VIRGINIA APPLE BOARD - DRAFT MINUTES
Crowne Plaza , Fort Magruder
Williamsburg , Virginia
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
PRESENT
Diane Kearns, Lucky Graves, Huff Chiles, John Crumpacker, Wayne Marston
ABSENT
Tommy Fitzgerald, Cordell Watt, Joe Snapp
GUESTS
Cathy Belcher, Liz White, David Robis |
Call to Order and Opening Remarks
In the absence of a Chairperson, David Robishaw called the meeting to order at 12:30 PM and welcomed the Board members and guests.
Election of Board Chair
Lynn Graves, past Chair of the Apple Board, has completed his term of service. Wayne Marston moved to make Diane Kearns Apple Board chair. Huff Chiles seconded the motion, and with no further discussion, the motion passed. Diane Kearns is the new Chair of the Virginia Apple Board.
Approval of the Minutes from the January 25, 2006 meeting
Prior to the meeting, Dave Robishaw sent out the minutes from the previous meeting. After reviewing the minutes, Huff Chiles moved to accept the minutes as presented. Wayne Marston seconded, and with no further discussion, the motion passed.
Financial Review
Dave Robishaw reviewed the monies the Apple Board and the industry is working with. First, the Apple Board has $5,928.79 remaining from the original apple board legislation. This money had been set aside to pay for Board expenses, but with new money coming in, the money can now be allocated. The Board also reviewed the finances of the Virginia Apple Growers Association. VAGA has $64,160.56 remaining and will meet in the future to discuss how to best utilize the remaining funds. The $64,160.56 includes $5,793.49 remaining from the original grant of $150,000 received from the Virginia Department of Agriculture to promote exports to Mexico .
Finally, the Board discussed the new apple assessment. Dave Robishaw explained to the Board how the assessment would work, went over the time line, and discussed the anticipated revenue. Included in the discussion was a review of the legislation and specifically the wording on the ballot regarding the allocation of funds. Dave Robishaw explained to the Board the different cost codes and how the money would be managed. At this time, Diane Kearns moved that the United States Apple Association receive 40%, the Virginia Horticultural Society receive 20%, the Virginia Agricultural Research Program receive 20%, the Reserve fund receive 10%, and the Administration receive 10%. Wayne Marston seconded the motion, and with no further discussion, the motion passed by a unanimous voice vote
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Liaison with the Virginia Department of Taxation
According to the Apple Board legislation, the Board needs to have a working relationship with the Virginia Department of Taxation. There needs to be a contact person from the Board to work with Taxation with regards to the tax collections. Huff Chiles moved to make the Chair the contact person with the Department of Taxation. Wayne Marston seconded the motion, and with no further discussion, the motion passed. This makes Diane Kearns the current contact person with the Department of Taxation.
Remaining Apple Board money
After discussing options for the remaining original Apple Board money, Wayne Marston moved to allocate the money to the Virginia Apple Growers Association to be used to conduct the work of the Board, i.e. education and research. Huff Chiles seconded the motion. With no further discussion, the motion passed. When the money collected from the new 2006 assessment is transferred from Taxation to VDACS and 10% is placed in the new Administration cost code, the original money in cost code 605 will be transferred to VAGA.
New Business
There was no new business
Public Discussion
There was no public discussion
Next Meeting and Adjourn
The next meeting date will be set at a later time. With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 1:40 PM
Respectfully Submitted:
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