The meeting was called to order at 10:12 A.M. by President, Pete Newton. Regular Board members present included: Rusty Ruckstuhl, Gerritt Monk, Nick Simoneaux, Buddy Lee, Mark Murrell, Margie Ann Jenkins, Todd Ellefson, Pat Newman, Pete Newton and Severn C. Doughty, Sr. Guests present were: Craig Roussel, Andy Blumberg and Barry Blumberg. Seven regular members and officers of the Board constitute a quorum and 10 were present.
Pete welcomed everyone and asked that each stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. Afterwards he asked everyone to review the minutes of the last meeting and if acceptable move that they be accepted. Rusty Ruckstuhl moved, seconded by Todd Ellefson, to accept the minutes. Motion carried.
Pete asked Pat Newman to present the financial report. Total revenues year to date (ytd) were $82,064. Total expenses ytd were $63,631. Cash in the bank totaled $52,163 and change in net assets were $19,525 which amounted to $154,263 in total assets. A question was raised about PayPal charging 3% processing fee and should we be paying it. Todd Ellefson moved, seconded by Mark Murrell, to add a 3% user fee on to the PayPal information on the website and on the membership application form when it needed reprinting. Motion carried.
Pat went on to say that LNLA’s Capital One savings account balance as of June 30, 2010 was $101,208.16 and she stated that we had a zero balance in the UBS account as it was all transferred from UBS CD’s to savings. Also she indicated that the LNLFSR (Foundation) Capital One checking account balance as of June 30, 2010 was $64,081.66 after the $59,622.00 was transferred from the LNLA savings account and this was approved by the members at the Annual Membership meeting January 22, 2010. The question was raised about what the LNLA savings account interest was drawing. Severn stated that it was at 0.96% variable rate. It was then mentioned that currently on some CD’s the interest rate was above 2%. Consequently, Rusty Ruckstuhl moved, seconded by Nick Simoneaux, to transfer $75,000 from LNLA’s Capital One savings account to 2% or higher yielding CD’s. Motion carried.
Some discussion ensued about also taking some money from the Foundation checking account and placing it in CD’s as well. Consequently, Margie Anne Jenkins moved, seconded by Buddy Lee to transfer $50,000 out of the Foundation Capital One checking account and place it in CD’s yielding greater than 2%. Motion carried. After all of this and there being no more discussion, Gerritt Monk moved, seconded by Nick Simoneaux, to accept the financial report as presented. Motion passed.
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Pete asked Todd Ellefson to report on the GSHE Board Meeting. Todd indicated that last year’s show was slightly smaller than in previous years and there were some ‘no-shows’ and empty spaces. But he indicated that it was still a strong show. However, we might expect a 10% reduction in next year’s exhibitors and revenue. Pat indicated that LNLA received $37,441.53 in show revenues and $1,347.60 in educational programs revenues for a total of $38,789.13. Todd further stated that there was no longer a waiting list for exhibitors to show and the GSHE Board proposed that the educational program have two sessions next year. They would consist of ‘Pest Management’ and a general session focusing on health care and industry marketing.
Pete asked Severn to present the membership report. Severn stated that Laura Crnko was unable to attend the meeting but sent Severn a report. Currently, there were 101, $50.00 regular memberships; 63, $75.00 memberships and 91, $150.00 memberships for a total of 173 regular voting memberships. In addition there were 25, associate members ($100), 19; affiliate members ($25); 34 governmental/educator members ($15); 23 honorary members ($0) and 28 student memberships ($0). Severn indicated that there were 91 growers, 40 retailers, 104 landscapers, 2 sod producers and 16 landscape architect memberships for a total of 381 memberships recorded. More memberships were received and mailed to Laura recently and the grand total was 390 memberships.
Allen Owings was out of state but sent an extensive written report for the Board to review. For a complete copy please request it from Severn. Highlights of Allen’s report included the following. The LSU AgCenter ‘Super Plant’ program will have its debut October 1st. The first three plants to be promoted will be: Amazon dianthus, ShiShi Gashira camellia and Camelot foxglove. The 10th LSU AgCenter Golf Shootout was held in Baton Rouge, July 2nd and special thanks were extended to Todd Ellefson, Pete Newton and Rusty Ruckstuhl for their efforts to participate.
