KCFA BOD Meeting
Sept.17, 2013
CTAHR Office, Kainaliu
Call to Order by at 4:00 PM
Present: T. Butler, C. Smith, C. Bondera. K. Schweickhard, C. Coleman. L. Hanna, A. Kelleher and ML Moss
Guest: Patti Pekar
100% Kona coffee provided by ML. Moss
Oct. coffee to be provided by C. Coleman
Minutes - Motion was made by C. Bondera to approve the Aug. minutes with spelling correction and was seconded by ML. Moss. Motion passed.
Treasurer’s report - Motion by ML Moss to approve the report was seconded by B. Corker. Motion passed.
NEW BUSINESS
Election Comm. - B. Corker
BOD whose terms expire: C. Smith, T. Butler, ML. Moss and L. Hanna
L. Hanna will not be running for another term. Anyone else who decides not to should notify the election committee by Oct. 1. Each board member is requested to submit one viable candidate to the election committee.
Board Review of Official Statements
After much discussion the subject was deferred.
Expo Report - ML Moss
The Expo will be held on Friday, Jan.31, 2014.
The Board decided to keep the Expo initial purpose directed as a community service to farmers and farm vendors. There will be no admission charge for visitors but vendors will be charged a nominal fee to help cover increasing costs. There will be no charge for tables to public services or informational booths. The Education committee was requested to request board members to submit subject matter for future “Coffee Talks” so a handout could be distributed at the Expo.
Legislature Comm. - B. Corker
Changes to coffee standards will be presented to the public at the West Hawaii Civic Center on Oct. 10 beginning at 9 AM. The HDOA will be seeking comments from the concerned.
KCFA continues to support Rep. Gabbord’s resolution to the pending Farm Bill which would authorize $8 million over the next four fiscal years for CBB and other coffee related research and mitigation.
OLD BUSINESS
Holualoa Village Association - Coffee and Art Stroll
Jim Perry of Perry Estate Farm will deliver posters for the Association.
We will find out how many open spaces are available at the Stroll
Committee Reports for September 17th, 2013
-Finance- K. Schweickhard
Balance Sheet and P&L for August were circulated to the Board. KCFA 990-EZ for 2012/2013 has been filed with IRS and we are up to date with GET up to June 31st 2013.
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-Fundraising. M. Moss
-Social Events – M.Moss and C. Coleman
Events/Social Committee Report:
Met with HVA to finalize duties for the Nov. 2nd Coffee & Art Stroll.
KCFA will be in charge of making sure farmers are in their proper location and distribute the numbers assigned to each farmer for voting purposes.
KCFA will make sure there are no “poachers” trying to set up a booth to sell their goods (usually not coffee related!).
KCFA will select 3 chef judges from restaurants that serve 100% Kona coffee to add a “Chef’s Choice” to the Coffee & Art Stroll. Mi’s Bistro has already agreed to participate. I am waiting to hear from Holuakoa Cafe. Keei Cafe has declined so far.
So far I’ve made 9 tote bags to sell at the Coffee & Art Stroll with leftovers to sell at EXPO. Plan to make more and make some Kona Coffee Jelly as well. Last year I made 20 and all 20 sold. If I have time, I will make at least 20.
No social events have been planned at this date. Ideas welcome. How about some kind of a Christmas Party? Kind of close to our AGM. We need to start thinking about our AGM date and location.
Plans for EXPO 2014 are in the works. Ken & Christine Sheppard will attend and Ken will ship over a new roaster and do a roasting demonstration. If the demo is not possible at Old A, then it will be at the Moss farm at a later date.
ML
Kim at Xpedx is willing to donate large shopping bags for EXPO with Xpedx logo. If KCFA wants to run our logo on some bags, Kim will give us quote, and will send some samples.
I've reached out by email to Les for sponsorship, buffet food, and asked if he might like to speak on stage to the farmers if that's ok with board of course.
EXPO: Old Airport lawn space to the south of the building is 117' curb to curb the length of the building and out 54' on the flat lawn area. I will bring my graph paper on Tuesday to map out specific's but my rough calculation depending on spacing would be 20 booths at 10x10 for sure and maybe squeeze in 30....
I have not reached out to vendors until we have our letter finished.
Chris
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-Geographic Identities- C.Bondera
Aloha KCFA BOD:
The Geographical Identity Committee of Kona coffee has worked with the Kona County Farmers Union United Chapter to seek origin recognition and protection at the state level through legislation being introduced.
Nationally, the American Origin Products Association (AOPA) has decided to hold annual membership meeting electronically instead of in person. Meeting date is October 16, 2013, and will include all BOD members and be open to members for annual updates and election of Directors.
At this time the AOPA also plans are to hold a February, 2014 meeting in Washington, DC allowing for interaction with European Union offices as well as meet with legislators from around the country, and with federal office staff and appointees.
Further, the AOPA has been invited, and Bruce Corker from KCFA will participate, in a week long trip/tour in France which is sponsored by the French government to collaborate with groups in the United States regarding products of geographical origin. The tour will be attended by AOPA members from around the USA and will visit various producer groups within France to provide examples and open discussion for how to best develop a similar system in the USA. At the October, 2013 KCFA BOD meeting Bruce will be able to update us on this experience.
