The annual meeting of the Alpha Tau Chapter was held at the Holiday Inn Executive Select, Columbia, MO beginning at 7:10 a.m. Jim Ollar, president, welcomed the members.

Barb Froke recognized retirees Pat Lieurance and Don Fancher, and presented new retirees with a recognition certificate.

David Lindell led a memorial service, consisting of a lighted candle and ecumenical reading, for extension workers who have died since the last annual meeting. These individuals are as follows: Mattie Aslin, John Burkholder, John Heagler, Joe Marks, Jeannette McCauley, Lester Parrish, Tom Perrin, Frances Pringle, Ruth Reynolds, Jean Riddle, Hazel Wakefield, and Lewis Wilhite.

Business Meeting

The business meeting was called to order at 7:20 a.m. by Jim Ollar, president.

Minutes of the October 26, 1998 annual meeting were approved as distributed by Bob Schultheis, secretary.

The Treasurer’s report was distributed and given by Tom Henderson. The combined balance of the checking and saving account is $4,539.09 as of 9/30/99. Three outstanding checks will reduce that balance to $4,350.36 when the books are closed for the year. This does not include dues income and annual conference expenses. A motion was made, seconded and passed to accept the report. A copy of the report is filed with the minutes.

Dale Hagerman, in his Nominating Committee/Election report, presented the nominees for the open offices on the state board. Nominees were Gail Carlson, president-elect, and Tom Henderson, treasurer. There were no additional nominations from the floor. A motion to close nominations was made by Rex Ricketts and seconded by Bev Maltsberger, and the slate of officers was elected by acclamation.

Pat Snodgrass gave the Loan and Fellowship Committee report. The Extension Loan and Fellowship Fund was established in 1964 and gathering continued support is a major activity of the Alpha Tau Chapter. There are currently 224 names honored by colleagues. Awards are made twice a year, with an upcoming deadline of October 31. During the past year, $1,962.27 was given to individuals to support professional development experiences. There is an income balance of $11,102.95 available for future fellowship awards. Earnestine Lusby's name has been added to the Fund plaque in FY98/99. In addition, the Fund will benefit from the Frances Pringle estate distribution set for October 27, 1999, with a dollar amount yet to be determined. Pat thanked the committee members in the regions and on campus for promoting the Fund.

Susan Mills-Gray gave the Professional Development Committee report. Epsilon Sigma Phi helped host the December 1998 satellite program and is planning to host another one on Thursday, December 2, 1999, with nationally-known speaker Denis Waitley. His topic will be "The Future-Proof Leader: Effectively Managing Change and Balancing Professional and Personal Priorities in the Knowledge Century." Regional host sites in Missouri for this satellite downlink are:

Central Missouri - Academic Support Center on UMC campus
East Central - St. Charles County Extension Center
Northeast - Marion County Extension Center
Northwest - Buchanan County Extension Center
South Central - Phelps County Extension Center
Southeast - Cape Girardeau County Extension Center
Southwest - Greene County Extension Center
West Central - Jackson County Extension Center (Independence office)

Susan also represented Missouri ESP at the Public Issues Leadership Development Conference in April 1999 in Washington, D.C.

Gail Carlson gave the Awards Committee report. She thanked the committee for their hard work in evaluating the applications of 13 nominees in eight categories. The awardees were:

a. Friend of Extension
-- A. James "Jim" Snider, the Cape Girardeau Co. Commission & Extension Council and Missouri Extension County Council Leadership Conference (MECCLC)
-- Frances L. Pringle (posthumous)
b. Distinguished Service Award - Don Fancher
c. Mid-Career Service Award - Barbara Brown
d. Outstanding Regional Extension Faculty - Rick Sparks
e. Early-Career Service Award - Candance Gabel
f. Outstanding Teamwork - Water Quality Education in the Classroom
g. Meritorious Support Service - Tamra Robbins
h. Retiree Service - Frank Graham

In addition, Betty Dreyer was selected for an ESP Special Service Award.

Mel Zielinski gave the Membership Committee report. There are currently 109 active members (same as 1998) and 117 life members (up by four from 1998). New active members are Nancy Piringer, Bud Reber, Pat Sobrero, and Bonita Williams. New life members are Don Fancher, Barb Froke, Glenda Hawkins and Lu Harper. As of 10/26/99, 43 persons had renewed their membership for 2000.

Jim Ollar gave the President's report. He recognized Bob Schultheis for developing the ESP webpage as a model that other states could follow. He recognized Karla Spencer for her willingness to volunteer and produce the ESP newsletter. He recognized Dale Hagerman for his work in organizing the ice cream break at Annual Conference, where 35 gallons were served to 700 people. One uncompleted task was consideration of a partial scholarship for a Life member to attend the ESP National Meeting. Jim alerted the group that the Board would be the nominating committee for committee chairs that are needing to be refilled in the upcoming year.

Mel Zielinski conducted the new member initiation of Pat Sobrero and presented her with the Extension Worker's Creed.

Dale Hagerman conducted the installation of the 1999-2000 ESP officers. They are as follows:

President:  Karla Spencer
President-Elect:  Gail Carlson
Secretary:  Bob Schultheis
Treasurer:  Tom Henderson
Past-President:  Jim Ollar
Annalist:  Eldon Cole

Incoming president, Karla Spencer, received the gavel and president's pin from Jim Ollar. Karla presented Jim with a plaque and Bass Pro gift certificate and catalog in recognition of his term as president. Karla asked for volunteers to serve as committee chairs to replace outgoing chairs Susan Mills-Gray and Gail Carlson. She then closed the meeting with a few remarks.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:55 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Bob Schultheis
Secretary