Southern Chapter

BUSINESS MEETING: The business meeting for the Fourth Annual Meeting & In-Service Training of the Horticultural Inspection Society, Southern Chapter, was held on September 20, 2002.  President Sherman Clem, TX, called the meeting to order, at 10:35 a.m. at the White Sands Resort in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

PRESENT: Twenty two members representing nine states were present:  Voting Delegate Dennis Barclift, Tim Johnson, Ben Meriwether, Jack Reynolds and Vice President Richard Wingard representing the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries; Secretary Beverly Bachus, Treasurer Steve Bostian, and Voting Delegate Vernon Griffin representing the Arkansas State Plant Board; Laura Ooms and Voting Delegate Stacey Simmons representing the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; Mark Earl, Voting Delegate Brett Laird, Jeremi Rabalais and Allen T. “Buster” Whittington III representing the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry; Guy Buford and Voting Delegate Kenneth Calcote representing the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce; Voting Delegate Evangeline Long representing Clemson University and South Carolina; Voting Delegate John Rochelle and Webmaster Lynn Snodderly representing the Tennessee Department of Agriculture; and President Sherman Clem, Octavio Garza, and Voting Delegate Bryan Seals representing the Texas Department of Agriculture.

States not represented were Georgia, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico and Virginia.

ROLL CALL OF STATES: Secretary Beverly Bachus, AR, conducted the roll call of states.  A quorum was declaired.

MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING: President Sherman Clem, called for the corrections or additions to the minutes of the Second Annual Meeting and In-Service Training Business Meeting.  There were no corrections or additions to the minutes.  Alabama made a motion to accept the minutes.  Mississippi seconded the motion.  Vote was made by a show of hands.  Motion carried.

TREASURER’S REPORT: Committee Chairman Dennis Barclift, AL, gave the report on behalf of he Audit Committee stating that the committee had reviewed the records of the income and expenses incurred by the Chapter up to the 4^th Annual Meeting & In-Service Training.  South Carolina made a motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report.  Tennessee seconded the motion.  Vote was taken by a show of hands.  Motion carried.

OLD BUSINESS: President Sherman Clem gave a report of the Southern Plant Board Meeting in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, that he attended in April 2002.  President Clem noted that the 2003 meeting of the Southern Plant Board would take place in Puerto Rico in April of 2003.

President Clem asked if there was any more old business to consider.  No other old business was addressed.

NEW BUSINESS:

EDUCATION COMMITTEE REPORT: Committee Chairman Stacey Simmons, FL, discussed plans for the Chapter Inspection Manual.  A motion to accept the Education Committee Report was made by Tennessee and seconded by Alabama.  Vote was made by a show of hands.  Motion carried.

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE REPORT  Guy Buford, MS, gave the report for the Membership Committee.  The committee discussed producing membership cards for members as well as other ways to increase membership throughout the States as well as industry.

RESOLUTION COMMITTEE REPORT  Buster Whittingham, LA, presented the following resolutions to the attendees:

Resolution Number Seven resolves that any funds received for the purpose of the Society shall be deposited in the bank account no more than 45 days after receipt.  A motion was made by Florida and was seconded by Alabama.  Vote was taken by a show of hands.  Motion carried.

Resolution Number Eight concerns setting a precedent that the President will be succeeded the Vice President each year.  Discussion was made by Lynn Snodderly, TN, regarding a need for a change in the title of Vice President to President-Elect.  Secretary Beverly Bachus, AR, commented that a change in title would have to be made as a change to the by-laws.  Louisiana moved to accept the resolution as presented.  Mississippi seconded the motion.  Vote was taken by a show of hands.  Motion carried.

Resolution Number Nine resolves the Chapter’s sincere thanks to the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, as well as the meeting’s sponsors for their support of the 2002 meeting.  Louisiana made a motion to accept the resolution.  Tennessee seconded the motion.  Vote was taken by a show of hands.  Motion carried.

