The board meeting was called to order by President Jean Maday at 7:20 p.m. following the evening meal.

Board Members Present Jean Maday, Tom Cook, Fred Bates, Craig Arnold, Joyce Ross, Steve Youdes, Ron Thomas, Ron Kistler, and Tim Boonstra.

Others Present:
Debbie Thomas - NAMSC-IMSI Trip
Cathi Bates - Newsletter and Sales
Russet Kidd - MSUE Extension
Todd Baribeau - Web-site

An annual crop report was given by each board member for their particular region. The southern portion of the Lower Peninsula was very poor with producers averaging perhaps 1/3 of a normal season. Mid-state was fair to average for volume, and the northern Lower Peninsula and the Upper Peninsula fared very well to excellent in production totals. Nation wide the same pattern demonstrated itself as the northern regions performed much better than their southern counterparts. Overall darker amber syrup was produced as compared to last year. A change was made in the committee responsibilities as Ron Thomas will now chair the legislative aspect of our Association, relieving Mary Douglass of those responsibilities.

The secretary’s report was reviewed and approved.
The treasurer’s was read and approved. Steve is initiating a unified reporting system of deposits and withdrawals to keep everyone on the same page and give him a better handle on what is going on.

Much discussion was given to our web-site in conjunction with Todd Baribeau. Fees were discussed for various type listings. Preprinted user forms will be prepared by Tom Cook and mailed out with the next newsletter. Listings will show up geographically in perhaps four areas for the Lower Peninsula and two areas in the Upper Peninsula. Dealers will be shown statewide. Ron Kistler made the motion and was seconded by Tom Cook to establish a simple listing fee of $20.00 and an expanded fee for an additional $30.00. This will be available to members only. Motion approved.

Todd Baribeau’s hosting and maintenance fees were discussed. Ron Thomas made the motion and a 2nd was given by Craig Arnold to establish a starting date of June 1, 2003 for this service. The motion was approved.

Roger VandeBunte will no longer be our web-site liaison person. Tom Cook will be the man with all of the answers for our questions. He will also be the contact person with Todd Baribeau.

For access to membership lists, password identification will be included with the web-site information. Payment for web-site listing will be made at the time of our annual meeting.

Joyce Ross, of our membership committee, will be responsible to send out follow up annual dues notices to unpaid members. This will be done yearly around February first.

As treasurer, Steve Youdes will take over newsletter billings from Cathi Bates to relieve her of that responsibility.

In an effort to share more of the responsibilities within the Association, Jean Maday has requested someone (board member or non-board member) to take over sale items or newsletter duties for Cathi Bates.

Ron Kistler has been given the duties for selection of honorary member ships. A listing of these responsibilities is enclosed within the minutes.

Jean Maday encouraged us to be thinking of eligible persons willing to serve as future board members.

This year’s fall tour will be handled directly by Terry DeLoughary and Mark Majszak. The tour will begin in the Bark River area and travel eastward through the Upper Peninsula.

The fall tour for 2004 is tentatively scheduled for the Blanchard area with the Doodles hosting.

Debbie Thomas informed us that 21 people have so far reserved train tickets for the NAMSC-IMSI Tour. The train will depart from Windsor and travel eastward to Nova Scotia.

We are “locked in” for our annual meeting at the Doherty Hotel once again for January 2004. Other locations were looked into for possible meeting sites but due to complications in scheduling, rooms, winter sports, etc, no change was made for location.

An audit of the treasurer’s books will be done at the Fall Tour on Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m. by Jean Maday, Joyce Ross and Debbie Thomas.

The promotional brochure “It’s Spring” will be re-done and updated at some point in time. We still have about 10,00 copies on hand.

The video library responsibilities will be delegated to Tim Boonstra.

Jean Maday gave all members copies of the MMSA constitution and by-laws. This document will be reviewed at a future meeting.

A grant solicitation was received for the Guyer and Seevers Chair in Natural Resources Conservation. No action was taken on this request at the present.

Next Board Meeting: September 27th, following the Fall Tour. Next General Membership Meeting: Fall Tour, September 27, 2003

Meeting adjourned at 9:50 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,
Tim Boonstra, Secretary