Kona Coffee Farmers Association
Monthly Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
July 16, 2008, CTAHR Conference Room, Kainaliu
Board of Directors Meeting Called to Order by President – 4:03pm
Board Members Present
Bruce Corker - President, John McClure - Vice President, Suzanne Kustusch - Secretary, Deb Sims - Treasurer, Colehour Bondera, Kathy Wood, Mary Lou Moss, Sandra Scarr and Joanie Rowe. Nancy Griffith and Sandy Masterson absent with apologies.
Coffee Provided for Board of Directors Meeting
Coffee compliments of KCFA. Next month’s coffee will be supplied by Joanie Rowe, Rowesview Farm.
Introduce New Members and Guests
Karen Kriebl and Tim Bruno were present. They have a 10 acre coffee and avocado farm in Honaunau. They spoke about the new South Kona Green Market, see New Business. Patty Pekar, Cea and Bob Smith’s neighbor, rejoined and was present. Hawaii County Council Member Brenda Ford and her husband also rejoined and Brenda was present. Brenda reported that she and Bob Jacobson, starting after the primary in September, will craft more legislation to send to the State to support the farmers.
Brenda Ford also advised us that the US Dept of Agriculture is proposing a release on Hawaii Island of a Brazilian scale insect (tectococcus ovatus) to control the spread of the strawberry guava. She is interested in the opinions of coffee farmers. She reports that guava farmers fear it will affect ALL guava trees. Brenda asked KCFA to send out an email to members to get feedback and to let her know what the organization wants. She supplied her phone number, 323-2323, and said she would be happy to come into people’s homes to discuss the issue. There are to be scientific presentations in September around the island that Brenda feels we all should attend.
Sandra Scarr asked Brenda Ford if she thought a Candidate Forum held before the primary, on Agriculture issues, would be a good idea. Brenda agreed that it would. She stated that there is no money allocated to the Coqui Frog problem because the Mayor vetoed the Council’s proposal for a 1.1% increase to the Day to Day Operating Budget.
Review Minutes of Board of Directors Meeting of June 18, 2008 as written by Secretary Suzanne Kustusch
Sandra Scarr moved to approve Minutes as written. Joanie Rowe seconded the motion. 9 ayes, 0 nays, motion carried, Minutes approved.
Review Treasurers Report as written by Treasurer Deb Sims.
Treasurer reports $7786.00 in the bank, with $11,241.00 Income from 5/22/08 to 7/1508 and $11,540.00 Expenses from 5/22/08 to 7/15/08. A copy of the Balance Sheet and the Profit and Loss Statement were provided. Sandra Scarr moved to accept Treasurer’s Report as presented. Colehour Bondera seconded the motion. 9 ayes, 0 nays, motion carried, Treasurer’s Report approved. Treasurer reports that she also has the Year End information.
Committee Reports
Estate Committee Report: Chairperson Joanie Rowe
Chairperson reports that Al Holt, Al’s Kona Coffee, is applying for Estate status. Pat Pekar’s farm will be reinstated and Jenine Boido and Hans Eckert farms have been approved for Estate status. There are now 28 Estates.
Membership Committee Report:
Co-Chairpersons Joanie Rowe and Colehour Bondera
Membership reports 234 members, 187 farmers, 42 associates, 4 supporting members and 3 renew and 15 new members since our last meeting. Chairperson credits the Educational Seminars for attracting the new members.
Chamber of Commerce and Price Information Reports: Nancy Griffith
Nancy Griffith reports that she will collect cherry and parchment prices starting next month.
Joanie Rowe reported that she and Nancy were warmly welcomed at the Chamber of Commerce After Hours event that they attended. The KCFA Naked Truth Calendar was used as a door prize and was very well received! They were encouraged to attend more of these events in the future and asked to bring other members of KCFA. Nancy Griffith reports that KCFA should be in the Chamber’s July Newsletter and in the West Hawaii Today display.
