Brett Dickerson called the meeting to order at 10:15. Members in attendance –

Brenda Chapman, Pam Merrill, Richard Killgore, Rita Geiger, Brett Dickerson,

Bob Ehrle, Greg Thralls, Denise Rhodes, Julie Guild, Lyndal Caddell, Kelly Palmer, Bill Amburn, Eugene Earsom, Ann Kennedy, and Patti Harrold.

Motion to approve agenda was passed by the board.

Motion to approve the minutes from our May 22 retreat was passed by the board.

Treasurer’s report – Ann Kennedy reports that we have $809.04 in checking. She transferred $1,000 from money market to checking to make sure we have $5oo in account so we are not charged a fee as we were this month. Our assets are: $4515 in our 6 month CD, $2,500 in another CD, $6,899 in money market, and a total of $14, 724 in assets. Total expenses since April are $4,032.43 and total income since April is $534.70.

Policy on mileage – board members traveling more than 60 miles to a board meeting are paid mileage according to the state rate.

Board accepted the treasurer’s report.

Membership report – Eugene Earsom – we have currently 333 active members. A letter was sent out to members whose membership will expire after July to reup before we change over to our calendar year membership. They would in effect get a few months free by renewing now. We have 8 corporate members. There was a discussion about placing business cards of corporate members on the back of our newsletters – this will be taken up with Mary who is the head of the communications committee. We will have to look into the cost of double sided printing.

35 new members were gained from OKAGE academies

Board accepted the membership report.

Website update – Pam Merrill

EOI/CRT items have moved into the top 10 pages looked at since the test scores have been released. We have a monthly average of 959 visitors to the site. Pam presented the board with a color graph presentation of the use of the website. A discussion took place about sending this report to our corporate members so they could see the traffic on our website where they have links to them. Eugene will send report to corporate members. Pam said that she could put a direct resource link on the CRT/EOI or Standards page if the corporate members wanted. She could also add new products and etc. if the corporate members contact Pam. Presently there is no corporate membership form on website- it might be good to add a form on the website. It would also be a good idea to update the corporate membership form to include the website advertising and links as a benefit of their membership.

Newsletters were sent out – everyone did not receive one. We need to make sure that return address is on the newsletters so they will come back to the post office box and we can monitor whose newsletters are being returned. Also – we need to check on colored paper and see the price of printing on colored papers so it doesn’t look so much like junk mail.

2004 Leadership Conference – Brett Dickerson and Lyndal Caddell reporting.

Brett and Lyndal were actually able to talk with staffers this time instead of interns. There was a lot of concern with NCLB. The conference looked at data – in some areas, elementary schools are cutting out social studies and science to focus on the reading and math scores – legislators did not realize this and would look into that problem. Brett and Lyndal were able to network with other state councils.

Copies of the 2004 resolutions in the House of Delegates given to board members. Kelly Palmer said that NCSS was impressed by the Oklahoma Council. Our delegates this year are: Denise Rhodes – NCSS Delegate, Brett Dickerson, President, and Lyndal Caddell, President-elect. Kelly Palmer is a board member so also going to represent OCSS. Ann Kennedy is the alternate. The NCSS Board looks at the resolutions it receives and decides what is doable. (What time and resources are we talking about) Anyone can go to committee hearings and speak if you want – so if you feel passionate about something – check the times and go and speak at the hearing. Committees will amend before it goes to the full House of Delegates. States can chose to support one or more of the resolutions. There should be a board vote if OCSS wants to formally support a resolution.

There is a resolution to commend the Minnesota Council for the Social Studies and its political partners. The appointed commissioner of Education in Minnesota selected a citizens committee to draft social studies standards in 2003 and many citizens of Minnesota and members of MCSS found the draft standards lacking in academic integrity and accuracy. The members of MCSS became fully engaged in the struggles to reject the draft standards and replace them with a revised set of balanced and unbiased content standards. The statewide efforts to replace draft standards with social studies content standards that were more balanced and accurate succeeded in the final hours of the 04 Minnesota legislative session. This resolution is to commend MCSS for its active participation in the legislative process leading to changes in the social studies standards.

