Kona Coffee Farmers Association
Monthly Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
March 19, 2008, CTAHR Conference Room, Kainaliu
Board of Directors Meeting Called to Order by President – 4:00pm
Board Members Present
Bruce Corker - President, John McClure - Vice President, Suzanne Kustusch - Secretary, Deb Sims - Treasurer, Colehour Bondera, Nancy Griffith, Mary Lou Moss, Kathy Wood, Sandy Masterson and Joanie Rowe. Sandra Scarr absent with apologies.
Coffee Provided for Board of Directors Meeting
Coffee compliments of Sandy Masterson and Carol Weaver, Pau Hana Estate.
Next month - Bruce and Lisa Corker, Rancho Aloha.
Introduce New Members and Guests
Mo Snell was present. Although she is not a new member, she is new to the Board Meetings. She has a half acre of coffee that she cares for on her own and produces coffee for her friends and for herself. Welcome Mo.
Review Minutes of Board of Directors Meetings of February 20, 2008 and March 12, 2008 as written by Secretary Suzanne Kustusch
John McClure moved to approve both sets of Minutes as written, Sandy Masterson seconded the motion. 9 ayes, 0 nays, Joanie Rowe abstained, she didn’t attend the February Meeting, Motion carried, Minutes approved.
Review Treasurers Report as presented by Treasurer Deb Sims
Treasurer reports $14,646.00 cash and in the bank, with $3,700.00 income and $3,330.61 expenses for the previous month. A copy of the Balance Sheet and the Profit and Loss Statement were provided. Joanie Rowe moved to accept Treasurer’s Report as presented. Suzanne Kustusch seconded the motion. 10 ayes, 0 nays, motion carried, Treasurer’s Report approved.
Committee Reports
Social Committee Report: Chairperson Lisa Corker
The Social Committee has three committee members, Lisa Corker, Kathy Wood, and Mo Snell. They are planning the Peace Garden Event for an evening in April when the Astronomer gets back on island. They expect a cost of $10.00 per person. They are also working on a trip to the Sea Horse Farm during the day. Lisa passed around a sheet for people to sign as to when they are available for activities. John McClure suggested a social gathering so members could mingle and talk. Suzanne Kustusch volunteered her house. Mary Lou Moss suggested a Progressive Dinner between farms that are close together.
Grants Committee Report: Chairperson Sandra Scarr
Chairperson not present, with apologies, Report given by Bruce Corker.
Bruce reported that he sent out letters to the Market Development Branch of HDoA in regards to the DVD distribution and Trade Shows Grant. KCFA has taken the position that we are open to all discussion but believe we have binding Agreements. Bruce….do you want me to include the letters?
West Hawaii Today published an article about the DVD issue. Nancy Cook Lauer spoke to Cea Smith. John McClure felt it seemed to say that KCFA did something wrong, when we did not. Bruce Corker said public attention is good.
Legislative Committee Report: Chairperson Bruce Corker
Truth-in-labeling for Kona Coffee - Our bills (HB72 and SB661) died in committee when Senate Ag Committee Chair Jill Tokuda and House Ag Chair Clift Tsuji refused to schedule Hearings. Lack of support from Big Island legislators was disappointing.
Blenders “Study” Bill - In what we see as a delay strategy, the Blenders initially supported a bill (SB2905) calling for a study of the impact of changing the blend percentage. The original bill was modified in the Senate to call for funding of the unfunded “study” resolution from last year. Having passed from the Senate to the House, however, neither the Blenders nor anyone else showed up at the Ag Committee Hearing to speak in favor of the bill. With no support, the House Committee ‘deferred” the bill, essentially killing it. Mahalos to KCFA member Chuck Moss and to County Council Legislative Liaison Ralph Boyea for testifying at the House Hearing in favor of Truth-in-Labeling and in opposition to an unnecessary and costly “study”. The Legislature doesn’t need a study to know that it should put a stop to what itself has called “consumer fraud”.
HDoA/SCR102Study - The “study” Resolution requested by the Blenders last year (Senate Concurrent Resolution 102) was passed 4/27/07. The HDoA, requested by the Resolution to do the study, is just now beginning to schedule meetings to comply with the Resolution’s request that HDoA seek input and collaboration from coffee organizations. There will be a Special Board Meeting with HDoA representatives on Tuesday April 8, 3:00pm at the CTAHR conference room in Kainaliu for KCFA to provide input and collaboration on the long list of coffee issues identified in SCR102.
Membership Committee Report:
Co-Chairpersons Joanie Rowe and Colehour Bondera
Chairperson Joanie Rowe reports 201 current members, 169 are Farmers and 32 are Associates. There are 94 new members since Sep 1, 2007. She feels the Education Seminars bring in the most members. Thank you Education Committee! Chairperson Colehour Bondera reports that he also agrees that the Education Events bring in members, as well as being very useful to new farmers, so the Education Committee plans to have activities each month.
Estate Committee Report: Chairperson Joanie Rowe
Chairperson reports 24 Estates with two more farms requesting Estate status.
HDOA Liaison Report: Nancy Griffith
Liaison reported that Bruce Corker wrote a letter to Bill Pierpont in regards to the label that claims the roasted Kona blend is Extra Fancy. Just to use the name Kona the green beans must be Prime or better, but the imported green in the blend need not be any particular grade. Bill Pierpont said that there is no rule about using certain terms for roasted coffee so the extra fancy on the label is fine. The use of the term extra fancy is misleading however since it is a term used for green coffee. Nancy said she would continue the dialogue with Bill Pierpont to try to change both the use of the term extra fancy when applied to roasted coffee and to ask for the imported coffee in a Kona Blend to be prime or better as well as the Kona beans if they are to use the term Kona at all.
