Conference Center on the Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College campus.

Outgoing Wisconsin Co-Chair Diane Soden-Groves called the meeting to order.

Stewardship Awards:
Jack Ezell welcomed everyone to the 9th annual awards ceremony including our distinguished guests Superior Mayor David Ross, Duluth Mayor Herb Bergson and former Duluth Mayor Gary Doty. He explained the history of the Stewardship awards and talked about the people behind the four "named" awards. He emphasized that this was our opportunity to recognize individuals, groups, businesses, etc. who through their involvement help make the St. Louis River a better place.

Jack thanked everyone that made a nomination and read the list of 2003 nominees: Heidi Bauman and Melissa Rauner; Robert F. Eaton; Chris Evavold, Esko High School; Doug Jensen; Nancy Larson; Marnie Lonsdale; Members Cooperative Credit Union; The Nature Conservancy; Mary Picard; South St. Louis Soil and Water Conservation District & Natural Resources Conservation Service; Harriet Beecher Stowe Elementary School; and Larry Schwarzkopf.

Next, Jack introduced the nominator for each of the stewardship awards. The nominators then gave a brief explanation of why they nominated the winner of each award.

• Kay McKenzie presented the Sally Gibson Award to Mary Picard for her tireless efforts to make Wisconsin Point a clean, beautiful environment.
• Cindy Hagley honored Doug Jensen for being a tremendous resource to educate people about aquatic invasive species issues in the St. Louis River system.
• Mark Nelson honored the South St. Louis Soil and Water Conservation District and the Natural Resources Conservation Service with the Willard Munger, Sr. Award for the many efforts they have been involved in to protect the St. Louis River Watershed.
• Mark Poirer presented the Randy Marshall Award to the Members Cooperative Credit Union for their determination to fulfill their mission of giving back to the community and constructing their new facility on a cleaned up brownfield.
• Gary Doty presented The Nature Conservancy with the Milton E. Pelletier Award in appreciation of their innovative work to design an innovative land preservation program for the St. Louis River Watershed that will be a positive influence for the community long after we are gone. Thanks to Tom Duffus' dedicated efforts to this project, there was no controversy at all by the time it went in front of the city council for a vote.
• Dave Zentner and RC Boheim presented the Sally Gibson Award to Robert F. Eaton for providing valuable legal services to protect the St. Louis River Watershed.

Business Meeting:
Minutes of the Oct 22, 2003 meeting were approved as distributed.

Financial Report:
Members were presented with the proposed 2004 budget. Ted Smith explained the two proposed budgets. One budget is proposed with current grants and the other is proposed with pending grants. Members were asked to approve both budgets, with the understanding that if the grants do not materialize, a contingency plan for the organization will be needed. Budgets were accepted as presented.

Member/Board Member Involvement Form:
As a way to increase participation in the CAC activities, a membership involvement form was used last year. The forms were a great way for CAC to recruit help on various projects. Board members are again asked to volunteer for a minimum of five activities. The form was handed out in duplicate so members would have a record of what they volunteered to do. Members were asked to complete and return one copy, either at this meeting or at a later date.

Elections:
Congratulations to board members Jack Ezell, Carl Richards and Paul Sandstrom for being elected to another 3-year term. The Wisconsin Co-chair position is now vacant. Diane Thompson continues as the secretary. Diane Soden-Groves was elected as the at large executive committee member. The finance committee will consist of Jack Ezell, Bill Majewski, Carl Richards, and Ted Smith. Ted Smith was also elected as alternate representative on Harbor Technical Committee.

I/I Subcommittee?
Bill Anderson asked the committee if there is any interest in forming a sub-committee of the SLRCAC to provide input into Duluth's planning process for treating their overflow problem. The will need to provide a plan of action to the EPA on how they plan to eliminate overflows. He feels this issue needs some thinking outside the box, such as reconstructed wetlands as a form of wastewater treatment. He will talk more with Jack Ezell and Marnie Lonsdale as they represent both WLSSD and Duluth.

Beneficial Use Impairments:
Restoration Goals: A Second round of meetings have been scheduled to develop restoration goals for the beneficial use impairments. Restoration goals, targets and/or milestones need to be determined by us before others determine delisting goals for us. The meetings are will all take place in the DeWitt-Seitz conference room on the third floor. Lynelle passed around a signup sheet, but everyone is encouraged to attend as these meetings will set the groundwork for future CAC activities. The meetings will be in the DeWitt-Seitz 3rd floor conference room and are scheduled as follows:
• Fish Consumption Advisories workgroup meeting Tuesday, Feb 10th, 6:30pm ­ 8:30pm
• Fish Tumors and Deformities workgroup meeting Thursday, Feb 12th, 10:00am ­ 12:00am (please note earlier time)
• Excessive Loading of Nutrients and Sediments workgroup meeting Thursday, Feb 19th, 6:30pm ­ 8:30pm
• Beach Closing and Body Contact and Degradation of Aesthetics meeting Tuesday, Feb 24th , 6:30pm ­ 8:30pm

Members Only Activities:
Lynelle encouraged everyone to sign up for the members-only activities. For 2004 they include Snowshoeing on March 9, Birding on May 13, Ethnobotany on July 28, and Hiking on Sept 18. These are approximately two hours and pre-registration is required.

Blue Time Sheets:
Lynelle requested everyone be sure to complete their blue time sheet so this time can be used as match for grants. Many grants have a match requirement, which can sometimes be in-kind labor. Time spent volunteering can be used only if it is documented.

Diane Thompson, secretary