This is a rough draft.
West Virginia Maple Syrup Producers Association
Annual Minutes
May 4, 2019
9:30 am President Rich Flanigan welcomed everyone to the WVMSPA Annual Meeting.
Panel-Led Discussion with the following topics highlighted:
Homemade RO
Rich Flanigan is willing to share his plans. Mike Rechlin has a simple Bucket RO for 20 taps if anyone is interested.
Steve Childs from Cornell University has some good information on the web.
2019 Season
Keith Heasley shared statistic about his tap production and the use of 5/16 drop 3/16 line. He had an exceptional season
Brandon Daniels shared the minimal depth you should drill to tap is 1 ½ inches per Abby Van den Berg.
Discuss on how much vacuum effects sugar content; you get more sap so does it equal out?
2019 Maple Days
All those who participated had good turn outs. The group discussed risk management and having the Association get signs made so we will have a list of consistent Safety rules for everyone’s sugarhouse.
UPDATES
Verona – Rachel and Adam Taylor shared their experience. Great workshops and Glen and Ruth Goodrich is willing to come to WV to do a workshop for us on whatever topic we think would be best for our members. The Lake Erie Maple Association workshops Nov. 8-9 are probably better and much closer. On the USDA site there is a list of approved ingredients.
Website – Tina Barton designed a professional website for WVMSPA. She maintains it on regularly so our information is as current as possible. She asked if we wanted a log in place for paid members? She has old newsletters, links, blog, contact us and more. She is sharing the Maple Map created by Jeff DeBellis of Future Generation. Tina also monitors WV Maple Chat a page where WV folks can share ideas among fellow WV producers.
WVDA- Deputy Commissioner Joe Hatton reported Commissioner Leonhardt went to Wayne Co. for the first maple days and Deputy Hatton went to Pickens Maple Festival for the second maple days.
Veterans – training in Huntington VA curriculum therapy to learn about the sap production. They met 5 times over an 8 month period. Another group will be starting in 4-5 weeks. WVMSPA member and veteran worked on resources for the veterans. Luke Taylor-le and Mike Rechlin of Future Generation work with Maple Veteran Program’
Charmaine from USDA Agriculture Stats sent word that the Maple Producers are not part of the USDA crop report. NASS will continue to collect data. Commission Leonhardt is working to get the WV Maple part of the crop report. Other States were also dropped from the report. This is important for grant funding.
FDA – currently the WVDA will be conducting maple inspections to avoid FDA involvement. The philosophy of the WVDA is to educate before regulate.
Most important is for syrup to be at the correct density and basic sanitation practices.
WVDA will continue to review labels.
WV Grown labels are looking for more folks to participate.
New Salem School District in Ohio has added to their STEM program STEAM. Third and fourth grade is taught robotics, coding and programming. AG is now being taught. They now have very few discipline problems.
The WVDA has also been out collaborating with MD VA PA AND OHIO. Visitors and customers do not care about State lines. All 5 States are working together on Agritourism.
If you plan to host events at your sugarhouse it is wise to look into liability insurance. Jesse Richardson is a good person to help with liability questions.
Serving food at your events is regulated by your local Health Dept. each county is different so if you are sampling check with them because this is a major road block for many counties.
Deputy Hatton concluded to continue the good work and the WVDA heard all good feedback from Maple Days.
Future Generation – Luke reported an opportunity to buy sap from your neighbors through a Benedum Foundation grant. Sign up if you are interested.
Karen is working on a maple resource handbook. Programs/index/coaching services. Contact Luck if you have any suggestions.
Maple Camp Certification Program – Nov 1, 2,3.
NAMSC Mike Rechlin updated the group on the meeting he and Jamie Schulter attended. One of the main reasons for being part of the National Assoc is the lobbying they do for the Maple Industry. Last year when we worried about having to put ADDED SUGAR on our labels because maple syrup exceeded the FDA’s recommended amount the NAMSC lobbied to make sure it did not happen.
Mike added NASS also dropped Ohio, Connecticut and WV.
ACER Grant: working with Tri State of OHIO WV AND PA for 2019 and Ohio is taking the lead. If successful WV will receive future funding.
Break for Lunch
President Flanigan called to order Business Meeting began at 1:20pm – with opening remarks about the need to work on the definition of Maple Syrup in WV. Mike Rechlin made a motion to define WV Maple Syrup Seconded by Paul Ronk. Passed
Minutes: Cathy Hervey presented the minutes from 2018 Annual Meeting; motion to accept by Paul Ronk and Seconded by Greg Christian. Passed
Secretary Report presented by Cathy Hervey. Mark Bowers made a motion to accept; seconded by Adam Taylor. Passed
Treasurer Report was presented by Keith Heasley. Greg Christian made a motion to accept; seconded by Adam Taylor. Passed
Audit: Tom Darnall and Tom Salvetti will get the information for Treasurer Keith Heasley and conduct an audit.
