FIRST CROP
by John Anton
President, MMSA

We extend an invitation to all members of the Association and others who possess an interest in Michigan Maple to attend the 39th Annual Winter Meeting of the Michigan Maple Syrup Association. The meeting will again be held at the Doherty Hotel in downtown Clare. The location offers choices to everyone in dining and shopping within walking distance. The meeting will be held on Saturday, January 23. The hotel is an historic site, with accommodations ranging right up to the new modern addition complete with swimming pool. We chose the Doherty for its reputation as well as its availability to house us, its central location in the State and its direct access to the Freeway. A block of rooms is reserved for the Association membership upon request.

This year’s featured speaker is William Motz who is a professor of Marketing and the Director of the Small Business Development Center at Lansing Community College. He will speak to us on Small Business Planning, both financial and marketing. Bill will also participate in one of the Breakout Sessions in the afternoon. Bill also directs the development of a Strategic Plan for the Association. The questionnaire you received in the fall was part of that process.

The Association will again sponsor the Annual Maple Syrup Contest. We have made some changes to speed up the process so the winners can be announced and some discussion can be made on the results. Bring in a pint of your very best so we can determine if the U.P., the northern lower, or which other part of the State made the best syrup in 1998.

Two members of the Board of Directors are completing their terms and have announced that they will not be seeking re-election. We wish to thank Paul Williams of Mesick and Earl Girard of Hesperia for their years of service to the Maple industry in Michigan and their guidance in keeping the rest of us on course. Each has hosted varying segments of the fall tours. Their input and knowledge will be greatly missed by the Board. We wish them well in their "retirement". Several nominees will be presented for your consideration at the Annual Meeting. Please consider each and cast your vote for the ones that you want to represent you as we proceed in the business of the Association. The strength of an organization lies in the participation of the membership.

On Saturday, September 26, over one hundred members of the Association gathered for the Annual Fall Tour. Tour coordinator Larry Haigh scheduled stops at the Tim & Tammy Broadbeck 600 tap operation, the Wayne & Marian Pennock 800 tap operation, the Larry & Karen Haigh 435 tap collection site and the Joyce & Amos Haigh 2000 tap finishing facility. We thank each of you for allowing us to share in your operations and gather some valuable lessons. It is because of your participation that this annual event continues to grow, and ideas for the improvement of all of our operations can be achieved.

We would like to take particular note of the accomplishments of one of our very own. Mary Fogle Douglass was elected Vice President of the International Maple Syrup Institute (IMSI) at the recent fall Meeting. The way that group works, Mary will ascend to the Presidency in two years. We knew Mary was capable long ago when we elected her President of the Association. We are glad that the international group also recognized her abilities and have asked her to assume a leadership role in this very important organization representing all the Maple in North America. I do not personally know of a better person to be in a leadership position, not only for producers in Michigan, but for the Maple industry in its entirety. Her background and training in the Maple industry is a positive step for the Industry. Congratulations Mary, you're the right person for the job.

Please consider joining us at the Annual Meeting. Every year this event gets larger and larger. Maple syrup suppliers will be on exhibit, and several educational sessions will be simultaneously running in the afternoon. The syrup contest, good company and common fellowship await you. We look forward to seeing you on Saturday, January 23. In the meantime, the Board of Directors of the Michigan Maple Syrup Association and I wish you and your family a very Blessed and Merry Christmas and a happy and joyous New Year.

John Anton, President
Michigan Maple Syrup Association