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Officers
Present: Carolyn Hill (Pres), Mike Hinson (VP), Dianne Smith (Treas)
Board/Chairmen Present: Jerry Smith, Jim Hill, Ken McDonald,
Don Davis, Marty Cipollini (Mother Trees), Mark Stallings (Orchard),
Tim Chesnut (Publicity), Mark Stoakes (Fund Raising)
Officers
Absent: Marsha Lindsey (Sec & Education)
Board/Chairmen Absent: Tom Pachinger, David Burdette
Meeting was
called to order at 4:15 by Carolyn
1.
SE
Regional President’s Summit
a.
The Summit was
attended by the Presidents of AL, GA, TN, and the Carolinas as well
as Joe James, Hill Craddock and Paul Sisco. It included a call for more cooperation among the SE Region
chapters for breeding and orchard work since there are environmental
areas common among the states.
b.
Long range motivation for continuation of breeding program
would be to receive a percentage of all TACF nut sales to off-set
program expenses.
2.
Action items for the Board and Chairmen
a.
All are to set activities for one-year in advance in order to
set up a yearly calendar for members. Work with your committees and
send in dates to Carolyn
b.
All are to send in a chapter activity report by Oct 11 to
Carolyn. This report is going to TACF at the annual meeting. Items
to include activity, date, number of members present, and publicity
received.
3.
Committee Reports and Discussion
a.
Treasurer – Dianne Smith
i.
So far this year we have twice as much income than last year
at this time largely due to matching company donations.
ii.
She is using Quicken for financial reporting and record
keeping.
iii.
The renewal for Articles of Incorporation with the state is
complete.
iv.
We are looking for a CPA to audit our books in January since
it has never been done. If one cannot be found at a reasonable
price, 3 board members and the president will audit the books.
v.
The Board voted to move the account to a statewide bank chosen
by the treasurer and order duplicate checks with only the chapter
name on them and have 2 people able to sign checks.
vi.
The Board voted to have the treasurer and the president able
to sign checks.
vii.
It was strongly suggested at the President’s summit that
receipts be given for all cash and material donations. Receipt books
will be made available. This will aid in tax reporting of donations
to the chapter. The President will send a letter to all
contributors.
b.
Fund Raising – Mark Stoakes
i.
ARC Grant: $4300 needs to be spent before the end of the year
in order to take advantage of this grant. The Treasurer has already
applied for reimbursement for bush hogging so this will not be
included in the ARC request. Funds can be spent in the following
manner
1.
Tree tubes and flashing
2.
Tree pots
3.
Potting soil
4.
Fertilizer
5.
Mulch fabric
6.
Pesticide
7.
Soil tests
8.
Plowing
9.
Additional bush hogging
10.
Student intern
ii.
Endowment Fund
1.
Since funding may not be available from Forest Service Grants,
it would be wise to set up an endowment for contributions and future
expenses. $3000 will be coming from matching contributions. This as
well as future endowment contributions will be put in short term CD’s
and used to start the Endowment Fund in the future.
2.
Mark will formulate a campaign to kick off the endowment;
perhaps using the TACF 25th anniversary as incentive.
c.
Publicity – Tim Chesnut
i.
The tri-fold displays were well received. Tim did an excellent
job publicizing the chestnut story, TACF and the Ga chapter.
Additional displays will be made for our speakers. It cost $17 to
send by 2nd day Fed Ex the 3 displays.
ii.
Tim spoke on WRGA radio in Rome and heavily publicized our
cause as well as our Oct member meeting.
iii.
Prater’s Mill wants a permanent display for the fair and the
future. Tim will work with Jerry Smith to prepare the display.
iv.
Mark Stallings noted that a permanent “Display # 3” is at
Neel’s Gap.
v.
We also need a display for the Berry College Orchard.
d.
Membership – Mike Hinson
i.
There was a very successful drive at
Berry
College with at lease 15 new members joining.
ii.
