Present: Bob Dickman, Fred Mitchell, Sue Adams, Karen Hall
TO DO:
Board nominations: Reenie and Bob have discussed a nomination for President but have not found a replacement yet. They will continue their search for President and one other position to replace Cindy Barber .
Plant Something and Marketing discussion:
 We won’t find out about our Ag & Markets grant application until later this fall.
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Call participants agreed that a fee would have to be collected from any participating business.
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Good materials and ideas were generated from the Cornell Marketing class. Many of them focused on family. The NY apple growers are targeting soccer moms and collect a fee from each participating business.
TO DO:
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Karen will follow-up with Long Island and how they have decided to use it and also
Arizona about the distribution of the POP materials.
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Bob
– will contact a few other growers/customers/sales reps to see how it’s working in other states.
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Sue
– will contact MA and NJ to get their thoughts on the campaign.
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QUESTIONS to ask: o Do other states charge a fee to participating businesses? o How are the POP materials distributed? o Is there any “policing” of the use of the TM? If yes, how is that carried out? o Other questions?
Field Day
– quick review
Fewer container entries this year – likely because of the later date
Invasives Legislation
Will be submitted and available for viewing on Sept 11, 2013. Public comment can be made online or at public hearings which will be held at multiple locations around NYS, 45 days after Sept 11.
TO DO:

Karen - distribute dates and details about public hearings to our members when it becomes available
NYS IPM
– Betsy Lamb’s weekly updates. CWR not officially reported in NY yet at the time of her last email
November, downstate meeting. This is an opportunity to offer something to members in other regions of the state.
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make sure we get people there
– what is the draw? Pesticide credits, HR topics?

From our discussion it seems important that we offer courses with pesticide recertification credits.
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Fred mentioned a BFG meeting in Sept and a Griffin meeting in October
TO DO:

Karen will check with Griffin on any upcoming meetings that are scheduled. Is this an opportunity to collaborate?

Karen, Neil, Rose & Teresa – conference call

Should NYSFI consider more HR topics? Is Farm Bureau already doing this? Should we encourage our members to join FB to hear these topics?
HR topics such as – health care, WPS, labor laws, workers comp etc.
Should we consider a more grassroots approach to education? Similar to the poinsettia biocontrol programs?

Divide the state into regions
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Have a designated leader in each region
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Charge a fee to attend
Plastic Recycling
Still ironing out the details of this project with Griffin
TO DO:
Bob – recycling poly covers with North Brook Farms (he will email contact info)