Hilton Garden Inn
Brandon, FL |
Fall Membership Meeting
November 9 – 11, 2007 |
FIRST PRESIDENT'S COMMITTEE MEETING, 4 P.M., NOVEMBER 9, 2007
President Sam Andrews called the meeting to order, and Recording Secretary Pat Merritt called the roll. Present: President Sam Andrews, 1st VP Roz Merritt, 2nd VP Paul Felsberg, Secretary Pat Merritt, Chairman of Directors Eddie Griffith, Treasurer Walter Bisselle, Executive Secretary Lynn Andrews.
The Committee discussed the issue of who retains the title of “Hybridizer” when hibiscus seeds are sold to another person who grows the plant and enters the bloom in a show. When seeds are grown by someone other than the hybridizer, the grower is listed on the registration form only as the grower, with the hybridizer always remaining the person who made the cross. In most cases, the grower of the seed has naming rights to the bloom. This issue was referred to the Nomenclature Committee.
With no further business, on motion made and seconded, the meeting was adjourned.
AMERICAN HIBISCUS SOCIETY
Hilton Garden Inn
Brandon, FL |
Fall Membership Meeting
November 9 – 11, 2007 |
FIRST BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING, 4:15 P.M., NOVEMBER 9, 2007
Chairman of the Board Eddie Griffith called the meeting to order, and Recording Secretary Pat Merritt called the roll. Present: President Sam Andrews, 1st VP Roz Merritt, 2nd VP Paul Felsberg, Secretary Pat Merritt, Chairman Eddie Griffith, Treasurer Walter Bisselle, Executive Secretary Lynn Andrews; Directors Dave Flanders, Bernard Pages, Don Schermerhorn, David Tate, Wayne Cameron, Fred Roush; Immediate Past National President Rita Hall; Chapter Presidents' Coordinator Marti Graves. Absent: Director Bradley Christian.
Executive Secretary Lynn Andrews reported on the 2008 Convention plans. The Convention dates are June 12 - 15, 2008, and the proposed site is the Embassy Suites Hotel in Boca Raton, FL. Chairman Eddie Griffith made the site inspection and reported that the hotel was completely redone after the hurricane, looked great and is likely again a five-star facility. The room rate is $94/night plus 11.4% sales tax. This includes a full cooked-to-order breakfast and a complimentary Happy Hour from 5:30 to 7 p.m. each night. The meeting rooms will be $1600, plus a 21% service charge for a total of $1936. After a general discussion, a motion was made and seconded to approve the Embassy Suites Hotel in Boca Raton as the Convention 2008 site, and to authorize the Executive Secretary to sign the contract and to set the registration and banquet fee in the $60-$65 range. The motion carried unanimously.
The Chairman reported to the Board that in December 2006, after Mr. Ed Spillman's appearance at its meeting at the 2006 Fall Membership Meeting in Lafayette, LA, Mr. Spillman filed papers with the Louisiana Secretary of State registering to himself the trade names “The American Hibiscus Society” and “Mike Bernard Acadian Chapter of the America Hibiscus Society.” When the Society became aware of this a few weeks ago, an AHS member who is an attorney in Louisiana was asked to write a “cease and desist” letter to Mr. Spillman (copy attached to these Minutes). This letter was dated November 2, 2007. After discussion, a motion was made and seconded to authorize the three-member committee, appointed at the 2006 Fall Membership Meeting to study and make recommendations on this situation, to pursue this with the attorney in Louisiana. This Committee is authorized to spend up to a stated amount before bringing additional requests for funds back to the full Board. These Committee members are Wayne Cameron, Eddie Griffith and Paul Felsberg. This Committee will report to the President's Committee. The motion carried unanimously.
President Andrews made a motion that the Executive Secretary, working with the Treasurer, be authorized to record the American Hibiscus Society name with the Secretary of State in all states and territories in which we operate and where chapters may be formed. A budget of $500 was included in this motion.
After discussion the motion was seconded and carried unanimously. After a discussion a motion was made and seconded to ask the Technology Committee Chairman, Tom Miller, to register all domain names that we might use in the future, such as ahs.org, ahs.com, ahs.net, etc. A budget of up to $300 was included in this motion. The motion carried unanimously.
Treasurer Walter Bisselle announced a 501c(3) program whereby H&R Block will donate $25 to the AHS for every new client having them prepare their tax return. Details in the April issue of The Seed Pod. On motion made, seconded and unanimously carried, the Board approved the use of The Seed Pod to disseminate this information to the membership.