Fund Raising Committee Report:
Co-Chairpersons Mary Lou Moss and Kathy Wood
Co-Chairpersons sold calendars and KCFA coffee on Alii Drive today and made $356.00 in three hours!.
The Calendar Girls were in the 4th of July parade. We won the Special Judges Award, which is a nice plaque that we can put on the award winning shack.
Lanihau Management said that they do not want to co-sponsor the Kona Coffee Fair for this year. They do not have any budget. Maybe next year. They have new management. Mary Lou will check into doing it some
Upcoming Events:
The Calendar Girls are going to be in the Bill Fisher Parade on July 27th at 2 p.m.
Don’t forget to save the date of November 16th for the KCFA Banquet.
Norm Sakata called Mary Lou and wanted to know if KCFA would donate 2 oz. packages of 100% Kona Coffee. They are going to Japan on July 25-27 to one of Japan’s biggest events with an estimated 300,000 attendees. If anyone wants to donate 2 or 4 oz. bags of coffee, please call Mary Lou before July 21.
Still need volunteers for Elections. Sept. 20 and Nov. 4. Suzanne Kustusch and Karen Kriebl volunteered.
Vendors from Coffee Fest sent Mary Lou some information to share with members:
Pacific Bag sent some of their new samples and TightVac sent some brochures and a price list. Both company’s materials were passed around to those present.
Website Committee Report: Chairperson Mark Shultise
The website is running smoothly.
Website Sub-Committee Report: Cea Smith
The Website Sub-Committee met and recommended that KCFA invest up to $2,000 to redesign our website to emphasize the “Buy Direct From Farmers” aspect and to make the website more easily navigable. The Committee recommended that we make it very different from the KCC website, make it visually attractive, full of data and clearly distinguishable from any other coffee site. There is an anonymous $500 donation towards this project. President called for a motion to accept the Committee’s recommendation. Suzanne Kustusch moved that the Board accept the Committees recommendation and allocate the funds. Joanie Rowe seconded the motion. There followed discussion about changing the current website versus starting a new one. President called for a vote. 9 ayes, 0 nays, motion carried.
Social Committee Report: Chairperson Lisa Corker
KCFA Social Event:
Paleaku Peace Garden Tour guided by Kathy Wood, on Sunday August 3, 08 at 3:30pm. Kathy has made special arrangements with the Garden to provide KCFA members with this very special opportunity. There will be a fee of $5.00 per person for the tour. The guided tour will be followed by a Pupus and Wine get-together at Kathy and Merle Wood’s home in McCoy Plantation. Pupus and wine will be provided and members are also encouraged to bring their favorite appetizer and and additional beverages. The invitation and directions both to the Garden and to the Wood’s will be sent out to members closer to the date of this event.
Education Committee Report:
Co-Chairpersons John McClure and Ken Sheppard
Small scale on-farm processing workshop went well, over 40 attendees. Special thanks to Bob Nelson and Chuck Moss for adding to the presentations.
John McClure will organize small group farm tours for information on:
How to adjust hand cranked pulpers and different types of wet milling.
Virginia Easton-Smith will do a Twig Borer Seminar in August and Calibrating Moisture Meters in September. Ken Sheppard and Chuck Moss may do a follow-up Seminar on Moisture Meters to help farmers understand what the figures are based upon.
Legislative Committee Report: Chairperson Bruce Corker
1) STARBUCKS: As highlighted in the July Newsletter’s lead article, Starbucks--at KCFA’s request--has voluntarily elected to stop using the name “Kona Blend” on its packages of its 10% blend. The new name for Starbucks’ blend is “KOPELANI”. We are delighted that Starbucks is supporting Kona’s coffee farmers and is showing respect for the “Kona Coffee” name. Our Question: With Starbucks’ example of corporate integrity, when will Hawaii’s corporate blenders stand up and follow suit? (Not to mention our State Legislature!)