Allen indicated that he would be considering stepping down as the Louisiana university representative on the GSHE educational committee. He reported that the LNLA website ‘Facebook’ page has 173 fans and about 150 – 200 site views a week. ‘Market Maker’ is a new LSU AgCenter online free service to help agriculture businesses market their products- similar to a matchmaker service bringing buyers and sellers together. To register go to MarketMaker@agcenter.lsu.edu.
Pete moved on to Committee Reports by asking Rusty Ruckstuhl to report on the funding Committee. Severn indicated that we had received one request for funding from Dr. Yan Chen to help support a pest management webinar. The committee will review the request and make a decision at a later date.
Pete asked Todd Ellefson for a Membership Report. Todd indicated that there was very little to report other than he and the committee were seeking innovative ways to recruit new members.
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There was no report from the Nominating Committee and Pete asked Todd to report on the Website/Marketing Committee. Todd indicated that Allen was doing a great job of reviewing the site and making recommendations as to what was need to the board regularly.
Pete reported on the Newsletter Committee. He stated that the committee will meet prior to September 1st to devise cost saving measures for the 3rd Quarter News but he stated that the committee wanted every member to receive a hard copy in the mail as well as having it available on the website. Pete asked the Board if they wanted LNLA to print and send a Directory to the membership. Some of the Board members indicated they wanted a hard copy and others stated they did not. Nick Simoneaux moved, seconded by Gerritt Monk for the committee to review the options of dispensing the Directory to the membership such as making it available on the member’s only section of the website and/or perhaps including a folded insert in the 3rd Quarter News. Motion carried.
Pete moved on to Old Business by discussing the Foundation. Pete handed a draft letter to the Board announcing the creation of the Foundation and asked for input from the Board for any additions or corrections. Once the letter was complete, it would be sent to the LNLA membership. Pete stated that the foundation now had stationary consisting of note cards and envelopes and letter head stationary with envelopes. Allen was working on getting the LSU Faculty Club for the October 21st Foundation Gala.
Pete asked Todd to discuss the ANLA Lighthouse and Beacon funds. Todd indicated that both funds were to support national lobbying efforts through ANLA and that the Lighthouse fund was very important to ANLA. All but about 6 states contributed $10.00 for each member. Todd stated that he would like to see LNLA make a greater contribution. Consequently, Todd Ellefson moved, seconded by Buddy Lee for Todd and Pat Newman to draft a letter to the LNLA membership promoting the Lighthouse Fund and that the letter be brought back to the Board at the October Board Meeting for approval. Motion carried.
Pete asked Craig Roussel with LDAF to present the educational program titled, ‘New Citrus and Sudden Oak Death Regulatory Issues’. Craig stated that the Asian Citrus Psyllid had been found in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Mississippi, Louisiana Texas Arizona and California. In Louisiana it was found in the following parishes; Jefferson, Lafourche, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Charles, St. James, St. John and St. Tammany. The psyllid was responsible for transmitting Citrus Greening disease, a devastating disease of citrus. To date Citrus Greening has been found in Florida, Louisiana, Georgia and South Carolina. Here in Louisiana it had only been found in Orleans and Washington parishes.
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Another disease found recently in Florida was Citrus Black Spot a primarily cosmetic disease of citrus fruit that affected its salability. However, the fruit could be processed for juice. To date the disease had not been found in Louisiana. With the above mentioned diseases and insect vector, Craig stated that he felt in time USDA was going to force citrus growers to produce citrus in enclosed screen structures and buffer zones surrounding the structures.
Craig moved on to Sudden Oak Death a lethal disease of about 125 ornamental host plants. Major host plants include: camellia, viburnum, rhododendron, mountain laurel and pieris. Craig stated that the disease had not been found in Louisiana yet. However, the potential of the disease being shipped in on plants was real and they recently found out that the disease also had been detected in soil/media.
Craig concluded by stating that since 1997 LDAF had lost 37 inspectors and that they had 45 now. The work load on the inspectors now was very overwhelming. However, if there were complaints, usually the inspectors could respond.
