Call to Order
President Amanda Smith called the meeting to order at 5:10 p.m.

Minutes
The minutes from the January 22, 2008 meeting were unanimously approved as written.

Membership
The NREM Alumni Society board of directors welcomed new member, Kyle Johnson, '01.
 
Alumni Council Report
Sue reported that the Alumni Council last met on February 1-2, 2008. Steve Fulton's new media presentation raised awareness about the Alumni Association's online engagement with alumni and friends. The Alumni Association has a presence on the popular networking sites LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com) and Facebook (www.facebook.com). Members were encouraged to visit the sites in order to connect with the association and alumni.  In other updates, Sue requested that the board look for changes in the Alumnus as the Alumni Association works with a new creative partner and searches for a new editor.  Charlotte Shepperd is retiring from the Alumni Association on June 30. On the university front, Sue noted that alumnus Matt Momper is the newest member of the Ball State University Board of Trustees. In addition, the university's capital campaign will kick-off later this fall. The next Alumni Council meeting will be on April 25-26, 2008.

Departmental Report
Jimmie was in Oregon and Amy Gregg presented a departmental report on his behalf. Amy will be on a sabbatical program with the National Parks during the fall semester and John Pichtel will return from the Australia Center in May. Both Tim Lyon and Hugh Brown are retiring this May and the department is interviewing for the open positions.

Dr. Godish is the principal investigator on a grant to develop training materials for emergency coordinators throughout the US. He is working with three other Ball State faculty members (from CCIM) on this endeavor.  The $2.5 million award is funded by the Department of Homeland Security.

Jarka and Amy are heavily involved with immersive learning for their classes and are always looking for more opportunities.  If the board has any opportunities for collaboration, please contact Jarka or Amy.  James volunteered Mounds State Park. 

NR Club Report/Earth Week
Lisa reported that the NR Club has been consistently pulling 10-15 regular members at meetings and activities. The NR Club will remain separate and not form a super club with other like-minded organizations. President Katrina McKinley and Vice President Stephanie Wire, an architecture student, ran unopposed for their 2008-2009 offices.  The secretary and treasurer positions have more than one candidate and Lisa is unable to report on those positions.  Lisa thanked members of the alumni society who purchased "Love Your Mother" t-shirts. The fundraiser made $60 for the NR Club.

The Earth Week theme is "No Student Left Inside" and the keynote speaker is Cheryl Charles, PhD, president of the Children and Nature Network. The Children and Nature Network (http://www.cnaturenet.org/) strives to connect nature and children through education, urban design and conservation. Charles will speak on April 21, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. in AJ 175.

The Campus Activities Fund Board provided $2600 for the tent event on April 22, 2008.  University Program Board is a co-sponsor of Earth Week and will be providing a rock wall and inflatables.  Lisa was disappointed to report that Great Cats of Indiana will be unable to attend this year.  Silly Safari and Mark Booth's "Take Flight" raptors were suggested as potential participants by members of the board.

HASTI
Jarka reported on the department's attendance at HASTI.  She noted that the teachers she interacted with were mostly looking for lesson plans and new activities, not necessarily in awareness about the NREM program.  Danesa asked if offering a session or having a social event might be more beneficial. Jarka suggested that the cost might be prohibitive. Danesa said that there might not be a cost to presenters but that the 2009 application deadline might be approaching. Don suggested that the board talk with Sam Carman about outdoor labs or an advanced environmental science course.  Don thinks very few NREM alumni are teachers.  He suggested that the board find out if HASTI has an organization or separate conference for guidance counselors.  He said that guidance counselors are a better way to reach potential students. Amanda suggested the IPRA (Indiana Parks and Recreation Association) conference as a potential venue if the HASTI conference doesn't work out.  Terry had suggested this alternative at a previous meeting as well. Both believe that there is a greater chance to reach alumni via IPRA.

Awards
The NREM Alumni Awards will be held on Friday, April 18, 2008.  Amy Butcher Dillon and Kevin Rhodes will receive the Awards of Merit and Roger Hedge will receive the Award of Achievement. In addition to the awards, there will be a special roast for retiring faculty members, Tim Lyon and Hugh Brown.  There was much discussion about the order of the program and the time allotted for attending individuals to speak.

River Clean-Up 2008
Alumni and students will be invited to participate in both of the 2008 river clean-ups. The dates for the clean-ups are May 17 and September 20.  It was decided that individuals should bring their own lunch and that one will not be provided. The 4-5 hour May clean-up will begin at Koteewi Park at 10:00 a.m.  Participants will be shuttled up to the Lafayette Trace Park access point and float down to the adopted section of river.  Lunch will be at Koteewi and the group will continue downstream to the White River campground take out point. Laura will send an e-mail about the May 17 clean-up to alumni and the NR Club in mid-April. 

Summer 2008
Terry has been working closely with the Paul Grayson and Sandy Allen at the Indianapolis Zoo on a summer event for the NREM Alumni Society. After much discussion on the day and time, it was decided that the event will be held on Monday, June 9, 2008.  This date was chosen because most schools were out of session and because individuals might be willing to make a 3-day weekend for an exclusive event.  Sue said that discounted admission tickets and tickets for the dolphin show will be included in the package. Details will be forwarded to the board as they become available.

Poet Ethanol Plant
Dean reported that the Poet ethanol plant will have a grand opening on April 17, 2008 in Alexandria.  Tours of the facility and a flyover by the Vanguard Squadron (the only ethanol powered American aerobatics fleet) are scheduled and Lt. Governor Becky Skillman and Indiana Department of Agriculture's Andy Miller will be on hand. The controls to the plant will not be officially switched on until Monday, April 21.

Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 7:00 p.m.  The next meeting will be held at the Alumni Center on Thursday, August 28, 2008 at 3:00 p.m. The pre-game rally and football game versus Northeastern Massachusetts will follow the meeting.