PLANT WNY ANNUAL MEETING MINUTES Thursday, October 8, 2020

PLANT WNY ANNUAL MEETING MINUTES

Thursday, October 8, 2020

Incorporated into Harvest Dinner
Kotecki’s Grandview Grove – 4685 Seneca St., West Seneca, NY 14224

The meeting was called to order at 7:57 pm by Phil Tripi, president. It was determined we had a quorum.

The financial reports for the Association and for the Foundation were included in the agenda packet sent via email. One comment was raised that they would have liked to see the breakdown for Plantasia as that was not included in the packet.

Committee Reports:

Audit Committee – The Audit Committee will be meeting shortly to review 2019 financials.

Botanical Gardens – Kristy Schmitt thanked the membership for their support. She said that things are improving as they have begun to bring in attendees again.

CNLP/Awareness & Promotion – The NYSNLA CNLP Day was held at Cornell Botanical Gardens. It included a tour and several members and CNLPs from our region attended.

Ed Day/Trade Show – A committee has been formed with representatives of all our regions along with NYSNLA. It is looking like we will have a virtual Education Day on a state level. Each region will have the opportunity to secure speakers. It will be pre-recorded so members can choose when they want to watch it.

Golf Outing – The outing took place at Chestnut Hill Country Club which a new location. The attendance was good and we even had some new golfers.

Historian – Matt Dore has requested financial reports from past years and Joyce Janson will be providing as many as she can. He is also looking for any files from years prior to 2003.

Media/Marketing – Please send to Kristy Schmitt anything you have to share for social media. We want to keep posting on Facebook and Instagram.

Membership – Our membership is level right now and we are hopeful to stay the course for 2021.

NCCC – Bonnie Guckin reported that classes at NCCC are hybrid. She was happy to announce that enrollment is up. NCCC is a great resource for our member firms who are looking for students for employment or internship – contact Bonnie for more information.

Plantasia – Chris Zeisz said there are no updates on Plantasia as not much has changed since in July. He is suggesting a drop-dead date for whether our show can be held. At this point, we don’t have plant material and we can’t pay for any advertising. We also don’t know what the show guidelines will be. The Event Center did apply our deposit to 2021.

State Reps- A new NYSNLA website is coming soon and it will allow for the regions to take part in the site as well. The NYSNLA is planning a membership drive once the site is completed.

New Business

Election of 2021 Board of Directors

Phil Tripi asked for the Nominating Committee to make a motion to nominate the incoming secretary. Sue Frank made the motion to nominate Lou Sardo as secretary to the 2021 PLANT WNY Board of Directors. Matt Dore seconded the motion. Nominations closed after no further nominations were received. Sue presented the 2021 Slate of Officers as follows:

Jeanetta Hanlon – President

Kristy Schmitt – Vice President

Steve Sypniewski – Treasurer
Lou Sardo – Secretary
Phil Tripi – Director

Steve Sypniewski cast one vote for the Slate of Officers. All were in favor.

Phil Tripi asked for the Nominating Committee to make a motion to nominate new member to the Audit Committee.  Teresa Buchanan made the motion to nominate Sue Frank to the 2021 Audit Committee with a 3-year term. Ben Hirsh seconded the motion. Nominations closed after no further nominations were received. Teresa presented the 2021 Audit Committee:

Tara Perrin (term ending 2021)

Kim Schichtel (term ending 2022)
Sue Frank (term ending 2023)

Steve Sypniewski cast one vote for the 2021 Audit Committee. All were in favor.

2021 PLANT WNY Budget

Jeanetta Hanlon presented two 2021 budgets. Proposed Budget Plan 1 would include Plantasia income should the event take place and Proposed Budget Plan 2 would be no Plantasia income as well as no additional spending except on office expenses.  Plantasia funds the Association budget with $30,000 and not having Plantasia is a major loss of income. Jeanetta met with the Foundation recently to present the possibility that Plantasia may not take place and ask for their support. The Foundation requested that the 2021 budget be as barebones as possible. Everything in the budget is what we need to continue as an Association with no extras. The Foundation assured us that they will fund us as needed even as 2020 may end with a deficit. We are very fortunate that the Executive Board has put money aside and managed their money very well. The Foundation stated we are solid and in a good position.

Matt Dore commented that at one time the CNLP program was an income fundraiser. We may need to turn to education to fund the Association. Jeanetta asked the membership to email ideas for suggestions of fundraising ideas.

Jeanetta made a motion to accept the budget for PLANT WNY as seen in Proposed Budget Plan 2. Chris Zeisz seconded the motion. All were in favor.

Kim Schichtel motioned to accept to the minutes of August 12, 2020. Chris Zeisz seconded the motion. All were in favor.

Mike Frank made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Kim Schichtel seconded the motion. Meeting was adjourned at 8:31 pm.

WNY Nurseryman’s Association Foundation, Inc. Meeting

The Foundation meeting was called to order at 8:32 pm by Mike Frank, trustee. Mike moved to nominate Kim Schichtel to Foundation Board with a 5-year term.   Sue Frank seconded the motion.

Discussion from the floor took place. Bonnie Guckin raised the question that most members, especially new members, don’t know how the Association or the Foundation work. What is our role as members? Members don’t know if they can get up and say anything such as making a nomination. The Association must find a way to educate the new members.

Nominations closed after no further nominations were received. Mike presented the 2021 PLANT WNY Foundation Board:

Eric Page, Treasurer (term ending 2021)            Teresa Buchanan, Trustee (term ending 2024)

Mike Frank, Trustee (term ending 2022)            Kim Schichtel, Trustee (term ending 2025)

Ed Dore, Trustee (term ending 2023)

Teresa Buchanan cast one vote for the 2021 PLANT WNY Foundation Board as presented. All were in favor.

Mike Frank motioned to adjourn the meeting. Chris Zeisz seconded the motion. Meeting was adjourned at 8:41 pm.