STRATEGIC PLAN

The meeting began at 10 a.m. at the Montana Association of Counties in Helena, MT.

Attendees:

Kirsten Boyle, Bureau of Land Management; Dave Burch, Montana Department of Agriculture; Pachy Burns, Montana Noxious Weed Trust Fund; Steve Henry, US Fish and Wildlife Service; Larry Hoffman, Lewis and Clark County Extension/Weed District; Phil Johnson, Montana Department of Transportation; Jeff Littlefield, Montana State University Department of Entomology; Carla Lawrence, Natural Resources Conservation Service; Gloria Mason, Glacier County Conservation District/Weed District; Joe Merenz, USDA APHIS Plant Protection Quarantine; Marlene Moon, Liberty County Conservation District; Tonda Moon, Montana Department of Agriculture; Joe Nowakowski, Gallatin Big Sky Cooperative Weed Management Area Coordinator; John Simons, Bureau of Land Management; Joe Weigand, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks; and Carla Hoopes, Project Coordinator.

Mail In Surveys and Comments for the strategic planning process were provided by the following: Stacey Barta, Sweet Grass County Weed District; Jay Bodner, Montana Stockgrowers; Toni and Don Bowen, Arrow Real Estate; Kirsten Boyle; Steve Henry; Larry Hoffman; Janet Kempff, Bozeman landowner; Jill Lorang, Cascade County Conservation District; Gloria Mason; Sue McNeal and Jim Stutzman, US Fish and Wildlife Service - Partners Program; John M. Moodry, Butte Silver Bow Weed District; Allan Rollo, Sun River Watershed Group and Teton Watershed; Marijka Wessner, Missoula County Weed District; Dan Williams, Montana Department of Transportation; Carol Watts, Custer County Conservation District; and Joe Weigand.

The meeting began with introductions and approval of the agenda. Tonda Moon provided the Montana Department of Agriculture update about news conferences, weed pull days, the Weed Seed Free Forage program and the status of the Weed Summit Steering Committee name change to Montana Noxious Weed Summit Advisory Council. Carla Hoopes provided the update about the www.weedawarenss.org internet site "new look", news releases, feature articles, and fact sheets; and a brief overview of the content for the 2006 Montana Noxious Weed Calendar. John Simons provided a report on the contributors to the Calendar project. A detail is provided here about follow-up activities in distribution of the calendar.

2006 Montana Noxious Weed Calendar

2006 Montana Noxious Weed Calendars and NRCS Quick Reference Noxious Weed Treatment posters: Total orders at time of printing August 1, 2005 (18,960 - printed 20,000 copies). Total orders September 28, 2005 (23,500 - reprinted 5,000 copies for delivery October 20, 2005). Total contributions pledged by distributors and grant sponsors ($39,776.00). Projected Costs prior to final mail and shipping charges for remaining distribution ($39,740.40). The calendars and posters were distributed prior to the meeting on September 7 to the following agencies for distribution to the general public: Bureau of Indian Affairs (1000); Bureau of Land Management (1000); Glacier County Conservation District (100); Glacier County Weed District (200); Lewis and Clark Extension Office (200); Liberty County Weed District (300); Montana Department of Agriculture and Noxious Weed Trust Fund Advisory Council (300); Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks (1050); Montana Department of Transportation (200); Montana Native Plant Society (150); Natural Resources Conservation Service (300); Toole County Conservation District (24); Toole County Weed District (100); US Fish and Wildlife Service (150); and Statewide Noxious Weed Awareness and Education Campaign Task Force (500).

Another distribution of calendars and posters was conducted at the Montana Weed Control Association board of directors meeting in Columbus on September 15, and individual deliveries conducted on Friday, September 23, to the following agencies: Anaconda-Deer Lodge Weed District (200); Beaverhead County Weed District (400); Big Blackfoot Chapter of Trout Unlimited (50); Big Horn County Weed District (300); Big Hole Watershed Weed Committee (100); Blackfoot Challenge (100); Blaine County Conservation District (12) Blaine County Extension (50); Bozeman Ranger District (200); Butte Ranger District (50); Butte Silver Bow County Weed District (200); Carbon County Weed District (450); Cascade County Weed District (300); Chouteau County Weed District (88); Dawson County Weed District (400); Montana Farm Bureau Federation (100); Daniels County Weed District (50); Fallon County Weed District (75); Fergus County Weed District (500); Flathead County Weed District (250); Flathead Conservation District (50); Gallatin Conservation District (250); Gallatin County Weed District (150); Granite County Weed District (100); Hill County Weed District (600); Jefferson County Weed District (200); Lincoln County Weed District (200); Lolo National Forest (500); Madison County Weed District (100); Mineral County Weed District (200); Missoula County Weed District (750); Park County Weed District (200); Petroleum County Weed District (100); Pintler Ranger District (300); Phillips County Weed District (100); Pondera County Weed District (200); Powder River County Weed District (150); Powell County Weed District (200); Prairie County Weed District (30); Ravalli County Weed District (600); Richland County Weed District (450); Rosebud County Weed District (500); Roosevelt County Weed District (200); Salish Kootenai College (75); Sanders County Extension (200); Sheridan County Weed District (200); Stillwater County Weed District (400); Sweet Grass County Weed District (300); Teton County Weed District (200); Treasure County Weed District (100); Wibaux County Weed Board (150); Wise River Ranger District (60); Yellowstone County Weed District (600). Boxes contained 150 calendars and some distribution included counts above the ordered quantities; and thus some discrepancies in total count. The remaining orders will be distributed upon completion of the reprint order that is scheduled for delivery October 20, 205 and include at minimum the following: Bureau of Reclamation (1500); Broadwater County Weed District (400); Montana Stockgrowers (100); Judith Basin Weed District (200); Landmark Company, Mary Schuller (10); Lincoln County Conservation District, Vicky McGuire (15); Montana Association of Counties (50); National Invasive Species Council (250); Phillips County Extension Office (200); Lewis and Clark Conservation District (50).

