KONA COFFEE FARMERS ASSOCIATION
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING, April 21, 2015, CTAHR Conference Room, Kainaliu
Board Members Present: Tom Butler, Anita Kelleher, Bruce Corker, Kurt Schweickhard, Colehour Bondera, Kally Goschke, Randy Phillips, Judy Schuman, Suzanne Shriner, Cea Smith, Allan Wong
Guests: Bryce Decker, Hans Eckart, Mary Robblee
Call to Order at 3:00 pm by President Tom Butler.
100% Kona Coffee provided by Bruce Corker and Tom Butler Thank you.
Coffee next month: Randy Phillips
March Minutes, as amended—Kurt moved to accept the minutes with a second from Randy. Motion passed.
January 11, 2015 Minutes (Election of Officers)—Colehour moved to accept these minutes with a second from Kurt. Motion passed.
Treasurer’s Report—Kurt reported on and reviewed the Profit and Loss for March 2015 and the Balance Sheet as of April 19, 2015. Suzanne moved to accept the Treasurer’s report with a second from Kally. Motion passed.
NEW BUSINESS
- Budget Explanation—Kurt passed out a memo with attachments to committee chairs and gave an explanation of the procedures for developing the 2015-2016 Budget. A meeting for presentation of committees’ budget proposals and development of a proposed budget was set for Tuesday May 12 at 3:00 pm in the CTAHR Conference Room. The proposed Budget will be presented to the Board at the June meeting.
- HANO Workshop Proposal—Cea reviewed the HANO (Hawaii Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations) proposal for a 2 hour workshop to provide nonprofit governance training for KCFA Board members. After discussion, Cea moved, with a second by Colehour, to accept the proposal and to proceed with the scheduling of the workshop. Motion passed.
OLD BUSINESS
- Holuakoa Café Fundraiser—Anita reported that Fundraising/Social Events committee is continuing to explore the scheduling of a dinner event—with the Holuakoa Gardens, Daylight Mind, and other locations being considered.
- HDOA Grant—Colehour reported that there was a refresher CBB workshop held in March; that the third quarter report (Jan/Feb/March) has been submitted to the HDOA along with a request for a one-year extension of the period for B. bassiana subsidy payments for eligible farmers. Kurt noted that there has been substantial use of the voucher subsidies by farmers in March and April.
- Tom Greenwell Fraud Concern—Tom Butler reported that he had communicated to Tom Greenwell KCFA’s interest in working with him on seeking investigation by the authorities of Tom Greenwell’s Kona coffee fraud concerns as highlighted in the December 2014 issue of Honolulu Magazine. Tom Greenwell expressed appreciation for KCFA’s interest in the issue, but declined the offer of KCFA assistance.
- Newsletter Deadline—Cea relayed from “Independent Voice” Editor Clare Wilson that the deadline for submission of May newsletter articles is May 30.
- MacFarms Kona Coffee Flavoring—Cea reported that Larry Nixon, Business Manager of MacFarms, has taken samples of Kona coffee (including coffee donated by Cea, Tom Butler and Bruce Corker) to the Mainland for development of a flavor profile. MacFarms has indicated that this is being done to assure that the coffee flavoring in the MacFarms “Kona Coffee Dark Chocolate Macadamia Nuts” product is from genuine Kona coffee.
- Standing Committee Chairs—Tom and Cea confirmed the following as committee chair appointments:
Branding - Corker and Smith
Education – Bondera and Shriner
Executive Committee (Pres. V-Pres, Sec. Treas. and Past-Pres.)
Finance - K. Schweickhard
Fundraising/Social Events - Coleman & Kelleher
Heritage – C. Bondera
*Estate-Coleman
Legislative-Corker
*HFUU-Bondera
Membership-Smith
PR/Marketing- Kelleher & Coleman
Pest & Disease-B. Smith
*CBB Task Force-K. Schweickhard
Website-C. Smith
Ad hoc
Board Development- Executive Committee
HDOA Grant- C. Bondera
ADDITIONAL BUSINESS
- Membership Application—Cea presented the names of seven applicants for voting membership and two applicants for associate membership. The applications were approved.
