KCFA BOD Meeting
March 19,2013
CTAHR Office, Kainaliu
Call to Order by at 4:01 PM
Present: T. Butler, A. Kelleher, B. Corker, M. Moss, C. Smith, L. Hanna, C. Bondera and C. Coleman and K. Schweickhard
Aloha coffee provided by Luther Farm/Louise Hannah
April coffee by Tom Butler
Motion to approve Feb, 2013 minutes was made by M. Moss and seconded by C.Bondera. Motion passed.
Motion to approve Treasurer’s Report was made by C. Bondera and seconded by L. Hanna . Motion passed.
Guests/New Member introduction: Gregg Garrss and Warren Chong.
STANDING COMMITTES - Descriptions of Committees were read out loud.
Agreed: Make Education/Coffee Talk and make Grants as AD HOC
Suzanne Shriner said she would be available to work on (CBB) Grants
The only change in structure that was considered for further action was from the Membership Chair. L. Hannah said that he purpose of the Membership Committee is to listen to the voice of the membership and she can’t do it alone. The entire BOD should consider themselves part of the Membership Committee.
Legislative Committee Report—
March 19, 2013- Bruce Corker
HB353 (CBB Research and Farmer Support)-- In January Kona Representative Nicole Lowen introduced a very important bill to address our CBB Emergency. Rep. Lowen’s bill (“HB353”) provides for $500,000 in emergency CBB research by the Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center (a USDA agency based in Hilo) and $330,000 in CBB assistance for farmers in FY2013-14--and another $500,000 in emergency CBB research by PBARC in FY2014-15.
On February 14, the House Finance Committee surprisingly stripped all the research funding from the bill and reduced the farmer assistance funding to $300,000--and delayed even that reduced expenditure for a full year to FY2014-15.
The stripped down bill (“HD1”) crossed from the House to the Senate and was given a hearing on March 12 by the Senate Agriculture Committee. There were seven in-person testifiers at the hearing. Bruce Corker (for KCFA) and David Case (for the Hawaii Farmers Union United) testified in favor of restoring the provisions of the “Original HB353” and in opposition to “HD1”. They emphasized that CBB in Hawaii County is a genuine emergency and should be treated as such by the State of Hawaii.
There were five testifiers who in their testimony to Committee members either supported “HD1” or did not request restoration of the research funding. All five are listed in the Senate Agriculture Committee’s report as supporting the stripped down “HD1”. Those testifiers were: Chris Manfredi (Ka’u Farm Bureau); Jim Wayman (Hawaii Coffee Association); Chair Russell Kokubun (Hawaii Department of Agriculture); Roger Kaiwi (Kona Coffee Council); and Brian Miyamoto (State Farm Bureau). [Note: Kona County Farm Bureau President Stefanie Delmont submitted written testimony in support of the “Original HB353” and in opposition to “HD1”.]
In addition, Committee Chairman Clarence Nishihara read the names and noted the support or opposition of each person who submitted written testimony—including more than 40 people who submitted testimony in support of the “Original HB353” and in opposition to “HD1”. These written testimonies were critical.
After discussion and deliberation, the Committee voted 4-0 to listen to the voice of coffee farmers and restored the “Original HB353”. [To review the current language of the bill (“SD1”), the Committee Report, and the written testimony go to the Legislature's website (http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov ); enter "HB353" in the box for "Bill Status"; from the HB353 status page there are links to the other documents.]
This was a very important step in the right direction --BUT THERE IS MORE TO BE DONE. This measure still needs approval from the Senate Ways and Means Committee; and approval by a Legislative Conference Committee; and the signature of the Governor before it becomes law. Many thanks to all who sent written testimony to the Senate Agriculture Committee supporting the “Original HB353”. That testimony made a difference!