Project Reports and Updates since September 7, 2005

TIPS for managing weeds on small acreages - Please contact David Martin, project leader, at damartin@mt.gov or by telephone at 406-444-4253 if you have questions or resources to assist with this project. The next committee meeting is scheduled October 25 at 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. in Helena for the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation sponsored project: TIPS for managing weeds on small acreages.  The agenda will include final preparations for completion of the writing and working with the designer hired through a memorandum of understanding between DNRC and Montana State University. Once the final draft is printed, it will be the focus of landowner workshops to test market (try it out) with landowners and obtain feedback to improve upon it prior to releasing it for mass publication and distribution.

Gallatin Big Sky Cooperative Weed Management Area - Joe Nowakowski reported on his new position as noxious weed coordinator for the Gallatin Big Sky CWMA. He works directly with landowners, the fastest growing population in Gallatin County and Montana (according to Governor Schweitzer the United States). Joe shared his experiences working individually with landowners on small acreages, absentee landowners, and agency land managers within the cooperative area. The insight was beneficial as we moved into strategic planning in the afternoon session that identified the private landowner audience as a priority. The Task Force participants shared resource information and offered assistance to Joe in his efforts. Josh Kellar, coordinator for Northern Rocky Mountain Resource Conservation and Development, facilitates the development of partnerships for the CWMA. Email contact information follows: Joe Nowakowski bigskyweeds@bridgeband.com and Josh Kellar Joshua.Kellar@mt.usda.gov.

Zero Spread - Carla Lawrence reported on the noxious weed related partnerships developed with Natural Resources Conservation Service. The NRCS Quick Reference Treatment Poster that was developed by county weed coordinators was distributed earlier in the meeting. Montana State University Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences and the Center for Invasive Plant Management coordinated and implemented integrated weed management training for NRCS field personnel. Carla explained the EQIP Environmental Quality Incentive Program and described three watershed partnerships in which NRCS is matching funds with landowners who are cooperating with 100% participation in 10-year management plans. Carla reported on the development and search for a full time Invasive Species Coordinator position for NRCS. Carla also reported on the distribution of referrals and Zero Spread information packets to landowners who call the toll free hotline 888-488-9376 in response to the mass media Zero Spread project. Contact information for Carla Lawrence regarding partnerships is Carla.Lawrence@mt.usda.gov. Contact information for Lori Valadez regarding public affairs and the media campaign for Zero Spread is Lori.Valadez@mt.usda.gov.

As of September 2, 2005, the toll free call center has received 634 calls from the general public. Online Edition Newspaper ads that began in May and end in October stimulated 535 of the total calls to the number. Online ads were followed by print ads (31), word or mouth (23), radio (19), direct mail (18), and television (8). Responses were specific by source as follows: Newspaper Online (279), Missoulian Online (130), Billings Gazette Online (62), newspaper miscellaneous (51), Helena Independent Record Online (31), all other (23), direct mail (18), Ravalli Republic Online (15), Montana Standard Online (15), Seely Lake Pathfinder (4), Montana Association of Conservation District Newsletter developed by Steve Merritt (4), posters (1), and federal government (1). Responders indicated that 68 are farmers and 211 are ranchers. Responses came from the following counties: Missoula (116), Jefferson (70), Yellowstone (44), Carter (32), Ravalli (31), Flathead (30), Park (29), Mineral (22), Lincoln (21), Carbon (20); and, <20 responses came from the following counties that are listed in alphabetical order: Beaverhead (10), Big Horn (2), Blackfeet (4), Blaine (1), Broadwater (14), Cascade (7), Chouteau (2), Crow (9), Custer (3),Daniels (2), Deer Lodge (5), Fergus (8), Fort Peck (1), Gallatin (10), Golden (1), Granite (3), Hill (2), Lake (9), Lewis and Clark (1), Liberty (1), Madison (11), McCone (9), Musselshell (8), Northern Cheyenne (5), Petroleum (1), Phillips (1), Pondera (3), Powder River (6), Powell (3), Roosevelt (1), Rosebud (6), Sanders (17), Sheridan (3), Silver Bow (12), Stillwater (11), Sweet Grass (1), Teton (3), Toole (1), Treasure (3), Wheatland (2), and Wibaux (2).