Membership Report: Cathy reported we currently have 55 members.
OLD BUSINESS
Specialty Block Grant update- Mike explained with the information he had about the following grants.
WVDA 2016 Maple Marketing Initiative and Jake Moser and Abby Van den Berg workshops
2017 Grading workshop and Southern Symposium
During Commissioner Helmick’s Administration we Applied for $17,000 and received $40,000. It was used for public land, half went to WVU maple students and to study various syrups. Also marketing, branding and research design. This is where the $8000 to build the mobile sugarhouse is coming from.
ACER grant 2017 $203,000 – went to WVU Jamie Schuler for maple research, signs for maple day and WVMSPA signs. We have one more year on the grant but need a balance of what is left in the ACER grant. Rich will find out from Cindy our balance.
Southern Syrup Symposium – Mike Rechlin described it as our “Coming Out Party” Speakers and vendors were the BEST OF THE BEST in the maple world. It put us on the map nationally.
Discussion was held on tapping trees on public lands. Adam Taylor said there is a special use permit that is available. He said you can submit a proposal for an environmental analysis paid by the producer. There is a fairly simple process and there is potential out there.
2018 STATE FAIR
Communication issues and Country Store treatment of our volunteer members was discussed. Mark Bowers stated to the lady in charge that the WVMSPA will not be back because of various accounts that several members experienced and the fact we have no area for education which is one of our main purposed as an Association.
The group discussed the change in philosophy of the County Store of NO Education and to push sales of products.
Rich apologized to the volunteer members. He feels it is the best revenue opportunity we have as an Association.
NASS Survey – Rich reported it is still important for producers to fill out. WVDA is working with Charmaine.
2019 Maple Days
Discussion was held about the promotion of Maple Days for Association Members. It was the groups consensus Potomac Highland area was well advertised through WVU and WVDA Clustering Ads and press releases. Some of the sugarhouse participating are not members of the Association. While it is great WV Maple is being promoted many of the members felt as though WVDA and Tourism did little to promote the Statewide event.
Discussion was held that only members and one other sugar camp(non member) was inspected.
Concern was brought up about the association sign with logo is being used by non-paid members of the Association. This is a perk to being a paid member.
Certifications Awarded to Maple Syrup Course with Mike Rechlin and Future Generation 3 day residential weekend to 7 graduates. Stephanie Flanigan, John Kovach, Diana Lambert, Mark Lambert, Lynn Oliver, Joash Battista, Orian Battista.
Kate Votos is heading up the Maple in the Classroom and currently has 20 schools.
2019 State Fair
Discussion held and the Association agreed to be at the State Fair to sell cotton candy as a fundraiser for the Assoc. Rich will speak to Georgia Luke and tell her we are all volunteers and we can not guarantee we will be fully staffed through the week but plan to have Friday, Saturday and Sundays staffed.
The Douglas AG Building is no longer emphasizing the education component. The philosophy is on the sale of products made in WV. With this change the Maple Association decided in fulfilling our mission statement we will be educating to general public about our maple syrup production. A video will be shown on a small laptop with snips of producers throughout the State showing various stages of maple products being made.
Motion was made by Karen to purchase a TV or Tablet or small laptop with expenses not to exceed $500 Seconded by Mike Rechlin. Passed.
Paul Ronk, kindly donated a 30-32 inch TV . Tamara made a motion to accept Paul’s generous donation; seconded by Greg Christian. Kudo’s to Paul.
Mark Bowers brought up the need for a small PA system.
The video developed will be shared with all paid members to use as part of their education component.
Paul Ronk made a motion for the WVMSPA to pay for all volunteers who work our Association booth at the State Fair. Sarah Kimball seconded the motion. Passed.
Brandon has graciously agreed, since he lives close to the fair, to organize volunteers and get tickets for those volunteering. Thanks Brandon.
Topic of a WV Honey producers trying to trademark WV Maple Syrup and WV Pure Maple Syrup…a certified letter was sent by President Rich Flanigan basically stating you can not trademade “maple syrup or pure maple syrup:..
