Secretary's Report

The meeting was called to order at 9:00 AM by Vice-President Deb Esselman-Baird, with President Tom Oasen’s presence via telephone from the Little Rock, Arkansas Airport.

Those in attendance: Deb Esselman-Baird, Mary Behm, Kathy Watson, Amy Moldenhauer, Randy Kunsman, Dave Heideman, Marian Koca, Richard Johnson, Chris Imhoff, Terri Polley, John Baird, Jake Bourget, Teresa Zimmer and Susan Blachowiak. RASCOE attendee: Al Spaete

Tom began with a discussion of Legislative responsibilities being a part of the Vice-Presidents job, and that new volunteers are needed to fill some of the other areas that Deb has been doing such as Web Master, Emblems and Publicity. We are to let Tom or Deb know if anyone is interested.

Tom mentioned that another GS State Office position will open and the funding could come from County Office funds. The SED Brad Pfaff wants to try to get the position from Washington, since 2 STO

positions were vacated (Larry and Raj) and Tracy was hired. Possibilities of this new STO position grade were discussed- a grade 9 to fill the position, which would take 3 years to get to a grade 12, or 2 grade 7’s to replace a grade 12. Questions were raised if there is a need for a full-time GS-12 position needed in STO? If WI is compared to the Illinois and Michigan STO’s to get positions in line, the WI - STO needs to work with Washington for the position. It is really not up to association to work for the additional STO position.

Other items Tom mentioned:

1) PT classifications

2) Webinar problems: hopefully they will get better, a good tool, but they will never take the place of

face to face.

3) Sick leave towards retirement is tied to a Military Appropriations Bill

4) There may be a cap on the heath insurance premium dollars and we need a HR person from STO to study, research and help explain options to employees.

5) Farm Loan plans for office locations

6) On a publicized list of awards, there were errors where people on the list did not receive awards, this has caused problems in offices. Need to suggest, that if listing is not right, do not publish it at all. If someone wants to know who received awards, it is public knowledge and it can be requested. Discussion was held, maybe can do names and not dollars, and the of the pros and con of rewards In general, it was determined that part of the listing last published were some ’08 awards actually on the ’09 listing. A recommendation was made to specify the year in which the awards were earned not paid.

7) Comments on changing of System 36 to the Web

8) Farm Stored Facility Loan (FSFL) issues and discussion: There should be no FLP vs FSA when we Provide service to our farmers and we need FLP help with closing issues, especially large loans. Recommendation: Look at the difference of WI to Minnesota and the large number of FSFL’s they have, and why the difference in FSFL loans, but we really cannot compare the states. Also, more training is needed, especially when counties do not feel they are trained enough doing the loans.

Cap Wiz-Jon Williams report was read. Jon had suggested a $25 drawing to get more people to sign up for Cap Wiz. A motion was made by Jake and seconded by Rick to deny the $25 drawing. A vote was taken, and the motion was denied. Just because a person signs up for Cap Wiz does not mean they will do any actions. We were reminded that when an issue comes up with Cap Wiz, we can add or change things that we may or may not agree with on the issues. We can write our own personal views versus the canned letter.

Secretary’s minutes: The motion to approve the minutes was made by John Baird and seconded by Dave Heideman was unanimously approved.

Treasurer’s minutes: The motion to approve the minutes was made by John Baird and seconded by Amy Moldenhauer was unanimously approved.

CHAIRPERSON REPORTS:

Membership-We have 230 of the 287 ½ eligible signed up in WI; 2-GS employees; 2-Associate members and 48 on the dues check off.

Scholarship-Susan Blachowiak-Went through the ’09 awards given at Convention, and asked if there were any changes that we wanted for this next year. Susan urged counties to be involved, and we are getting older kids to apply even up to their Bachelor’s Degree. GPA is not the most important asset of the applicant, the involvement and essay are the most important. Susan also gave WASCOE and RASCOE credit for their respective contributions, since the Scholarship Auction is only as good as the items we have for the auction and the more creative and funny the better they sell. It was discussed that the current scholarship funds are more than adequate and that we should add another scholarship for 2010. For 2009 there were 3 scholarships: 1-$1500, 1-$1000 and 1-$500. Randy Kunsman made a motion to add a $750 scholarship in addition to the 3 given in 2009 and Jake Bourget seconded the motion. Motion approved.

Awards-Teresa Zimmer-Nice job awards can be given for areas at work or outside of work. The 3 Distinguished Service Awards: Service to Community, Service to WASCOE and Service to Agriculture.

Benefits-These are listed on the WASCOE website and they are trying to work on new discounts.

Legislative-Deb Esselman-Baird-There are bills before Congress for using sick leave towards retirement. Want to push for children on insurance policy to increase the age from 22 to 25 years of age as dependant. Discussed insurance with the self plus 1 plan and the RASCOE and NARFE push on insurance which will affect them now and us in the future. A summary of current bills before legislature were handed out.

Emblems-Deb-Items were brought to sell, there is a new FSA emblem and there are October deals.

Visit the www.nascoeemblemsonline.com website for more details.

