Minnesota Association of Conservation Professionals

New Association
This is a new association, created in March 2007 when the membership of the Minnesota Fish and Wildlife Employees Association (MFWEA) voted to expand membership to current and retired employees of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and to change the name of the organization.  The MFWEA was formed approximately 47 years ago to block an impending reorganization of the then Conservation Department that fish and wildlife employees felt was a grave threat to scientifically sound management of fisheries and wildlife species and habitats.    Employees back then didn’t believe that a top down reorganization would help them manage the state’s natural resources more effectively. We still don’t. 

The purpose of this association is to provide a forum for the gathering and exchange of information that will lead to the improvement of natural resource management, enhancement of native species and their habitats, and protection and restoration of natural ecosystems and ecosystem functioning.  We hope to carry on the traditions of the MFWEA, which included:  educational support for members, professional support for outstanding work, and constructive criticism of DNR policies from within.  In the past, we also have communicated with the public and legislators on public policies that are beyond the control of the DNR.  On rare occasions, we have objected to specific policy choices made by the DNR when the specific choice has set a bad and far ranging precedent.

(See the web link “Resolutions/letters” on this home page for examples of recent letters sponsored by the MFWEA and now the MACP.) 

Ecosystems and ecosystem functions provide all sorts of public values, including recreation, clean water, clean air, food, and many intangibles pertaining to quality of life.  Government has a major role in the maintenance of ecosystems so that these values are sustainable for future generations.  We distinguish ourselves from the good work and mission of professional societies by the belief that those who practice resource management “on the ground” are able to provide unique perspectives on the government role in solving problems and removing obstacles to environmental stewardship, as well as opportunities for improving this stewardship.  Finally, we have a high degree of confidence—based on long experience—that the public wants to hear from us in words that are not run through a political filter.  We believe taxpayers and license buyers deserve to hear directly from those professionals they employ.

We have been members of the Minnesota Conservation Federation (MCF) and the Fish and Wildlife Legislative Alliance (FWLA) and have in the past had a voting seat on both organizations board of directors. The MACP pursues membership in the Fish and Wildlife Legislative Alliance (FWLA) and the Minnesota Conservation Federation (MCF) whenever it is feasible. We provide information that helps these conservation organizations lobby for sound resource management legislation. We can provide information to their members through their newsletters. We also provide updates to you about their business through our newsletter.

The association provides training in the form of speakers/presenters, consensus building (issues), and news updates. The association recognizes and promotes excellent work by presenting awards annually to individual employees, employee groups, and private organizations. Many of these may otherwise never be recognized for outstanding work.

We also support other agency/group efforts with letters of support, and have made monetary donations to various organizations on occasion.

The Board of Directors is available to you to look into issues, problems, and solutions, as time is available.  In 2007, we will be working primarily on efforts to expand the new organization and our web site.  We seek to established good communication channels with the commissioner’s office and our division heads. Feel free to contact any of the board members listed below or send an e-mail to the editor or president using the convenient e-mail links at the bottom of this page.

The Minnesota Association of Conservation Professionals (MACP) is an independent, external organization.  Opinions and positions represented are not the official opinions or positions of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
 
The board is comprised of thirteen members.  There are three presidents; president elect, president, and past president.  There are eight directors; four from the Division of Fish and Wildlife, two from the Division of  Ecological Services;  and two from other Divisions or Bureaus of the Department of Natural Resources (“at large”).  A secretary and treasurer round out the board.
 
A president serves a three-year term and a president is elected each year.  One board representative from each Section or Division or “at large” is elected each year and each serves a two-year term.  The secretary and treasurer are elected every other year and serve two-year terms.  The MACP is a member of the Fish and Wildlife Legislative Alliance (FWLA) and the Minnesota Conservation Federation (MCF).  There are one or more liaisons to the FWLA and the MCF.  One liaison sits on the board of each affiliation, representing the MACP.  These are volunteers and are not elected but serve an important role in the mission of this organization.

Dues

Dues are $20 annually.

MINNESOTA ASSOCIATION OF CONSERVATION PROFESSIONALS BY-LAWS

Section 1.  Any current or retired employee of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), upon payment of dues for the year, or portion of a year ending the following February 1, may become a member of the Association.  Subsequent reorganizations of the DNR shall not affect these Bylaws until such time as the bylaws are changed.  Such changes shall be made by no later than the second annual meeting after any such reorganization.  Retirees are eligible to be members of the Board of Directors subject to the provisions of Sections 6 and 7.

Section 2. Dues shall be payable by the annual meeting of each year.

Section 3. The Board of Directors is comprised of Officers and Directors described in Sections 5 - 7.

Section 4. All meetings of the Association shall be called by the Board of Directors, and notice thereof shall be given by mail or email, or by announcement at the preceding regular meetings. The first general membership meeting shall be the first Annual Meeting and thereafter the Annual Meeting shall be held between February 10 and March 10 of each year, except as noted in the next paragraph with respect to Special Meetings. Meetings of the Board of Directors may be called at any time by the president or any four directors. Seven members shall constitute a quorum of the Board.

