NEAOBA Minutes of the Meeting

Sunday July 14, 2002

Tufts University

N. Grafton, MA

Officers Present: Jim Mullen, President

Laura Busky, Treasurer

Cindy St.George, Secretary

1. Call to order 11:35
2. Secretary’s Report/Minutes A MOTION was made to accept the minutes of the May 5, 2002 meeting held at Three County Fairground. The motion was seconded and APPROVED.
3. Treasurer’s Report: Summary Report and Fiscal Budget was handed out to all present . Summary was reviewed and explained by Laura Busky and discussion ensued about NEAF to be tabled for later on in agenda. Loss from NEAF of ($2055) is still pending a marketing grant from AOBA. Fiscal Budget of June 1, 2002 through May 31, 2003 was also handed out. Discussion ensued and then MOTION was made and seconded. APPROVED.

501( c )5 status was approved by a letter received from the IRS. NEAOBA is now a considered non-profit and may save on some expenses i.e.: advertising.

4. Marketing Committee-Dave Sanderson not available for a report.
5. N.E. Costal Classic (NECC): 1^st NEAOBA Sponsored Show. AOBA Certified Halter & Fleece Show. NEAOBA seed money of $5000 was used. Walter & Doris Van Buskirk gave current overview. Marketing would like to spend $20,000 and will offer advertising in a souvenir show book. Every NEAOBA farm will be listed in the book; however, advertising is an additional expense to individual farms. They hope to fund NECC with advertising from farms and vendors. Any breeder who know of vendors who may wish to be included, please contact Walter. Add deadline is 8/15/02.

Peg Stephens is the show superintendent, and each professional position will be filed by hired staff. Pens will be on first come, first serve basis with a limit of 3 pens. There will be a judge for finished products-Dave Stensland. The Halter &

Fleece judge is Anthony Stachowski, DVM. Website www.necoastalclassic.com has all registration forms and additional info.

6. NEAF 2003 at Three County Fair Grounds May 4^th and 5^th. Chair Erika Dwyer and co-chairLiz McEachran were unable to attend this meeting but sent concerns and suggestions to Laura for discussion. What is interest in a fashion show and/or garment auction? Marketing Committee will handle advertising. As a fundraiser, can we do a raffle and if so are there any tax issues? Discussion ensued regarding store volunteers vs. paid position. Should each farm sell own goods at farm display area-no everyone would be subject to own tax ID # etc. Should we charge admission at the door and should we charge farm supply vendors. We need to be careful because we are a non-profit and can’t do for one and not another. A suggestion was made to offer two free spaces to invited vendors. Would we have more participation if the pen spaces were less money? A suggestion was made that the Marketing Committee sends out a questionnaire to poll member feedback. Must keep in mind to advertise in major local newspapers like Springfield and Worcester.
7. By Law update and Review: A copy of the proposed amended bylaw was handed out to everyone present. All members are asked to read and review them on the NEAOBA website. A suggestion was made that an Associate Member be defined. There was a question about State Reps being appointed by the BOD and if the State Reps should be on the BOD. Article 7 indicates reps can not sit on BOD. There was also discussion about Board Officers not being allowed to fill more than one position. Jim explained that this is there for flexibility only. It was also suggested that in Article I/Section 2: that upstate New York be taken out and replaced by New York.

Any questions on these By-Laws should be brought to the attention of your State Rep. or to Jim Mullen. We will do final review at the September meeting, and vote on the by-laws at the meeting in January, to become effective in May 2003.

8. New England Animal & Health Institute. $1000 was collected to date, per the budget but no committee member present-tabled until the meeting at the BIG-E.
9. Other Business:

10. Motion accepted to Adjourn at 1:05