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Membership/Volunteers- Louise Hanna
Membership Report March 19, 2013 Board Meeting
Report of members who have renewed or joined KCFA Feb 18-March 16, 2013
Name City Vote Assoc. Support. N-New R-Renewal
Lisa Serna Ceres CA x N
Lorrie Krodel Kenosha, WI X N
Hale Hamada Captain Cook, HI *** X N
Jeffery Belenic *** X N
John Balmores Captain Cook HI X N
Kraig Lee Holualoa, HI X N
Victor Schneider Captain Cook, HI X N
Craig Walters X R
Joachim Oster Captain Cook X N
Totals 6 0 3 8N 1R
Current members 239
36 46 _________________________________________________________________________
Pest & Disease- Bob Smith
March 19, 2013
· On March 8th, the CBB Research team from PBARC gave an excellent presentation on current CBB Research with about 100 people were in attendance.
· Recent observations have shown that CBB is starting to be active so now is a good time to closely monitor your coffee and spray as needed.
· Another observation is that coffee beans on the ground do not seem to harbor CBB. This has been corroborated by others and more info is posted in the CBB Forum on the KCFA website.
· Andrew Yamane has volunteered to be a member of the Pest and Disease Committee.
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PR/Newsletter- Anita Kelleher
March 19th, 2013
Aloha all,
I have been working on updating the contact list. This is an ongoing project but I think I have a good list for the present.
If anyone comes across someone that should be receiving Press Releases and Upcoming Events that is not a KCFA member please
send me their email. I have added Keola Magazine to our "Upcoming Events" send outs.
· Upcoming Events sent out to Media contacts were as follows:
· The Coffee talk March 8 on CBB with the Federal scientists
· The Coffee Blossom Banquet to be held on April 20th
· Press Releases
· Sent to Media, University, coffee people and political folks:
· The letter to the President requesting emergency funding on 3/4
I also managed to get Levi Rugg from Motor Trends Epic Drives to Marylou and Chuck's for a live interview. Marylou said it went very well and they showed up in a $300,000 Ferrari! Hopefully we will be notified when it will "Air" and we can see Chuck showing off his cool coffee processing machines and lovely farm. I think that is it. I will keep a better list in upcoming months.
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Education/ Coffee Talk (Change in Standing Committee Title?)
Suggestion to have Education and Coffee Talk as one committee- Discussion is welcomed at the Board Meeting
Each Board Member is asked to take one Coffee Talk a year unless another is offered such as Suzanne Shriner’s April Coffee Talk. Schedule to be passed around at the Meeting.
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Finance- K. Schweickhard
March 19, 2013
Aloha Board Members; Attached is P & L for the month of February (2 pages emailed separately to all BOD). Notice that included are YTD (July to February) numbers and % relating to Income. If you have any questions as to the report, I can answer prior or at the Board Meeting.
In addition I would like to get input from the Board if it could be helpful to attend a Seminar on "Tax-Exempt Organizations in Hawaii" in Honolulu on April 26.
The Fee would be $349 (not in the Budget), I would contribute the airfare. Attached is the Agenda. It would provide an opportunity to get an overview of Best Practices and get first hand answers on questions to GE Tax, Tax exemptions, Definition of Fund raising and maybe others. Of course not all topics covered pertain to our situation (Employment, Compensation). Mahalo, Kurt
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Fundraising/Social Events – M.Moss
March 19, 2013
Kona Coffee Cultural Festival
I was planning to attend the Kona Coffee Council's meeting on March 7 and called Roger Kaiwi to see if the cupping competition was still on the agenda. He called Donna W. and she called me to say that there was going to be a separate meeting regarding the planning of the cupping competition that she was glad the KCFA was volunteering to help and welcomed. Roger said the same thing. I am still awaiting for the scheduled meeting. Roger said that they would be meeting with KCCF president Mel Morimoto.
I would like to assign a KCFS alternate to attend this meeting if it gets scheduled during March 27-April 10 as I will be off island.
The banquet donations are coming in very well. WE HAVE OVER $10,000 WORTH OF RETAIL DONATIONS SO FAR - AND ALL ARE NOT IN YET! We have corporate sponsors as well with cash donations (not included in the $10,000).
