2006 Winter Meeting Of The SWANA Executive Committee

John H. Skinner, Ph.D.

Executive Director and CEO

The SWANA Executive Committee (EC) held their Winter Meeting in Albuquerque, NM on February 15-16, 2006. The following are the highlights of the decisions made and the actions taken.

A Clean Financial Audit for FY05. The EC reviewed the FY05 Financial Audit and Management Letter prepared by Meyer Hoffman McCann, PC. The auditors presented a "clean audit" concluding that the FY 2005 financial statements presented fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of SWANA in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. Treasurer Laurie Batchelder Adams reported that she had met in person with the auditors and that the Finance Committee had reviewed and approved the audit. The Treasurer moved for EC approval which was seconded and passed unanimously.

Membership Continues to Grow. BDO Seidman LLP, SWANA's accounting firm had distributed the financial statements for the 1st quarter of FY06 to the Finance Committee which showed an increase in membership revenues during the first quarter. Membership was up about 200 members as compared to the first quarter of last year and renewals were very strong. Staff reported that SWANA was on track to meet its membership goal of 7800 members by the end of the fiscal year.

A Recap of WASTECON-Austin. Staff reported on the revenue loss and increased costs at WASTECON-Austin due to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. A number of attendees and exhibitors cancelled at the last minute due to the threat of Hurricane Rita. Traffic on the show floor was down about 10 percent as compared to prior years due to the many SWANA members that were involved in the hurricane response along the Gulf Coast. There were also additional costs incurred with redesigning the exhibit floor so that some of the Hurricane Katrina evacuees could be accommodated in the Austin Convention Center. SWANA staff have carefully documented these losses and costs and are preparing a claim to be made under our show cancellation insurance policy.

FY07 Budget and Program Plan to Focus on Training and Information Technology. Deputy Executive Director Lori Scozzafava indicated that the FY 2007 Budget and Program Plan would have to deal with a number of important issues:

· Developing a financing approach that will provide the funds necessary to update the existing SWANA training courses on a regular basis, for converting these courses to electronic versions that can be given on-line and for providing on-line certification.

· Expansion of the in-house information technology capabilities through hiring a web designer/developer that would reduce the need for outside consultants.

· Development of electronic networking capabilities that would allow members to interact and share information on-line.

The FY07 Budget and Program will be reviewed by the Planning and Finance Committees and sent to the International Board of Directors (IB) for approval at the Mid-Year Meeting in April. Staff was directed to develop a strategy for funding on-going renewal of SWANA's education programs including options such as Chapter loans and corporate sponsorships to be presented to the IB at the mid-year meeting and then to be distributed to the Chapters.

Lawrence Lecture Committee. Henry Friedman, Chair of the Lawrence Lecture Committee, reported that the Committee members voted unanimously to recommend Scott Cassell, Executive Director of the Product Stewardship Institute as the Lawrence Lecturer in 2006.

Criteria for Evaluation of Specialty Symposia. The EC reviewed and approved the Criteria for Evaluation of the SWANA Specialty Symposia that were developed by the Planning Committee and Technical Division Directors. The criteria include measures of the technical value and attendee evaluations of the Symposia as well as attendance, sponsorships and financial data. These criteria will be used to evaluate the Specialty Symposia and will form the basis for decisions concerning the future of each symposium.

IB Attendance at Meetings. President Quigley said that he felt that IB Director attendance at meetings and participation on committee conference calls was very important, and he reviewed attendance records for 2001-2005. He urged the Regional Council Directors and the Corporate Director to contact their respective IB Directors to emphasize the importance of their attendance at meetings and conference calls. A motion was passed directing the Policy Committee to review existing policies and develop criteria to strengthen attendance and participation by IB Directors.

2008 Landfill Symposium. Technical Division Director Anne Germain reported that SWANA had received a proposal from several outside groups for SWANA to cancel its 2008 Landfill Symposium and to join a landfill conference to be held in 2008 to be managed by Prism Business Media Exhibitions Inc. After considerable discussion the consensus of the EC was that it is very important to SWANA members that SWANA conduct events on an annual basis and directed staff to plan to hold the 2008 Landfill Symposium in the regular June/July period. Furthermore the EC emphasized that SWANA is committed to furthering the science on landfill technology (including bioreactor landfills) and directed staff to proceed with the concept of peer-review in the SWANA structure including working with other groups involved in bioreactor landfills.