Motion made to support resolution to commend Minnesota – passed the board.

OCSS Annual Conference report – Lyndal Caddell

Feb. 4^th-5^th – tried to find a weekend that had the least amount of conflicts and this will allow us to stay away from the AP conference the last weekend of February. We have a preliminary hold on Springlake Metro Tech – no contract yet. There was a discussion about the hotel we used last year – meeting rooms were not big enough so this worked in the decision to choose Metro Tech.

Theme of conference – Preparing Citizens For a Global World – international focus. The Oklahoma Council for Economic Education has been given a room throughout the conference to do a strand. Dr. Sasser also said she would like to sponsor reception and have some tables around the conference. OKAGE World Geography Academy is that Friday. OCSS gets the registration – food is taken out of that money. OKAGE would then also do a strand throughout the conference. Patti Harrold – is starting Oklahoma Council for History Educators and we have the option of setting her up with a history strand throughout the conference. Lyndal has or will be contacting Peace Corps and others who have an international focus. There is an invitation out to Governor Henry to speak on Friday night as he has been involved in OASIS. Dr. Mark Susser –US State Department historian has also been asked to speak at the conference – maybe a keynote and one breakout session. We don’t know for sure if state department will pay for him to travel – funds are tight. Dr. Susser’s job is to make sure the state department’s history is written. There are new materials on terrorism – video and packet – that we could give out at the conference. Would OCSS board be interested in authorizing Lyndal to offer air fare and maybe hotel to try to make sure he can come? No action was taken on this request.

Federal Reserve people may be available with speakers and also OU has the Ambassadors in residence.

Registration has been varied and debated the last few years. Discount for early registration was given last year. We need to set a deadline and try to get hard numbers for Metro Tech. Lyndal suggested $25 – members, $20 for members who sign up by Jan. 15^th, non-members would be $40 or $35 before Jan. 15^th. ($15 extra dollars is for a membership) Students - $10. There was a discussion on the student registration fee. Conference registration includes membership for students. Need to keep students’ registration at a reasonable amount – 1/3^rd of our attendance at last February’s conference were students. Greg Thralls has already been speaking to pre-service teachers and mentioned $15 registration fee to the conference. A motion was made and seconded to divide the motion and separate the student fee. Board approved this split.

Discussion was also made about no higher education representatives were at this board meeting and they may want to interject into our discussion. A motion was made to amend the motion to raise the student fee to $15. The friendly amendment was accepted by the person who made the original motion and the board approved to set the student fee at $15.

Discussion then resumed with talk about a full day of conferencing on Friday – not just the World Geography Academy – and this might mean we need to up the registration fee for non-students. The Board previously voted on March 27, 2004 to eliminate a formal fall conference and concentrate on a two day annual conference in February. There was discussion at that time of raising the registration fee to $50 for a two day conference. There was a lengthy discussion as to why when we voted in March to have a two day conference – was everything already set up to have the conference just like it has been except for the World Geography Academy would be a Metro Tech during the day. This would only be for geography teachers and not for everyone like we had discussed earlier in March. The question was asked if we could have more space at Metro Tech on that Friday – the answer given by Lyndal was probably not since they have classes on Friday. Could we look for other places that could house OKAGE’s academy and our conference? Bill commented that it cost about $2000 for the geography bee for one day at OCEE. Julie commented about the new conference center in Midwest City by Rose State might be available. The World Geography Academy is 8:00 – 2:30. There would be a separate registration for that academy and the two day OCSS conference. Could we have breakouts after 2:30 until 6 in these rooms? A comment was made that it was not fair to Lyndal to work with a one day conference idea and then switch to a two day midway - however – the board was elected in Feb. and the board decided on a two day conference in March – not too long after that plans were set in stone already. Several comments were made that the board needs to abide by what the board has voted on.

