Attending: Co-Chair Kate Mahon, Co-Chair Michael Charnofsky, Chair-Elect Julie Faulkner, Secretary Jennifer Lyn Schall, Activities and Election Coordinator Debbie Carraway, Treasurer Zayanne Gardner, Newsletter Editor Maggie Wolfe, History Janice Smith, Dwight Vieira, and rikki, Annette, Deborah Graves, and Jeri (this is incomplete...Julie has the list of members interested in helping out).

Michael called the meeting to order at 1:10 p.m. and welcomed all visitors to the meeting.

NEXT FALL CONFERENCE
Julie updated the Board and interested members that Helen had made a flyer. Contact Julie if interested in being a presenter or know of someone who would be a good presenter. Julie passed around a sheet of paper for an email list for those interested in being updated on dates of board meetings and helping out with activities. Kate is Activities Coordinator, along with whoever else is interested.

NEWSLETTER REPORT
The target date for the newsletter is to be out before Memorial Day, so all contributions should be in by late April/early May. Maggie is interested in articles on the statewide conference and in photos. Prints are ok as Maggie now has a scanner. Email to Maggie at: . The theme will be "Closure." Maggie has enough money for this next newsletter edition. The extra cost of the recycled paper was made up in reduced printing fees. The mid/late Sept. Fall newsletter theme will be "At the Trailhead." Deadline for Fall newsletter articles will be Sept. 15, 2000.

MEMBERSHIP
Helen said that Southern AEOE probably doubled our membership, from appx. 150 to 300 members now.

INSURANCE
Insurance for AEOE has been paid through Dec. 2000 a total of $1300. There is now $800, with $650 for the beginning of the year after the travel budget to the statewide conference is deducted.

Michael moved to adjourn the meeting at 1:25 p.m.
Kate seconded.

Julie opened the meeting at 1:02 p.m. with reading the agenda.

Michael and Kate, as outgoing Co-Chairs, symbolically passed the gravel to Julie as new Chair.

BROCHURES
After the Board viewed the brochures, Julie motioned to make them our official brochure, seconded by Zayanne, with the Board in unanimous agreement.

AEOE BOOTH AT THE CSTA CONFERENCE
The annual CSTA conference will be on Oct. 12-15, 2000 in Sacramento. Northern will have an AEOE booth. Michael motioned that we, Southern AEOE, pay half ($75 each) of the AEOE booth cost. Maggie seconded. The Board unanimously agreed. (This is in comparison with the $100/booth or table that we charged Acorn Naturalists for a total of $300 at this statewide conference.)

NAAEE AFFILIATION
The Executive Board amended the bylaws for a vote at a conference instead of a mail in of votes to allow for AEOE affiliation with NAAEE. Kate proposed that we ratify what the Executive Board decided; Michael seconded, the Board all agreed. Carolyn Cleveland spoke to the Board regarding AEOE affiliation with NAAEE and reciprocal membership. Julie proposed that we give NAAEE our Southern AEOE membership address list for their conference packets with a note in our newsletter explaining why the Southern Board released our membership list. Michael seconded and all the Board agreed. Helen will send the disk to Carolyn, with a label printout. The address label could have printed on it "AEOE member" with a box to mark if the AEOE member does not want to receive publications from NAAEE. NAAEE conference in Oct. 17-21, 2000 at South Padre Island, Texas.

STATEWIDE CONFERENCE EVALUATIONS
Julie updated the Board that Debbie has the evaluations to compile. Robin will give the new conference evaluations to Debbie. Maggie will email presenter comments that she receives to Robin to go to Debbie.

THANK YOU TO PRESENTERS
Maggie will send out email cards to thank presenters. She will send a separate message later on asking if the presenter would like to send her a newsletter article.

STATEWIDE BOARD MEETING WEEKEND
Sept. 16 and 17, 2000 will be the dates for our statewide AEOE board meeting weekend. We still need to check out a meeting site. Celeste's idea would cost $40 plus. (Julie should ask) Michael Coughlin will check out the San Luis Obispo area. Michael Charnofsky will ask Donald Beaver regarding Keep Sierra, since he has worked with Donald. Keep Ocean site is another possibility.

EXECUTIVE BOARD EXPEL
The Executive Board made the decision to permanently expel Michael ______ from Orange County from AEOE due to behavior concerns. Michael will write the letters informing those necessary of this decision. Ryan Poe and Tommy Parker were given two years out of Southern AEOE based on their behavior at the Birding Activity. To rejoin after two years, each must write a letter of why they want to rejoin AEOE.

HISTORIAN
Janice needs $100.00 from each section for Historian work. The money will come from the Coordinating Secretary budget.

REIMBURSE MICHAEL
Michael said that Northern is going to pay half his salary for representing AEOE at the weekday meeting of GSEEC. Kate motions that we reimburse Michael. Helen seconded and the Board all agreed.

TREASURY
Zayanne said please give expenses to her now or mail them to her.

STATEWIDE CONFERENCE REVIEW
--need a person from the site at the registration table on Fri. to help with questions
--everyone on Board arrive early to help so all are in the know
--we should send confirmation letters and info for registration out earlier before the conference

WORKSHOP IDEAS
plant uses
plant id
initiatives
discipline
literature
rock climbing: Zayanne- her husband, Julie- Mark
primitive skills
Native American
First Aid/ CPR
Art of Welcoming
science experiments
swap meets
questioning techniques
rattles: Kate
science content standards: Helen
multiple intelligence theory or something else: Maggie
astronomy: Michael's cousin
astronomical group: Julie
natural history
teaching techniques
desert ecology: Joshua Tree Interpreter
geology
magic spots & writing
poetry in motion

SCHEDULE
Group initiatives for welcome
Sat: 3 workshops
Sun: 1 morning workshop

T-SHIRTS
We should use the Joshua Tree instead of an Oak Tree!

CONFERENCE JOBS
Michael: sign up sheets
Kate: food
Helen: registration
Julie: presenters & schedule of presentations,
facility liaison
Robin: making signs

NEXT SOUTHERN AEOE BOARD MEETING & FUN SPRING THING FOR SOUTHERN BOARD
Ideas for a fun get together included: Renaissance Faire or Warners hot springs (Kate- campsite). Julie motioned that we have a get together at Warner Springs...Kate and Janice will email Julie and Julie will email the Southern Board of possible dates in late April/early May.

The AEOE Southern Board meeting & get together is on June 3, 2000 at Warner Springs Resort.