With no further business, on motion made and seconded, the meeting was adjourned.
AMERICAN HIBISCUS SOCIETY
Hilton Garden Inn
Brandon, FL |
Fall Membership Meeting
November 9 – 11, 2007 |
FIRST GENERAL SESSION, 9 A.M., NOVEMBER 10, 2007
The president asked Jane Flory to give the Invocation. President Andrews reminded us that his focus will continue to be on increasing membership. We have lost some young, energetic members because of the uncooperative attitude of a handful of older members. This will not be tolerated.
President Sam Andrews called the meeting to order and asked the Recording Secretary to call the roll. Present: President Sam Andrews, 1st VP Roz Merritt, 2nd VP Paul Felsberg, Secretary Pat Merritt, Treasurer Walter Bisselle, Chairman of Directors Eddie Griffith, Executive Secretary Lynn Andrews; Directors Dave Flanders, Bernard Pages, Don Schermerhorn, David Tate, Wayne Cameron, Fred Roush; Immediate Past National President Rita Hall; Chapter Presidents' Coordinator Marti Graves. Absent: Director Bradley Christian.
Treasurer's Report: Walter Bisselle
The treasurer handed out copies of a Budget Update for the fiscal year 2007-2008. Unless income increases, we will have to tap our CD's for operating expenses. We did have an insurance claim this year, but the insurance company said it was so small it shouldn't affect our rates. A visitor to the Ft. Myers show slipped on a spent bloom or fallen leaf, and the insurance paid her doctor bill of $104. Publications Chairman Roland Gaudet reminded the Chapter Presidents that each show packet is $30 plus shipping. MAL membership was far below the budgeted amount, Chapter membership rolls were bloated with non-paying names, which have been purged. There was a general discussion about ways to make donations to the Society, including Will provisions.
Membership Trends
President Andrews presented a printed handout of membership trends (a copy of which is made a part of these Minutes), that illustrated the growth or decline in membership by category. A pie chart was included showing Chapter membership by region, with Florida at 40%, Louisiana at 28%, Texas at 20%, and the Caribbean at 11%.
There followed a lengthy discussion on membership and ways to increase it.
A general discussion ensued about the availability of plants and the demise of many growers. The main reason that the Louisiana Chapters have had such a phenomenal growth is the availability of plants from the Dupont Nursery and the support he gives to those Chapters. In Florida and Texas, one can go to a grower with a list of a dozen plants and will be fortunate to come away with three of them. The consensus of those present was that plant availability is vital to the success of Chapters.
Convention Program Committee: Lynn Andrews
Executive Secretary Lynn Andrews reported that the Board approved the 2008 Convention site and dates, June 12 - 15, Embassy Suites Hotel in Boca Raton, FL. Eddie Griffith and Stan Tillotson have offered a tour of their garden in Fort Lauderdale. The hospitality suite will be hosted by the Conrad Sunrise Chapter with financial help from National. There followed a lengthy discussion about Convention content with many good suggestions. Advance information will be in the January 2008 issue of The Seed Pod.
Publications: Paul Felsberg
An inventory of our publications in storage:
6,450 - Tropical Hibiscus Handbook
5,500 - Hibiscus Illustrated
350 - 1989 Catalogue
1,560 - 1991 Catalogue
2,000 - 1996 Catalogue
A general discussion followed about pursuing funding for a digital catalogue. A DVD with over 2000 large, named hibiscus images was provided to Chairman Griffith for delivery to Jo Conrad, who will be asked to present it to the patron who funded some of our past paper catalogues to see if she has an interest in sponsoring a digital catalogue.
The artist has approved the changes made in the Hibiscus Care Sheet and it is ready for printing. The selection of a hibiscus plant to be named for the artist is still pending. Carlos and Nola Reynolds have several from which she can choose, but everyone has been too busy to get this done. After a lengthy discussion about printing costs and number of copies to print, a motion was made and seconded to allow the President's Committee to make the financial decision for printing the care sheet. The motion carried with three opposed.
Nomenclature: Sam Andrews
Since the Convention in June, the data entry team of Marti Graves and Cindy Erndt has finished entering the entire backlog of registrations into an Excel file that is ready to be merged into the database. On November 12, the LSU data processing people are scheduled to sit down with Dr. Pat Hegwood and Dr. Rod Hendrick to talk about the programming and how we want our Nomenclature database to look on the Internet.
