2025 NCRAAO Board of Directors Meeting – at conference
MINUTES
NCRAAO CONFERENCE MEETING
McDowell/Tuttle Room
Hilton Garden Inn Manhattan
410 S 3rd Street, Manhattan, KS 66502
Monday, June 16, 2025
President Lisa Berg called the meeting to order at 5:08 p.m.
Roll Call/Introductions:
Iowa: Christy Tinnes, Larry Andreesen, Ray Armel
Kansas: Lisa Berg (President), Robin Knoblauch, Kelly DesLauriers
North Dakota: Deb Kirschenheiter, Don Flaherty (president-elect)
Nebraska: Neal Dethlefs, Amy Peterson, *Michelle Robinson (Past President)
South Dakota: Shannon Rittberger, Joshua Marbach
Secretary: Dixie Saunders
Treasurer: Rownea Gerbracht
Hospitality: Mel Obbink, Ryan Poots, Reed Kinne
Webmaster: *Steve Miner
Also present was IAAO President Donna VanderVries.
(* Denotes virtual attendees)
2025 Kansas Conference Information: President Berg reported a preliminary count of 170 attendees and 16 vendors registered for the Manhattan Conference. She said that all the instructors are lined up to provide a total of sixteen educational sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday. North Dakota will be hosting hospitality in the Big Blue River/Ft. Riley Room.
Hospitality Committee Update: Committee Secretary/Treasurer Kinne reported that the sixteen vendors attending the conference have all paid now, but there were some payment issues due to the fees for vendor set-ups and their registrations for attendance each being handled differently. He said the food in the hospitality room will be paid for by KCAA. Vendor-sponsored cash prizes will be given away during breaks. Vendor proceeds will go to the KCAA first and then be directed to Kansas’ NCRAAO account.
2026 Conference Update: President-Elect Flaherty reported on the NCRAAO Conference to be held August 10-14, 2026, at the Astoria Hotel in Dickinson, North Dakota. The schedule runs a day later than typical with early arrival/golfer hospitality being Monday night, and the NCRAAO Conference Board meeting at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, August 11th. The pre-conference golf tournament will be held on Tuesday afternoon at Bully Pulpit in Medora. The President’s Reception and auction will be that evening in Dickinson. He said there will be 9 hours of educational offerings on Wednesday and Thursday. For entertainment, attendees will be bused to Medora on Wednesday afternoon to tour the Teddy Roosevelt Presidential Library and enjoy a pitchfork steak fondue and The Medora Musical. Thursday’s banquet will include a mystery dinner theater.
Flaherty reported that the 2025 Annual Executive Board Meeting and hotel tour is scheduled for Monday, September 8th at the Astoria Hotel Convention Center in Dickinson. The early arrival date is Saturday, September 6th. Golf at Bully Pulpit and the Annual Directors’ Dinner will be on Sunday, September 7th.
2027 Conference Update: No report was given.
Proposal for Amendment to By-Laws: Members reviewed submitted changes which included defining the executive committee and streamlining the officer elections, successions, and terms. Following discussion, a motion by Knoblauch, second by Andreesen to table the agenda item to allow time for further review. Motion carried.
Other Business: Concerns about vendor payment methods and the need for a new key executor for the bank account were raised. Kinne will continue to work on canceling the Wells Fargo account.
The meeting concluded with a discussion on potential logo changes for the association. Anyone can submit NCRAAO logo ideas until August 15th.
Motion by Rittberger, second by Armel to adjourn at 5:47 p.m. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Dixie Saunders
NCRAAO Secretary