Motion made and seconded to acquire the time at the close of the OKAGE academy up to the start of the OCSS reception at 6 and make the rooms available for history strands. (Roughly 3-6)

Discussion – if workshops have the state department’s name on them – principals will let teachers attend – the board needs Kelly to be involved. Rural areas have same people that teach geography and history and if they are here for geography – hopefully they will stay for the social studies conference. There was also a comment made that we should look for other rooms before making a commitment to Metro Tech so we can accommodate both OKAGE and OCSS. OKAGE flyers are sent – but with no venue listed for the February meeting – so meeting place could be changed if we find a bigger venue. Originally OKAGE had scheduled the last day of the academy for a different day, but after talking with Lyndal – Eugene agreed to piggy back on that day. Comments were also made about changing dates to March 4^th and 5^th – but feelings were that this would run into basketball playoffs.

Board voted 7-5 to approve the motion to acquire the rooms from 3-6 for a history strand.

Discussion on the registration fee motion – is the extra 3 hours going to cost us any more money? Lyndal did not have that information – but will check – doesn’t think it would really cost us anything.

Board voted to approve the registration fee schedule in the motion.

Motion to purchase a Centennial afghan from Ann Kennedy to give away at a later date – approved by the board.

Interest in Board Shirt – it will cost about $4-5 a shirt to monogram – Denise is going to get samples and set up a shirt that the OCSS board members can purchase. Discussion about using the shield off the Oklahoma flag and then putting Oklahoma Council for the Social Studies on the design also. Board members will check to see if graphic arts classes would want to design a logo

Regional reps – Greg Thralls – Greg is already doing two professional developments on behalf of OCSS with pre-service teachers – Greg will give reports when he has information.

Brenda will send a letter to all National Board Certified Teachers who are not OCSS members and ask them to join.

Brenda has created an OCSS speaker list and Pam has posted it on the website. We don’t have very many people on the list – send information to Brenda if you want to be included on the list.

OKAGE World Geography Academy – sponsored by OCSS, SDE, and OKAGE, OKAGE bearing the cost except for lunch. This workshop meets the NCLB requirements. Flyers went out to principals, 7^th grade teachers, on Kelly’s listserve, and to the Curriculum Coordinators. Probably will have at least 350 people. Registration is $75 – most of that for the food. What is left – benefits OCSS.

Oct. 19 – Content based at OCEE

Dec. 3 – How to teach – pedagogy – OCEE

Feb. 4 – Testing specifics – TBA

Focus on 7^th grade – because of the new CRT.

There will also be a 5^th grade TTI because geography is 1/3 of that CRT. Probably will do the same workshop around the state.

Professional development at a district level is available from OKAGE. District would pay the mileage/materials and OKAGE pays for the teacher/consultant preparations.

NCSS – on Thursday can attend NSSSA - $25 - nice breakfast and break outs – also a lunch and reception. Rita is on the board of NSSSA. There will be breakouts done by Oklahomans – Dr. Sue Lynn Sasser, Dr. James Baker, and Kr. Keito.

Reception for Patti Harrold – NCSS teacher of the Year – congratulations Patti!

Everyone going to conference come to reception.

Patti wanted to formally thank Pam Merrill for nominating her and Brett Dickerson for writing a letter of recommendation and for the board for supporting her nomination.

Kelly Curtright will mention to Supt. Garrett about Patti’s award.

OCSS needs to do something for the FASSE raffle – Florida does a basket worth about $250. Oklahoma Tourism board makes Oklahoma baskets in different sizes with made in Oklahoma products. Motion made and seconded to authorize Ann to purchase the large Oklahoma Basket from the Tourism Board for FASSE – board approved.

OCSS Conference – are we interested in none/education exhibitors at our conference ie – fundraising companies – board decided to recruit these exhibitors.

Meeting times – board voted to start board meetings at 10:00am.

Patti Harrold is starting an Oklahoma Council for History Educators – organizational meeting will be Nov. 6 at 10:00 at UCO. Everyone at this meeting will be considered a member.

Next Board Meeting – October 30 at 10:00 at the Putnam City Administration Building in the West Conference Room – 5401 NW 40^th in OKC

December 11^th board meeting in Bartlesville – Phillips Mansion – will be decorated for Christmas and we can have a tour. Hotel Phillips – including breakfast around $60 for Friday night.

Meeting adjourned – 12:35