District
One

ISA Minutes

1.0              Call to Order.

DVP Mike McNeil called the meeting to order.

2.0              Council of Society Delegates Meeting

DVP Mike McNeil passed out delegate ribbons and explained the certification process that would be used at the Council of Society Delegates Meeting, which was to take place the following morning.  The proposed MOP change, eliminating the requirement that a Fellow nominee be a senior member for at least 5 years prior to his/her induction, was discussed.

3.0              Section Reports

Conn. Valley    The merging of the three Conn. Sections is nearing completion.  Mike Horn is the Section president.  The newsletter is updated and looks good. The Section’s finances are in good order.  A program agenda meeting was held and wet well.

Boston             Recently held a successful golf outing – had 44 attendees.  A new, color, on-line newsletter has been produced.  Programs for the year are set.  Did not do a tabletop show last year.  Will probably do one next year (every-other-year schedule).

Green Mountain            Poor attendance at Section events continues to be a problem.  Has 40 members.  Have been “recycling” leaders.  A tour of the Stowe WWTP is scheduled for October with a dinner following immediately afterward. Future programs will be dependent upon the success of the tour.

New Jersey      Section is struggling somewhat this year.  Although financially secure, finding new, younger leaders has been difficult.  The section awards 2 scholarships.  The Section will hold 3-4 meetings per year and will also have plant tours.  An honors and award banquet is being planned for the spring.  Membership is down from years past.

Downeast Maine          The Section holds meetings every other month.  Has just held a successful golf outing / lobster bake.  The section has a new president and treasurer.

Central NY      The Section got off to a late start this season, but just held a planning session and have programs planned for the year, including a Holiday party in December.  The Sections clambake/tabletop show continues to be the premier event of the year.  Our Vice President and Treasurer recently resigned because of time conflicts with their jobs, but new, younger members have volunteered to fill these positions.  Our new section secretary will be in Houston at the Expo and will be attending the H&A dinner.  Membership has been holding steady between 145-155.  Had 4 members attend the DLC and is planning/budgeting to send as many next year.

4.0                 District Leadership Conference

The date for the DLC was set for May 20-21.  It will be in Maine.    

DVP Mike McNeil talked about an innovative, unique idea for our next DCL meeting.  Mike proposed that Outward Bound – a professional leadership training organization, for this year’s DLC.  A potential team building activity available is sailing a vessel from the coast of Maine to Hurricane Island, about 12 miles off shore.  Some of the Leadership Success Factors that will be fostered include: setting direction, collaboration, flexibility/resiliency, strategy and execution, contingency planning, and empowerment.

The group discussed the plan and agreed that it was innovative, interesting and might attract new, young ISA members and leaders.  No one at the council meeting was opposed to the idea.

It was thought that this type of activity would be especially effective if teams from each section could attend.

The anticipated cost per person will be ~$500 which would include meals and lodging.

It was thought that, because Outward Bound is a nationally recognized, professional leadership training organization that employers might be more willing to subsidize the cost of their employees attending.

There was a suggestion made that non-ISA members who worked for companies of ISA members could also attend if that would help to get employers to pay for their employees to attend.  Because ISA is a not-for-profit, our negotiated rate should be lower than what it would cost if a for-profit company were to send their employees to similar leadership training on their own.

Mike McNeil will work with Outward Bound to come up with materials that members can show their employers to help ‘sell’ the idea and to get employer sponsorship.

Each section is encouraged to identify potential new leaders who would be invited specifically to participate.