MMSA Board of Director’s Meeting
May 15, 2004
Doherty Hotel - Clare, Michigan

The board meeting was called to order by President Maday at 1:00 p.m.

Board Members Present:
Jean Maday, Tom Cook, Dale Forrester, Ron Thomas, Craig Arnold, Fred Bates, Joyce Ross and Tim Boonstra

The annual crop report was given by all members present with a conclusion that the season ranged from good to great!

The secretary’s report was approved as was the treasurer’s report.

There are currently 193 paid members in our association. This increase in number is partially due to a follow-up renewal notice sent out as a reminder to non paid members. The membership list will be printed and dispensed in the fall newsletter in 05. The practice of including it with the spring newsletter and/or at the winter meeting will be discontinued.

It was agreed that web site billings will be sent quarterly to participating members.

Due to the increasing costs of our annual meeting at the Doherty Hotel in Clare, a motion was made by Ron Thomas and seconded by Joyce Ross to increase the registration fees. The new rates will be as follows:

Member Pre-registration $20.00
Member at Door Registration $25.00
Non-Member Pre-registration $35.00
Non-Member at Door Registration $35.00

Due to a lack of continuity and our hectic maple season activities, the web site production notes made available by volunteer producers may be discontinued.

The threatened FDA required registration of maple producers has quieted down with no new directives from that agency.

Some maple producers have faced a change in their property tax classification; that change being re-classified from farm status to residential or homestead category. Ron Thomas made a motion with Dale Forrester providing support to nominate Mary Douglass and Mel Kohlling as a committee to look into this type of action being taken by townships and counties.

Ron Thomas currently has the MMSA Tabletop Display. New board member profiles will be appearing in the winter issue of the newsletter.

Nominations for possible new board members were discussed, with several names being submitted. Likewise, several names were mentioned as possible candidates for honorary members.

The 2004 Annual Fall Tour will be held on Saturday, September, 25th. Our hosts this year will be Steve and Lynette Henson of Blanchard. Other tentative stops will be Moeggenborg Farms, Lad’s Maple Syrup, and Shepherd Maple Festival.

The 2005 Fall Tour will be hosted by Tim and Judy Boonstra of Fairview Maple Farm.

Randy Heigleman of Ohio State University will be our guest and main speaker for the winter meeting in January. Other topics and seminars will also be presented.

With no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 4:00 pm.

Respectfully Submitted,
Tim Boonstra