MINUTES of MEETING MAINE CHEESE GUILD January 11, 2005

Members in attendance: Jennifer Betancourt, Anne Tripp, Cathe Morrill, John Belding, Mary Burke, Marjie Lupien, Charles Hopkins, David Peterson, Gary Anderson, Eric Rector, Scott Gardner, Jean Koons, Caitlin Hunter, Anne Bossi, Glendon Mehuren, Perry Ells, Chris Alexander.

Guests: David Plante (would like to join dplant@maine.rr.com), Donna Lamb (UMCE, Piscataquis COunty), Deanne Hermon, Russ Hazen (Coop Extension Food Scientist, would like to join), Donna Doel (former Arkansas cheesemaker, now in Vassalboro not makimg cheese).

Next meeting: February 28, 2005, 10:00-2:00, at Dept of Ag testing lab in Augusta.

Voting for Board Members: Charles Hopkins resigned, leaving four openings. Members voted on and elected the four nominees: Heidi Klingelhoffer, Eric Rector, Marjie Lupien and Scott Gardner, who will all serve four year terms.

Cheese Festival update: Caitlin reported that the Samoset is confirmed for Saturday, October 15th. We will have one huge room, two break-out rooms and one room for wine tasting and cheese pairings, all for $500. She has also reserved a block of rooms for us (at a reduced rate?) We can set up the night before; can work with their chefs on presentations, etc; can charge admission; sell raffle tickets and can have animals on display. Rent for vendors tables is $40.

Schedule: Saturday: vendor and other tables (MCG, Dept of Ag, etc) will be up and running as well as cheese and wine tastings, workshops and seminars, animals on display, sales of raffle tickets. Sunday possibilities: visit wineries, farms and/or cheesemakers, do a demo at State of Maine Cheesemaking. Suggestions: keynote speaker speaking about "Taste of Place", probably a Vermont person; showcase one chef cooking with Maine cheeses; hold a chef competition; sell raffle tickets not only for MCG cheese sampler baskets, but also for a meal at a local restaurant; would be nice to have vendors for breads, crackers and cheesefriendly condiments.

Other Business: Donna Lamb (Coop Extension, Piscataquis County) reported that 15 people interested in cheesemaking attended a recent Extension meeting and wonder how they can proceed to the next step. We suggested that they attend our May 16th meeting which is open to all and will be held at Hitchner Hall at the U of Maine from 10:00-2:00.

THe state is looking into testing goat milk for butterfat and protein, currently done here only for cow milk. Marjie Lupien reported that there is no private lab in Maine for this kind of testing; the nearest in in New York. DHIA testing can be done through the Maine Dairy Goat Assoc at great expense ($6 per head plus a $4 per head set-up fee). Vermont tests small ruminants for somatic cell count for free. To contact MDGA about DHIA testing email Jen Mellet at mellett@aol.com.

Announcements: The Norway farmers market is looking for a cheese vendor and someone to do an exhibit and demo about Maine cheese. Contact Patricia Carol.

Up-coming U.S. Championship cheese contest. Mist provide moisture content. Deadline to get entry forms is Feb 16.

For a future meeting we need to discuss insurance for officers and Board directors.

Respectfully submitted. Anne Bossi

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