In attendance:
Guests: None
Members: Alice King, Sandy Wallace, Pam Keller, Deb Hamil, Judy Dollard,
Don Everhart, Cheryl Everhart, Rosanne Wilson, & Melanie Campbell
John Heinrichs, KGA Coordinator
Rich Lisichenko, KGA Co-Coordinator
Cheryl Heinrichs, KGA Resource Center & Publications
No absences

WELCOME
Sandy Wallace welcomed everyone for today's meeting. Pam Keller was thanked for arranging the meeting place in her school.

MINUTES
The minutes from the January meeting were reviewed. It was noted that Don Everhart was a member and not a guest. The minutes were approved as amended.

AGENDA
The agenda was adjusted. Old Business was moved up to the 3rd item of business rather than 8th item. An Outreach Committee report was added and it was to include Nicodemus.

Don Everhart moved to accept the agenda. It was seconded and approved.

OLD BUSINESS
The Coordinator Search Committee reported their suggestions. The committee members were Judy Dollard, Melanie Campbell, Don Everhart, and John Heinrichs. Please refer to their handout for clarification if needed.

Judy presented all the suggestions one by one for the entire executive committee to consider. The first recommendation was to recommend Dr. Richard Lisichenko for KGA Coordinator and Dr. Tamara Korneman for KGA Co-coordinator effective this coming September 1. Judy moved to accept the committee's recommendation. It was seconded and approved.

Don Everhart moved to accept the 2nd recommendation which was to recommend that the KGA Executive Committee establish an annual review process for the KGA Coordinator, Co-coordinator, Resource Center Manager, and Publications Director and clearly define the rules, responsibilities and expectations for each position. It was seconded. Discussion followed with the idea of creating a working platform for establishing the role expectations. The shift of responsibilities would be more of priorities/responsibilities from coordinator to Executive Committee. Motion passed.

Don Everhart moved to accept the 3rd recommendation which was to recommend that the Executive Committee form a sub-committee to develop the roles, responsibilities and expectations for the KGA Coordinator, Co-coordinator, Resource Center Manager and Publications Director. The subcommittee will submit a preliminary draft of the report at the KGA Executive Committee 2005 Summer Retreat. The motion was seconded and passed.

Melanie Campbell moved to accept the 4th recommendation which was to recommend that the Resource Center Manager and the Publications Director receive direction from and be responsible to the Executive Committee. It was seconded. There was discussion that if the coordinator was moved from Ft. Hays University that the Resource Center might also be moved; and, if the space for the Resource Center was given up, it might not be available later should it desire to be returned to Hays. Thus, the Resource Center may need to be controlled more by the Executive Center. Motion approved.

COORDINATOR'S REPORT
John reviewed 2 applications for grants by Sandy Wallace and Deanna Kuder. PDC had approved these 2 applications on April 1 after the Geography Bee in Hays. Checks will be cut soon.

John reviewed the National Geographic Education Foundation Grantee's meeting held earlier in April. He pointed out that he had 2 major ideas as listed in the agenda. His first idea concerning finances is that there is a big lack of money and the second had to do with the foundation. John presented a sheet listing the KGA's financial status. Next he discussed the NGS's information from the Foundation. John pointed out that there is not one dollar allocated for geography education from the government; it is the only discipline not getting money in the No Child Left Behind Act. Consult the letter attached with the handouts about grants. The goal is to support state based professional development and its intent is to be implemented by state alliances doing the work and thus receiving most of the money available. This may be rejuvenation for state alliances. A change in allocation of money is to shift from Grosvenor Grants to either (1) a larger grant between $100,000 and $150,000 or (2) a smaller grant of $50,000 or less. Alliances could apply for these grants. Discussion followed with ideas among us (brainstorming). John H. moved to create a NGS Grant Subcommittee which would generate ideas and be ready to report to the next meeting during the summer retreat. Sandy, Melanie, Rosanne, and Judy volunteered. Motion approved.

