GREETINGS FROM YOUR PRESIDENT

Another Fall tour has come and gone which I look forward to every year. I enjoy socializing with other maple producers and checking out their operation to see if I can take home something to put to use in mine. Terry & Heather Coleman and Fred & Cathi Bates organized an excellent tour for the 116 participants to benefit from many interesting and educational stops. A very delicious meal was provided by St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. We were fortunate that the weather held out just long enough for us to get through all of the producers on the tour.

The 2007 Fall Tour location was announced that it will be located in the Southwest Lower Michigan area with new and exciting tour locations. One of the stops on the tour will be at the Volina School where making maple syrup is part of the school's teaching program.

Debbi Thomas conducted a meeting after the Fall tour to get members involved with the international meeting that we are hosting in 2011. Debbi stated that she had a good turn-out for the meeting and several people were very interested in helping with planning the event.

The weather this Autumn has been crazy down here in Southern Michigan with hardly any brilliant leaf colors, unusual cold temperatures and snow in October. What happened to Global Warming? We are already burning wood in the fireplace. Joyce Ross mentioned that they were hanging tubing in the snow in October. Could this be a sign of things to come or will we have summer temps in January and February? Stay tuned for the outcome.

Hats off once again for Ron Thomas who won the Cream contest at the International show in Wisconsin this Fall.

In November, your Board met in Clare to get things in order for the Winter meeting. We are excited with the program that will be offered. It should be informational for all that attend. Our main educational session this year will be featuring Bradley Gillilan from Leader Evaporator Company of Vermont. Bradley has many years experience both in the production of Maple Syrup and the Equipment manufacturing side of the Maple Business. Bradley’s morning seminar is titled: Energy Saving Equipment in the Sugarhouse, which will include discussion on Sap Pre-Heaters, Reverse Osmosis, Steam-Away units, etc. Brad’s main topic after the lunch hour is titled: Advanced Sugarhouse Management, which will include the proper way to run an Evaporator, operate a Filter Press, etc.

Extra time has been allotted for the lunch hour and mingling with our Maple Equipment Dealers. Due to several requests, the lunch menu has been totally revamped specifically for Maple Syrup Producers' diets rich in Pure Maple.

Also, I would like to remind all producers to bring their best–of–grade syrups, cream and candy for the contest at the Winter Meeting. Terry Coleman will be chairing the contest, and it’s always interesting to see who takes home the top honors.

I look forward to seeing you all soon at the Winter Maple Meeting.

Tom Cook, President