WASTECON Committee Report. Dave Crafton chair of the WASTECON Committee reviewed the sites for future years, including Reno, NV in 2007 , Tampa FL in 2008 and a Western location such as Long Beach, San Diego or San Jose in 2009. He also indicated that the WASTECON Equipment Show Floor Manager position was vacant and after consideration of several individuals he was recommending Charlie Wade of Hallco Manufacturing, Inc. to fill the position. President Quigley indicated that he intended to appoint Mr. Wade to the position at the Mid-Year Meeting.

Full minutes of the EC Winter Meeting will be available to all IB members after approval by the EC. For additional information please contact Kathy Lane, Associate Director, (301) 585-2898, ext. 248, e-mail klane@swana.org.

Distributed the financial statements for the 1st quarter of FY06 to the Finance Committee which showed an increase in membership revenues during the first quarter. Membership was up about 200 members as compared to the first quarter of last year and renewals were very strong. Staff reported that SWANA was on track to meet its membership goal of 7800 members by the end of the fiscal year.

A Recap of WASTECON-Austin. Staff reported on the revenue loss and increased costs at WASTECON-Austin due to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. A number of attendees and exhibitors cancelled at the last minute due to the threat of Hurricane Rita. Traffic on the show floor was down about 10 percent as compared to prior years due to the many SWANA members that were involved in the hurricane response along the Gulf Coast. There were also additional costs incurred with redesigning the exhibit floor so that some of the Hurricane Katrina evacuees could be accommodated in the Austin Convention Center. SWANA staff have carefully documented these losses and costs and are preparing a claim to be made under our show cancellation insurance policy.

FY07 Budget and Program Plan to Focus on Training and Information Technology. Deputy Executive Director Lori Scozzafava indicated that the FY 2007 Budget and Program Plan would have to deal with a number of important issues:

· Developing a financing approach that will provide the funds necessary to update the existing SWANA training courses on a regular basis, for converting these courses to electronic versions that can be given on-line and for providing on-line certification.

· Expansion of the in-house information technology capabilities through hiring a web designer/developer that would reduce the need for outside consultants.

· Development of electronic networking capabilities that would allow members to interact and share information on-line.

The FY07 Budget and Program will be reviewed by the Planning and Finance Committees and sent to the International Board of Directors (IB) for approval at the Mid-Year Meeting in April. Staff was directed to develop a strategy for funding on-going renewal of SWANA's education programs including options such as Chapter loans and corporate sponsorships to be presented to the IB at the mid-year meeting and then to be distributed to the Chapters.

Lawrence Lecture Committee. Henry Friedman, Chair of the Lawrence Lecture Committee, reported that the Committee members voted unanimously to recommend Scott Cassell, Executive Director of the Product Stewardship Institute as the Lawrence Lecturer in 2006.

Criteria for Evaluation of Specialty Symposia. The EC reviewed and approved the Criteria for Evaluation of the SWANA Specialty Symposia that were developed by the Planning Committee and Technical Division Directors. The criteria include measures of the technical value and attendee evaluations of the Symposia as well as attendance, sponsorships and financial data. These criteria will be used to evaluate the Specialty Symposia and will form the basis for decisions concerning the future of each symposium.

IB Attendance at Meetings. President Quigley said that he felt that IB Director attendance at meetings and participation on committee conference calls was very important, and he reviewed attendance records for 2001-2005. He urged the Regional Council Directors and the Corporate Director to contact their respective IB Directors to emphasize the importance of their attendance at meetings and conference calls. A motion was passed directing the Policy Committee to review existing policies and develop criteria to strengthen attendance and participation by IB Directors.

2008 Landfill Symposium. Technical Division Director Anne Germain reported that SWANA had received a proposal from several outside groups for SWANA to cancel its 2008 Landfill Symposium and to join a landfill conference to be held in 2008 to be managed by Prism Business Media Exhibitions Inc. After considerable discussion the consensus of the EC was that it is very important to SWANA members that SWANA conduct events on an annual basis and directed staff to plan to hold the 2008 Landfill Symposium in the regular June/July period. Furthermore the EC emphasized that SWANA is committed to furthering the science on landfill technology (including bioreactor landfills) and directed staff to proceed with the concept of peer-review in the SWANA structure including working with other groups involved in bioreactor landfills.

WASTECON Committee Report. Dave Crafton chair of the WASTECON Committee reviewed the sites for future years, including Reno, NV in 2007 , Tampa FL in 2008 and a Western location such as Long Beach, San Diego or San Jose in 2009. He also indicated that the WASTECON Equipment Show Floor Manager position was vacant and after consideration of several individuals he w