Montana Weed Control Association Annual Conference Update - Marijka Wessner has scheduled the next Education Committee meeting for Thursday, October 20 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Powell County Weed District Office. Lunch is provided. The agenda includes the following: 1) "Preventing Death by Lecture" Workshop; 2) MWCA Silent Auction; 3) MWCA Annual Convention Education Concurrent Session; 3) K-12 Weed Curriculum; and 4) Other Agenda Items. The Powell County Weed District Office is located by taking either of the two I-90 exits into Deer Lodge. Find the Town Pump on Main Street. Turn into the fair grounds immediately north of the Town Pump. Drive approximately 200 yards into the fairgrounds to the weed district office. The weed district office is located in a white garage type building.  Powell County Weed District signs are on the building. The office is located across from a gray trailer home. Contact information for Marijka Wessner is weedwoman@mslacountyweed.org.

US Fish and Wildlife Service Strike Team - Steve Henry is contact for the Statewide Noxious Weed Awareness and Education Campaign in the new position as Montana Integrated Pest Management Coordinator for USFWS. Steve explained their first financial contribution to the Pulling Together Against Noxious Weeds statewide campaign and Sue McNeal's role on the Executive Committee with support from three refuges in Montana and North Dakota. Steve reported on upcoming activities of Strike Teams that form to treat noxious weeds on refuges in cooperation with neighboring landowners. USFWS is actively engaged in meetings with partnering agencies for the purpose of stopping the spread of saltcedar.

Other Reports - Gloria Mason reported on the appointment of a new weed coordinator for Glacier County Weed District and developments of the weed management plan on the Blackfeet Reservation. Marlene Moon reported on weed activities on the Conservation District. Marilyn Marler provided a written report describing the Western Weed Awareness Summit held in June in Boise, Idaho. The report was distributed with the agenda prior to the meeting. Everyone around the table reported on upcoming activities for their agencies. We broke for lunch and resumed at 1:00 p.m. to begin the strategic planning process for 2005-2007.

Strategic Planning
Carla summarized the survey responses that were received by maile prior to the meeting. The group brainstormed about topics: 1) which audiences are not receiving adequate information; 2) which agency programs are lacking adequate support; and 3) what priorities should be set during the remainder of 2005 through 2007?

The committee agreed that three audiences had inadequate information and needed priority status: small acreage and private landowners; teachers and students; and recreationists/habitat acquisition conservation organizations. The following actions were identified and added to the Campaign projects list as immediate priorities:

1) Prioritize the process to elevate awareness and provide useful management information to engage small acreage and absentee landowners in weed management: specifically programs such as the TIPS for managing weeds on small acreage - develop landowner workshops in spring and utilize the Gallatin Big Sky Cooperative Weed Management project to test effectiveness and make improvements before mass production and release across Montana.

2) Prioritize the process of the curriculum committee to add weed units to State Standards: specifically programs such as the Whitehall and Broadwater Schools efforts, the curriculum committee, MWCA Education Committee projects for students and teachers, and the State and Private Forestry project for the integrated weed management activity kit for the classroom that accompanies the TIPS for small acreage workshop project.

3) Prioritize the recreation audience and impacts to land set aside for habitat conservation: specifically habitat land acquisition audiences that include Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, and conservation groups who are beginning to purchase land. Joe Weigand has compiled a list of dozens of organizations who are engaging in land acquisition and suggested setting up meeting with their boards and members as soon as possible. The meetings would be for the purpose of sharing information, meeting noxious weed education needs, and opening communication channels offering assistance and resources. A letter has been drafted since the September 7 meeting that is being reviewed to circulate with our Task Force. The letter, once approved, may encourage each of us to work peer to peer with those individuals who belong to the identified conservation and land acquisition groups. Our hope is to be invited to meet with them in their offices, board meetings, or conferences, for the purpose of sharing information, assisting with noxious weed educational support resources, and develop communication channels. We hope that meetings can begin as early as mid-November. If you have information or want to help with this process or any other project on our list, please contact Carla Hoopes of Joe Weigand. Contact information for Joe Weigand is joweigand@mt.gov

The Executive Committee met immediately after the general meeting adjourned at 3 p.m. and reconfirmed the prioritization of projects for the coming quarter. Attendees: Pachy Burns, Dave Burch, Phil Johnson, Carla Lawrence, John Simons, Joe Weigand, Steve Henry, and Carla Hoopes. Phil Johnson led the meeting at the request of Jim Olivarez. Contact for the Executive Committee meeting minutes is Jim Olivarez at jolivarez@fs.fed.us.

The next meeting is scheduled at the Montana Association of Counties on February 9, 2006 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. followed by the Executive Committee meeting at 3:30 - 5 p.m.

The meeting adjourned.

Carla Hoopes, Project Coordinator choopes@montana.edu