At the County level, in my KCFA BOD email of June 14, 2013, it was made clear that since the County discussions regarding the GMO topic were not complete at that time, that it was important to support what was presently in the draft of County Bill 79, which since has been pulled back and introduced in similar form as Bill 113. In the motion we passed in June (I believe with unanimous support), it is stated that, KCFA would endorse Bill 79, "as put forth for final County Council vote by Councilperson Margaret Wille". The use of the word "final" was to allow for necessary changes from draft to final form.
It was my understanding at that meeting that I could, and should, represent KCFA as a BOD spokesperson to the County Council on the Resolution KCFA had adopted, and Bruce Corker had the same understanding. That is what I did on July 2, 2013.
The County Council meeting on September 4, 2013 was to further consider the topic, both the original Bill 79 (now 113), and another GMO protection piece (Bill 109 was considered - introduced by County Council person Brenda Ford - who KCFA worked with closely to get the GMO Coffee and taro County Council rule into place). So again I provided testimony to that meeting from the position adopted by the KCFA, as a designated KCFA spokesperson. By the way, I took the extra time to send a copy of the written testimony submitted to the KCFA BOD for the organizational record. It was my intent to keep you up to date, since it does not make sense that for every meeting or email another vote would be required, and what I am testifying about is the KCFA position which we approved through a vote.
There is another County Council meeting (perhaps the final since they have now decided to not bring Brenda Fords Bill to final full vote) regarding this topic where members are seeking to be able to ask questions back to people who provided testimony which they seek clarification or more information regarding. Several County Council members have included my name on the list of those requested to come and be prepared to be asked questions at the meeting, on September 23, 2013.
Again, it is my full intent to be open and clear about this subject and I ask that you all are as prepared as possible to discuss at the meeting on Tuesday as you see necessary.
From a perspective of history, I again suggest that you review the KCFA position (adopted in April, 2006 and on website) regarding GMO coffee. The link is: https://konacoffeefarmers.org/kcfa-business/kcfa-resolutions/kcfa-position-on-genetically-modified-coffee-stock/.
Our unanimous protection of the geographical identity of origin Kona Coffee is critical, and this report is to help align us all on the same page regarding the GMO component which, if allowed, will unravel the specialty designation as well as the understanding of what differentiates Kona coffee worldwide; all of the heritage components would be readily unraveled with GMO coffee testing or crops present in Hawaii.
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-Legislative- B.Corker Legislative Committee—September 17, 2013
1—We Have Legislators’ Attention: In Kona in August there were five separate meetings with state and federal legislators and staff in which the CBB Emergency and other coffee related issues were presented and discussed. The legislators and staff included: US Senator Mazie Hirono, US Representative Colleen Hanabusa, House Speaker Joe Souki and members of the House leadership, the Legislature’s State Finance Committee, and Sen Hirono’s Special Projects Director Patrick Devney. Many thanks to the KCFA members who participated in one or more of these meetings: Cea Smith, Suzanne Shriner, Colehour Bondera, David Case, Bruce Corker, Bob Smith, Mary Lou Moss, Chuck Moss, Kurt Schweickhard, and Tom Butler. Now that we have their attention, we need to continue to encourage legislators, government agencies, and scientists to recognize CBB as an emergency that threatens the economic viability of coffee production in Hawaii--and that what is needed--as soon as possible--is a clearly stated, farmer-focused, and cost-effective CBB mitigation program.
2—Important Public Hearing: On Thursday, October 10, 2013, at 9:00 am at the West Hawaii Civic Center, Building G, the Hawaii Department of Agriculture will be holding a hearing on proposed amendments to the Administrative Rules Relating to Standards for Coffee. These proposed rules will have major impacts on all coffee farmers. We need to encourage as many KCFA members as possible to attend and to testify.
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-Membership/Volunteers- L.Hanna
Membership Report September 17 2013 Board Meeting Report of members who have renewed or joined KCFA- August 18, 2013 to September 15, 2013 252 (Voting) 52 (Assoc.) 44 (Support.Biz) = 348 Total Members
Name City Voting Associate Supporting business N-New R-Renewal
Julia Smith-Kibby Kailua Kona, HI X N
Beatrice Thie Kailua Kona, HI X N
Matthew Simons Captain Cook, HI X N
Paul Dobinson Holualoa, HI X N
Henry Shimakure Captain Cook, HI X N
This month 2 2 1 5N
Sincerely, Louise Hanna
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-Pest & Disease- B.Smith
Invited by Wilfred Yamasawa of Kona Young Farmers to attend meeting with Rep. Coleen Hanabusa. Recommended to Hanabusa that there is a need for more research and farmer support, based in Kona. A research organization like the HSPA (Hawaii Sugar Planters Association) was for sugar. Hanabusa agreed. Rob Curtiss gave an excellent Coffee Talk at Andrew Yamane’s on Friday the 13th.
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-PR/Newsletter- A. Kelleher
Pr Chair Report
Sent Coffee Talk to "About Town" WHT
ordered Bumper stickers from Alii Priniting
Signed up as a member of Keola Magazine to get emails. They do not do an Events Calendar any longer but we can have our website listed in the back of the magazine amongst other organizations. I can put it under Coffee and Art Stroll, change to Expo, change to Banquet etc.?? (Free)
Anita
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-Website has moved to faster server and hope it is noticeable.
Adjourned at 5:35 PM
Minutes recorded by Sec. T. Butler
