KCFAMarch, 2012 MINUTES Mar. 20,2012 Yano Hall 4:00 PM call to Order
Present: Board members C. Bondera,T. Butler, ML.Moss, B. Corker, C. Smith, C. Carrico and C. Wilson .
Coffee supplied by Page& Yoko of Princess Radha Farms. Feb. Minutes were reviewed. Motion by M.Moss to approve minutes was seconded by C. Carrico. Motion passed.
Treasurers Report: C. Carrico . A motion to approve was made by M. Moss and seconded by C. Wilson.. Motion passed.
A note was taken by Pres. Smith that KCFABOD meetings will relocate to the CTAHRbuilding in Kainaliuon the 3rd Tuesday of the month from 3 to 5:30. Official meeting to begin at 3:30. C. Bonderareported that he returned the Yano Hall keys to Dept. of P & R.
Standing Committee Reports
Finance - C. Carrico
Treasurer to receive Quickbooktraining. A motion to create a policy of limiting expenditures to no more than$2000 at one time without BOD approval was made by C. Bondera and seconded by M. Moss.Motion passed.
Fundraising/Events/Social Report - M.Moss
Social: The Sea Horse Farm will be available for a tour on a Tuesday in June at $25 a head. Included may also be a tour of Kona Coast Lobster. More info to follow.
Events: Coffee Blossom Banquet. The table decorations have been decided and the silent auction items are coming in. Our auction items value total approximately $4000 so far with a little more than 1/3 responding. The DJ has been secured and a good auctioneer has volunteered to auction off our live auction items.
Tickets will be $45. each. We are still actively going after new donors.
Fundraising: Our new order of burlap bags are in and need to be delivered next week. Need volunteers to help with that.
2013 Expo is scheduled for Jan. 25, 2013 at the Old Airport
Geographic Identities - C. Bondera
Bruce Corker elected interim President of AOP until founding conference
Date finalized for founding conference of AOP in Fayetteville, Arkansas October 12, 2012
Collaboration with Legislative Committee regarding origin experiences worldwide as they relate to Hawaii coffee origin related legal interpretations being considered by the legislature
Preparing for potential involvement with Salone del gusto and Slow Food (October in Italy)
Legislature - B. Corker
HB 280 (Repeal of Mandatory Coffee Inspection & Certification):
Thank you to those who sent email testimony in opposition to HB 280 for the March 13 hearing before the Senate Agriculture Committee. There were 35 written testimonies in OPPOSITION and 24 in SUPPORT. Many of the testimonies in support were form lettersrepeating exactly the language sent out by Jim Waymanof Hawaii Coffee Company. KCFALegislative Committee members Bruce Corker, Dave Case and ColehourBonderagave in-person testimony urging the Legislature not to abandon the certification system put in place after the Kona Kai Coffee Counterfeiting Scandal of the mid-1990s. After the testimony, the Senate Agriculture Committee deferred a decision to March 20. In an effort to see if an agreed position among the interested parties could be reached, Bruce, Dave and Colehourspent two and a quarter hours in a conference call with Jim Waymanon 3/15 and three-quarters of an hour in a conference call on 3/16 with Sen. Kahele(Ag Committee Chair), Jim Wayman, Roger Kaiwi-Machen, and the HDOA'sJeri Kahana--all of whom were in the Senators office in Honolulu. Despite these telephone discussions and hours of work by the KCFA to draft legislative provisions addressing their concerns with the current certification system, the Blenders/Processors continue to insist on a return to the type of voluntary system that led to the Kona Kai Scandal.
HB 283($140,000 transferred to HDOAfor CBB Eradication):
At the same March 13 hearing KCFApresented testimony in support of the intent of the bill to address Hawaii Countys CBBEmergencybut suggesting that the monetary amount is far too small for the dire emergency presented by CBB. If Puerto Rico can dedicate almost $1 million and Jamaica $9 million, why can't Hawaii at least match the efforts of these regions with significantly lesser economic resources? KCFA also testified that the funds would be better spent on bringing a resident entomologist to Kona to develop a CBB mitigation programrather than spending the money on destruction of infested coffee trees. This bill was passed out of the Committee two days after the hearing on 3/15.
