Organizing Committee

Meeting Date: 10/18/2011Meeting time: 7:00 EasternLocation: web conference with Anymeeting and audio via telephoneRecorded: Yes

10/18/11 Agenda

• Review of previous meeting minutes• Website sub committee update (15 mins)• Use of subcommittees (5 mins)• Sarah Bader book listing (5 mins)• Nov conference (10 mins)• Membership/benefits discussion (20 mins)• Sharing the status of our work

Review of 10/4/11

• Minutes Review and accept• We need to talk with Susan Harrington about how this group might get represented at her conference.

...to read:We need to talk with Susan Harrington about how this group might get represented at the Northwest Regional Lavender Conference.

Website sub committee update• 3 Proposals (15 mins)• Domain: uslavender.com • Hosting company: Hostgator • Hosting cost: $6.96/mo for 3 yrs• One page message:

Welcome! This is the home of the United States Lavender Growers Association. We are currently working on the formation of this Association. Our Mission statement is: To support and promote the United States lavender industry through research, education, networking and marketing.If you have any questions or inquires, please contact uslavgroup@gmail.com.

How to get emails? Look into distribution/forwarding

Subcommittees

• Use of subcommittees (5 mins)

Sarah Bader Book

• Sarah Bader book listing (5 mins)

NW Regional Lavender Conf.

• What to present/cover (10 mins)• NRLC is providing USLGA a free exhibit table for whatever you want to promote and/or sell for

the benefit of the association, including soliciting contact information for your updates. Is a table needed? Or half table?

• You will also have time at the podium during one of the two general sessions to introduce the group and make a short announcement.

• All the sponsoring associations will also have time at the podium so everyone will need to keep it under 5 minutes.

• We have 10 registrants coming from Canadian lavender farms -- British Columbia to Prince Edward Island -- including a representative from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food. I would suggest that the USLGA be prepared to address how cooperative efforts might benefit lavender growers in both countries.

• There is a new Ontario Lavender Association that just received a $40,000 (cdn) grant to research cold-hardy varieties ~ http://www.simcoereformer.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3328866 ~ This may be inspiration for our USLGA to pursue grant writing!

Membership/Audience

• Discuss Membership/audience (20 mins)• Levels of membership ideas?• Why should they join?

Why Join?• Non profit dedicated to the interest of furthering the knowledge of

all things lavender• Something for all lavender interests – growers, processors,

suppliers, retailers, craftspeople, lavender lovers• A network for information sharing, research and project

collaboration• Encourages public interest in lavender and lavender by-products• Supplies knowledge regarding propagating and growing lavender• Promotes and brands through U. S. Lavender Growers Association• Actively advocates for the benefit of lavender industry growth and

development on a national and global basis• Access to businesses who support our efforts with a membership

discount• 3 membership levels

Levels/Benefits• Charter membership• General Membership – Open to growers (minimum 100 plants), or primary processors

– Cost = $50/year– Voting– Inclusion in a support network for lavender based interests– Inclusion in and access to a directory of all USLGA members– Use of the USLGA logo as a marketing tool– Notification and information exchange of Association events– Group buying power (plants, potting materials, landscape cloth, sundry supplies)– Members only website for research and technical information (to be constructed)– Participation in educational events such as field tours, lavender crafts, lavender cuisine, bud stripping and distillation

demonstrations, etc.• General Membership Plus – Open to growers (100 plants), or primary processors

– Cost = $200/year– Voting– All benefits of general membership as shown above– Plus marketing opportunities in events in which USLGA participates under the USLGA banner e.g. fairs, festivals, flower shows,

craft and culinary events, etc.– Plus business listing on USLGA website (to be constructed)

• Associate Membership – Open to lavender industry (non-growers), secondary processors lavender retailers, suppliers, craftspeople– All the benefits of general membership except – – Non-voting – Cost = $50/year

• Resource Membership – University / Government resource personnel by invitation– All the benefits of general membership except – – Non-voting

Cost = No fee

Membership Benefits• The Herb Society of America• American Soybean Association• Society of American Foresters• National Corn Growers Association• Tree Care Industry Association• National Association of American Wineries• American Nursery and Landscape Association• Perennial Plant Association• National Council of Nonprofits• American Horticultural Society

Membership Levels• Sequim Farmers– Academia - includes professor, educator, botanist,

horticulturalist, extension agent, and others in an educational environment

– Grower - includes gardening enthusiast, hobby farmer, and large-scale farmer

– Artisan - includes anyone who uses lavender to make products for resale

– Practitioner - includes aromatherapists, massage therapists, and other similar professionals

– Sales - includes wholesalers and retailers of lavender and its byproducts

Membership Levels• New Zealand

– Full Members (Voting Members)Any person who grows or intends to grow lavender in New Zealand for the production of lavender oil and related products.

– Life Members Life membership may be conferred to recognise some outstanding contribution to furthering the objectives of the Association. Entitled to all the privileges and benefits of a Full Member.

– Associate Members Any person not involved in the growing of lavender in New Zealand for the production of lavender oil or related products. Not entitled to voting rights or to serve on the Executive Committee.

– Partner Members Any person involved in the growing of lavender in New Zealand for commercial purposes in partnership (formal or informal) with a Voting Member. Entitled to all the privileges and benefits of membership of the Association.

Membership Levels

• Australia Level Cost GST Inclusive Details

Member Aust $160 Voting rights for 1. A person/persons actually involved in the production of lavender plants for commercial useage. (Incl: growers, propagators )

Affiliate Aust $40 Voting rights for 1.A Member may nominate a partner, or another person from their company or business as an Affiliate member

Associate Aust $100 1 Member.Voting rights for 1. A person/persons who contribute to and benefit from the promotion and expansion of the lavender industry in Australia (Academia , manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, associations etc)

International Aust $90 1 Member.Nil voting rights. A person/persons, non-resident in Australia , interested in the Australian lavender industry and the promotion and education of the genus lavandula.

Sharing our status

• What can we share with others• Consistent language

Next Steps

• Vote on website proposal• Vote on Membership? 11/15• Introduce Bylaws• 11/1• 11/15• 11/29