Champions of the Environment

Membership Meeting - January 9, 2006
Richmond Marriott, Richmond, VA

The meeting was called to order by Lin Diacont, President.

Present were: Carol Hertzer, Paul Hartzell, Rick Baker, Robins Buck, Shelly Arthur, Annette Pelliccio, Bill Bonwell, Sylvia Wright, Tom Tracy, Jeff Miller, Sandy Miller, Cary Gouldin and Lorene Blackwood.

The minutes of the last meeting were approved as emailed.

Rick Baker presented the Slate of Officers for 2006 with a motion to elect:

	President: Lin Diacont
	Vice President: Cary Gouldin
	Secretary: Lorene Blackwood

The motion was seconded by Tom Tracy and passed.

Executive Directors Report: Jeff Miller - Information for the website is an ongoing process and new information is always needed. A listing of current and potential members was distributed.

New VGIC promotional display banners were created by Jeff and are available to use at conferences, Maymont, conventions, the State Fair and other meetings as needed. They are versatile and can be targeted to the consumer as well as the professional.

Rick will use them at Maymont and Lin will check with Donna Johnson, President of the Virginia Agribusiness Council to see if they can be used in the General Assembly Building when the legislature is in session. We’re working on being highly visible!!

A suggestion was made for an article and get recognition on the VGIC web site.

Financial Report: Approved See attachments.

Membership is an on going process. Don’t forget to renew and find new members.(see attached report).

Rick Baker: FSMIP Grant - The grant has been extended to June 1. The remaining funds will be dedicated to the promotion and execution of the Green Expo which will be held in conjunction with the Lewis Ginter Fall Plant Sale, September 16 at Lewis Ginter. Bill Bonwell and Rick are working out the details for the Expo with Lewis Ginter.

Sylvia Wright: Communications - A concerted effort is being made to target industry publications to have the VGIC editorials published. Send Sylvia any information.

Rick Baker: Virginia Green Expo, September 16, 2006 - The goal of this event is to promote the Green Industry and establish a funding base for the VGIC. When a contract is established with Lewis Ginter, a budget will be developed along with a timeline for completion of the event.

Virginia Agribusiness Council Banquet: Cary Gouldin has secured donations from the Virginia Flower Growers Association to provide centerpieces for the tables at the banquet. Each piece will have signage with the VGIC logo along with information about the Green Industry. Thanks in advance to everyone who helped make our industry more visible to our legislators and their aides. Again, many thanks to all the donors along with Gwyn Hubbard, Carol Smallwood, Cary Gouldin, Lin Diacont, and Louis Brookings for additional labor to make the VGIC highly visible. See ATTACHMENT for list of donors.

When possible, VGIC meetings will coordinate and partner with auxiliary groups meetings to gain greater participation and ownership. This meeting worked very well in conjunction with the Virginia Turfgrass Council Conference.

Lin will send out a master list of future meetings and secure all survey results from Tech and work with VDACS to develop protocol for an industry wide "spill plan".

Chairman – Mary Williams

Jeff is sending out reminders to previous members to renew their membership via e-mail.

I now have a list of 135 names and addresses in the VGIC Directory for membership. Separate formal letters for previous members and potential members have been drafted for 2006 membership.

The letters will be mailed along with a membership application and a copy of the October, 2005 newsletter.

Jeff is giving me stationery, envelopes and stamps to begin printing the letters and mail.