Neel’s Gap also had a number of people visit the booth.
iii.
Mike will speak with David Keehn to organize a drive in the
Atlanta area.
iv.
Mike stated that there will be an article in the Temple-Inland
magazine about TACF and our chapter.
e.
Orchard – Mark Stallings
i.
The Blairsville orchard is set and ready to go. People there
are very anxious to help us and will do whatever it takes to make the
orchard a success.
ii.
Mark is working with the President and Steven Powers of the
Science Department to start an orchard at Reinhardt College
iii.
It is important that we follow the test planting protocol for
private orchards to insure that the trees are properly cared for.
iv.
Don Davis will contact Joe Kilpatrick of the Blueberry Farm to
check on the orchard there.
f.
Mother Tree – Marty Cipollini
i.
Will Watkins is the new intern to replace John Lull
ii.
The Mother Tree inventory and Pollination report was given to
all board members.
iii.
Marty will work on assigning a steward (or 2 co-stewards) for
each Mother tree prior to the spring pollination season. A protocol
as to what to look for at each stage (bagging, pollination, and
harvest) will be written by Marty and his intern.
iv.
Some time before the spring pollination season, Marty will
hold a hands-on training session for all stewards and those
interested in attending.
v.
A data base will be established for easy access that will
have complete locations and directions to each tree.
vi.
Since 100 seeds for each line are recommended, some lines will
take 2 years or more to complete.
vii.
The Meyer tree line should be completed with this year’s
harvest around the 1st or 2nd week of October.
viii.
It was agreed upon to have all harvested burs sent to Berry College for over wintering.
ix.
Only one person is to be the contact person from GATACF to
Fred Hebard when requesting pollen.
g.
Education Committee – No report from Marsha Lindsey
4.
Final Discussions
a.
The Board and Committees
i.
Better communication is needed among the board.
ii.
Either face-to-face meetings that will allow for more time to
plan or conference calls need to be made for important matters.
iii.
Once the yearly budget is made, the committee chairmen have
the ability to spend their monies to complete their projects without
board approval again.
iv.
Committee members are invited to sit on the board, but have no
vote in board decisions.
b.
The Nominating Committee
i.
Will consist of one member from each of the committees with
the President as a non-voting chair.
ii.
Each Committee chair is to select one person (or himself) to
sit on the committee and report the name to Carolyn by December.
iii.
It was strongly suggested that chapter officers come from the
existing board or from past presidents. This gives the officers more
experience in handling matters that constantly arise.
iv.
Chapter members may suggest people for election to the board.
v.
Those with expiring terms: Don Davis, Mark Stallings, Jack
Johnson, Jerry Smith, Dianne Smith, Jim Hill, David Burdette
(completing the term of David Keehn)
vi.
Because we are loosing 7 from the board, Carolyn asked that
all current board members notify the nominating committee or Carolyn
if they will be willing to serve another term. These terms may be
staggered in length to allow for better board rotations.
c.
Call Lists:
Each board member was given a list of 20 members to call and
invite to the meeting and to bring a friend.
d.
Member Training:
Hands on training sessions need to be done to assist chairmen
and their committees as to identification, bagging times and
pollinations as Hill Craddock did for us in early 2005.
e.
The October Membership
Meeting Agenda
i.
Prior to the meeting, each member will be given a
questionnaire to identify various species of chestnut and burs.
ii.
Welcome
iii.
Committee Reports (short)
iv.
Recognition for Carl Meyer as a Mother Tree Owner. A
certificate (designed by Paul Sisco) will be presented to Carl at the
meeting.
v.
Announcements and sign up sheets for harvest and orchard work
vi.
Break for Education Tables:
1.
Identification: Pachinger et al (Get various species and burs
from Bendabout)
2.
Pollination: David Keehn
3.
How to Grow Chestnuts: Cipollini and Watkins
5.
Adjournment at 6:00
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