Experience Learning Mobile Sugarhouse update – Mike Rechlin reported the idea came about at the Symposium when Cindy Martel grant monies from one of our grants that needed to be spent. At the Symposium a variety of materials for the mobile sugarhouse were purchased from various dealer. Evaporator, RO, filter press, etc. Mike located a flat trailer from Little Kanawha RC&D group that will donate it and Fred Hervey volunteered to build it with the help of some of his friends in his off season (after maple season and before produce season). There are funds up to $5000 to spend to build and fix lights and brakes. The unit will be overseen by Experience Learning who will cover the insurance, transport and staff.
Maple in the Classroom can also benefit from it. Vicki Fenwich-Judy from Experience Learning reported they have funding to cover the cost for 4-5 festivals. The sole purpose is for them to educate. Grant funding ends in September. WVDA owns the sugarhouse and Experience Learning will maintain and staff. They will work with producers to join them at festivals and sell their products and help educate the public.
Paul Ronk voiced opposition to this deal and how it was made.
Vicki submitted a grant 2019-2020 for transporting to events.
All the maple equipment Cindy purchased is owned by the WVDA.
Paul made a motion to walk away from this deal because it is not benefiting the producers; seconded by Mark Bowers. Withdrawn
Greg Christian made a motion to passively partner with Experience learning with no funds allotted from WVMSPA. Seconded by Adam. Passed
Sugarhouse Reviews
Brandon reported FDA contacted WVDA so they decided it would be best for WV maple producers if they conducted facility reviews which began two years ago. They are no longer reviews but inspections. This is a much better than FDA inspecting our sugarcamps.
Because of the FDA changes Britney Hervey- Farris will work with Cindy to update the procedure book. It has step by step guidelines about clean RO. Currently the is a gray area about RO water. WVDA looking into modeling after another State.
If you are buying in bulk and selling wholesale/retail the FDA inspects.
WVDA is in a holding pattern. Rich suggested we take the lead and adopt our own guidelines.
Adam made a motion to adopt guidelines in place which are to be reviewed by Mike Rechlin, Britney Hervey-Farris and Brandon Daniels. Valid and Adopt. Seconded by Mike. Passed.
NAMSC will be in Duluth. Brandon made a motion for Mike Rechlin to attend on behalf of WVMSPA and the Association will pay for his registration fee of $270. Seconded by Chad Trent. Passsed
Cooperative model for maple equipment: Keith Heasley made a motion that he would write up an agreement for our maple equipment (cream machine, cotton candy machine with storage, simple training and cleaning guidelines) to be added to our by-laws and send it out for comments. Seconded by Mike Rechlin. Passed
Newletter – Mike Rechlin, Cathy Hervey and Britney-Hervey Farris have been in charge of our bi-yearly newsletter for 4 years and they are ready for a break.
Mark Bowers graciously volunteered to take the lead on the newsletter. Tina Barton made a motion to continue to have Future Generation do the printing and mailing of our newsletter in July and January. Seconded by Greg Christian. Passed.
Maple Days 2020 Keith made a motion for the dates of February 22nd and March 21st seconded by Fred Hervey. Passed.
2020 Annual Meeting Rachel made a motion our annual meeting be May 2nd at Jackson’s Mill. Seconded by Mark Bowers. Passed. Rich will check to see if Tom Salvetti is willing to make our arrangements again.
2020 Annual Membership Dues – Rachel made a motion to change the due date of January to a due date of May. Seconded by Keith. Passed.
Directors of WVMSPA Events
State Fair-Brandon Daniels
Audit-Paul Ronk
Maple Days – Tina Barton
Newsletter-Mark Bowers
Annual Maple Meeting – Tom Salvetti
Maple Contest at Annual Meeting – Rachel Taylor add hydrometer check,
Open Forum
Mark Bowers discussed the Health Dept Permit for each county.
Mike Rechlin fulfilled his 1 year agreement with WVDA, WV State Action Maple Plan. The Symposium really put WV Maple on the maple. It was a draw from experts from the maple world.
Rich Flanigan feels we need to define Maple Syrup in WV with the required density. Discussion held. Karen made a motion to explore the definition of maple syrup; seconded by Rachel. Passed
Fall Seminar – Rachel will take a Poll to see what our producers are interested in.
Tax on cotton candy….Rachel said if sealed no tax.
Nominations for Officers were accepted from the floor. Cathy reported she received no nominations via email
Elected 2019-2020
President: Keith Heasley
Vice President: Chad Trent
Secretary: Rachel Taylor
Treasurer: Adam Taylor
Rich thanked Brandon and Luke for refreshments
Meeting Adjourned