Andy and Barry Blumberg were present for the meeting but had on report. There was no report from Meadowbrook Insurance and Severn stated that Mike Misuraca was no longer employed with Meadowbrook. Nancy Clay, Association Administrator, for Meadowbrook who was listed on the agenda lives in Overland Park, KS. She usually attends the 1st Board meeting of the year in Mobile, AL.
Pete asked Severn to give an LIA update. Severn stated that currently LIA had 66 members, down just a little from last year’s 74 members. He stated that there would be an Irrigation Basics for Landscape Irrigation Contractors class July 28, 29, 2010 at the Hammond Research Station. Also there will be a recertification/annual meeting luncheon on October 6, 2010 at Ralph and Kacoo’s Restaurant on Bluebonnet Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA beginning at 8:00A.M.
Pete moved on to New Business by asking Severn to report on lobbying efforts through LABI. Senate Bill 547 was proposed by Sen. Rob Marionneaux and would this bill have passed (it failed 4 to 30), punitive damages would have been allowed to be awarded in cases involving the exploration of and drilling for oil and gas. Severn called his senator, Sherri Cheek, and asked her not to vote for this bill. She did not. In addition LABI was a member of a coalition – The Gulf Economic Survival Team – which had been formed to push for a lifting of the Obama, six-month moratorium on offshore drilling. LABI asked that members sign a petition calling for a lifting of the moratorium. Severn signed the petition as the moratorium would harm businesses, individuals, and state and local government services.
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Pete asked Severn to report on Build Now: Landscaping Our City, Landscape Design Competition. Severn indicated that Ashley Davis with Bond PR and Brand Strategy Firm called Severn earlier this spring and asked if an LNLA Board member could judge a landscape competition. She stated that Build Now is a New Orleans based non-profit organization and works with families who lost their homes as a result of Hurricane Katrina. Four newly constructed homes were recently completed and students from Delgado Community College’s Horticulture Technology program were chosen to design and install landscapes in the four homes’ front yard. Rick Cicero volunteered to represent LNLA as well as Dan Gill and Ashley asked if LNLA would sponsor two scholarships at $100.00 each. The Funding Committee approved the $200.00 donation and Pat sent the check earlier this year. Severn further stated that Ashley Davis will have a feature article in the 3rd Quarter News.
Pete asked Severn to explain the Annual Conflict of Interest Policy. Severn indicated that the IRS requested that each Board Member sign the policy each year. It stated: “To all Officers and Board of Directors of LNLA: Please print your name, sign, date and indicate Yes that: 1) You’ve received a copy of the Conflict of Interest Policy. 2) You’ve read and understand it. 3) You agree to comply with the policy. 4) You understand that LNLA is a non-profit organization and in order to maintain federal tax exemption, it must engage primarily in activities which accomplish one or more of its tax exempt purposes.”
Severn handed each Board Member a copy of the Conflict of Interest Policy and then asked each Board Member to sign the Policy Statement. Everyone signed it and it will remain on file indefinitely.
Pete asked Severn to explain the Immigration Policy Center: New Americans in the Pelican State. Severn indicated that he received a report from the Immigration Policy Center which provided statistics on the political and economic power of immigrants, Latinos and Asians in Louisiana. An example of the statistics follows: 61,952 immigrants in Louisiana were naturalized in 2007 and were eligible to vote. Roughly 1 in 20 Louisianans were Latino or Asian, etc. If anyone would like a copy of this report, please contact Severn.
Pete asked the Board for some guidelines as to updating the application packet for scholarships and to which schools these packets should be sent. The Board had a very lively discussion with a number of ideas expressed. Pete indicated that the Foundation would work on the application packet.
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Todd asked for an add on agenda item and stated that he felt that the president, vice-president and past president offices should be two year terms instead of the current one year term. One year in his opinion was not enough time for those officers to fulfill their objectives. Some discussion ensued. Then Todd Ellefson moved, seconded by Pat Newman, to extend the President, Vice-President and Past President offices to two year terms and if the Board approved the motion, then it would have to be voted on at the next Annual Membership Meeting and passed, before the change could take place. Motion passed with one dissenting vote which was Nick Simoneaux.
There being no more business, Nick Simoneaux moved, seconded by Todd Ellefson, to adjourn the meeting. Motioned carried.