PR/Promotions Committee Report: Chairperson Cea Smith
COMMITTEE: Mary Lou Moss, Christine Shepherd, Bryce Decker, Cecelia Smith
1. Burlap Bags to come this week. Store at Sandra’s?
2. 5000 Brochures ordered
3. Sent GMO PR, Schoenholt’s letter ,and newsletter, thank you Christine, to Politician List, Press List etc.
4. Committee Finished KCFA *White Paper*. Ready to send
5. Edited Coffee Fest's Press release for them, to be more geographically correct (she was very grateful).. New press release has been issued and we will post a portion of it in the Newsletter, and the entire paper on the website.
6. Supplied coffee photos to the publisher of Shawn Stienman's book on Hawaii coffee. KCFA is listed in it as one of the coffee organizations, complete with our address and website address.
7. Edited all the major photos for the Calendar
8. Wrote the text for the Calendar
9. Coffee [email protected] Hilton Waikoloa- Friday, June 6, to Sunday, June 8, 2008
Exhibition hours: Fri & Sat 12:00pm - 5:00pm, Sun 12:00pm - 4:00pm
1 Booth is $1950. Arguments for: Own backyard, politically right thing to do, promotes 100% Kona Coffee, no added costs like hotel, renting equipment, we already have the booth backdrop, we can sell products and we can pass out Member Farm info and Farm Tour info
Joanie Rowe moved to purchase booth space at Coffee Fest. Colehour Bondera seconded the motion, 10 ayes, 0 nays, motion carried. Cea will contact Coffee Fest to purchase booth space.
Fund Raising Committee Report:
Co-Chairpersons Mary Lou Moss and Kathy Wood
Chairperson reports that at Brewfest KCFA sold $71.00 worth of coffee, gave out bumper stickers and brochures and did much networking. At Pua Plantasia KCFA made over $800.00 in coffee, BBQ sauce, Honey and t-shirt sales. The new booth backdrop was used and was well received.
Upcoming events include:
Aloha Hawaiian Nights, March 29th in the evening. Mary Lou passed around a sign up sheet for volunteers to help with the event.
Alli Drive Coffee Sales, April 9th, Committee needs green coffee to roast and sell and volunteers to work. An email will be sent to members to ask for both.
Coffee Fest, June 6-8. Committee will need at least 3 people to work the booth each day, located at the Hilton-Waikoloa.
Naked Truth Calendar ill be coming out soon, hopefully by Coffee Fest.
KCFA will participate in the Lanihau Event this summer and will also do another EXPO Coffee Trade Show.
Colehour Bondera suggested raising the price of the roasted coffee. The Committee will consider several prices.
Education Committee Report:
Co-Chairpersons John McClure and Ken Sheppard
MARCH: Talk story farm tours headed by John. Planned for the week of 24th thru 31st of March, maybe a weekday as many farmers are at the Farmers Market, however this is geared for new farmers so weekend possible too if OK with participating farms.
APRIL: April 5th Cupping of coffee processed various ways. At CTAHR, headed by Virginia Easton-Smith and Duane Harens, KCFA helping with stewards/cuppers. May be limited number of observers possible.
MAY: Organic workshop/farm tour by Colehour Bondera. Date to be decided.
JUNE: Processing systems for small farms. Workshop at CTAHR, handouts, PowerPoint presentation. Date to be decided.
FUTURE WORKSHOPS:
1. Vertical selection
2. How to rejuvenate an orchard
3. Yellow, red, purple. Which tastes best? John McClure to organize an experiment on his farm to pick and sort coffee, process it and then do a blind taste test by volunteers.
4. Marketing.
5. Grafting
6. Basic metal shop
7. Basic electric
8. Fertilizing
9. Moisture meter and air oven calibration techniques
10. Equipment maintenance and repair
11. Coffee roasting techniques
12. Demucilaging techniques, semi-dry process
Joanie Rowe and John McClure will work together to recruit members to visit new farmers or to invite them to their farms to help them get started.
Website Committee Report: Mark Shultise
Chairperson absent with apologies. No report given.
Old Business:
Sandra Scarr reports, through Bruce, that about 100 people attended the North Kona Leaseholders meeting on March 8th. They reached an acceptable agreement and it is being sent to Honolulu.
Nancy Griffith feels joining the Chamber of Commerce is worth the $250.00. She will put out an email to the Board with her proposition for joining and the Board will vote on it at the next meeting.
New Business:
Joanie Rowe reported that there is a new Flat Rate Box available from the Post Office. 12 lbs of roasted coffee can fit in the box and the cost is $12.95. Colehour informed the Board that PO rates are increasing in May and the cost of the flat rate boxes will go up too. Artie, the Honaunau Postmaster, will write an email to KCFA that the Secretary will forward to all members telling them about the new box and how to get them.
Meeting Adjourned at 5:30pm
Special Board of Directors Meeting:
April 8, 2008 at CTAHR Conference Room, Kainaliu, at 3:00pm.
Next Regular Board of Directors Meeting:
April 16, 2008 at CTAHR Conference Room, Kainaliu, at 4:00pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Suzanne Kustusch
KCFA Secretary 2008
