M 



The New Hampshire Plant Growers' Association 



Board of Directors' Meeting 



October 7, 2003 



The meeting came to order at 

 6:55 I'.M. The September meeting 

 minutes were approved by John, 

 seconded by Rick. The financial 

 reports were approved by Rick, 

 seconded by Ron. 



Budget 



Cathy unable to attend. Robert had 

 sent slide projector cost information. 

 Some discussion as to our timing 

 with this purchase as so many 

 speakers are now using Powerpoint. 

 Ginny will contact Cathy to obtain 

 her thoughts on this. 



Executive Director's Report 



Ginny had nothing special to 

 report. 



Plantsman 



Melissa sent a comprehensive report 

 which included: the new rate card, 

 list of potential advertisers, upcom- 

 ing publication dates, miscellaneous 

 questions. 



Programs 



Brett reported on the Winter Meet- 

 ing. We have a new keynote 

 speaker. Bill Cullina, from the Gar- 

 den in the Woods. His topic will be 

 "Beyond Black-Eyed Susans, Excit- 

 ing Native Perennials tor Sun & 

 Shade." Other slots are filled. Brett 

 will contact the Falard representa- 

 tive to firm up his topic. Discussion 

 about exhibitor tables in the toyer 

 followed. All agreed we could put 

 several tables in the foyer to offer 

 20 spaces. An article about exhibitor 

 opportunities has run in both The 

 Plantsman and the NHLA newsletter 

 and there are several exhibitors to 

 date. Ginny will send an e-mail re- 

 minder to potential exhibitors. 



Ginny and Brett will also work on a Retail Directory 



preliminary meeting budget. The group reviewed the drafts of 



Spring twilight meeting will be at the covers and map page. Everyone 



Rolling Green Nurse.-y. Summer approved. Ginny will leave for 



meeting will be at Gold Star. Robert's final review. 



UNHCE 



Cathy unable to attend. 



Marketing 



Ron has called all members with de- 

 linquent dues. Most were planning 

 to rejoin. 



New Board member discussion 



The draft of the contractual agree- 

 ment between UNHCE & NHPGA 

 for The Best Plants for New Hamp- 

 shire book was reviewed. One edit 

 made which Ginny will share with 

 Holly Young. 



Board reviewed marketing plan 

 from Audi Axman. Will use her for 

 a big spring marketing blitz. If the 

 book is ready for the holidays, we 

 will do a press release in house us- 

 ing media source list from Holly 

 Young. 



Rick updated us on the poinsettia 

 tree project. Rick toured the State 

 House and feels the tree will be in 

 an excellent spot to highlight the 

 horticulture industry in NH. A 

 press event will be planned to high- 

 light the partnership with UNH, 

 the horticulture industry and the 

 NH legislature in supporting horti- 

 cidture in the state, and to inform 

 about the importance of the hort. 

 industry in NH. 



Ginny shared Robert's comments 

 with regards to adding greenhouse 

 technology to Farm & Forest this 

 year. (Bob Rimol would have loved 

 to participate, but will be at NE 

 Grows). Ginny will check with Rob- 

 ert to see how he left this with 

 Geoffrey Njue. 



Legislative 



George unable to attend. John said 

 that not much is going on and con- 

 tinues to monitor. Rick clarified 

 some of the timing dates for ISC 

 recommendations to share at the 

 NENA Leadership Meeting he is at- 

 tending tomorrow. 



NHHE 



Ginny shared that only one grant 

 application was received. Ginny will 

 report on the NHHE's decision 

 with regards to the grant request. 

 John commented that in his past 

 work with other industry groups, 

 many researchers are looking for 

 grants to carry their research over a 

 period of a few years. Perhaps this 

 is why the application numbers for 

 the Endowment grant are dropping. 



Open Items 



Ginny shared a thank you note 

 from Jeff Huntington with regards 

 to the NENA Summer Expo. 

 Ginny shared a letter regarding the 

 Farm Bureau Open House. John has 

 attended this in the past and said it 

 is not really necessary for us to ex- 

 hibit. 



Adjournment 



The meeting adjourned at 8:15 P.M. 

 The next meeting will be November 

 11, 200.5 at 6:.50 I>.M. at Demers 

 Garden Center. Present at this 

 meeting were lohn. Rick, Ron, Brett 

 and Ginny. 



1J\RLY WINTl-R 2003 