AWARD COMMITTEE REPORT  The committee report was given by Chairman Lynn Snodderly, TN.  Chairman Snodderly stated that a nominee will be selected by the committee from each state.  The nominee will receive a certificate as being the Distinguished Achievement Award Nominee from their state.  A winner for the Chapter’s Distinguished Achievement Award will be selected from the nominees.  The Chapter’s Distinguished Achievement Award winner will be nominated to the Southern Plant Board for the Carl Carlson Distinguished Achievement Award the following year.  Each state should submit it’s nominations for the Distinguished Achievement Award by the 15^th of June prior to the year’s Annual Meeting.  A motion to accept the Award Committee’s recommendations was made by Alabama and seconded by Texas.  Vote was made by a show of hands.  Motion carried.  A copy of the Award Guidelines is attached.

NOMINATING COMMITTEE REPORT  Chairman Kenneth Calcote, MS, presented the following nominations:

Editor Selection  Chairman Calcote stated that the committee nominated John Rochelle, TN, for the office of Editor.  Mr. Rochelle accepted the nomination.  President Clem asked for other nominations from the floor.  There were no other nominations. Louisiana made a motion to elect John Rochelle to the office of Editor.  Florida seconded the motion.  Vote was made by a show of hands.  Motion carried with Tennessee abstaining from the vote.

Treasurer Selection Chairman Calcote stated that the committee nominated Steve Bostian, AR, for the office of Treasurer.  Mr. Bostian accepted the nomination.  President Clem asked for other nominations from the floor.  There were no other nominations.  Tennessee made a motion to elect Steve Bostian to the office of Treasurer.  Texas seconded the motion.  Vote was taken by a show of hand.  Motion carried.

Secretary  Selection  Chairman Calcote stated that the committee nominated Beverly Bachus, AR, for Secretary.  Ms. Bachus accepted the nomination.  President Clem asked for other nominations from the floor.  There were no other nominations. Arkansas motioned to elect Beverly Bachus to the office of Secretary.  Louisiana seconded the motion.  Vote was taken by a show of hands.  Motion carried.

Vice President Selection Chairman Calcote stated that the committee recommended Stacey Simmons, FL, for the position of Vice President.  Ms. Simmons accepted the nomination.  President Clem asked for other nominations from the floor.  There were no nominations from the floor.  Tennessee made a motion to elect Stacey Simmons to the office of Vice President.  Arkansas seconded the motion.  Vote was taken by a show of hands.  Motion carried.  Florida abstained from the vote.

President Selection  Chairman Calcote recommended the nomination of Richard Wingard, AL, for Chapter President. Mr. Wingard accepted the nomination. President Clem asked for other nominations from the floor.  There were no other nominations.  South Carolina made a motion to elect Richard Wingard to the position of Chapter President.  Tennessee seconded the motion.  Vote was taken by a show of hands.  Motion carried with Alabama, Florida and Texas abstaining.

HOST STATE FOR THE 2002 ANNUAL MEETING  Stacey Simmons, FL, accepted the nomination to host the 2003 Annual Meeting and In-Service Training in Florida, with a tentative date of September.  A motion was made by Tennessee to accept Florida’s offer of hosting the 2003 Annual Meeting.  The motion was seconded by Alabama.  Vote was made by a show of hands.  Motion carried with Florida abstaining from the vote.

DESIGNATE REPRESENTATIVE TO THE SOUTHERN PLANT BOARD MEETING   President Clem stated that in the past the Chapter President would attend the meeting, and if they could not attend, a current member from the host state (Puerto Rico) would attend the meeting.

OTHER BUSINESS: There was no other business discussed.

PASSING OF THE PRESIDENCY: President Clem passed the gavel to new President Wingard, AL.

ADJOURNMENT: President Wingard called for a motion to adjourn the meeting.  Louisiana made a motion to adjourn the meeting.  Tennessee seconded the motion.  Vote was taken by a show of hands.  Motion carried.  The meeting was adjourned at 11:19 a.m.