Business Meeting Minutes
Jul. 27 & 31, 2003

July 27, 2003

1. Ron welcomed everyone, and Mike conducted the roll call, with a total of 36 Centers present, representing a quorum.
2. Joe Toole, FHWA, made opening remarks. Initial reauthorization language clarified the 50% LTAP funding and the 100% TTAP funding requirements, and showed how tight our budget is compared to the UTC program (University Transportation Centers). Research development and education areas did show increases in the Administration's proposal, while most areas were flat-lined. Stronger workforce development language was placed in the proposal in the construction and maintenance section, and funding for this training would be 100% federal. The UTC program proposal calls for $90 million, which ARTBA supports (AASHTO supports $50 million). Joe suggested that LTAP develop stronger ties to the UTCs. Reauthorization will probably not occur until at least 2004, with extensions until then. Three national reports on workforce development will be published shortly that may help push the increase in highway funding, and Joe may be able to list NLTAPA as a sponsor of those reports. Joe suggested that the Association needs to have a simple process for endorsing/sponsoring other agencies' positions, to become more of a national player. "Highways for Life," a $1 billion program, will be rolled out soon that would be ideal for NLTAPA to endorse. Bill Beuchner, ARTBA, wants to get NLTAPA more involved in the transportation education division, and Joe can work with us to make sure we get our people to their meetings. We should start thinking about another International Technology Transfer Conference, maybe for our 2006 National Meeting.
3. Ilene Payne, FHWA, Director of University and Grants Program, re-emphasized sharing of resources and creating new linkages with the UTCs.
4. Al Alonzi, FHWA, discussed FHWA's whole-hearted support for the update of the LTAP strategic plan, and the mood in Congress to show the impact of programs like LTAP. Upcoming products include: Maintenance of Signs and Sign Supports document is being edited for an updated printing, Tips on Workzone Safety from Wyoming is available for downloading on NHI website, Safety of Drainage Structures document is nearing completion, ASCE is completing a pavement design guide for local agencies, and NHI is completing a Best Practices Guide for Technology Transfer.
5. Discussion took place on the proposed Constitutional Amendments. Most of the discussion focused on the wording in the section regarding the Treasurer position. John McCarthy, AL LTAP, moved to close the vote at 3:35 PM (5 minutes after discussion ended). Dave Grouchy, LA LTAP, seconded. 34 ballots were cast and tallied. All amendments passed by the required 2/3 majority of the votes cast. See appendix A.
6. Duane Smith presented the treasurer's report. Toni Rosenbaum, NY LTAP, moved, Linda Howe-Steiger, California LTAP, seconded to accept the treasurer's report, which was passed unanimously.
7. Ron Hall presented the proposed dues increase and budget for 2003. Discussion focused on paying for Executive Committee travel to the spring Executive Committee meeting and funding sources for payment of the dues.
8. Ron Hall reported the NLTAPA Officer election results as follows: Mike Blankenship, President, Terry McNinch, Secretary, and Duane Smith, Treasurer.
9. Ron Hall and Al Alonzi presented plans for updating the LTAP strategic plan. The Planning Committee for this update includes Ron Hall, Dave Frey, Renee Cusson, Terry McNinch, Patsy Anderson, Mike Blankenship. The Association will be heavily involved in providing feedback, with the goal of having a draft plan by the 2004 TRB meeting. A main goal of the update is to show the impact of our program. Tony Giancola said that we need to include our partners in this update process and use our Advisory Committees to help identify performance measures. Joe Toole said we should examine our customer's needs and national priorities and look at how we can address these. Discussion also centered on how and what to measure in terms of LTAP's impact.
10. Meeting adjourned at 4:45 PM, to be continued on July 31 at 8:30 AM.