- Feral Swine—Mary Robblee of the Kona Soil & Water Conservation District (a division of the USDA’s National Resource Conservation Service) gave a report on parallel programs of the NRCS and APHIS (Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service, also a division of USDA) to assist farmers in combating damage from feral pigs. Mary passed out copies of an NRCS survey and encouraged Board members and other KCFA to fill out and submit the survey as part of an effort to educate the agency on the practical needs of Hawaii County farmers.
- Holualoa Coffee & Art Stroll—Anita announced that this event (which KCFA co-sponsors with the Holualoa Village Association) will be held on Saturday, November 7.
- Heritage Committee—Colehour reported that the Kohala Center has been selected by the a division of the United Nations concerned with protecting geographical indications to be the point entity in preparing a report on the protection of Kona Coffee’s identity. Kona coffee is one of 12 products worldwide to be included in this UN project.
Meeting Adjourned, 4:36 pm
Submitted by Bruce Corker, Secretary
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Committee Reports for April 21, 2015
Branding - Corker and Smith
Education – Bondera and Shriner
B. bassiana Workshop held March 23, 2015
Executive Committee (Pres. V-Pres, Sec. Treas. and Past-Pres.)
Finance - K. Schweickhard
March P&L and Balance circulated to the Board. Posted on Board Access only page, 10 Month review of Committees and Worksheets for each Committee for FY2015-2016
Fundraising/Social Events - Coleman & Kelleher
Heritage – C. Bondera
*Estate-Coleman
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE-Bruce Corker
1—Sen. Hirono/Deputy Secretary Harden Meeting: On April 10, at the request of Sen. Mazie Hirono’s office, KCFA Board members and other invitees met with the Senator and with USDA Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden at the Kona Coffee Living History Farm in Capt. Cook. KCFA attendees were Tom Butler, Kurt Schweickhard, Bruce Corker, Colehour Bondera, Chris Coleman, Randy Phillips, Cea Smith, Judy Schuman, Suzanne Shriner and Bob Smith. Deputy Secretary Harden received input from coffee farmers on (1) CBB mitigation research and education and (2) marketing and labeling of Hawaii-Grown coffee. On the latter topic, KCFA presented Deputy Secretary Harden with a documents and a letter requesting her “perspective and advice on available avenues under Federal law—whether through the USDA, the FDA, or legal action of the Justice Department—for (1) protecting consumers from deceptive labeling of Hawaii-Grown coffees, (2) protecting the reputation of our heritage crop, and (3) protecting the economic interests of coffee farmers.”
2—SB1051—excluding coffee and macadamia nuts from origin protection: This poorly crafted bill (supported by Hawaii Coffee Company and Paradise Beverages) became even worse when coffee and macadamia nuts were excluded from any potential benefits from the bill. On April 1 the bill was deferred/killed by the Senate Commerce & Consumer Protection Committee.
3—HB482—Full-Time Administrator for HDOA B. bassiana Subsidy Program: With testimonial support from the KCFA, this bill passed the House and was amended and passed in the Senate. The House, however, formally objected to the Senate amendments. The bill will go to a House/Senate conference committee. The outcome of conference committee consideration is uncertain.
*HFUU-Bondera
Membership-Smith
Currently- 285 Voting Members, 35 Supporting Business Members, and 45 Associate Members=365 Members
New Voting Members: John Klassen, Don Davis, Steven Gray, Andres Guillermo, Michelle Joven, Justin Olson and Jennifer Ehmig
New Associate Members: Tony Caravalho and Malcolm Kaluau
PR/Marketing- Kelleher & Coleman
Worked on PR Budget and sent out Newsletter to Lists
Pest & Disease-B. Smith
*CBB Task Force-K. Schweickhard
Budget request from CBB Task Force
Website-C. Smith
Worked on Grant Issuance problems with Members, Website server problems. General Member emails sent regarding: Bb Workshop, March 23, 2015, Legislative Committee request for HB 1051, posted and circulated April 2015 Newsletter.
Ad hoc
Board Development- Executive Committee
HANO Workshop proposal circulated
__________________________________
HDOA Grant- C. Bondera
