The Iowa Forest Network is Born!!!
by John Walkowiak, Iowa DNR Forestry Bureau Chief

For many years, the voice of woodland owners, foresters and forest supporters was like our forest resources – fragmented into many small organizations ranging in size from a thousand to only a handful. This fragmented voice has limited proactive forest awareness and education efforts to the general public and our elected federal, state and local officials.

Last January, organizational representatives from forestry groups ranging from the NE Iowa Forestry Advisory Committee to the Iowa Woodland Owners Association got together in Ames to discuss ways to improve and unify the voice of forest users and supporters to increase public awareness and education.

At that meeting lead by Ron Fullenkamp of IWOA/IA Tree Farm Committee and John Walkowiak, IDNR Forestry Bureau, organizations decided that a “forestry coalition” should be established to improve organizational communication, increase public awareness of forest values and to develop proactive efforts to enhance Iowa’s forest resources, for example, the Iowa Forestry Legislative Breakfast. A small sub-committee was charged to develop a “charter” for the “forestry coalition”. Members of that group were Ace Hendricks, Ackworth; Jim and Jody Kerns, Edgewood; Eric Nielsen, Steamboat Rock; Gary Harman, Indianola; Mary Hays, Adel; Will Ogle, Wadena; Ron Fullenkamp, West Point; and John Walkowiak, Des Moines.

After several months of conference calls, emails and such the sub committee finalized a charter for the coalition to be known as the “Iowa Forest Network” or “IFN”. The purpose of the Iowa Forest Network is to act as an umbrella organization/network for forest landowners, foresters, forest industry, conservation organizations, government agencies, universities and others with an interest in enhancing Iowa’s forest resources. IFN membership will be open to any organization, government agency or university department who desires to enhance the forest resources of Iowa. Application for membership in IFN shall be addressed in writing to the IFN chair designating the name, address and contact information for the organization representative. Individuals who desire to become involved with IFN will be encouraged to join member organizations. There will be no dues for membership in IFN, but contributions and donations will be accepted.

The IFN charter was sent out to interested member organizations right after the holidays, with a request that interested organizations contact John Walkowiak, IDNR Forestry Bureau Chief, IFN interim chair, once their organization approved the charter and designated an organizational representative. To date the following organizations have approved the IFN charter: Iowa Society of American Foresters; Iowa Tree Farm Committee, Iowa DNR Forestry Bureau, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Grinnell College Conard Environmental Research Area, Iowa Woodland Owners Association, Iowa State University Department of Natural Resources Ecology and Management, and the Southern Iowa Oak Savanna Alliance. Others are meeting with their organizations over the next couple of months and will be responding. Copies of the IFN Charter are located on the IWOA website: www.iowawoodlandowners.org

For more information on the Iowa Forest Network, contact John Walkowiak at 515-242-5966 or email John at john.walkowiak@dnr.state.ia.us

Final 1-2-07
CHARTER OF THE IOWA FOREST NETWORK

ARTICLE I NAME
Section one. The name of this organization is the Iowa Forest Network (IFN).

ARTICLE II PURPOSE
The general purpose of IFN shall be to act as an umbrella organization/network for forest landowners,
foresters, forest industry, conservation organizations, governmental agencies, univerisities and others with an
interest in enhancing Iowa’s forest resources.

ARTICLE III MEMBERSHIP
Section one. MEMBERS. Members shall consist of any organization, government agency or university
department who desires to enhance the forest resources of Iowa. Individuals who desire to become involved will be encouraged to join member organizations.
Section three. DUES SCHEDULE. No dues are required to be a member of the IFN. Contributions and donations of funds and services are gladly accepted.
Section four. VOTING OF MEMBERS. Voting privileges shall be shall be limited to one representative of each
member organization, government agency or University Department, plus up to 3 at large respresentatives voted by the majority of the member organizations at the Annual Meeting.
Section five. APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP. Application for admission as a member of IFN shall be
addressed in writing to IFN’s Chair, designating the name, address and contact information for the organization’s,
government agency’s or University Department’s representative. The applicant for admission shall be a member
when the application is approved by the Chair in wrting within 30 business days of receipt of the application.
Section six. RESIGNATION. Any member may resign by supplying a written resignation letter to the Chair.
Section seven. TRANSFER OR ASSIGN. Membership in IFN is not transferable .

