First Annual Meeting & In-Service Training

MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 17, 1999

BUSINESS MEETING:  The business meeting for the First Annual Meeting & In-Service Training of the Horticultural Inspection Society, Southern Chapter was held on September 17, 1999.  This meeting was called to order by President Jeanetta Cooper of the Arkansas State Plant Board, at 8:00 p.m. at the Ellington Ag Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Treasurer Steve Molloy of Oklahoma gave a brief overview of parliamentary procedure and set some guidelines for the meeting.

PRESENT:  Twenty-six members, representing eight states were present: Barry Ardoin, Secretary Beverly Bachus, Steve Bostain, President Jeanetta Cooper and Vernon Griffin from the Arkansas State Plant Board; Lester Cannon and Kenneth Champagne from the Louisiana Department of Agriculture;  Kenneth Calcote from the Mississippi Department of Agriculture; Rob Hunt and Jim Corbin from the North Carolina Department of Agriculture; Treasurer Steve Molloy and Morris Booth from the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture; Hans Chaudhary, Dale Gallimore, Gray Haun, Jim Keener, Harold McLeary, Vice President John Rochelle, and Editor Lynn Snodderly of the Tennessee Department of Agriculture; Awinash Bhatkar, Floyd Brown, Perry Cervantes, Harvey Fischer, Jesse Gutierrez, and Gary Stewart of the Texas Department of Agriculture; George Anderson, Tom Finn, Gina Goodwyn, Elizabeth McClelland, and Wendy Mitchell of the Virginia Department of Agriculture; and John Eckberg from the Western Chapter HIS and the Oregon Department of Agriculture.

Also present were Central Chapter President Joe Collins and Editor Carl Harper of the University of Kentucky, Department of Agriculture.  States not represented include: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Puerto Rico, and South Carolina.

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

MINUTES OF THE FOUNDERS MEETING: President Jeanetta Cooper, AR, called for corrections or additions to the minutes as printed in the newsletter.  None were made.  Lester Cannon, LA, moved to accept the minutes as printed.  Perry Cervantes, TX, seconded the motion.  Vote was done by roll call of states present.  Accepted by acclimation.

TREASURERS REPORT: A treasurers report of the income and expenses incurred up to September 15, 1999 was given by Treasurer Steve Molloy, OK. (Attachment #1)

AUDIT COMMITTEE:  Committee Chairman Steve Bostian, AR, commended Treasurer

REPORT:  Molloy on keeping excellent records.  A motion was made by Harvey Fischer, TX, to accept the Treasurer’s Report as read.  The motion was seconded by Morris Booth, OK.  Vote was taken by roll call of states.  Motion carried.

Harvey Fischer, TX, made a motion to set the fiscal year at October 1 through September 30.  The motion was seconded by Perry Cervantes, TX.  There was no discussion.  Vote was made by state roll call.  Motion Carried

Harvey Fischer, TX, made a motion to have the next membership dues to come due on October 1, 2000.  The motion was seconded by Barry Ardoin, AR.  President Cooper made a call for discussion.  Discussion concluded that everyone paying dues up to present would have membership extend until October 1, 2000.  Vote was by state roll call.  Motion carried.

OLD BUSINESS:

SOUTHERN PLANT BOARD MEETING REPORT President Cooper, AR, reported that she had attended the Southern Plant Board Meeting in Fayetteville, Arkansas in April 1999 and that the Southern Plant Board had wholly adopted the HIS Southern Chapter and had adopted Resolution #1.

EASTERN CHAPTER HIS MEETING REPORT:  President Cooper, AR, reported that she had attended the Eastern Chapter HIS meeting in Portland Maine where she was awarded an honorary membership and membership pin.  President Cooper awarded the Eastern Chapter President honorary membership into the Southern Chapter and presented him with an “Arkie” dictionary.

NEW BUSINESS:

EDUCATION COMMITTEE REPORT:  Committee Chairman and Editor Lynn Snodderly, TN, addressed the need for a common database to be considered for all HIS records and reported on beginning a news group on the Internet to post questions and answers among members and other interested parties. 

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE REPORT:  Co-Chairman and Treasurer Steve Molloy, OK, discussed beginning an Outstanding Service Award for HISSC members ( inspectors and inspector supervisors only) with administration receiving certificates for recognition when needed.  No recommendation for the award was given for this year.  Chairman Molloy requested nominations before the 2000 meeting.

Chairman Molloy also reported the intent to continue mailing all chapter information to both individuals on the “recruiting list” as well as the head of programs in each state.