July 31, 2003

Meeting reconvened at 8:50 AM

1. Chair Ron Hall, CO TTAP, reconvened the meeting, and Secretary MikeBlankenship, WV LTAP, conducted a roll call, with a quorum of 47 Centers present.
2. Discussion on dues increase continued. Ron Hall, CO TTAP presented the reasons for the dues increase, including increasing the Association's advocacy efforts through participation in our partners' activities. A show of hands indicated a majority of Centers did not use the glossy Annual Summary, although Tony Giancola, NACE, said that he made great use of them with organizations that did not know about LTAP. Region 4 representative, Nina Barker, FL LTAP, stated that a more modest increase might be appropriate, considering the $36,000 that is currently in the Association's treasury. Bruce Drewes, ID LTAP, explained that the majority of these funds came from vendor registration fees at recent National Meetings, and that we have not used this to fund Executive Committee travel or for other expenses that have been absorbed by region representative's centers. J.W. Chism, TX LTAP, asked if the executive committee could meet less often. Suggestion was made that the committee could increase the number of conference calls. Ben Collucci, PR LTAP, suggested producing a work plan that better explains our proposed budget. Patsy Anderson, KY LTAP, proposed to table this discussion and vote until the 2004 TRB meeting, after receiving more information on this issue. Linda Howe-Steiger, California LTAP, moved to increase dues from $150 to $300, seconded by John McCarthy, Alabama LTAP. Doyt Bolling, Utah LTAP, moved to amend the motion to $1000 and called the question. Linda Howe-Steiger, California LTAP, accepted the amendment. Ballots were distributed and collected by role call. 50 centers were present for the vote. Votes were counted with the motion failing 26 to 24. Toni Rosenbaum moved to increase the dues to $300, participate as an Association to develop a work plan for spending the money, and revisit an additional increase at the 2004 TRB meeting, seconded by Dan Sunde, WA LTAP. Motion passed by a show of hands.
3. Toni Rosenbaum, NY LTAP, gave a historian's report. The Association archives include origins of LTAP, chronology from the 20th anniversary in Vermont, meeting agendas and minutes, and video from Vermont. Sally Collopy, VT LTAP, has agreed to take over as Association historian. Sally was thanked for volunteering.
4. Bruce Drewes, ID LTAP, presented a report on the Advisory Committee on Partnering. The partnering process includes discovery of Centers' current activities with the partner and expectations from the partner and from the Centers, distribute this information to Centers for input and discussion, submit a draft partnering agreement to the partner, and sign an agreement.
5. Terry McNinch, MI LTAP, discussed reauthorization efforts, including information he has sent via e-mail on congressional educational efforts by the Centers. This process may take another 2 years, and we need to stay on top of it.
6. Gib Peaslee, FL LTAP, discussed the Product Demonstration Showcase Program. Showcases included GIS for small agencies, reusable sidewalk form boards, pavement preservation, adjustable manhole cover, and under development is road system traffic safety reviews for county highways, new pavement resurfacing, and Highlands County/City of Sebring Parkway Project. The Showcase website is: www.pdshowcase.org. The showcase program will also attempt to measure impact of these projects.
7. Outgoing chair Ron Hall, CO TTAP, announced Mike Blankenship, WV LTAP, as the new president. Mike assumed the podium.
8. Joe Toole, FHWA, provided some closing comments. The one-to-one meetings were successful and attended by 17 centers. Participants raised numerous issues: some "coffee stains" could be cleaned up, we need to continue to share existing resources and create improved processes for delivering these resources, continued focus on safety issues, LTAP strategic plan renewal - focus on "acting strategically," and the roles of the NLTAPA and FHWA in determining strategic objectives.
9. The Association thanked the Hawaii LTAP staff for all their hard work in organizing a great conference.
10. Ron Hall, CO TTAP, gave the invitation to the 2004 NLTAPA conference which will be organized by the Tribal Centers, Region 2, and will be held in New Mexico. The theme of the conference will be "Story Tellers...Inspiring the next chapter." Dan Moreno, welcomed the membership by telling a traditional story. Dan asked Jeff Harmon, Alaska TTAP to join him in offering gifts to the following: Hawaii LTAP staff, Bill Evans, Ron Hall, Dottie Fucetola, Michelle Siedenberg, and Richard Rolland.
11. President Mike Blankenship, WV LTAP, called for additional business. Nina Barker, FL LTAP, requested that the executive committee review the structure of regional representation.
12. President Mike Blankenship, WV LTAP, called to adjourn, seconded by the membership.

Submitted by Terry McNinch, Michigan LTAP