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MT Chapter of ASPIRE State Meeting
Cheyenne Wyoming
Little America Hotel
October 10, 2010
4:25 PM

1. Call meeting to order – Mike McLean
2. Appoint parliamentarian - Rob Rust accepts
3. Quorum established – Mike McLean
4. Review of meeting minutes
• Motion to approve – Lynn Farris
• Second – Bart Boggess
5. Introductions
6. Committee reports
• Development
1. Mike Mclean – Need for more members of Aspire, directors need to be involved, get people in your program involved, COE does a lot for us, need to be telling our story, if we don’t fight, we could be out of a job.
2. Tracy McDonald: What’s the difference between COE membership vs. Fair Share?
   • Amy Verlanic:
   1. COE operates on grant funds – COE limited to how they can use those funds
   2. Fair share comes out of our own pockets so COE can do more with the money
   3. Institutional Membership bought with program dollars not personal money, also supports COE
   • Dan Benge: Clarifies difference between COE fair share and Aspire contributions
   • Heather Licht: I get confused when things are due, is there a list?
   1. Amy Verlanic gives dates when due = July 1 through June 30 fiscal year, things are due on July 1
   2. Dan Benge: we use the money from fair share and instituitonal, membership help us do things like hire lawyers and for advocacy in DC.  Give what you can
• Membership
1. Mike Mclean reports 84 professional members in Montana Aspire
• Indian advocacy
1. Evelyn Roundstone: Indian advocacy committee has discussed getting together, setting up a website. One topic of discussion is the SSS student transition from community college to university
• Government relations
1. Notes from Ray Carlisle read by Dan Benge
• COE trying to get funds into next grant completion funded through CCRA (College Cost Reduction Act). Need to work on this
• Policy seminar – People need to be a part of it, working in trio = working in politics, gives a better sense of what TRIO is all about, Fact book really is “holy grail”
• Latest grant competition, cut off = 86 points; some programs were lost; top scores are funded; need to increase the budget for TRIO so more programs can get funded; really frustrating when we see lots of new initiatives for improving education; white house wants to see things that are innovative, Robert Rodriquez in white house kept saying we want to be doing things “like TRIO”
• TRIO advisory committee meets with government office, MT is small so voices speak loud.
1. Amy Verlanic: attended conference in big effort to bring together all causes across state and draw attention to the defunding of SSS programs, should draft a letter on letter head saying we are opposed to what happened to SSS program. Announcement made in an unethical way, purposely waited to announce it before recess because no one would be around. Highly recommend that Indian Advocacy get together and draw attention to what happened. COE is tracking what is going on and is raising hell.
2. Dan Benge: They are realizing there are some technical errors. This is important, example: ½ point can get Bozeman SSS refunded. There is no formal appeals process. Amazingly there are programs across the country and in Montana who have not submitted an APR.
3. Tracy McDonald: Next grant is Talent Search. We need to send grant writers to workshops and conferences. This is critical as grant is very technical now, one little detail can make a difference. Need to know what to look for.
4. Amy Verlanic: It’s truly a competition. Dept. of Ed. has to have a way to cut somewhere, 11 programs were defunded due to page limit error
5. Dan Benge: Everyone needs to understand it’s not the TRIO part of the Dept. of Ed. that is the problem.
• State initiative: See above notes from Ray Carlisle as read by Dan Benge.
• Finance
1. Russ Lamson reports that the Best Practices Conference-brought in 5,000 from the conference, we have to pay for presidents per diem and lodging in Salt Lake City. State Conference cleared about $1400 dollars. Indian advocacy did not spend any money. State initiative budget took a hit due to Best Practices Conference, we took a hit, over estimated attendance, 50 attended. TRIO achievers expenditures were low as most of those costs were rolled over in to the conference budget.
7. Old Business
• Tracy wanted to know if they get last year’s budget and this year’s budget. Amy clarifies what the budget was originally set for (the AHEC) conference. Bart asks if they could still spend last year’s budget and then get this year’s, Amy explains that committees need to put their budget together and submit it to current president. Amy then applauds Lynn Farris for her efforts in the Best Practice Conference and hopes people don’t get caught up in the numbers. Russ Lamson wants to know if there is going to be a second conference. Discussion ensued between Dan, Lynn, Tracy, and Russ. Good participation from OCHE. Dan’s thought was maybe to tie that conference to our State conference to include state legislators. Heather Licht thinks it’s a good idea.
8. New Business
• Mike McLean brings up should we have a two year term as State President and Secretary/Treasurer. Michelle Christianson says sure if she survives the first year with success. Zach Hawkins says he can see both sides, there should be more discussion. There is no president elect under this model, so those duties get farmed out. The states need to decide what is best as a collective whole. Mike asks for thoughts from the gallery. Heather Licht asks if it can be either or. Dan says it is still a 3 year commitment. Russ shares concerns that first year is rough, 2^nd year is almost fun, thinks that it is a big difference between 2 years as secretary in comparison to president. Mentoring is really big for both positions, much more travel for the president. Zach wants a smoother transition. Thanks to both Russ and Mike for meeting with Michelle and Zach. Tracy thinks it would be great if those who have retired would like to serve in a position. Dan says Ray Carlisle is doing that as we speak. But they may not be able to hold the office; we might have to change the bylaws. Tracy thinks we should get a camping theme for Ray’s retirement present. Mike says we need to stay in touch with each other.A my makes a motion that Tracy McDonald be charged with organizing a gift for Ray.  Bart Boggess 2nded.  Barb waters that we table this discussion until Tuesday.
9. Mike calls for recess of the meeting at 5:46.