ARTICLE IV MEETING OF MEMBERS
Section one. ANNUAL MEETING. An annual meeting of the members shall be held during each winter at a
time, date and place to be prescribed by the Chair of IFN.
Section two. SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings, conference calls or other means of the members may
be called either by the Chair or Vice-Chair with 7 days notice to the membership.
Section four. QUORUM. Members present or by proxy holding one-tenth of the votes may be cast at any
Membership meeting shall constitute a quorum at such meeting. The act of a majority of the members present or by proxy at which quorum shall be the act of the members.
Section five, CHAIR OF MEETINGS. The Chair, or in his/her absence, the duly appointed Chair Elect, shall
call all membership meetings to order, and shall act as Chair of such meetings, and the Chair-Elect, or duly
appointed person, of IFN shall act as Secretary of all meetings of the members.
The order of business may be altered or suspended at any membership meeting by a majority vote of the
members present. The usual parliamentary rules laid down in “Roberts Rules of Order” shall govern all
deliberations, when not in conflict with this Charter.
Section six. RECORDS. The records of IFN shall be maintained by the Chair and will be the sole and
conclusive evidence of who are the members and as to who shall have the right to vote at any membership meeting.

ARTICLE V. OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Section one. OFFICERS. The officers of IFN shall be Chair and Vice- Chair. These officers plus 3 at large
IFN members designated at the IFN Annual Meeting will constitute the Executive Committee.
Section two. ELECTION AND TERM OF OFFICE. The Office of Chair and Vice-Chair will be elected by
written ballot at the Annual Meeting. Vice-Chair will assume duties of Chair one year from the Election. Each
officer shall hold office until his/her successor shall have been duly elected and shall have qualified.
Section three. REMOVAL. The Chair or Vice Chair may be removed by the membership whenever in its
judgment the best interests of IFN would be served thereby, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the
contract right, if any, of the person so removed.
Section four. VACANCIES. A vacancy in the Chair or Vice Chair because of death, resignation, removal,
disqualification or otherwise, may be filled by the Executive Committee Board of Directors for the unexpired
portion of the term.
Section five. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. The Executive Committee shall manage the general affairs of the
IFN, act for the IFN between annual meetings, approve payment of all just bills subject to the limitations of Section
504A. of the Iowa Nonprofit Corporation Act, such Committee shall be the Board of Directors of IFN.
Section six. CHAIR. The Chair shall preside at all meetings of the membership and executive committee,
appoint all committees and their respective chairpersons, execute all documents, convene all executive meetings and special meetings of IFN and other such duties as may be prescribed by the Executive Committee or membership as a whole from time to time.
Section seven. VICE-CHAIR. The Vice-Chair shall in the absence of the Chair or in the event of his/her
inability or refusal to act, shall perform the duties of the Chair, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the Chair. The Vice-Chair will maintain a current list of members. The Vice-Chair shll keep the minutes of the meetings of the members and maintain records of moneys, property and if necessary financial report at the Annual Meeting.

ARTICLE VII SUB COMMITTEES
Section one. SUB COMMITTEES. The IFN Executive Committee, by resolution adopted by a majority of the
Executive Committee members may designate one or more “working sub committees”, each of which shall consist of one or more members. The Chair, subject to the approval of the Executive Committee shall annually appoint such standing , special subcommittees as may be required or as he/she may find necessary. Vacancies in the membership of any sub committee may be filled by appointments made by the Sub Committee Chair in consultation with the Chair of IFN. A majority of the whole sub committee will constitute a quorum.
Section two. COMMITTEE CHAIRS AND RULES. One member of each sub committee shall be appointed by the Chair of IFN. Each sub committee may adopt rules for its own government not inconsistent with this Charter or with the rules adopted by the IFN Executive Committee.

ARTICLE VIII BOOKS AND RECORDS
IFN shall keep correct and complete books and records of account and shall also keep minutes of the
proceedings of its members, Executive Committee and Sub Committees having any of the authority of the IFN, and shall keep at the IFN Chair’s principal office a record giving the names and addresses of the members entitled to vote.

ARTICLE IX AMENDMENTS
This Charter may be altered, amended or repealed and new Charter may be adopted at the Annual meeting
by a majority vote of members present and in proxy representing one-tenth of the entire membership.
The Foregoing is the Charter of the Iowa Forest Network, duly adopted at the Annual Meeting of said IFN
held on the 6th day of Februrary 2007.

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