IH 



The New Hampshire Plant Growers' Association 

 Board of Directors' Meeting 



The meeting came to order at 6:20 

 P.M. The meeting minutes were ap- 

 proved by Jolin, seconded by Brett 

 with one amendment. (Number oi 

 directories distributed at Farm & 

 Forest was 400*, not 200*). The 

 financial report was approved by 

 John, seconded by Robert. 



Welcomes! 



The Board welcomed new Executive 

 Director, Nancv Adams and new 

 Board member, Glenn Caron. 



Executive Director's Report 



Ginny reported findings on cost of 

 LCD projector tor grant proposal. 

 Robert updated figures on p. a. sys- 

 tem. All agreed that the grant 

 should be tor these two pieces ot 

 equipment. Although this leaves 

 no grant money tor tuture speak- 

 ers, events have been covering those 

 costs anyway. 



Ginny shared samples ot soil flyer 

 for bulk mailing. Ginny also shared 

 idea trom one ot Paul Fishers 

 students to put the scholarship 

 applications on the website. All 

 agreed. A letter from the NH 

 Master Gardener Association was 

 shared. They are looking for dis- 

 counts at NHPGA members. Gin- 

 nv will respond and let them know 

 about coupon page in new retail 

 directory. 



Ginny reported on two new 

 members: Dijitized Communications 

 and B&B Carriers. She sent media 

 kits to all interested potential mem- 

 bers trom NE Grows and sent bulk 

 quantities of each directory to the 

 UNHCE offices. 



President's Report 



Rick reported that he and Cathy 

 will be meeting with nine industry 

 groups on 3/12/04. (HIC). Also, 

 he read an e-mail request from Paul 



March 8, 2004 



Fisher for a young plant center. He 

 is looking tor a letter ot support, 

 and Rick will provide that letter. 



Plantstnan 



Melissa unable to attend but sent 

 a comprehensive report which in- 

 cluded deadlines tor the Plantstnan. 

 {Editor's note: Melissa wrote a news 

 release announcing the availabil- 

 ity of the NHHE Potting Soil. This 

 was published in the Weekly Market 

 Bulletin and Country Folks Grower) 

 Ginny shared that the graphic 

 designer's rates will be going up by 

 $10 per hour. Some discussion tol- 

 lowed about the magazine losing 

 monev. The idea was raised again ot 

 making it a quarterly publication, to 

 go with the growing season and save 

 some money. All telt that we should 

 remain with six issues even if we 

 lose money since revenues are strong 

 in other areas. 



Programs 



The date tor the 2005 Joint Winter 

 Meeting is 1/20/05 at the Wayfarer 

 Inn. Brett has reviewed and signed 

 the contract and Ginny will send 

 the room deposit check. 



Spring Twilight meeting on June 

 23'*^ at Rolling Green. Wayne Mezitt 

 is confirmed to speak. Rick shared 

 ideas including tents for sponsors. 

 Cathy shared that the Extension 

 Agents' Association is available to 

 do barbequed chicken tor minimum 

 ot 80 people. This might be an idea 

 too tor the summer meeting at Gold 

 Star. 



Gold Star is committed to the 

 summer meeting. Ginny will send 

 John the host checklist and check 

 with Melissa that sponsorship oppor- 

 tunities are advertised in the Plants- 

 man. Brett is going to look into 

 the Humble Farmer as a potential 

 speaker. 



UNHCE 



Cathy will be having a planning 

 meeting later in the month tor the 

 November garden center seminar ed- 

 ucational sessions. The Board agreed 

 that NHPGA should continue in 

 its role as co-sponsor. Glenn Caron 

 agreed to attend the planning meet- 

 ing. 



Cathy distributed UNH Green- 

 house Open House flyers, and she 

 will put up our booth with retail 

 directories and signs tor the En- 

 dowment soil. She also passed out a 

 handout on alternative plants which 

 contained text tor proposed posters. 

 (Photos will be added). All agreed 

 that a 12" x 18" size would work. 

 It was noted that some retailers may 

 not want the pictures as plants are 

 tagged. 



Marketing 



The public project idea was brought 

 up again. Rick thought the expan- 

 sion at Odiorne State Park might be 

 an opportunity, and he will check 

 into it. 



NHHE 



Robert had soil pallets and these are 

 available for pick-up tor those who 

 didn't add the Endowment soil to 

 their early ship orders. He will con- 

 nect with John & Peter tor updates. 



Legislative 



John reported that the invasive rules 

 are still moving through the official 

 channels so not much to report. 

 Some discussion tollowed regard- 

 ing the Integrated Planting Prac- 

 tices Group. Glenn had attended 

 the meeting and did not teel that 

 invasives was the group's focus, 

 rather just a starting point. He telt 

 the group was more interested in 

 teaching design using natives and 

 specifically selected exotics. 



SPRING 2004 