SO MY POINT, IF WE DON'T SELL ANY TICKETS - IT DOESN'T DO US ANY GOOD! WE HAVE 19 TICKETS SOLD.
Social Report - the banquet is our social event.
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Geographic Identities- C.Bondera
March 19, 2013
The GI Committee has continued to work with AOPA and oriGIn regarding recognition of 100% Kona coffee at the state, federal and international levels.
Working in association with Kona Hawaii Farmers Union United, as well as the KCFA Legislative Committee, it was identified that the potential for collaborating with other Hawaii geographical identity product groups would lend strength to our efforts and some language is being put together for work with the Democratic party in these regards.
Further, while efforts to finalize a meeting of AOPA in Washington, DC during the mid-June are not yet complete, they remain as active discussion. Plans are that either Bruce, Colehour or possible both will attend said meeting.
Next, there is the oriGIn General Assembly in Bordeaux, France where coordination with other GI groups around the world will take place.
Work is in progress to facilitate the timing of the oriGIn event (May 20-22) with a trip being considered by the US French Embassy in which the French are considering flying US origin representatives to France in order to visit and talk with and about what can be best exchanged between the US and France to both learn from and encourage protection and growth of GI products in the two countries.
It is hoped that Colehour, representing KCFA and as the oriGIn North American Vice President, could take such a trip with support from the French Embassy, though this is not finalized at this time.
Finally, it is worth noting that the AOPA is working with the European Union (EU) and the French to determine when and how and if an intern could be placed in Hawaii to focus on efforts to attain EU geographical identity status for 100% Kona coffee. This is a sought after status and would allow Kona coffee to stand equal with the likes of Colombia Coffee and Napa Wine from the perspective of the EU, and honestly the whole of the world who want to know where what they consume comes from!
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HFUU- David Case-
As permitted under Section 5.1.3 of the KFCA Bylaws, David Case is delegated as KCFA's Liaison to the Hawaii Farmers Union United to include the Union's Kona Chapter. The Liaison will report to the KCFA Board in the same manner as a KCFA Standing Committee.
March 19, 2013
The members of the Kona Chapter of the Hawaii Farmers Union United met on February 19. The members adopted bylaws for the chapter and appointed a Nominations Committee to solicit candidates for the Chapter Board of Directors. KCFA President, Cea Smith, Chairs the Committee. The Chapter is holding a special membership meeting at 1 pm on March 19 at the Kainaliu CTAHR conference room to elect the board, after which the board will meet to elect its officers. The Chapter also welcomes the University of Hawaii Small Business Development Center, Kona Office as an Ohana member of the Farmers Union and the Kona Chapter and look forward to their energy and participation.
NEW BUSINESS
SUZANNE SHRINER: CTAHR is issuing new CBB IPM recommendations based on a summit between farmers and state and federal scientists. KCFA has also updated their IPM sheet to reflect the new science coming out of USDA PBARC and others.
KCFA is assisting the Kohala Center with grant applications. The money is targeted with bringing Luis Aristizabal back to do CBB research and
education for an extended time period.
The Synergystic Hawaii Ag Council is giving away fungus for farmers in TMK 8-4. The money is from a grant that is also removing feral coffee trees.
C.O.M.B.A.T. - A motion to incorporate a $20 coupon for purchase of the CBB fungicides was made by B. Corker and seconded by ML Moss. Motion passed.
A motion was made by L. Hanna to supply the necessary funds for K. Schweikhard to attend a non-profit seminar in Honolulu on April 26. The motion was seconded by C. Bondera. The motion passed.
OLD BUSINESS
MOTOR TREND MAG. - Cuppa Kona Farm hosted a group from Motor Trend Magazine. A segment will be shown on the internet under Epic Ride.
Meeting was adjourned at 5:40 PM
Minutes by T. Butler, Sec.