 

Cheyenne, Wyoming
Little America Hotel
October 12^th,  2010
4:51 p.m.

Mike McLean calls the meeting to order. Quorum established.

New Business Continued

Mike does a quick recap of yesterday’s meeting. Mike suggests that the two year term discussion be tabled. Zach Hawkins asks for a motion that we table this until the State Conference in Feb. on the 2^nd and 3^rd. There are many facets that are involved in this decision that need a longer time to deliberate upon. Dugan Coburn is not here and he should be involved in the discussion. Barb Waters thinks it’s a good idea. Lynn says don’t forget about the president elect- elect position and that we really haven’t given that idea a chance. Zach agrees. Theresa Rader moves that we table the discussion. Barb Waters seconds. Call for the question. Motion passes.

Mike Mclean talks about special guests who are here at the conference. He mentions Heath Alexander, Angelica Valpanoda, and Heather Valentine. Mike introduces Heath Alexander and asks him to talk about Fair Share . Heath works for COE which does direct lobbying of congress for TRIO programs. Heath is a former Talent Search student and since some of Heaths own brothers and sisters did not go to college, Heath’s nieces and nephews are first generation college going students and Talent Search program participants. Heath explained benefits of the Fair Share program for COE and how it makes possible for COE to provide advocacy for TRIO programs including the sending of personnel to conferences to speak. In addition, COE donates money to the producing of the “holy grail” our TRIO fact book and sponsors grants for advocacy access. Heath feels it is an honor to go from being a student in one of our programs to his work now in the grassroots efforts lobbying for TRIO and presenting at grant writing workshops. COE employees also donate to Fair Share.

Zach Hawkins asks Heath to update us about the TRIO Alumni project. NTAA (National TRIO Alumni Association) is in the formative stages. They are presently testing to ensure we have the correct band width to support the site. Aisha Richardson, former assistant to Arnold Mitchum will be the contact person for the project. Such former TRIO alum who are involved in the project include Senior Vice President and attorney Steve Pembroke, Monster.com search engine vice president , Oracle company Rich Nemick. Dan Benge mentions that each project can start gathering alumni information so that when NTAA is ready to go so will we . Lynn Farris asks Heath if he would be willing to come to the Best Practices Conference. Heath says he would love to but will have to check his schedule. Mike Mclean thanks Heath.

There is talk about the State conference and how we need people to help with the tasks of the conference. First is C Vent. Theresa Rader offers to help, Heather Licht wants to know what C Vent is. Barb Waters explains. Heather asks what the specific duties are in regards to helping with C Vent. The next area is programs and ads. Gina Meyer from U of M Western will help. Michelle and Amanda will help with getting speakers for session. (Ideas, ADHD, Financial Aid Sessions, Education Cents, MGSLP, Gate Keepers Training, etc.) Help with food (Brandon and Chris). Hospitality-Honor Song for TRIO, Tracy MacDonald is volunteered). Legislator’s reception-Russ Lamson, Silent Auction/Raffle-Mike Mclean, Mike McGarvey, Jacie. TRIO Achiever Luncheon or Dinner-Rhonda and Jacie.

Mary Howard from SAF-Grad Ready Program is on 5 Campuses online with reporting capabilities. Extends invitation to other campuses that might want to join in the program. Angela from Blackfeet community college is doing fabulous with their students, Kudos Angela! Angela explains some of the kinks of the program but says that 100% of participants thought it was worthwhile. Also, Mary Howard offers to present and to work on the committees at conference. Heather Licht asks what age this program is appropriate for. Mary goes through the ins and outs of some of the program features.

Mike McLean hands it over to Zach. Zach talks about branding, and maybe about doing a TRIO License plate. $2,500 dollar start up costs and Zach will do more research on the subject and present it at a later date. Bring ideas for designs just in case to the state meeting.

Mike makes his closing speech on volunteering for offices. Ask for help, be organized. Think about offices and running and serving on one. Thank you to everyone that helped him during his tenure. Thanks to Russ and John, and welcome to Zach and Michelle.

President Elect Report.

Zach takes the reins and explains that we need to educate as many people as we can on the importance of TRIO.

• Reflections on San Diego COE Conference
• Alumni
• Partnerships in State SAF/Know How 2 Go/MGSLP/Policy Advisory Subcommittee
• Changing Attitudes/Landscape regarding 4 year colleges/universities
• Updating State Membership
• Revisiting /Updating Operational Guideline
• TRIO Branding
• Telling the story/Convincing the skeptics

Barb Waters talks on the Fact Book that she and Ray are working on. Please send in APR Data and Student Success Stories. We have a new McNair program. Examples on gathering Alumni Story.

Mike says the U of M Western crew will be working on the alumni association. Zach and Michelle thank Russ and Mike for their service to ASPIRE. Zach suggests a motion be made to adjourn. Barb so moves. Brandon seconds it. Meeting adjourned. 5:47 p.m.

Other meeting minutes can be found in the Archives section.