2) UPCOMING ELECTIONS: With the fast approaching primaries in September and elections in November, the Legislative Committee will be working on candidate questionnaires addressing coffee issues and is considering a candidates forum on agricultural issues. If you are interested in helping, call Bruce at 322-1740.
PR/Promotions Committee Report: Chairperson Cea Smith
1) Politician’s packet sent. With Bruce’s help, we came up with a list of 35 of the most influential politicians including our 4 Federal Legislators, the Governor and Lt. Governor, and 29 Hawaii State Legislators, and sent them packets of:
-Cover Letter – looking forward to their suggestions and support in the upcoming Legislative Session
We also included in each packet:
-Calendar
-County Resolution of 11/07
-KCFA 10% Blend Resolution written by KCFA in April of 2006
-State Democrat Resolution of May 2008, and was sent to all but the 4 Republicans.
Mailed on 06.30.08
This expensive PR was sent now with the feeling that politicians are having an easy summer time, and our packets would more apt to be read now, than in the busy Legislative session when staffer rip open the heaps of mail and hand over what the staffer thinks important. We are sure the various Legislators will not forget our mid-summer packet. The Calendars cost us approximately $6 each or a total of $210 plus $58.69 for postage for a total of $268.69. The paper and ink were contributed, so there was no printing cost.
2)Sent out note to general membership regarding promotional opportunity for members about Jennifer Tsuji’s request for Kona coffee for gift baskets and a Hawaii delegation reception at the Democratic National Convention in Denver.
3) Need Board Approval to order one banner to be used in Cultural Festival, and Alii Drive. COST: $116.00. Deb Sims moved to approve the purchase of the banner. Colehour Bondera seconded the motion. 9 ayes, 0 nays, motion carried.
4) Ordering 100% Kona Coffee Seals
5) FROM Christine edited & sent out July Newsletter, worked table at parade.
6) FROM ML: At the 4th of July parade, played "Calendar Girls" on the cd in the pickup and had 6 calendar girls participate. ML drove the pickup (empowerment) and 2 in the shack and 3 in the bed of the pickup. Had a great response from the announcers and crowd and won "special judges award".
7) FROM Bryce: The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival is leaving for Yokohama, Japan to attend and participate in the Yokohama-Hawaii Product Festival. This three day event is July 25-27th and is considered to be one of the largest events in Japan, with the estimated total attendance of 300,000. The mission at this festival is to promote Kona Coffee and the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival. They will be taking Japanese printed Kona Coffee Driving Tour Brochures, Festival schedules and at least 2,000 2oz packages of 100% Kona Coffee to be given out. This donated coffee will have your own label on it and will give you great exposure of your coffee at this Festival. Those people interested please contact Norman Sakata, President of the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival 324-1509, so that he can make arrangements to pick up the donation prior to his departure, July 22nd.
Old Business:
Ken Sheppard reported on the presence of unfumigated green coffee displayed by an exhibitor at the Coffee Fest trade show in June at Waikoloa. There was a discussion in which concern was expressed over the complete lack of response from the HDOA Plant Quarantine Branch to KCFA inquiries as to unfumigated foreign green coffee illegally brought to Coffee Fest and as to any steps HDOA plans to take to prevent similar future breaches of the quarantine system.
New Business:
Labeling Concerns: Bruce reported that KCFA member Dexter Washburn has advised that Jack-in-the-Box is marketing a new “Kona Coffee Shake” and that he is seeking to learn from the company whether Kona coffee is, in fact, used in the shake. Bruce also showed packaging purchased on the Mainland for “Hawaiian Sweet Maui Onion” potato chips in which neither Hawaii potatoes nor Maui onions are ingredients and which raises the question of whether the State is adequately protecting the name of Maui onions, Kona coffee and other Hawaii agricultural products against unfair labeling practices.
Meeting Adjourned at 6:03pm
Next Regular Board of Directors Meeting:
August 20, 2008 at CTAHR Conference Room, Kainaliu, at 4:00pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Suzanne Kustusch, Secretary
and Bruce Corker, President
