1.  Welcome, Introductions, Minutes - Howard Johnson opened the meeting at 9:40 a.m.  Howard welcomed everyone and asked them to introduce themselves.  Roger Banner read the minutes of the October 26, 2000 meeting. Kim Chapman moved to accept as reported and  Jake Jacobson seconded that the minutes be accepted as read.  The motion passed.

2.  National Grazing Lands Conference Report - NGL Conference Participants -
Howard Johnson - Howard related that he was impressed with the conference and that he learned a lot.
Larry Ellicott - Howard gave two good presentations.  There were very few people walking the halls; most people participated in the session which spoke well of the quality of the speakeres and poster sessions.  About 850 people attended the session (30-50% were producers from all over the U.S.).
Roger Banner - Participants were very engaged in the process and committed to private grazing lands.  The entire conference was based on management and technology related information (not scientific papers) that attendees could use.  There was good representation from Utah in spite of the fact that it conflicted with the UCA-UWGA annual meetings.  Although there was some representation from wildlife interests, there needs to be more wildlife community involvement in working with producers.

TO DO:     We will work to resolve the conflict betwen the meeting dates for the National Grazing Lands Conference and state livestock organization annual meetings.
WHO:        The Executive Committee will report scheduling conflicts to the National GLCI and NACD conference organizers.  Brent Tanner will check into when other state Cattlemen Association meetings will be held.

3.     NRCS Budget, October 1, 2000 - September 20, 2001 - Larry Ellicott reported for Skip Nelson who was called away on an emergency.  $957,000 will be spent on rangeland assistance; eight range cons will be spending 20% of their time on rangeland assistance.  GLCI's earmark of the budget is $400,000 (see Larry's handout for details; this is an increase from FY 1999-2000).

4.     Producer/Partner GLC Involvement -
July GLC Partner Meeting - We want to organize a meeting to get all the partners (e.g. Farm Bureau, Cattlemen's Association, Wool Growers, etc.) together next summer.  We need to reconfirm with these organizations their commitment to GLCI, make sure that the organization leaders understand the value of GLCI, and encourage them to provide funding assistance for things like the Executive Director.

TO DO #1:     Larry moved, and Jake seconded that we look at holding the meeting on July 26th.  Motion carried.
WHO:             Executive Committee - We need more producer involvement at GLCI meetings.  Work with producer groups to get more involvement from their committee members.  Need to make sure that if they do attend our meetings that we cover their expenses for mileage and lodging.

TO DO #2:     Motion made by Art Douglas to work with the State Agriculture Committee to have the GLCI chairperson added to that Committee; Jake seconded.  Motion passed.
WHO:             Executive Committee - Wayne Urie moved that GLCI members (committee members) travel expenses (mileage and accommodations - details to be determined by the Executive Committee) for attend regular meetings be paid by GLCI.  Larry Ellicott seconded.  Motion passsed.
WHO:             Organizational Committee will develop a job description for new/existing committee members so that they know what is expected of them.

5.     Utah State University/Texas A&M Rural Communities Research Study - Dr. Rick Krannich, Professor of Sociology and Forest Resources, Utah State University.  Rick gave a brief overview of the Western Rural Development Center located on Utah State University's campus (see handout).  Steve Daniels is the Executive Director of the Center.  Many of the program themes and activities of the Center are probably of interest to the GLCI.  The Center can help groups like GLCI with resources (some funding (limited) and technical expertise).  Rick is an "unpaid" Associate Director of the Center.  Website:  www.ext.usu.edu/WRDC/

Research Study - "Rangeland Management and Rural Community Stability:  A Comparative Study of Texas and Utah Landowners," Drs. Urs Kreuter and Richard Krannich.
.          Funded by U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program (Ruiral Development Area)
.          A two-year study focusing on a broad range of social, economic, and political changes affecting land use and management decisions among owners and operator of rangelands in rural areas of a predominantly private-lands state (Texas) and a predominantly public-lands state (Utah)
.          Goal of understanding how these changes are affecting rural landowners and their decisions about land use, resource management, ranch investment practices, ranch retention, etc.
.          Examines linkages between the stability and long-term sustainability of ranching operations and levels of well-being experienced by rural families and communities
.          Some specific issues of interest include:
           .     Effects of population growth and related pressures for non-agricultural land uses
           .     Effects of changing social values and shifting regulatory requirements regarding land and resource use                  and management
           .     Landowner views about property rights involving the use and management of both privately-owned and publicly-owned rangelands
           .     Specific coping mechanisms adopted by ranch operators in response to economic, social, and political pressures, and implications of those responses for long-term ranch retention and rural community stability
.          A two-pronged study approach:
           .     Face-to-face interview with approximately 12-15 "key informant" ranch operators in each state (January 2001)
           .     Mail surveys of land owners/ranch operators in selected rural counties characterized by higher-than-average and lower-than-average population growth trends (May-June 2001)
.          Our suggestions and assistance are needed with:
           .     Help in identifying knowledgeable and representative individuals who might be asked to participate in the key informant interviews
           .     Suggestions about how best to identify and access relatively complete and accurate listings of ranch operators in Utah
           .     Help in "legitimizing" our study and encouraging participation by those asked to take part in interviews and surveys.

