KCFA BOD Meeting
July 17,2012
CTAHR Office, Kainaliu
Present were: C. Smith, C. Bondera, T. Butler, C. Wilson , B. Corker, M. Moss and C. Carrico
Call to Order by Pres. Smith at 4:03 PM
Aloha Coffee furnished by C. Bondera of Kanakani Ohana Farm.
Next month’s coffee by ML. Moss of Cuppa Kona Coffee
Guest Barbara Dalton representing the West Hawaii Council of Governors Ofice was introduced.
Motion to approve June minutes was made by ML. Moss and seconded by B. Corker. Motion passed.
Treasurer C. Carrico reported that our bank account was in good standing and that KCFA’s newly appointed Financial Committee was functioning well.
OLD BUSINESS
B. Corker reported That Safeway Stores in the mainland seem to not have lived up to their commitments to identify the Kona Blends they sell. A motion was made by Bruce that KCFA follow up and find out why Safeway has not met them and if no response is given within two weeks of KCFA’s request then last years boycott of Safeway Stores should be reactivated. The motion was seconded by C. Wilson and the motion passed unanimously.
A presentation was given by David Case on the legislative efforts regarding coffee this past session. The Truth in Labeling bill introduced by West Hawaii Senator Josh Green was locked up in the Senate Commerce Committee rather then going to the Agriculture Committee. What was passed instead was a resolution favoring one Coffee Company’s brand name (Royal Kona) over another’s (Kona classic).
A house bill calling for the felling of coffee trees as an eradication plan failed.
HB280 was not vetoed by Gov. Abercrombie allowing for the removal of State inspection of coffee for voluntary industry inspection. A penalty was inserted in the bill for counterfeiting of imported coffee but not for Hawaiian coffee.
NEW BUSINESS
C. Bondera moved that the $2000 previously approved money for KCFA annual membership fee be formally recognized and acted upon. The motion was seconded by ML. Moss. Discussion was introduced for investigation as to how much of KCFA’s member information will be divulged. Motion passed.
D. Case reported that there will be a meeting in Honolulu on July 27 to formulate rules for voluntary inspection under HB280. David requested that a KCFA Board member be present along with him.
P. Trygstad suggested that KCFA set up it’s own Certification station.
Andrea Kawabata announced that the HDOA is still interviewing for a Hawaii County entomologist.
ML Moss introduced the new KCFA travel cup available for purchase at $9
STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS
Fundraising/Social Events- Mary Lou Moss
August 19 End of Summer Picnic Two Step at Honaunau Bay 11- 4pm. Everyone invited and encouraged to attend. More information will be sent via Email. Mark the Date!
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Geographic Identities- Colehour Bondera
During the past month the action of the Geographic Identity Committee has been primarily to wrap up budgets and planning for the coming fiscal year, and to continue to work with participants at the local and national levels to ensure that the founding conference of American Origin Products Association (AOPA) can be both well received and attended.
It has been determined that some of the funds for Bruce Corker attending the meeting in Fayetteville, Arkansas can come from a sponsored donation from the oriGIn organization, and that said we would like to request that instead of that part of those funds which are now in the budget being used for his transportation, instead the same money can be authorized for use to send another interested party from a Hawaii or other organization to participate. Such a determination/need would be determined by Colehour Bondera with advice from Bruce Corker and approval from the BOD of AOPA. Such a request is simply a shift in how approved funds are spent, however since it is atypical this is something that should have recognition from all KCFA BOD and be understood by the Finance Committee as well.
Finally, with the goal of starting at home and working towards a broad rationale to ensure that origin products are best protected in Hawaii means that in collaboration with the LC a meeting was attended with David Case to the office of Governor Abercrombie regarding HB280 (July 9, 2012). Since Kona coffee is directly affected by this piece of legislation, the goal was to seek a follow through on the part of the Governor to veto this Bill. In the end the meeting focused equivalently on the Governor supporting legislation to protect Hawaiian products overall, and not exclusively Kona coffee. He made the request that we continue to work with him on such efforts, and I agreed to do so since Kona coffee is an important flag among many such products from Hawaii and it needs to join forces to be best protected (especially if that means we will thereby receive the needed support from the Governor).
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LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE REPORT- Bruce Corker
1--HB280 (Repeal of Mandatory Inspection and Certification). As described in the KCFA Press Release of 7/11/12, Governor Neil Abercrombie failed to follow through on his stated intent to veto HB280 and to protect the "Hawaii Brand".
2--HB283 ($196,000 for CBB Control). Apparently because of concerns of "Big Ag" recipients of HDOA revolving fund agriculture loans, the Governor did veto HB283. This bill would have transferred $196,000 out of the agriculture loan fund to be used for CBB control and eradication in Hawaii County. In its public support of a veto, HDOA indicated that it would instead use $200,000 from its Imported Oil Barrel Tax allotment for CBB control. As with the Governor's veto intent, there is not assurance that the HDOA will follow through on this stated intent.
3. Sent out Questionnaires to 34 Candidates for 2012 Political Seats. Answers will be collated and posted on KCFA website
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Membership Report July- 2012 Board Meeting- Louise Hanna
Report of members who have renewed or joined KCFA June 19, – July 15, 2012
Name City Voting Associate Supporting business New / Renew
Robert Reed Kamuela, HI X N
Shaun Fleming Haiku, HI X N
Totals 2
Current Members 239 51 33
Sorry to be missing the meeting. I am in New Mexico. Louise Hanna, Membership Chair
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Pest and Disease Committee Report- Bob Smith
There were about 60 attendees at the Coffee Talk on CBB held June 21st. Thanks to Bruce for taking notes and the CBB Notes are posted on the website. There is no follow-up meeting scheduled at this time. Discussion Leaders pointed out after the Meeting that "CBB is a relatively new bug to Kona, but has been studied extensively for several decades in other regions. While new products come on the market all the time, we recommend farmers investigate the scientific validity of each before investing significant time or money in unproved methods. Proper science is validated by independent third party testing. If someone with a financial interest in a product tells you it works well, ask for more information and proceed at your own risk. Future speakers at Talk Stories are asked to identify their financial interest in a product before speaking". Also it was cautioned that "illegally homegrown, and potentially harmful pesticides bring the overall reputation of Kona coffee and its farmers to treacherous territory"- as stated in the follow-up comments. Again, it is illegal to make a fungal solution and sell it or give it to others.
CBB Collaborative Workshop- Need housing for scientist and son from August 22- 31-Can be split between 2 places. Workshop- August 25- at Kona Hongwanji Community Room. HCFCU has graciously put up $3200 to cover travel and incidentals. Suzanne Shriner
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Public relations report for July KCFA Board Meeting --Clare Wilson
Edited the July “Independent Voice”
Handed out informational page related to HB280 at the Fourth of July political picnic
Distributed a press release concerning the governor’s brash disregard for truth and honesty as related to letting HB280 became law. The press release was sent to 30 hard copy and online news outlets.
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Education / Grants Paul Uster
Nothing to report for I will be in California and unable to attend the board meeting.
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Finance Committee Report July 17, 2012- Louise Hanna
Members Louise Hanna, Christy Carrico, and Kurt Schweickhard met on June 28th. We discussed getting an additional license for our bookkeeping software so that it could be used on more than one computer, this license was obtained. We worked on preparing a report for our CPA in order to prepare the GE tax reports. Christy was to meet with the CPA on Friday June 29th.
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Website Report- C. Smith
Organizing various aspects of CBB information more. Work in progress.
Draft Forum for Political Candidate answers to KCFA Questionnaire
Meeting adjourned at 5:31 PM
Minutes by T. Butler, Secretary
