BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
JUNE 25, 1998

The meeting was called to order at 7:08 PM by John Anton.

Present: John Anton, Mary Douglass, Earl Girard, Larry Haigh, Paul Williams, Carl Witte.

Excused: Marv Besteman, Ron Kistler, Brian Vissers.

Mary Douglass presented minutes of the May 2, 1998 meeting. On motion of Williams and Girard they were approved.

Larry Haigh presented the financial report. On motion of Douglass and Williams they were approved.

The bills were read.

John Anton gave the President's report and Annual Meeting report The Annual Meeting has been finalized with the Doherty Hotel for January 23, 1999. As our membership continues to grow we will use the entire conference room for the meeting and place the exhibitors in the lobby area.

We will again have breakout sessions in the afternoon with a featured speaker in the morning. John was asked to look into a less expensive continental breakfast option rather than the currently contracted $4.25 per person breakfast.

Mary Douglass gave the legislative report. She read a letter from Michigan Dept of Agriculture indicating that the term "maple cream" is indeed acceptable and will receive no regulatory action. John Anton shared the statistical report on maple production from M.A.S.S. . He will contact their office to suggest a simplified form of reporting production.

Carl Witte reported that the transition from him to Cathi Bates as editor is going smoothly.

Larry Haigh reported on the Fall Tour. He indicated he will be preparing a newsletter article with a history and information on each of the four stops.

The 1999 budget was presented by John Anton and Larry Haigh.

Mary Douglass presented the Promotion Committee report. She recommended our involvement with the other commodity groups at the State Fair and an expenditure of $375.00. This would not only provide for our representation at the fair but would give us a large banner promoting maple and inclusion in a video featuring the commodity groups. On the motion of Haigh and Williams the expenditure was approved.

The next Board meeting was scheduled at 4:00 PM at the Haigh Sugar bush.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:20 PM.

Respectfully submitted, Brian G. Vissers, Secretary