MEEA Board Responsibilities
MEEA members are eligible to be elected to the Board of Directors, MEEA’s governing body. Board members serve two year terms, and serve on at least one committee. Once serving for a year, Board members are eligible to serve on the Executive Board (President, President-Elect/Secretary, and Treasurer). Additionally, MEEA recently added an Advisory Board to its structure to advise, assist, and advocate to the Board of Directors on behalf of matters that will strengthen opportunities for MEEA members and beneficiaries. Advisory Board members are selected and appointed by the MEEA Executive Board, and may be nominated by the MEEA Executive Board, the Advisory Board, or the Executive Director. MEEA is in the process of updating policies and practices to reflect Dynamic Governance, a method of governing that centers around consent-based decision-making, valuing all perspectives, and transparency.
Visit our Document Library for MEEA’s articles of incorporation, by-laws, policies/procedures and financial documents as well as past meeting minutes and our collection of downloadable resources.
The President’s responsibilities are 1) to set the agenda and run the meetings, and 2) to have and exercise general charge and supervision of the coporation (MEEA) including staff. This is a two year term, with the first year as president/elect secretary and the second as president. It is one of the shortest descriptions because this position is responsible for overseeing all of the activities listed below.
The President Elect/Secretary’s responsibilities are 1) to perform the duties and possess and exercise the powers of the President at their request or in their absence or disability, 2) to communicate with team leaders and staff monthly to check on progress, 3) to take minutes at the meetings (except when chairing them in which case they should designate a substitute secretary), 4) to serve as chief liaison with the North American Association for EE and 5) countersign all instruments executed by the President on behalf of the corporation as directed by the Executive Board. This is a two year term, with the first year as president/elect secretary and the second as president.
The Treasurer’s responsibilities are 1) to keep the records of the books of account of the Corporation and receive and disburse funds of the Corporation as directed by the board, 2) keep accurate accounts of all financial transactions, 3) make reports at the monthly meetings, 4) make all records available for audit as directed by the board, 5) submit an annual summary of transactions at the end of the year and 6) oversee the financial responsibilites of the organization. In practice, the treasurer oversees the work of the executive director who handles day to day management of resources and of the accountant who prepares quarterly financial statements and preparation of non-profit filing to the IRS (the 990 EZ). The treasurer is the convener of the Resources Team. This is a two year term.
The At-Large Board Members’ responsbilities are 1) to help set policy under the supervision of the President, and 2) to assist with developing plans for and implementing policy goals and objectives, including being part of a Team, assisting with the Conference and providing at least one monthly column for the newsletter.
The Director’s responsibility is to help implement board policies, goals and projects.
People Team duties include : handling membership applications and renewals, newsletter, website, facebook posts, coordinating EE awards, working with other groups, and attending and tabling at conferences and workshop.
Purpose Team duties include: managing the certification program, providing logistical support for the conference, coordinating EE grants.
Resources Team duties include: tracking and managing income and expenses, working with the treasurer and board to develop the annual budget, working with the treasurer and accountant to prepare the annual 990 EZs, apply for grants and scholarships, and develop and implement fundraising strategies.
Governance Team duties include: researching issues for the board to consider, assisting with strategic planning, and filing required paperwork.
Governance: Meet our Amazing Team!
2020 – 2021 Board
Board of Directors
Laura Seger
President
(Mar 2020-Feb 2021)
Sarah Holmes
President Elect/Secretary
I am a science teacher at heart with a huge love of the outdoors. My love of nature was fostered by my father, who helped me flip over rocks to look at life below and showed me how garden spiders wrap their prey.
(Mar 2020-Feb 2021 – then this person becomes President)
Carrie Whipkey
Treasurer
(Mar 2020-Feb 2022)
Jeff Birchler, Springfield
I am currently the Center Coordinator for the Watershed Committee of the Ozarks where I facilitate education and outreach activities for groups of all ages and backgrounds.
(Mar 2020-Feb 2022)
Laurie Davis, Springfield
(Mar 2020-Feb 2022)
Erin Graves, Herculaneum
I am a science teacher with a love of everything outdoors in nature and doing my part in helping to “save the world”. I teach high school Biology in Jefferson County, Missouri. I sponsor the Ecology club there and am proud to say the students have done so much to reduce the carbon footprint of everyone at our school.
(Mar 2020-Feb 2022)
Tonia Scherer, St. Louis
I’ve always had a passion for education, beginning my career as an English teacher. Eventually, however, I found myself feeling limited teaching in an indoor classroom setting and wanted to foster stronger connections between my students and the natural world around them.
(July 2020-Feb 2022)
Meredith Spiekerman-Byers, St. Louis
I am an Assistant Professor of Radiology with Washington University School of Medicine, specialize in Women’s Imaging and directing 2 outpatient imaging centers. For the past 5 years, I have been actively working in my children’s schools and in our Kirkwood community to raise awareness around environmental learning and sustainability.
(Mar 2019-Feb 2021)
Advisory Board
Leah Clyburn
I currently work as a community organizer for the Sierra Club’s Missouri Beyond Coal campaign. Throughout my career, I have mobilized various communities across Missouri
Nikki Lemley
The concept of experiential education entered my life when I was living in Germany as a young adult where I participated in a program that changed my lens of learning forever.
Wilford Pinkney
Bill Ruppert
I own and manage the St. Louis office of National Nursery Products, a horticultural sales, marketing and consulting company representing wholesale growers of a diverse variety of ornamental and environmental landscape plants. (July 2020-Feb 2022)
Meredith Spiekerman-Byers, St. Louis
I am an Assistant Professor of Radiology with Washington University School of Medicine, specialize in Women’s Imaging and directing 2 outpatient imaging centers. For the past 5 years, I have been actively working in my children’s schools and in our Kirkwood community to raise awareness around environmental learning and sustainability.
(Mar 2019-Feb 2021)
Staff
Lesli Moylan
Executive Director
Nick Speed
Outreach Coordinator
I have a passion for urban agriculture, youth empowerment, and gained a lot of EE experience from my time as a Gateway Greening educator.
AmeriCorps VISTA’s
Alaina Morin
I got my start in EE at the St. Louis Zoo in 2017. Originally graduating with a bachelors in Secondary Education with a focus in History and Anthropology, I originally assumed Archaeology was the career for me.
Stacey Parker “Parker”
I returned to my hometown of St. Louis after 20 years of working as a clinical assistant professor and in residential education at universities across the country. The AmeriCorps VISTA opportunity is a dream come true, as I was seeking a way to be a positive force in the environmental justice movement.
Sierra Shields
A high school environmental systems class inspired me to choose a career path in the environmental field. In May of 2020 I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Geological Engineering from Missouri S&T. I’m excited to be part of an amazing team that can make a lasting impact across the state.
Malaya Siy
I am a fresh graduate from Saint Louis University with a degree in Anthropology and minors in Mandarin, Global and Local Social Justice, and Visual Communication. I’m so happy to start my career journey with Missouri Green Schools and AmeriCorps VISTA, and so grateful for a chance to put service and storytelling together in a way that supports teachers and students as they work hard to make their school more and more sustainable and equitable.
MEEA Members
MEEA’s members are the lifeblood of our organization, they’re why we exist and you drive our priorities. MEEA members include classroom teachers, informal educators, community members, parents, youth, and even organizations like schools, nonprofits, agencies, and businesses. We want everyone to have not only a seat at the table but a voice, which is why all membership levels include voting privileges and eligibility to serve on the Board of Directors. We have over 600 members to date, and we welcome you to join this community as well!
MEEA Organizational Members