TO DO:     We will provide email addresses for GLC Coalition producers and organizations.
WHO:        Roger

6.     Needs List - Kim Chapman
Executive Committee met in Provo on November 21, 2000 and identified some of the needs of both the Coalition as well as society as a whole.  If we are going to go after funding, we need to know how we will be using those dollars.  The Executive Committee will go through both lists and prioritize them.  They will present that information at the next Coalition meeting.

7.     Funding Leads/Potential - Wayne Urie, Kathy Anderson, Rose Judd-Murray met at the downtown library foundation center on December 12.  They identified 10-15 foundations and 3 corporations that are potential funding sources.  We need to identify what types of projects we want to submit proposals for and what we can offer to them (the funding organization).

Needed actions include:  Developing a letter to send to potential funding organizations describing what we are, types of funding we are looking for, etc., and complete initial search effort.

8.     Wildlife Resources Issues - John Fairchild
.         Seed Warehouse - see "DWR Seed Warehouse Replacement Proposal" Executive Summary handout.  Identifies habitat management goal, range restoration/wildlife habitat improvement objectives, amount of seed needed annually, and required seed inventory capacity.  The proposal is to construct a 15,200 sq. foot seed warehouse facility in Ephraim City's Industrial Park by June 30, 2002 for an estimated cost of $624,000.  Justification for the warehouse include:  maintain dependable seed supply (native and introduced species); obtain seed at bargain prices; provide diverse seed mixtures to customers; maintain ability to verify seed quality by testing individual seed lots; carry out emergency wildfire rehabilitation projects on short notice; maintain proper seed storage conditions for sensitive species; and closely coordinate habitat development activities with range research program.  Are hoping to convince key legislators (including Parley Hellewell, Michael Styler, Brand Johnson, and Leonard Blackham) of the importance of this project and will be asking for a $250,000 general fund appropriation.  Other cooperators include:  Manti-LaSal National Forest, Ephraim City, and the Division of Wildlife Resources.

If organizations are interested in sending letters of support to key legislators, please "cc" a copy to John Kimball, Director, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.

TO DO:     Send letter of support of the Seed Warehouse Project from GLCI to legislators on the Appropriations Committee (see list John sent out).
WHO:        Roger Banner

.          Sale of Deer Pens - DWR has identified some property near Logan (Deer Pen) that they have identified as surplus.  Will sell the property and use the proceeds for acquiring School and Institutional Trust Lands land that contain wildlife values (targeting in-holdings in a wildlife management area).
.          Wildlife-Landowner Workshop, July 2001, Park City, Utah - see "Proposal for A Landowner-Led and Participant Workshop on:  Private Land Wildlife Conservation Projects and Economic Sustainability:  Progress and Potential" handout.  DWR will be hosting the annual meeting of the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (conference theme is Private Interests and Public Wildlife).  See the handout for a summary of project need, scope, description, and outcome as well as budget.  DWR is looking for sponsorship to help defray the costs as well as an organization to host the session.
TO DO:     Discuss this topic further at the January 11 Executive Committee meeting.

9.     Mission Statement and dba
        After consideration of several alternatives, the Board of Trustees voted to adopt the following versions as our "dba" and new mission statement (motion by Larry Ellicott; seconded by Jake Jacobson):

        Utah Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative, Inc., dba the "Utah Grazinglands Network"

        Mission Statement:     "Protect and improve grazing management, water quality, conservation ethics, wildlife habitat and forage production across Utah's landscape."

10.    Tour Plans for 2001 - Discussion of tours for the coming year was postponed until a later date.

11.    2001 Demo Projects Update - Larry Ellicott reported that contracts were coming in from successful demo project cooperators.  He suggested that we consider demo projects continuously as long as we have demonstration funds remaining.  After discussion, Al Dustin made a motion that we accept demonstration applications continuously and Jake Jacobson seconded the motion.  The motion carried.

12.    Nutrition Balance Analyzer - Larry Ellicott was scheduled to present information to the Coalition on the Nutrition Balance Analyzer.  The group decided to postpone this topic until a later date.

13.    Board of Trustees Annual Meeting Items - The February meeting was discussed and scheduled for 9:30 a.m., February 15, in St. George at the USU/Washington County Extension Office.
[NOTE:  The Executive Committee subsequently proposed that the February 15th meeting be held at the NRCS Office in Nephi with an Executive Committee meeting beginning at 8:00 a.m. and the Utah Grazinglands Network (UGN) meeting beginning at 9:30 a.m.  The Committee set the April meeting for Friday, April 20th, at the Extension Office in St. George with the Executive Committee meeting at 8:00 a.m. and the UGN meeting at 9:30 a.m.  This change was done to reduce travel and accommodate UGN member participation in the UT/AZ Range Livestock Workshops and Tour.  The workshop is scheduled for April 17th in Kanab and repeated on April 18th in the St. George area.  The tour associated with the workshop is scheduled for April 19th leaving from St. George.]

14.    Existing Demo Project Updates - The group heard presentations on three demonstration projects in the Brigham City area.  Kurt Flowers told the group about the results of his improved irrigated pasture seeding demonstration.  Bonnie Young represented Charles and John Young's demonstration habitat improvement project on Promontory.  Their technical advisor, (I didn't write down his name), related the implementation activities of the project.  Last, Jeff Barnes, technical advisor to Von and Sally Krebs, reported on water development and management for their project near Trenton, Utah.

15.    Adjourn - Howard Johnson adjourned the meeting following the demonstration project reports.
 

Please send notices of events and calendar items to Jerry Chatterton to be placed on our web page. His email address is: njchatt@cc.usu.edu.