Call to order 7:28 am at Jones Gulch meeting room.

Board members present: Chair - Stephen Hopkins, Chair-elect - Mark McReynolds, Past-chair - Dean Thompson, Secretary - Michael Coughlin, Newsletter - Dan Webster, Elections Coordinator - Donal Wilkinson, Membership - Stephen Turner, Southern Chair - Dwight Vieira, Southern Past-Chair - Janice Smith.

Board members not present: Activities Director - Cindy Spiva-Evans.

Visitors: Burton Lang, Donald Beaver, Anna Draper, Pete Devine, John Roos, Savannah Brown.

Agenda Items: 1. benefits, 2. membership fees, 3. sites for 98 spring conference, 4. Fall conference dates for north and south (Dean suggests that with time constraints we discuss financial matters first).

1. Proposed budget. Donald provided handout with information concerning insurance. Hoppy moves to up the fees for $1 million worth of insurance. Cost for 97-98 would be $825.00. Burton seconds the motion. Approved. Total proposed budget for 97/98 is $1035.00. Each section owes Donald $594.34. Dean moveds to approve the budget. The group seconds the motion. Approved.

2. Membership fees: Because of the rising cost of newsletter fees and conference site fees, Dean suggests that we raise the costs of membership fees. This was approved at the Northern meeting and brought to the attention of the Southern board members. As it stands it costs interns $6.00, regulars $12.00, and $25.00 for institutions. Discussion is limited to intern and regular fees. Hoppy moves to pass increase in fees of $10 for interns and $15 for regulars. Motion was not passed. Wait for Southern section board to discuss it and approve it.

3. State Coordinating Secretary: Donald is retiring. Advantages to the job include responsibility for the Howard Bell Award, maintain liability insurance, lead communications between sections, establish format for annual sectional reports (among other things). Hoppy nominates John Roos. John Roos accepts. Burton nominated himself. Voters will be Chairs and Chairs-elect from both sections. Burton has been working in EE since 1971. Wants to work on issues statewide that we need to come together on. John has been an AEOE member for 2 years. Wants to make it more of a together/active network, tie things together, and keep all informed. Board is looking for other positions as well. (Note: John was later announced as new State Coordinating Secretary.)

4. 1998 Spring Conference: The 1997 spring conference was $50.00 per person. Sites proposed are both in the San Bernardino mountains. No date proposed as of yet, but want to keep it near the same weekend as this year. Dean suggests keeping it on the early side of April. Board would like date set before the Northern newsletter is in print.

5. Benefits: Burton will investigate insurance questions about the benefits for those members not already covered by their employers. We need answers by the fall conference. Benefits always get discussed last resulting in no results. Those that are interested are called to help investigate. Form a committee.

(meeting dismissed at 8:10 and Northern board continued informally over breakfast at 8:33)

1. Discussion of getting together soon to wrap things up.

2. Dan Webster will looking spring northern campout for 1998 since state conference will be in south.

3. Possibilities for fall conference at Yosemite. Pete Devine and Maggie will investigate.

Submitted by Michael Coughlin, AEOE Northern Secretary, April 15, 1997