2023

FLATHEAD LAKE CHERRY GROWERS, INC.

MINUTES – REGULAR MEETING OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Wednesday, April 19, 2023 – 7 p.m.

Directors present:  Bruce Johnson, Mitch Jones, Ward Marshall, Rod McRae, John Nasgovitz, Brian Peterson, Mark St. Sauver

 Absent:  Mike Bonner, Henry Hooker  

Meeting recorded by Barbara Hammons

Meeting held at Hammons’ residence

Rod called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

 Minutes for the meeting held March 15, 2023, were approved.

Checking account balance as of 4/18/23:  $101,837.24

                WFCU balances:  Regular account $5,700.23

                 TT security deposit $5,323.90

 

Moving funds into a CD discussed.  Various options considered.  Mitch will look into the best CD deal for the co-op; First Interstate and WFCU will also be checked.  

Discussion of budget for 2023.  Unused line items will be deleted; a few will be adjusted to cover current costs.  Upon motion duly made by Mark St. Sauver, seconded by Ward Marshall, and unanimously approved, the directors accepted the 2023 budget as discussed.   An updated budget will be distributed at the next meeting.

 Rod –  Spring meeting summary.  Income $2110; expenses $4038.   Expense breakdown:  Speaker fees $700; hotel $418; mileage for speaker $555.44; caterer $2065; misc breakfast, water, etc. $300.   

                 Directors felt the meeting went well; agenda and speakers were interesting.  Bernardita Sallato has a link to the material she covered which can be made available to members.

                 Dave Brink, Mineral/Lake County extension agent, arranged for several attendees to receive applicator credits for attending the meeting.  Brian Campbell was thanked for emceeing and putting the meeting together.

 Rod – Red Lodge Ales agreement has been signed. 

                Fisher Painting bid accepted; painting start date depends on temperature in the warehouse.

              

Mark – warehouse –  main issue is to let TT know when warehouse repairs (painting and hydrocooler removal) are scheduled so they can remove their product from the area. 

                Ward Marshall – FSA Report  –  Ward discussed at length options available through USDA/FSA revenue loss programs, PARP and ERP, and also expense reimbursement through the Food Safety Certification program.  Information will be made available to members via a Quickcom message.

Quickcom message to be sent to members re FA/CPR, boxes, date for shareholders meeting, and Rod’s Lapins.

The meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m.

 Next meeting will be May 17.

 

 

 

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FLATHEAD LAKE CHERRY GROWERS, INC.

 MINUTES – REGULAR MEETING OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Wednesday, March 15, 2023 – 7 p.m.

 

Directors present:  Bruce Johnson, Ward Marshall, Rod McRae, Brian Peterson, Mark St. Sauver

 Absent:  Mike Bonner, Henry Hooker, Mitch Jones, John Nasgovitz  

Meeting recorded by Barbara Hammons

Meeting held at Hammons’ residence

Rod called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

Minutes for the meeting held February 15, 2023, were approved.

Checking account balance as of 3/11/23:  $102,033.29

                WFCU balances:  Regular account $5,700.23

                 TT security deposit $5,323.90

Budget for 2023 to be determined at next meeting.

Discussion followed on moving some funds into an interest-bearing CD.  Ward offered to look into an appropriate CD for around $20,000.  Directors agreed this could be done before the next meeting. 

Rod – Red Lodge Ales agreement has been signed.  Rod assured the directors that even if we had an unusually large crop, Rod Lodge would be in a position to take all the culls.  They are set up to handle 25,000 lbs a day and 300,000 lbs of culls would not be a problem.  In any case, Monson is prepared to take any overage at 10 cents a pound.  Red Lodge will pay .25 this year and they understand the price is likely to go up next year.

 

Rod – painting of warehouse by Fisher Painting LLC.  Most of the inside will be painted including the cold room.  Temperature has to be 50 degrees or better for the painter to start.  Might be June for the project or sooner if heaters are brought in. 

 

Rod – removing the hydocooler equipment; adding a water tank.   Rod is waiting for a callback from Bryan Zimmerman on the removal project and a cost estimate.  Pacific Steel is interested in taking all the metal. 