Chapter Presidents' Committee: Marti Graves
Our new Chapter Presidents' Coordinator is Jim Bridges, president of the Harry Goulding Chapter.
Bylaws: Paul Felsberg
Article 14 provides for proposed changes in the bylaws to be published in The Seed Pod. We propose adding our web site, americanhibiscus.org, to this. This change will be voted on by the membership at the June 2008 Convention.
With no further business, on motion made and seconded, the meeting was adjourned.
AMERICAN HIBISCUS SOCIETY
Hilton Garden Inn
Brandon, FL |
Fall Membership Meeting
November 9 – 11, 2007 |
SECOND PRESIDENT'S COMMITTEE MEETING, NOVEMBER 10, 2007
President Sam Andrews called the meeting to order and the Recording Secretary called the roll. Present: President Sam Andrews, 1st VP Roz Merritt, 2nd VP Paul Felsberg, Secretary Pat Merritt, Chairman of Directors Eddie Griffith, Treasurer Walter Bisselle, Executive Secretary Lynn Andrews.
The only order of business is the affirmation of the new chairman of the Seedling Evaluation Committee Rod Hendrick. A motion was made and seconded and carried unanimously to affirm the appointment of Rod Hendrick as Chairman of the Seedling Evaluation Committee.
With no further business, on motion made and seconded, the meeting was adjourned.
AMERICAN HIBISCUS SOCIETY
Hilton Garden Inn
Brandon, FL |
Fall Membership Meeting
November 9 – 11, 2007 |
SECOND BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING, NOVEMBER 10, 2007
Chairman Eddie Griffith called the meeting to order and the Recording Secretary called the roll. Present: President Sam Andrews, 1st VP Roz Merritt, 2nd VP Paul Felsberg, Secretary Pat Merritt, Chairman Eddie Griffith, Treasurer Walter Bisselle, Executive Secretary Lynn Andrews; Directors Dave Flanders, Bernard Pages, Don Schermerhorn, David Tate, Wayne Cameron, Fred Roush; Immediate Past National President Rita Hall; Chapter Presidents' Coordinator Marti Graves. Absent: Director Bradley Christian.
The Board was asked to confirm the President's Committee's affirmation of Rod Hendrick as Chairman of the Seedling Evaluation Committee. The motion carried unanimously.
The Board accepted the Show and Judging Rules Committee's recommendation, with the permission of the 1st Vice President, to allow a non-judge to train as an assistant show director for two years before becoming a show director. On motion made and seconded, the Board unanimously approved this recommendation.
Budget Committee: Dave Flanders
The Budget Committee recommended that we drop the cash awards for the HOTY winners. After discussion, on motion made and seconded, this passed unanimously. The winners will continue to receive a framed picture of their blooms.
The Committee also recommended that we do not print the color care sheet until we know a firm price.
The Committee recommended that we do not commission any calendars or catalogues for which we must expend funds.
Pursue increasing income by selling naming rights to cultivars. Identify hybridizers who are willing to help us with this.
Consider an ad in The Seed Pod promoting donations to the AHS.
Publicity Committee: Paul Felsberg
Dave Flanders described a booklet that the Golby-Reasoner Chapter produced that sets out what hibiscus growers should be doing month-by-month in their area. On the back is a membership application for their Chapter.
Approval of Dates and Location for the Fall 2008 Membership Meeting
Executive Secretary Lynn Andrews presented to the Board a contract with the Hilton Garden Inn in Brandon, Florida, for November 7 - 9, 2008, with a room rate of $101. After discussion and on a motion made and seconded, the Board approved the signing of this contract unanimously.
Election of a Chairman of the Board of Directors
Nominations were opened for a Chairman of the Board to serve until the 2008 Fall Membership meeting. Eddie Griffith was nominated, and on motion made and seconded, unanimously elected.
With no further business, on motion made and seconded, the meeting was adjourned.
AMERICAN HIBISCUS SOCIETY
Hilton Garden Inn
Brandon, FL |
Fall Membership Meeting
November 9 – 11, 2007 |
SECOND GENERAL SESSION, 8 P.M., NOVEMBER 10, 2007
President Sam Andrews began the session with the raffle of the plants and thanked the growers for furnishing them.
