East Coast Shellfish Growers Association

Annual Meeting

January 28th, 2005 at 3:00PM

Roland E Powell Convention Center, Ocean City, MD

 

Agenda

'04 Annual Meeting Minutes

Treasurer’s Report

Vote on revised Bylaws

Elect new Vice President

Discuss Walk on the Hill ‘05

Discuss Membership

            Building membership

            Getting members to renew

            Explain Count-me-in software/service to track, record and enroll members

Discuss distribution of membership list

Review new dues structure

Discuss development of website

Committee Reports

Update on Sources of money (outside of dues)

New Business – Issues of Concern to members

 

More than 28 individuals attended the meeting representing 16 individual companies.

 

Bob Rheault called the meeting to order at 3:10pm.

He reviewed the mission statement, introduced BOD by show of hands and polled the attendees to see who was a regular member.

 

We adopted the revised By-Laws by unanimous vote of members present after brief review of changes by Rivara.

 

We unanimously voted Tommy Leggett as Vice President to replace Tom Gallivan who stepped down as. No other nominations received from the members at large.

 

We adopted the minutes from the 2004 meeting in Milford, CT

We adopted the Treasurers report. Our balance at the end of 2004 was $9,764.

Dues for 2005 are coming in and our balance as of 1/28/05 was $13,316.

Report was distributed to members

 

Rheault reviewed the accomplishments for this year and reiterated the value of our LISTSERVE as a source of information and easy way to quickly communicate.

 

Accomplishments:

1)      improved website content and management, Kathy Rhodes is now managing website for a very reasonable cost to ECSGA.

2)      We have submitted written positions on COOL legislation, Introduction of exotic species and Sewage Blending. Our 7-point legislative agenda posted on website.

3)      We offer advertising to members on web and use it as a source of information for industry.

4)      We have hired an Executive Director, Ed Rhodes, at ¼ time.

5)      We have printed and distributed Environmental Benefits Brochures and the Shumway “In Praise of Shellfish Aquaculture” paper (both available on the web)

6)      We have distributed 2 newsletters in ’04 and the first ’05 edition.

7)      Six members participated in a very productive “Walk on the Hill” meeting with over a dozen legislators and attended the Nation Fisheries Institute (NFI) Molluscan Shellfish Institute (MSI = ECSGA + PCSGA+ GOIC) meeting in DC.

8)      Promotional Events – Oyster Festival on Block Island ’04, Invited to Milford Oyster Festival ’05, can generate funds for the Association at both. Also attended the Baum Forum in NYC on the 30th of October. This was attended by food writers and chefs who are concerned about where their food comes from. We were well received and well represented.

 

Ed went over the list of topics discussed at the NFI meeting. 15 Items were discussed at the NFI/MSI meeting including:

1. NFI staff has been reformed with an emphasis on working with government machinery and public relations.

2. Country of Origin Labeling, definitions still confusing. Move to get shellfish exempted in the next farm bill.

3. Byrd Amendment response by Japan, E.U. etc. puts oysters on the target list for tariffs.  No action to repeal Byrd is expected until actual pressure on commodities is felt.

4. Army Corps & NOAA issues on West Coast (eg. Submerged aquatc vegetation, essential fish habitat and shell as “fill”) have been expensive but progress has been made; recent meetings have stressed national consistency which may bring some new scrutiny to the East Coast.

5. H 2-B migrant worker permits are scarce, tied up with homeland security and immigration. Effects shellfish shucking and crab picking operations in Chesapeake area.

6. Vibrio risk assessments by CDC/FDA differ and will not be introduced at ISSC 2005.

7. Shellfish imports from non-ISSC countries, briefly discussed, recognized as a problem; may be added to the ISSC issues for 2005 meeting.

8. California/Colorado bans on Gulf oysters during warm months; stressed importance to work with health professional organizations and to start an ISSC outreach program.

9. Sewage blending. Many senators and reps have signed a letter opposing; shellfish organizations have sent letters as well.

10. E.U. shellfish audit of the U.S. processing facilities was planned for 2005 but we learned later that it has been delayed for at least a year; would review shellfish sanitation program and processing plant hygiene.

11. Organic standards for shellfish; confusion still; aquaculture organics group formed at WAS Hawaii last year but now the National Organics Standards Board is back in the game and wants to begin all over again.