HB 1947(Creation of an HDOA Food Safety Certification Program):
KCFA testified in opposition to this bill because it is premature to proceed with this costly effort before the federal FDA issues its rules under the Food Safety Modernization Actand because the Abercrombie Administration has stated that it will be the Department of Health that will administer the states food safety program. This bill was deferred for decision by the Committee until March 20.
Volunteers
The Legislative Committee continues to seek members interested in assisting with KCFAs Candidate Questionnaires and Candidate Forums on Agriculture--in this election year.
Membership/Volunteers - L. Hanna
Report of members who have renewed or joined KCFA
February 1 March 17, 2012
Name City Voting Associate Supporting business
Lucy Moore Santa Fe, NM X
Debra Sims Honaunau, HI X
Matthew Beattie Huntington Beach, CA X
Stuart Wolpoff Gaithersburg, MD X
Kim Johnson Honaunau, HI X
Dwayne Hayden Salem, OR X
Chadwick Conte Roseville, MI X
Russ Archibald Honaunau, HI X
Jeff Colwell Vista , CA X
George Peavy San Clemente, CA X
Sharon Kirkland Honaunau, HI X
Robert Moeller Kailua Kona, HI X
MasahiroTsukagoshi Chatsworth, CA X
Mark Park Captain Cook, HI X
Nicholas Juba Beaver, PA X
Duane Harens Honaunau, HI X
Reginald Hasegawa Hilo, HI X
11 1 5
5 March news letter mailed out. I found a more complete list on the website and will finish the mailing later.
Pest and Disease - B. Smith
Kamehameha Schools/Bishop Estate has included the CBBVideo in its Newsletter which was received by its lessees yesterday.
A Coffee Talk "TalkStory on CBB" has been scheduled for April 24, 2012 at CTAHR from 3:30-5 pm. Meanwhile, the Coffee Borer continues to rampage throughout the Kona Districts. We still do not have a working entomologist on the ground in Kona.
PR/Newsletter - C. Wilson
The March edition of the Independent Voice was produced and distributed.
Public relations is working with the Fundraising/Social events committee on PR needs for the Cherry Blossom Banquet.
Ad Hoc Website Committee - C. Smith
Progress is being made on our updated KCFA web site. Here is a glance at the new format:
https://konacoffeefarmers.org/index.php Hope you approve.
It is still in the preliminary stages and will take about 2 more weeks, but you can see the new layout. If you click on the buttons-some will be in the current/old format, but some are in the new. Had a 2 hour telephone conversation Friday with Valerie our programmer, on what we will be able to effect. It is entirely Microsoft Word compatible which will make it very easy. I believe this WordPress setup (vs. our current DreamWeaversetup) is much more organized and great for the KCFA. Notice the Search Button and enter something like "CBB" and see what it brings up. Again, everything will be brought into the new site.
Any comments or thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
New Business
"Ka Mahiai" the newsletter to Kamehameha Schools leaseholders, issue No. 3 2012 includes an article titled " Seeking Bid Proposals from Kona Coffee Lessees." KS is currently seeking bids for lesseesto provide its main offices in Honolulu with 100% Kona coffee from KS lands. The winning bid will be awarded a contract based on price and taste. KS reserves the right to award multiple bidders one or more three-month periods or one bidder all 12 months. For more information contact Kamehameha Schools - Land Assets Division, 78-6831 Alii Drive Ste.#235, Kailua-Kona,HI.
We say well done, KS. A suggestion was made that KS consider multiple offers rather than one.
Puerto Rico Coffee Cooperation -P. Trygstad
Page suggests the possibility of KS matching funds for PR Cooperation
Cooperation Report: KCFA changed the PR offer to KCFAcontrolling marketing issues that contain the KCFA logo or identification. PR agreed to this and to more. Talks seem to be progressing.
Andrea Kawabata. of CTHARinformed us that there will be a "Work Protection Workshop" at the CTAHRBuilding on April 12 from 5:30 to 7:30 PM. Derek Shiimatsuof the HDOA will give a presentation on pesticide education.
Meeting was adjourned at 5:50 PM
Minutes by T. Butler, Sec'y
