board members. Old Business: None. Finances: No update other than we received a $1000 donation from benefactor in San Diego. Sid offered her a life membership which she said was not necessary. Not able to send our standard thank you either because we did not get mailing address. David said her real interest was tortoises. She saw the Tortoise Through the Lens book. David offered her tour of Preserve. Newsletters: Missed our first deadline. David is writing the letter from the President. Michael and David agreed to provide photos. Sid started on piece around restoration in the Preserve. He has photos too. Linda will provide information on donations in the Preserve. David could write up article on RS-2477 outcome. Could do a short bio on one of our board members or on an NPS employee. Sid suggested that Michael would be a good choice as a board member. Lynn offered to write up if Michael sent her material. Lynn also thought maybe taking some quotes from the recent press on solar energy that David and Dennis were involved in and writing a short article on them. Could also include links to articles. David will compile the links. Board membership: David started conversation about our ability to recruit and maintain board members. Opened conversation to board members. Michael offered that Preserve is isolated and we don't gather often enough to stay connected to the board. Our board meetings have mostly been by phone. Dennis mentioned another concern about how to identify the pool of potential candidates. Lynn asked about the board training. David mentioned that he and Sid thought perhaps recruiting new candidates first and then holding the training. Michael said that he was asked by David to join the board and would not have volunteered to join the board on his own. David said there are lots of caring people who really love the desert and many are also involved in groups already. Lynn mentioned a previous experience with board. When board was first founded, the people were like this board. They were very involved in conservation and were on other boards. They had training and a facilitator, who recommended they recruit other skills. She then left board and came back years later and the board wasn't as passionate about the mission. The board training was vital to their success. David mentioned we have potential for a new board member out of Las Vegas. David is hoping to take him on field trip to the Preserve and try to recruit him. Lynn recommended that board members who have candidates in mind to invite them to the star

gazing event. David agreed and encouraged board members to think about who would be good candidates. Board identity: David discussed our need to coalesce around an issue as a board. Reopening of Mitchell Caverns and having it become NPS managed and operated could be our issue. Michael supports. Sid also supports. Just taking it on might bring new board members and new members. Lynn agrees (add to newsletter?). David has approached NPS and they agree it would be a good idea. State parks has moved to open all other state parks in California, except for Mitchell Caverns. Don't think the State would see it negatively. Michael asked what steps we would take. David said it would take legislation. He then outlined some ideas for how to proceed. Lynn mentioned that it could take the route of a petition that could also serve as a membership drive. Trails Day is October 6th and could be a good event. David will be at Association of National Park Rangers as the keynote speaker and could mention idea to them. Michael also mentioned that online petitions are also easily done and volunteered to facilitate. David and Sid summarized that we all agree as a board to take on this issue. Sid suggested that we agree to move on this issue right away. David mentioned that we need a well researched position before we act. Sid and David volunteered to help with issue. Dennis also volunteered, but stressed his October agenda is pretty busy. David and Sid will work on statement first, getting together on Oct. 4th. Dennis mentioned also doing a list of steps that are needed. Website: Michael mentioned that he has the website up and running with new information. There are other topics that are not populated and he could use some suggestions and help with content. Other business: Our next work project is October 13th in Fourth of July Canyon. Next star party is also scheduled for October 13th. Call ended at 2:20pm. Next Meeting: October 16, 2012 at 1:00pm.