A Special Meeting of the general membership can be called by vote of at least 8 of the 13 Board members. Any business of the Association can be conducted at such a meeting, with the exception of election of officers and Board members, and changes in these Bylaws.

Section 5. The officers of the Association shall be a president, a past president, a president elect, a secretary, and a treasurer, and election to such offices shall constitute election to the Board of Directors.

Section 6.  Regarding the membership of the Association, and the make-up of the Board of Directors, it is intent of the Association to have a Board representative of present and retired employees of the Division of Fish and Wildlife, the Division of Ecological Services, and the remainder of the Department of Natural Resources.  Not more than four directors of the Board shall be present or retired employees of the Division of Fish and Wildlife, two present or retired employees of the Division of Ecological Services, and two present or retired employees of other Divisions or Bureaus, unless there are no candidates available.  Retired employees cannot constitute a majority of Board members.

Section 7.  The Board, besides officers described in Section 5, shall consist of eight directors according to the provisions of Section 6.  These directors will be elected to staggered two-year terms.  Current directors when these by laws are adopted shall be considered senior directors until the next annual meeting after adoption, and new directors elected at the time of adoption shall be junior directors; thereafter, four such directors shall be elected at each successive Annual Meetings for two-year terms.

Section 8. The president shall preside over all meetings of the Board of Directors and general membership meetings. He/she shall appoint the following standing committees: Nominating, Audit, and such other committees as he/she may deem necessary. The president shall be an ex-officio member of all such committees and may call meetings thereof as he/she deems necessary. Senior directors shall comprise the awards committee and the junior directors shall comprise the nominating committee.

Section 9. The president-elect shall assume the duties of the president in case of absence or disability of the president.

Section 10. The secretary shall keep a permanent record of the proceedings of all meetings of the Association and shall furnish copies thereof to all members. He/she shall notify the members of all general meetings and association functions.

Section 11. The past-president shall serve as newsletter editor.

Section 12. The treasurer shall receive and with the consent of the president, disburse the funds of the Association and keep an accurate account thereof. The secretary and treasurer shall prepare and submit a joint annual and financial report to the membership. The Audit Committee shall, at the same meeting, submit their report. The treasurer shall maintain a current roster of all memberships.

Section 13. The president-elect shall be elected at each Annual Meeting and shall assume the office of president at the Annual Meeting following such election. The outgoing president shall assume the office of past-president. The other officers (secretary and treasurer) shall be elected at the Annual Meeting held during even numbered years. Written notice of elections shall be mailed to all members and post-marked not less than two weeks prior to the date of the Annual Meeting. Elections shall be by secret ballot. Only members in good standing may vote.

Section 14. Nominations for office shall be made by the nominating committee, and from the floor, for each office in the following order: president-elect, secretary, treasurer. A single final ballot shall be taken for all offices. No person shall be a candidate for more than one office on the final ballot. Election to each office shall be by majority vote of the members present and voting for such office. In case of a tie vote, the ballot shall be repeated.

Section 15.  Nominations for the four director’s positions described in Section 7 shall be made as follows:

            --Two director’s positions will be assigned to the Division of Fish and Wildlife, with one current employee from fisheries, and one from wildlife, or retired employees of these units.     

            --One director position will be assigned to current or retired employees of the Division of Ecological Service. 

            --One director position will be assigned to current or retired employees of other Divisions or Bureaus. 

Association members who are currently employed in or retired from each of the corresponding units described in Section 15a shall nominate candidate(s) employed or retired from that unit for the assigned director’s position.

Section 16. The president shall appoint ballot tellers who shall be members who are not candidates for office.

Section 17. Results of the election shall be announced, and the new officers and directors shall take office, at the Annual Meeting of the vote. The president, past-president, and president-elect shall serve for one year or until their successors are elected or succeed to office. Other officers and directors elected shall serve for two years or until their successors are elected and qualify.

Section 18. Any vacancies on the Board of directors, except the president, shall be filled by appointment by the remaining directors for the remainder of the term.

Section 19. The Board of Directors shall have full authority to act by majority vote for the membership when a quorum is present as described in Section 4. The Board may not act without the affirmative vote of at least four directors.

Section 20. The Nominating Committee shall select nominees for each vacant office on the Board of Directors and shall present their names to the membership at the Annual Meeting of the vote. Each candidate selected by the committee shall be so notified by the committee at least two weeks prior to the Annual Meeting of the vote, unless the nominee agrees otherwise.

Section 21. In all cases not covered by statutes, the articles of incorporation, or these by-laws and Robert’s Rules of Order Revised shall govern.

Section 22. These by-laws may be amended by a majority vote of the members present and voting at any regularly scheduled annual meeting. Written notice, including the proposed changes, shall be mailed to all members and post-marked not less than two weeks prior to the date of that meeting.

Section 23. In the event of dissolution and liquidation of this Association, no funds or property held or owned by the Association shall be distributed to the membership of the Association, but the same shall be disposed of as provided by M.S.A. Section 317.57.

Revised May 2007 according to resolution passed by the membership March 9, 2007