WMA Quarterly Board Meeting

October 19, 2021

6:00 pm

Virtual

Agenda

• Welcome (Donna Davis)
• Review Old Business
• Committee Reports
• Activity Reports (Tim Bates)
• Communication Reports (Suzy Wilson)
• Treasurer (Rob Masterson)
• New Business
• Upcoming activity (Tim Bates)
• Presentation by Cathy Briggs
• Information gathering for annual report plus education for members
• Next board meeting will be Jan 18^th, virtual at 6pm
• Q&A
• Adjourn

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Old business approved by board at working meetings

• Downsized from google business standard to google business starter to save money
• Process for making sure new landowners have the ability to join the WMA if they so desire-
• Rob puts the WMA agreement along with a letter in the closing packet. If the landowner chooses to sign, they will send back to Rob so that he can charge a transfer fee of 50.00 and forward to Cathy Briggs to complete the paperwork with the county and Susan Wilson to make sure the email address is added to mail out list. (The WMA agreement is being updated to add Rob Masterson’s email so it will get back to him)
• Annual Assessments-50.00 annual assessment will be charged during the first quarter each calendar year. There is ongoing discussion if the new member will be also charged an annual assessment. This discussion was tabled at the last working meeting since the treasurer was not on the call. Will bring back up at the November working meeting.
• Page 17 of the bylaws will reflect the fiscal year will coincide with the calendar year Jan 1-Dec 31st

• Insurance for the WMA-there does not seem to be an insurance for an org like the WMA like a POA or HOA. We checked with multiple sources so we have decided to use a general release of liability when any volunteer activities are performed. Darren North is working on getting a form for us to review.
• Members have discussed how to decrease the hog population. Tim researched this and the cost per month for a company to come in and trap a sounder of hogs is approx. 2000.00/mo and it would take 2-3 months. Due to the cost the topic was tabled at this time.
• Discussed membership dues and late payments. We continue to discuss how to handle members who are delinquent since we want everyone who wants to be a member in the WMA to continue to receive the benefits. This discussion will be added to the agenda again in Nov to see if we can come up with an equitable solution.
• The annual membership voting board meeting will be May 7^th at 10 am in person and virtual. Darren North is working to secure location.

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Activities Report

• Collecting Documents from RACC WMA landowners at documents@raccwma.org
• put your Lot Number in email subject line
• 8 volunteers on Activities Committee met on 9/18
• Ecological map of RACC created and posted on website
• Pictures of Wildlife Activities from RACC collected to post on website
• Songbird Nest Box building community gathering 11/6 from 10am - 1pm
• invitations sent to WMA email list - reply to RSVP by 10/24
• in addition to putting together bird houses, there will be members of WMA BOD and other volunteers there to answer questions from members
• will ask participants to sign waiver and pay $10 to cover materials
• should be fun!
• If any members need help with implementing a wildlife activity on their property contact me at activitiescommittee@raccwma.org- we have volunteers willing to help out

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Communications Report

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• Email communications@raccwma.org if you want to add an email address other than the one used by the POA

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• ADD the RACCWMA SendinBlue address to your contacts to keep these communications out of your spam folder

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• SendinBlue is a free marketing tool. Some security/privacy settings bounce these emails. Check your settings to support receipt of WMA emails.

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• This Sunday, October 24th, 5:00 PM is the deadline to RSVP for our November 6th Nestbox DIY Event at the Blakemores. To date we have 15 people representing 8 properties having accepted.

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Treasurer Report

• Total quantity of Members: 155
• Current Bank Balance $7,168.20
• Total Unpaid: <26 (see below)
• Mis-step on deciding to use Xero instead of Quickbooks
• Will be switching over
• Please excuse if you received an incorrect “invoice reminder”
• All payments are recorded

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New Business

• Opportunity to build a birdhouse-Tim Bates
• Presentation by Cathy Briggs
• How will we capture the activities in our community for the annual report as well as ongoing education
• How will we capture the activities in our community for the annual report as well as ongoing education – Review Wildlife Management Practice Log.
• So you know….
1. Ag or Wildlife is not an Exemption.  It is a Special Valuation method, that gives a break of property tax to life sustaining Farm / Ranch operations.  In 1997, Texas decided to allow the same property tax break to those taking care of Texas Wildlife.
2. Once you build a Residence, 1 acre is deducted from your Ag/Wildlife qualified land.  You will pay property tax on the full Market Value of that 1 acre.
3. Therefore … Wildlife Practices should be managed on your Wildlife qualified land.  By all means, it is ok to do them on your 1 Residence Acre, but please make sure Practices are managed throughout the property.
4. Ag Exempt Cards are not connected to your Property valuation, they are a Sales Tax break on equipment and supplies bought for your Farm / Ranch operation.  You can apply for an Ag Exempt Card at https://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/ag-timber/

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• Q&A

ENJOY YOUR LAND