12. Korean egg parasite identified by Ralph Elston; Molluscan Institute will send a support letter to Elston supporting its addition to the international epizootics list.

13. Ariakensis/non-indigenous species introductions; on the legislative fast track, especially in Maryland; general support for good science for intentional introductions.

14. CODEX standards for Cadmium are on hold until at least 2006; Pacific group has funding to study levels in shellfish on that coast but the data will not be available for CODEX review until after 2006.

15. Brief review of Gulf situation; about 20% down overall from hurricanes; raw top-off product is moving well; new oyster bars seen as good sign.

 

Bob discussed the sewage blending issue. Bob Spoke at a well-attended hearing sponsored by the Natural Resources Defense Council designed to garner support for congressional and sSenatorial letters to the EPA in opposition to the proposed rule change which would allo municipal sewage treatment plants more latitude in dumping untreated sewage during rain events. 

 

Karen Rivara suggested we keep in contact with the legislators whom we have met with and develop legislative strategy.

 

Sub-committee Reports

Bob Rheault and various committee chairs reviewed the progress of our subcommittees. Members were encouraged to join committees that interested them.

Communications Committee – Bob Rheault – Chair. Reviewed the various forms of communications; website, newsletter, brochures etc. Asked for help in putting newsletter together. Acknowledged we need to do a better job of getting the newsletters out and we need to develop a better way to reach those members who are not regular internet users.

Best Management Practices Committee – Sandy Macfarlane- Chair. Gave report. Proposal has been resubmitted to NRAC for partial funding and we will continue to seek other sources of support. Sandy stressed the need for a BMP document as a way to head off new regulations.

Marketing Committee – Tom Kehoe - Chair.  Focusing on adding members, promotional events and festivals as a way to promote all of our products and generate revenues. Bob reviewed value-added marketing grant (without better participation from members this will not be pursued in ’05).

Regulation Committee - Changed to Regulation/Legislative Agenda Committee - Karen Rivara was volunteered as Chair.

Research Committee - Gregg Rivara – Chair. Karen Rivara gave brief update and reiterated need to strengthen connection between industry and research and highlight the ECSGA as a resource to identify research priorities for granting agencies.

Membership/Budget Committee Karen Rivara – Chair. Goal to double membership in 2005. Discussed passing our membership list to those supplier members who request it in order to give benefits to members, or to reach them for sales. After much discussion decided to poll membership on their opinion.

Gef updated us on Count-me-in membership registration service ($3.50/person).

Asked members to get involved bringing on new members and encouraging current members to renew soon.

 

The following members volunteered to join the following Committees.

Regulation/Legislation – Rich Peltz, Rick Bohn, Ryan Croxton

BMP – John Ewart, George Mathis, Bill Livingston

Membership/Budget – Brian Bowes, we will also interface with Tom Kehoe – Marketing

 

Bob Rheault encouraged subcommittees to meet over next 4-5 months – identify issues, prioritize them and set goals for ‘05

 

Brian Bowes asked about tax credit for people who donate product for festivals. Suggested we look into it.

 

We discussed the need to send a representative to the ISSC this year. We decided it would be advisable to send someone to represent us (a grower?, Ed?, Walt Canzonier)? NESSA is in May in Milford, ISSC in August. Need to decide soon.

 

New Business

Sandy Macfarlane suggested we come up with recipes that move shellfish into the entrée arena. Perhaps a Chef’s Challenge to come up with recipes

 

Rich Peltz asked for list of NFI issues for distribution to Farm Bureau

 

Bob Rheault informed us that NAA BOD had proposal from a group to do media training for members to help them refine the process of getting the message out. Proposal was for $100,000. Suggested that we might want to spend some funds to participate. Will bring the issue to the membership e-list.

 

Tommy Leggett asked about how to deal with VA vacancy on BOD, Doug McMinn was nominated by VA members present.

 

Ed Rhodes discussed an invitation to provide shellfish at the Milford Oyster Festival (the last week in August). Growers could sell product and raise money for ECSGA. 60,000 oysters have been served in years past, but they have no one now. Proposed selling oysters for $1.50 with 50 cents going to growers and the remainder going to hire shuckers and generate revenue for the association.  Kehoe offered refer truck.

 

Bob Rheault reminded those present of the Seminar Series at the Waterman’s Show.

 

Meeting adjourned at 4:15 pm