Maine Cheese Guild


Next meeting: Date: April 25, 2003
Time: 10:00-2:00
Location: State of Maine Cheese Company, Rockport

Partial agenda:
Present elected Board members
Decide on logo
Discuss membership fees
Discuss Cheese Festival, scheduled for October
Workshop update
Survey update
Board meeting to be held at end of general meeting
Bring brown bag lunch

Minutes
March 7, 2003

Present: Caitlin Hunter, Debbie Hahn, Scott, Charles Hopkins, Jane
Morosco, Bob Bowen, Anne Bossi, Cathe Morrill, Perry Ells, Pat
Spinney, Marj Lupien, Pixie Day, Jennifer Betancourt, Eric Healy,
Eric Rector (MOFGA)

Caitlin Hunter presented an update on the Dept of Ag Marketing grant
she has been working on. It is planned to include funding for a
website, brochures, newsletter, workshops, a Maine cheese sampler and
an Annual Cheese Festival. A decision is expected in mid-April.
Jennifer Bettencourt also presented a list of other possible funding
sources for the Maine Cheese Guild

Gabe McPhail of the Maine Farms Project has been working on a Guild
logo, but materials were not yet available at the time of this
meeting.

Scott Gardiner presented a draft Constitution and By-Laws for the
Guild. There was considerable discussion about various details, which
will be attended to further by committees.
It was agreed that there will be three "Founding Members" (Caitlin
Hunter, Cathe Morrill, Scott Gardiner) who will adopt the By-Laws,
file the articles of incorporation and elect the Board, to consist of
5-13 members.
The Board will elect four officers and organize committees.
Scott also reported that progress is being made on our non-profit status.

Cathe Morrill of State of Maine Cheese offered the use of her office
for "Corporate Headquarters" for the Guild and will also be the
temporary contact person.

Perry Ells presented the Maine Cheese Guild Survey she has developed.
After some discussion and a few minor revisions it was decided that
those present would fill out the surveys they had, but Perry will
work on a revised version to be sent later to interested members.

The following Committees were formed:
By-Laws: Scott Gardiner, Caitlin Hunter, Cathe Morrill (Founding Members)
Survey: Perry Ells
Membership: Perry Ells, Bob Bowen
Festival: Claire, Jan, Everyone
Newsletter: Hanne
Grants: Caitlin Hunter
Workshops: Cathe Morrill, Anne Bossi, Deb Hahn, Eric, Caitlin Hunter
Publicity: Cathe Morrill (temporarily), Perry Ells.

Annual Cheese Festival:
The Guild will participate in the MOFGA sponsored food festival to be
held in Unity this Fall, possibly Columbus Day weekend. It is a one
day celebration of Maine historical foods, presenting its history,
processand other information. This years theme is cheese and bread.

Other business:

Eric will talk with Peter Dixon about the possibility of a Fall
workshop. (Udate: he is available)
Anne Bossi will contact Margaret Morris about the costs and
feasibility of doing a workshop sometime this year.
March 20th is Maine Ag Day in Augusta if anyone wants to participate
be bringing cheese.

Tour
At the end of our meeting, Cathe Morrill gave us an enjoyable and
informative tour of the State of Maine cheesemaking facility, and
also, many thanks to Cathe for providing a nice lunch.

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