CO-COORDINATOR'S REPORT
Rich thanks everyone who had helped with the Bee earlier in the month in Hays.

He reviewed the applications for the summer institute. The written applications looked good, applicants were from several locations throughout the state, and seemed to have been generated from several sources such as GeoPower workshops and presentations by John to preservice students. The number of applicants was "12"; Rich indicated he would contact them about the institute.

Rich passed out information about a National Map Corps Volunteer Program. Please consult the handout. It is strictly volunteer and has no money involved. Teachers and kids are wanted.

RESOURCE CENTER/PUBLICATIONS
Cheryl reported that there had been few purchases. Plans had been put online. In order to complete the next issue of Insights, she had to have the information within the next 2 days-Monday.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Deb Hamil discussed the upcoming Summer Institute. It will be held this coming June 5 - 11 and will culminate with presentations of the institute participants' lesson plans. The schedule of events was distributed for discussion/ideas from us. The general outline of this year's institute will follow the same outline of last year's institute-presentations and field trip, etc. The institute will try to accommodate all 12 of the applicants even though 10 had been the decided-upon limit for the institute. Since the Advanced Institute had been canceled, it was felt that there was money to use for a few applicants above and beyond the usual limit of 10.

Deb also outlined a general plan of events for the upcoming Fall Conference to be held in Lindsborg.

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
Alice King stated that she would like guidance about what to do. During discussion, it was shared that Cheryl has "THE LIST" of membership as well as to whom copies of Insights newsletters are sent. John H. volunteered a phone card for personal calls to TCs and maybe email addresses in order to contact others. It was noted that names/numbers for GeoPower participants should also be included in the group to be called about becoming more active and/or other issues concerning KGA. It was strongly emphasized that this list is SACRED. Cheryl and Alice will get together to facilitate activities about contacting people.

PUBLIC RELATIONS/FUNDRAISING
Sandy Wallace reported that the GeoPower workshop held in Wichita went well.

OUTREACH
Judy D. indicated that the GeoPower workshops were going great. Nicodemus gathering will be held during the last weekend of July, the 29th - 31st. Its slogan will be Nicodemus: Where Past & Present Meet. Emphasis will be on wheat-weaving or on the grains. It was also discussed that we probably should cut back our participation to one tent rather than two tents; thus, the number of us to staff the event would be less than in the past couple of years. The number of young people assisted last year was not as great as it had been 2 years ago.
Judy also asked us to consider whether we could do 4 GeoPower workshops during the next year. Maybe we should check with Greenbush again. This might also be something for which we could contact TCs around the state.

Judy identified 3 areas in which the Outreach committee was concentrating its efforts at this time. (1) GeoPower workshops
(2) PreService presentations
(3) Nicodemus
There was extensive discussion about these areas of outreach. There is a deep need to reach student teachers. John might supply a map for us in order to help us to choose places to go for presentations. All of these ideas fit within the concept of Professional Learning Community being stressed more and more for employed teachers and their school districts.

COMMUNICATIONS
Don Everhart discussed a CD for a traveler about Geography items. It was not very expensive.

He also asked if the KGA would be a part of the KCSS (doubtful if there would be one) or the National Social Studies Conference this coming fall in Kansas City. Don would check a booth price and what we might do. He also felt that we might be too late to participate with a booth.

NEW BUSINESS
It was identified that new members to the Executive Committee need to have notebooks.

It was pointed out that there was a need to form a subcommittee to develop roles, responsibilities and expectations, etc., as voted upon earlier in this meeting. This subcommittee would carry out the 3rd recommendation of the Coordinator Search Committee Report. (Refer to the first part of these minutes and the report.) This committee needs to work very soon-maybe by the end of May. Melanie C., Don E., Alice K., and Deb H. volunteered. Sandy appointed Melanie to chair the subcommittee.

ADJOURNMENT
It was moved, 2nd, and passed to adjourn. 3:50.

Respectfully submitted,

Rosanne Wilson