MMSA BOARD MEETING
September 25, 1999
Meeting Minutes

Meeting was called to order at 1:56 pm.

Present: John Anton, Craig Arnold, Marv Besteman, Mary Douglass, Larry Haigh, Ron Kistler, Jean Maday, Steve Youdes.

Others Present: Russ Kidd, District Extension Forestry Agent

Secretary Report: Minutes of May 13, 1999 Board Meeting had been read at the general membership meeting and were accepted as read.

Treasurer Report: The financial report had been presented at the general membership meeting. With no further discussion, the financial report was accepted as presented

Committee Reports

Maple Syrup Contest: Steve Youdes reported that new awards are being made for contest winners. He also recommended that maple cream and hard maple sugar be added to the 2000 contest, in addition to maple syrup. He reported that Terry Deloughery has offered his help in handling and judging the additional entries. Report accepted.

Nominations: Ron Kistler reported that he had several names of interested individuals and would be presenting a full slate at the annual meeting in January.

Awards Committee: John Anton again presented the names of five sugarmakers the committee would like to see get special recognition for their long service to the industry. He asked that all five be honored in January 2000 at the annual membership meeting. Each honoree will receive a plaque and honorary lifetime membership to the association. Moved by Besteman, second by Arnold to honor all five sugarmakers. Passed unanimously.

Promotion Committee: Mary Douglass discussed progress on the video. She reported that the video should be ready to show in its final format in January to the general membership.
Several board members asked about further development and more current updates to the MMSA website. There was concern that the site needs to be more current to take full advantage of the resource and to promote advertising on the site by MMSA members. Further, some members want to have links from the site to their own sites Board members asked that the site be switched to a new web host and that an individual or firm be hired to do monthly maintenance by November 1, 1999. It was suggested that MMSA archive materials being collected by Jean Maday to be placed on a page of this site. Mary Douglass proposed a calendar of Maple related events, including those offered by non-members (nature centers and parks) to promote interest in maple around the state.
Mary Douglass reported that the children's activity sheet has not moved well. Rather than let them sit in storage, she proposed that the Association give them away to schools. After discussion of postage costs and logistics, it was decided to give them to nature centers and parks sponsoring maple syrup programs for children. Mary Douglass will acquire staffing to work on a mailing list and distribute the activity sheets.

Archives Committee: Jean Maday reported that she has acquired all newsletters from 1980 to the present and has compiled a list of officers, Fall Tour locations and other MMSA activities from those newsletters. She is still seeking information prior to 1980. Kistler moved (Besteman second) that the collected materials be documented and reproduced for distribution at the annual meeting at an estimated cost of $250.00. Passed unanimously.

Annual Meeting Committee: John Anton reported that arrangements have been made for the 2000 Annual Meeting, to be held at the Doherty Hotel in Clare on January 22, 2000. John reported that the Doherty has announced a major renovation, which will be completed in several years and will greatly ease our space problems.
Russ Kidd suggested Ernie Bieri, former owner of Waterloo/Small Brothers of Canada, as a main speaker for the annual meeting (last winter he spoke on "The Future of the Maple Industry" for the Ohio maple association). Other topics for the general meeting included the new MMSA video, a forestry session "What's new in the Sugarbush", and information on the eco-spile. Afternoon breakout session topics include a Website Roundtable, Chainsaw Safety, Buying and Selling Bulk Syrup, Retailing Maple Products, Teaching Children about Sugaring, and a beginning sugarmakers session. Discussion followed about the congestion of equipment distributor space. It was agreed that the display space needs more formal monitoring by the Association. Marv Besteman agreed to oversee this project, to include: setting exhibitor criteria, sending invitation letters to potential exhibitors, and monitoring the displays during the meeting.

Other Business: Jean Maday reported that she had received very few recipes for a new recipe booklet. She asked board members to forward recipes to her ASAP. Larry Haigh reported stock of current cookbooks to be below 200 copies. Jean will move forward on this project.

There being no other business to come before the board, Haigh moved (Arnold second) that the meeting be adjourned at 3:30 pm.

Respectfully submitted,
Mary Douglass
MMSA Board Member
for the MMSA Secretary