                Adding the water tank and replumbing will run around $4,000.  Upon motion duly made by Mark St. Sauver, seconded by Ward Marshall, and unanimously approved, the directors agreed that Rod should move forward with the purchase and plumbing of the water tank as discussed.

                Rod brought up replacing being the cherry delivery door as a future project.  It will cost around $6000.

 

Ward Marshall – PMA Resolution update – Ward has had difficulty reaching James Raymond for an update and comment on the material Ward presented in answer to the commissioners’ questions.  Ward will continue his efforts to contact Mr. Raymond; Rod offered to follow up with a contact he has among the commissioners.   

 

Spring Meeting – tentative agenda discussed. Brian Campbell will be the emcee.  The agenda draft was approved as presented with the addition of an update by Ward on the PMA situation and pending resolution.  Henry Hooker offered 4 or 5 door prizes for the meeting.

The meeting adjourned at 7:52 p.m.

 Next meeting will be April 19.

FLATHEAD LAKE CHERRY GROWERS, INC.

 MINUTES – REGULAR MEETING OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Wednesday, February 15, 2023 – 7 p.m.

Directors present: Mike Bonner, Bruce Johnson, Henry Hooker, John Nasgovitz, Mark St. Sauver

 Absent:  Mitch Jones, Ward Marshall, Brian Peterson, Rod McRae  

Guest:  Brian Campbell

Meeting recorded by Barbara Hammons

Meeting held at Hammons’ residence

Mark called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

Minutes for the meeting held October 19, 2022, were approved.

Checking account balance as of 2/22/23:  $102,638.57

                WFCU balances:  Regular account $5,700.23

                 TT security deposit $5,323.90

Budget update Jan–Dec 2022 distributed.

               

Mark asked if anyone had any questions about the budget.  Suggestions made on transferring some money from checking account into some type of interest-bearing account.   Discussion on setting aside funds for a bad year; in years past around $50,000 was kept in WFCU as a cushion.    Budget for 2023 to be discussed at next meeting when Mitch is available. 

 

Mark – Fisher Paint LLC – painting of warehouse.  Mark described the areas to be painted and the type of paint to be used.  The bid is for $13,504.  Directors felt it was a good price for the extent of the area.  A motion was made but set aside briefly for a question raised by Bruce concerning the hydrocooler removal project and whether it also would be scheduled for this year as it would be two expensive projects.

 

 Mark explained the options for dealing with the old hydrocooler, moving it and if so, to where, and disposal of scrap metal.  Bryan Zimmerman will likely be contacted to cut out the equipment and scrap metal will be sold to Pacific Steel.  A bid from Zimmerman has not been received yet; a rough estimate might be $7000 to $10,000, but doesn’t include other cleanup work that might be involved.  Discussion morphed to coordinating projects with Tabletree because of their food safety programs and inspections.  Mark reported on discussions with Gussie of Tabletree with regard to working around an “unscheduled” food safety audit that Tabletree is subject to possibly in March.

After continued discussion and upon motion duly made by John Nasgovitz, seconded by Mike Bonner, and unanimously approved, directors agreed to the bid for painting areas of the warehouse by Fisher Painting LLC in the amount of $13,504.00.

 

Brian Campbell – In answer to a request for applicator credits at the spring meeting, Brian reported that to get certification from the State, the agenda and information about the speaker and topics had to be submitted 30 days in advance for approval.  Depending on speakers, if they speak anything about pesticide use, spray application, or spray use in general, the most we could get out of it is one or two credits.  Presentation must be by a qualified agent.  A class for up to six credits will be available in October according to new Lake County Extension Agent, David Brink.

Spring Meeting topics discussed – Ryan Wilbur from Fish & Game is ready to be a speaker.  Dr. Jerry Bromenshenk from UofM re honeybees has been lined up.  Other topics might be bird control/damage, and general horticultural topics, soils, ground covers, pollination, etc.   Brian is continuing his search for a keynote speaker.  Another idea was to bring back Norm Gutswiler; Brian will contact him.  (He has presented at past spring meetings in 2010, 2012, and 2015.)    April 15 is the preferred date.

Meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.