Publicity-Deb-The WASCOE newsletter will have another issue soon, and Tom mentioned about someone else possibly taking over the newsletter responsibilities. A discussion was held about the publicity contest on the national level where competition is not just for newsletters; there are awards for articles that are humorous and human interest. Those in attendance liked the “Showcasing a County”, and counties should volunteer! New employee information should also be in the newsletter. Deb told about other state newsletters where personal info is included like brag section, recipes, human interest and military. Please update Deb on any military personnel. RASCOE is welcome to put something in our newsletter as well.

Programs-Program forms did not roll over to website and we should screen program suggestions before they are sent to WDC. John Marquette in Texas works with programs and any ideas are welcome. The programs committee many times can get answers faster than STO, because they are

1 on 1 with the WDC people. NRRS-the issue of principal and interest, and any solution or ideas are welcome. The NASCOE website has a section on programs, issue and solutions.

Marian Koca made a motion to accept all the chairperson reports and John Baird seconded the motion.

Motion carried.

Deb reminded everyone that all reports are to be sent to Tom, Deb and Kathy.

SED Brad Pfaff joined our meeting around 11:00 AM. Brad thanked us for the work we do and he wants to visit county offices more than just once a year. He reiterated the economic impact of our offices to our producers. He does not have a preconceived agenda, and he strongly believes in rural communities and rural values. We may not all agree on everything, but we can compromise to betterment. Our overall mission is to provide a safety net for production agriculture and our agency is how we do it. Brad wants to work with our counties and to be open and assessable to our producers.

Brad other ideas, issues, concerns and challenges:

1) Is thinking opening up the DD meetings, move some of the meetings out of Madison-maybe every other month in Madison and then have one in each area of the District Directors.

2) Wants to open up learning and not be so bureaucratic.

3) Wants to breakdown FSA vs FLP walls and to have FSA as ONE and operate as one entity.

4) Wants farm loan team to become active in regions where growth is needed in our state.

5) Challenges the 22% ceiling that Wisconsin has compared to Texas with a 32% ceiling, and is asking the new administrator why the discrepancies between the ceilings in other states too, like Kansas, Mississippi and Georgia.

6) When Brad was in WDC-there were 40 new SED’s and in 15 states former SED’s were hired back.

7) Wants to open the process to hear CED comments in a give and take openness and STO to realize the counties importance.

8) Wants to be in counties and for the STO specialists to be out in the counties training

9) Two way communications and more training for all programs and more help for STO specialists.

10) Our computer system is antiquated

11) State of agriculture where equity is disappearing and where has the wealth gone?

12) Wants to bring in bankruptcy specialist to help and protect interests of all involved.

13) Get more news out about what we do and help Cally get the news out-some discussion about the state newsletter

14) What do we want and how can he help

15) “WE not ME”-wants to give us the tools to build together and build morale

16) More training………..more training……………more training

17) Wants to be there when someone retires or a milestone in our lives—invite him!

18) Wants a COT training where people can stay close to home and make it work.

19) In the State Committee, Brad wants diversity in age, gender, agriculture an marketing and as many as 5 on the State Committee

20) The importance of urban agriculture and the economic impact

21) FLP restructuring is still being in worked on.

Discussion was held with Brad on the issue of the awards. Ne said that we need to write down our concerns and send them to him on all areas. He does want an open team approach-we are delivering all the programs in our county offices and we are on the front lines and he cannot help if he does not know our battles.

Brad had another commitment and left out meeting around 12:30.

New Business:

A discussion was held to continue the “Raffle Tickets” the same as before. A motion was made by John Baird to continue as we have been doing and motion was seconded by Terri Polley. Motion carried.

Motion to keep the raffle ticket cost at $20.00 per ticket and a max of 200 tickets was made by John Baird and seconded by Jake Bourget. Motion carried.

The WASCOE President and Vice-President offices are opening. Deb will run for President.

A discussion was held about attending other State Conventions, and some of the expenses we have each year with National Convention, Mid-West Rally and our State Convention. John Baird made motion to reimburse delegates to National and to the Mid-West Rally, but if someone wants to attend another State Convention they are on their own, and motion was seconded by Richard Johnson.

Motion carried.

The 2010 Convention will be hosted by Area 1. Possible Convention dates were mentioned and will check on April 23 and 24, 2010. Rooms needed: 1) RASCOE will want a meeting room and/or part of the hospitality room; 2) Banquet room for approximately 80; 3) Director’s meeting room. Area 1 said they may do a theme for 2010. Some states are going to 3 days for a convention, and administrative leave was discussed for attendees. Officers will talk with Brad about the possibility of 3 day, which would change the convention structure as well with J & M marketing who provide the liability insurance for the convention.

WASCOE would like to meet with the new STC when they get on board.

A discussion was held on the badges for members, along with the issue of money used for coats and name badges for “some” personnel in the agency. Jake Bourget made a motion for WASCOE not to purchase name badges and seconded by Terri Polley. Motion carried.

Mary brought up the issue of dues. Because the National dues increased and WASCOE currently makes no money on lower graded PT’s. If we do not want to change the costs now, we may have to make money another way. A suggestion was made to do an increase across the board on everyone. This will be brought up at the state convention for vote.

Al Spaete made some comments on behalf of RASCOE. Leon Wolfe is president of RASCOE. They do publish 2 newsletters per year.

A motion was made by John Baird to adjourn the meeting and seconded by Richard Johnson. Motion carried.

Meeting adjourned at 1:45 PM

Respectfully Submitted:

Kathy Watson, Secretary