Lester Cannon, LA motioned to accept the policy for Outstanding Service Award.  The motion was seconded by Floyd Brown, TX.  President Cooper called for discussion.  Discussion concluded that the nominee would be voted on at the business meeting.  A suggestion was made to leave it to the host state to recognize a member from their state upon hosting the annual meeting.  Lester Cannon, LA, rescinded the motion.

Jesse Gutierrez, TX, motioned to table the discussion until the next business meeting.  The motion was seconded by Steve Bostian, AR.  Vote was taken by roll call of states.  Motion carried.

NOMINATING COMMITTEE REPORT:  President Selection Kenneth Champagne, LA, motioned for President Jeanetta Cooper, AR to remain president for another year.  The motion was seconded by Jesse Gutierrez, TX.  President Cooper called for discussion.  Perry Cervantes, TX stated that the intent is to retain the current officers because they have not yet served a current year.  President Cooper accepted the nomination.  Vote was taken by roll call of states.  Motion carried.

Vice President Selection Kenneth Champagne, LA, motioned and nominated Rob Hunt, NC to the office of Vice President.  The motion was seconded by Perry Cervantes, TX.  Rob Hunt, NC, accepted the nomination.  President Cooper called for discussion.  Current Vice President John Rochelle stated that he lives close to Rob Hunt and would be willing to help in organizing the next annual meeting.  Vote was by roll call of states.  Motion carried.

Secretary, Treasurer, & Editor Nominations Kenneth Champagne, LA, made a motion to allow these offices to remain the same; Secretary Beverly Bachus, AR, Treasurer Steve Molloy, OK, and Editor Lynn Snodderly, TN.  The motion was seconded by Perry Cervantes, TX.  Vote was made by roll call of states.  Motion carried.

LOGO COMMITTEE REPORT Committee Chairman Lester Cannon, LA, stated that the submitted logo’s were voted on by the attending membership and the committee considered three logo’s to be chosen or combined.  Chairman Cannon stated that the committee had come to a decision between two altered logos.  Editor Lynn Snodderly, TN suggested posting the committee’s selections on the web page for consideration among the membership until the next meeting.  Jim Keener, TN, motioned to table the discussion of logo selection.  The motion was seconded by Floyd Brown, TX.  President Cooper called for further discussion.  No discussion took place.  Vote was made by roll call of states.  Motion carried.

DESIGNATE REPRESENTATIVE TO SPB MEETING President Cooper called for discussion on designating member to represent the Southern Chapter HIS at the Southern Plant Board Meeting in San Antonio, TX, in April 2000.  Harvey Fischer, TX, motioned to use a member from the SPB host state to represent the Southern Chapter at SPB meetings.  The motion was seconded by Perry Cervantes, TX.  President Cooper called for further discussion.  No discussion was made.  Vote was made by roll call of states.  Motion carried.

HOST STATE FOR THE 2000 ANNUAL MEETING President Cooper asked for a tentative date for the next annual meeting.  Rob Hunt, NC set a tentative date of September 10 - 16, 2000.

NEW COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS President Cooper made the following appointments:

Resolution Committee: Chairman Dale Gallimore, TN; Floyd Brown, TX; Robert Banks, AR; Tom Finn, VA; Kenneth Calcote, MS.

Archive Committee: Chairman Vernon Griffin, AR; Lynn Snodderly, TN; Gina Goodwyn, VA; Gary Stewart, TX; Gene Lucius; SC.

OTHER BUSINESS:  Harold McLeary, TN motioned to designate members paid up to this date as Charter Members.  Jim Corbin, NC, seconded the motion.  President Cooper called for discussion.  Discussion determined that members signing up at the Founder’s Meeting in January 1999 would be designated as Founding Members.  Vote was made by state roll call.  Motion carried with Oklahoma opposing.

Central Chapter Editor Carl Harper, KY commended the Southern Chapter on an excellent meeting and chapter enthusiasm.

Gray Haun, TN, questioned the need for a Legal State Charter.  Treasurer Steve Molloy, OK, stated that he had received the IRS packet and would be working on obtaining it within 30 days.

President Cooper, AR, expressed thanks to the Tennessee members for hosting the First Annual Meeting.

Vernon Griffin, AR, questioned if any interstate inspections were to be planned for the coming year.  President Cooper explained that the interstate inspections were up to the individual states.

ADJOURNMENT:  Steve Bostain, AR, motioned to adjourn.  Floyd Brown, TX, seconded the motion.  President Cooper adjourned the meeting at approximately 10:00 p.m.