Fall 2007: Volume 28, Number 4 - Missouri Prairie Foundation

Fall MPF Board Meeting andDevelopment NewsSampson’s snakeroot(Orbexilumpedunculatum).Illustration courtesyof Ill. Dept. of NaturalResources.On a cold Saturday morning, October 13, theMissouri Prairie Foundation (MPF) boardbegan its fall meeting at Runge Prairie inAdair County. After less than an hour, it was timeto get warm.Brief tours of nearby prairies owned by boardmember Tom Noyes and 2007 MPF PrairieLandowners of the Year, Joshua and VondaShoop, were quickly followed by hospitality andhomemade deer chili at the home of Frank andJudy Oberle, who were named 2006 volunteersof the year at the 40th anniversary meeting atCuivre River State Park in October 2006.“Kirksville has similar weather to DesMoines, Iowa,” said Judy Oberle, “and sometimespeople are caught off guard by the cold.” It wasthe light rain and constant prairie wind that madethe search for shelter more pressing.Key items discussed at the brief boardmeeting were the dates and locations for all boardmeetings in 2008 (see the calendar of events onpage 34 for more information), the financialsituation of MPF and the officers for 2008. Inaddition, MPF bestowed awards to Joshua andVonda Shoop and Steve Clubine.Debt Free and Building an EndowmentWith the completion of the Coyne Prairieacquisition campaign (see page 36 for details) andthe recent closing of several Grassland ReserveProgram permanent conservation easements,the MPF board has made several importantfinancial decisions. As you read this, MPF willhave paid off all outstanding debt from previousprairie acquisitions and has begun an endowmentaccount at the Community Foundation of theOzarks (CFO).Because of CFO’s Stewardship Ozarkscampaign, the first $50,000 that MPF was able toplace into a permanent prairie land managementendowment was matched with $50,000 fromCFO donors. Board members are exploring othergrant and private funding sources to eventuallybuild an endowment sufficient to permanentlycare for the more than 2,500 acres owned byMPF.MPF Officers for 2008The MPF board voted to retain its officersfor 2008 with a few important changes. VicePresident Galen Hasler has moved to Wisconsinand will not be able to fill the traditional dutiesof the vice president, which is essentially apresident-in-training role. Board treasurerPaul Cox was asked to hold the position ofvice president for 2008. Due to his financialbackground, Cox will also do most of the dutiesof the treasurer position. To keep its slate ofofficers, also known as the Executive Committee,at a total of five, a new temporary officer position,Assistant to the Executive Board, was authorizedand will be filled shortly. The current officers areas follows: President Steve Mowry of Trimble,Vice President and Treasurer Paul Cox of KansasCity, Immediate Past President Wayne Mortonof Osceola, Secretary Bruce Schuette of Troy,and Assistant to the Executive Board, vacant atthis time.Justin Johnson, executive director of theMissouri Prairie FoundationJustin JohnsonJustin Johnson30