National Nominating Committee: Marti Graves
Chairman Graves thanked all of the members of the NNC who worked very diligently on this slate of candidates. The nominees are:
President: Roz Merritt
1st V. P.: Paul Felsberg
2nd V. P.: Don Mixon
Recording Secretary: Pat Merritt
Directors:
Joyce Comingore
Ed Flory
Kathy Grandoff
Wanda Schmoyer
Nominations were then called for from the floor. Eddie Griffith was nominated for President and Wayne Cameron was nominated for 1st V. P. Both were willing to serve and were added to the slate of candidates. The slate is now:
President: Eddie Griffith
Roz Merritt
1st V. P.: Wayne Cameron
Paul Felsberg
2nd V. P.: Don Mixon
Recording Secretary: Pat Merritt
Directors:
Joyce Comingore
Ed Flory
Kathy Grandoff
Wanda Schmoyer
With no other nominations from the floor, the nominations were closed.
Convention Program Committee: Lynn Andrews
The Board of Directors approved the 2008 Convention dates of June 12 - 15, 2008, at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Boca Raton, Florida. Eddie Griffith has graciously invited the membership attending the Convention to tour his and Stan's garden on Saturday afternoon, with a barbecue after the tour. Details of other programs will be in the April issue of The Seed Pod.
The Fall Membership Meeting will be at the Hilton Garden Inn in Brandon, Florida, November 7 - 9, 2008.
Seedling Evaluation Committee: Roz Merritt
Rod Hendrick is the new Chairman of this Committee. The final four candidates for Hibiscus of the Year for 2008 are:
C N Stars, Don Florus, hybridizer
Morning Light, Nola & Carlos Reynolds, hybridizer
Tiger Cub, Roz Merritt, hybridizer
White Diamonds, Bob Collins, hybridizer
In the Class of 2005, Pop Green and Witch Hazel were dropped. In the Class of 2006, Green Goblin was withdrawn because of lack of wood.
Seed Bank: Bob Carran
Thank you everyone who sent me seeds to distribute all over the world. Seeds from Marti and Greg Graves, Connie Roush, Sandra Theall and Dr. David Tate came at a particularly needy time. Free hibiscus seeds were sent out to many states in the U. S., Canada, Jamaica, Italy, Spain, Romania, England, Switzerland, France, Denmark, India, Taiwan, Philippines, Malaysia, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay and many other places too numerous to mention. During the period January 1 through November 10, 2006, I sent 1,646 seeds to 142 people. During the same period for 2007, I sent out 4,162 seeds to 363 people.
With no further business, on motion made and seconded, the meeting was adjourned.
AMERICAN HIBISCUS SOCIETY
Hilton Garden Inn
Brandon, FL |
Fall Membership Meeting
November 9 – 11, 2007 |
THIRD GENERAL SESSION, 9 A.M., NOVEMBER 11, 2007
President Sam Andrews asked Katie McClain to give the Invocation, and Wally Neef to lead the Pledge of Allegiance.
The president asked for Committee reports. Some of these reports were given at various Board Meetings and General Sessions, and are not repeated here.
The Seed Pod: Rita Hall
When I first took over as editor in 2000, we had a “Mom and Pop” printer who gave us good service. Those days are gone! We got the October issue to the printer on time and they sat on it for three weeks. Our job is so small it doesn't command a priority status. Sam has appointed a committee to study setting future goals, reducing costs and providing what is best for the membership. If anyone has ideas for articles or leads on advertisers, please let me know and I'll follow up on them. Please notify me or Walter if you are receiving duplicate mailings. Thanks to our support team for their help in proofing and mailing.
Chapter Presidents' Committee: Marti Graves
The new Chapter Presidents' Coordinator is Jim Bridges who is president of the Harry Goulding Chapter in Port Charlotte, FL. The consensus of the meeting was go back to your Chapters, get as much enthusiasm and excitement going in your meetings and shows and get more members. If Chapter Presidents need anything, don't hesitate to contact Jim or Marti.
Bylaws: Paul Felsberg
No new bylaws were submitted.
Show and Judging Rules: Roz Merritt
We experimented with judging a few blooms, and learned that most of our judges need to become more familiar with the new blooms that are being exhibited at shows today. Victor Zeno reported that the Central Florida Chapter's experiment with using gold, blue and red stickers on the exhibition cards instead of attaching the respective ribbons was a great success. The Committee asked the Board to approve allowing non-judges to train for two years to become show directors. The Board approved this at their second meeting on Saturday.
With no further business, on motion made and seconded, the Fall Membership Meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Patricia B. Merritt
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