Foundation Board President Joe Coffey called the conference call to order on March 21, 2000, at 3 p.m. Central Time.

1. The Meeting Agenda was reviewed. Paul Christ added a report on ADM funding. The agenda was approved.
   
   
2. The minutes from the San Francisco Board Meeting were reviewed. An addition was made to the minutes under section 1: Program Committee recommendations, insert (8.) An Undergraduate Student Section proposal for $5,000. Renumber the previous item (8.) to (9.)
   
   Motion: Richard Shumway moved to approve the minutes with the change. Seconded by Laurian Unnevehr. Approved.
   
   
3. Reports were presented by Donna Dunn and AAEA staff:
   1. Current investments with Vanguard are $1,260,000.
   2. A balance of $2,120 remains in the 2000 budget for future allocation.
   3. Donna Dunn presented a report on the Tampa Fundraiser. The Fundraiser will be an elegant evening with a formal dinner at the Henry B. Plant Museum. Information on the Fundraiser will be included in the Annual Meeting Registration Booklet. All Foundation Board members were encouraged to attend.
   4. Promotional material for the Foundation was discussed.
   5. Appreciation club balances are pending completion of the 1999 audit.
   6. A letter was sent from the Foundation to Appreciation Club organizers noting new recognition of appreciation club honorees. The first seven appreciation clubs were asked to prepare a poster for the Tampa meeting to be displayed in the Poster Session. Two clubs were heard from to date.
   7. The newest addition of the AAEA Web site is a page for the Appreciation Clubs. The web page is near completion and will feature one Appreciation Club a month. Board members expressed their approval of the poster and Web site recognition of the Appreciation Clubs.
   8. Joe Coffey drafted a letter to be mailed to agribusinesses requesting sponsorships for the AAEA Annual Meeting.
      
      
4. Laurian Unnevehr began discussion of Proposals for funding. The African Study Program has made a request to carry over their designated 2000 funding into 2001. The Foundation Board agreed to the request.
   
   
5. Vernon Eidman with the NAAEA Section requested funding for a distance learning education proposal. A business plan has been developed. The requested funds will be used for salary and travel expenses for the individual obtaining the funding for the educational courses.
   
   Motion: Laurian Unnevehr moved to accept the NAAEA proposal, with funding being provided by shifting $1,000 from the Africa Study Program to meet the proposal. Seconded by Paul Christ.
   
   Amendment: Gary Seevers moved that $3,000 from the Foundation Budget be approved for the NAAEA Section Distance Education. Seconded by Mary Marchant. Approved.
   
   
6. Stan Johnson, Otto Doering and Laurian Unnevehr have been discussing long-term funding opportunities. Laurian Unnevehr reported CWAE might have such funding opportunity with their tracking survey. Laurian is pursuing Kraft for funding
   
   
7. The Ty Timm Appreciation Club is progressing steadily. The Tony Grano Appreciation Club is waiting for a letter to the board from the organizers requesting establishment of the Grano Club as a special purpose fund. Board members then began identifying new Appreciation Clubs.
   
   
8. Paul Christ reported on funding efforts with ADM. Board members discussed special recognition for ADM's support of student activities at the Annual Meeting.
   
   
9. Gary Seevers lead a discussion on the continuity of the Foundation Board positions and operating policies. Donna Dunn with pursue the organizing of Foundation Operating Policies.
   
   
10. Joe Coffery reported that a Foundation Annual Report will be completed in April.