September 28, 2001
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon, Fluno Center for Executive Education, 601 University Ave., Madison, WI

Note 1: Original meeting date of September 14, 2001 was cancelled due to Presidential designation of September 14 as a day of remembrance after the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, DC

Note 2: On September 26 Susan Stratton announced that she was resigning as WPUI Director, effective October 19.  The decisions and discussions described herein reflect her departure.

Phyllis Dubé, Executive Board Chair, called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.  Present were:  Barry Ashenfelter (for Brian Burke), Mary Wright (for Lee Cullen), Phyllis Dubé, Mary Joanis, Tom Kilkenny, Dan Matson, Terry Nicolai, Robert Nuernberg, Cheryl Parrino, Ken Sprain, Susan Stratton, Mike Stuart, and Kathy Trudell.

1. Introduction, Welcome to New Board Members and Agenda Review
Phyllis Dubé welcomed Cynthia Bauer, the new administrative assistant for the Institute and two new board members, Cheryl Parrino, CEO of USAC and Kathryn Trudell, a consultant with Resource Strategies.

No adjustments or additions were made to the agenda.

2. May Board Meeting Minutes 
Minutes were approved with an abstention from Cheryl Parrino.

3. Charter Revisions
The redlined charter was distributed via email prior to the meeting.  Susan Stratton gave an overview of the changes.  She reviewed three major changes or broad categories of change:  (1) administrative relationship with the Business School; (2) codirector title and responsibility changes, and (3) reconciling membership categories with Executive Board categories.  A committee comprised of Phyllis Dubé, Mary Joanis and Susan Stratton had offered language to address the changes.  Susan Stratton opened it up to questions from the Board.  Dan Matson wanted to know why the Dean of the Business School supervised the institute and why Ted Beck took his place.  Susan explained that the Dean had appointed Ted Beck to represent him on the Board.

The Board approved the administrative changes in the charter related to the relationship between the Institute and the School of Business.  These charter changes reflect operational changes that have already occurred.  The Board also approved the changes related to the Co-Director language.  However, Susan indicated that she still needed input from Rod Stevenson and Andy Policano before these changes are final.  If either of them have problems with the proposed changes, Susan will bring this back to the next meeting agenda.

Also, much discussion centered on the membership categories and Board representation categories. The Board realized that the inconsistencies in the charter needed more work. The Board also discussed the definition of quorum. The Board decided not to accept the proposed changes related to a quorum and agreed that the Executive Board should review this issue in the future.  The Membership Committee agreed to chair a group to work on language for the membership categories.  These changes will be brought back in February.  All other changes were approved pending minor input, which will be taken via email for up to a week past November 3.

4.  Scholarship Program (information sharing)
Susan Stratton provided a review of the status and results of the program since it was approved at the May 14 meeting.  Mike Stuart agreed with Susan Stratton’s idea about giving members the option to contribute to the scholarship program at the time dues are invoiced.  Dan Matson was happy with the results of the program so far.  Susan Stratton said the reporting form we use for program feedback will be distributed at the next board meeting.

5. Fluno Center for Executive Education (information sharing)
Phyllis Dubé asked Susan Stratton to talk about the Center.  What does it mean for the Institute?  Susan briefly went through each floor of the building suggesting which rooms the Institute might use.  She also explained that the pricing for the Fluno Center is typically bundled to include meeting space, meals, and sleeping rooms.

Susan Stratton suggested we be creative when advertising for our seminars since all our costs now are not bundled.  The Fluno Center will be scheduled for programs that attract primarily out-of-town attendees who would need sleeping rooms.  The Fluno Center is scheduled to open March 1, 2000.

Phyllis Dubé would like to schedule our next meeting at the study pub.  Everyone agreed.

6.  Program Attendance/Marketing Efforts/Database Status
Susan Stratton summarized each program:  (1) Risk Communication – the main speaker was excellent but was also expensive, so the Institute just covered its costs, (2) Incentive Ratemaking – Two presenters cancelled and we had to get replacements, but program was a success, (3) Anti-trust in Telecommunication Markets – nine attendees were from the Caribbean Islands and the presenters spent an evening answering their specialized international questions, and (4) Energy Basics – the program is full and there are eleven on the waiting list.

Susan Stratton distributed to most Board members a list of individuals on our database from their company and asked them to update the list.  She suggested all members add us to their web site if they already haven’t.  Terry Nicolai suggested that the institute liaison be the distributor within each company.  Kathryn Trudell stated the industry is not as stable as it used to be and there is more turnover and agrees with Terry Nicolai.

Terry Nicolai said it would be wise to put the attendance limit on each brochure.  Cheryl Parrino agreed.  That is a great idea for small conferences.  Add:  Space is Limited to XX.

The Board agreed to assist with database updates.

7. Program Status for current fiscal year 7/1/99-6/30/00 (information sharing)
Susan Stratton reviewed each program after drawing everyone’s attention to our net revenue.  Mary Joanis suggested in our advertising for next year’s Antitrust in Telecommunications program that we use the fact that 93% of the attendees rated the course excellent or very good.  A suggestion was made to market this program to upper management people.  Cheryl Parrino asked if we could do an executive version?  Another suggestion was to use the first day as a broad overview for executive people and the second and third days for the lawyers.  Mary Joanis proposed a one-day session for non-lawyers.  Susan mentioned she would like to use the attendee comments in future brochures.  Since we had to turn people away attendees for the Energy Basics course someone asked if we could hold it more than once a year.  Susan reviewed the issues associated with getting 23 speakers together.  Phyllis wondered if someone could just attend a day instead of all three days.  Ken Sprain suggested concentrating one day on energy issues (NERC, FERC, State issues).  Susan reviewed the committees’ activities and suggested they should meet and give her their input.  She asked if they could meet before the February board meeting.  She also mentioned she needs topics for the roundtable series.  The Board agreed that Electricity, Natural Gas, and Telecommunications Committees should meet before February 11.

8. Current Fiscal Situation (information sharing - no decision)
We are making progress in building a reserve.  Tom Kilkenny questioned if we should have a line of credit available in case we needed it.  Susan stated we do not have a problem now and that she will watch the situation.  She will add this to the agenda for the February meeting.

9. Increase in Membership Dues
Susan Stratton provided a suggested schedule of increased dues.  She also compared the Institute to Michigan State University where dues are $12,000.  Phyllis remembered raising dues was talked about last year but decided not to until the institute showed progress.  She feels we have made a good start.  Dan Matson said he has no problem with the proposal to increase the dues because members have the choice of lowering their level of support if they do not agree with the increase.

Ken Sprain moved, with a second from Kathryn Trudell, to adopt a new membership dues structure.  Everyone was in favor.  Motion carried.  The Board approved the proposed dues schedule.

10. Risk Communications Seminar for Senior Officers
Susan Stratton stated the Institute needed a precommitment from members to schedule a seminar with Peter Sandman.  Susan explained our options.  Dan Matson liked holding a full-day seminar.  Susan explained the purpose of the first course and passed out the brochure.

The Board decided to ask Susan to poll the members to see if there is enough interest to plan a custom event with Peter Sandman on risk communication for upper management.

11. Next Board Meeting
The next meeting is already scheduled for Friday, February 11, in the Pyle Center.  Speakers were discussed and Susan asked for suggestions.  Dan Matson felt last year’s meeting dragged and to only have one speaker.  Others complained about last year’s speaker and said they want “a good speaker.”  Cheryl Parrino suggested the topic web development – commerce.

12.       Adjournment
The meeting adjourned close to the scheduled 12 noon.  Phyllis Dubé thanked Dan Matson for hosting the board meeting.