MMSA Board of Director’s Meeting
October 30, 2004
Doherty Hotel - Clare, Michigan

The board members met on Saturday, October 30 at the Doherty Hotel beginning with lunch at noon. The Secretary’s report was approved. The Treasurer’s report was reviewed by Steve Youdes. Steve pointed out that our expenses for the January and September membership meetings have exceeded the income. When we discuss the future meetings, we need to re-evaluate the registration fees.

Board Members Present:
Jean Maday, Ron Thomas, Craig Arnold, Steve Youdes, Dale Forrester, Fred Bates, Joyce Ross, Betsy Carls, Tom Cook and Russell Kidd

Committee reports followed:
Membership—The newsletter application for membership will add information that the dues are form January-December. The initial requests for dues is included with the January meeting registration form. Quite a few members do not use this form so a second notice is sent in February as a reminder. This next year we will use a postcard method as the reminder of dues. The membership list will be provided once a year in the fall newsletter.

Fall tours 2004 and 2005—Craig Arnold reported that we had 98 paid members at the September tour. The fall 2005 tour will be coordinated with Tim Boonstra, from Fairview. We have already had other producers in that area volunteer to assist. We need a speaker system for the fall tours so everyone can hear the presentations. Russ Kidd indicated that his office has one as long as someone can pick it up and return it and this would save purchasing one.

Promotion—Tom Cook explained that he responds to many inquiries made through the web-site. He commented that we should also send our state information to other newsletters.

Legislation—Dale Forrester reported that the FDA regulation do require that everyone register. He will put updated information in the newsletter and talk about it at the meeting in January.

Newsletter—Betsy indicated that we could reduce the cost of the newsletter if she changed printing plants and the stock of paper the newsletter is printed on. She showed a sample of the different stock and the Board approved the change. Jean gave Betsy a picture of the group who attended the NAMSC meeting to print in the newsletter, as well as other data provided at the meeting. Jean explained that the delegate to the NAMSC is requested to send in a State report for distribution at the meeting. A copy was given to Betsy for the newsletter.

Sale items—The coloring books are now available for purchase. All other sale items are fully stocked.

Honorary Member—The Honorary member was approved by the Board. Tim Boonstra will arrange the presentation at the January meeting.

NAMSC/IMSI—Jean reported that Michigan was very proud to have Ron Tomas receive first place in the cream contest and honorable mention in the light syrup category. Jean reviewed many of the topics covered at the meeting, i.e.; evaluating maple flavor, Food Safety, establishing maple orchards, Asian Longhorn Beetles, marketing forest products, IMSI proposed grades and quality standards for syrup, Agricultural statistics, NAMSC Research studies, and a full day tour of five Sugarhouses in Vermont and New York. The 2005 NAMSC/IMSI meeting will be held at the Delta Trois-Rivieres Hotel, Trois-Rivieres, Quebec from October 23-26, 2005. Deb Thomas will again check into bus transportation.

Nominations—Fred Bates indicated that he had four producers who had agreed to run for the Board. He has additional people to contact. Elections are held at the January business meeting. Three Board members whose terms expire will not be rerunning.

Annual Meeting—An intensive amount of time was spent reviewing the January meeting. The agenda topics were proposed and speakers will be contacted. The registration fee was discussed, as we have had to use funds from the Treasury to support the last several years January and September meetings. The Board decided that the registration fee will be as follows:

Member pre-registration $25.00
Member registration at the door $30.00
Non-members $35

We need to encourage pre-registrations as the hotel needs to plan for meals. Last January we had over 50 walk-in registrations. Ron Thomas will be in charge of vendors at the pool area. Steve Youdes and Ron Kistler will supervise the syrup contest. Items for inserting in the packets were reviewed.

Newsletter Advertising—The Board discussed the advertising rates in the Newsletter. Since a more professional Newsletter is printed, the costs have increased and the Board felt that advertising should cover at least 50% of the expense. Beginning with the 2005 Newsletters, the Board approved an increase of $10.00 in advertising rates. The new rates are:

The meeting adjourned at 4:00 p.m.

Next Board meeting will be Friday, January 21, 2005 at 7:00 p.m., at the Doherty Hotel.

Respectfully Submitted,
Jean Maday