|
Summary of Minutes of the ONZ Executive Teleconference on 28 February 2006 (7.30-9.45)
Present: Mike Amour (Chair), Alastair Bridge, Tony Casey, Ian Manson, David Pearson, Anne Opie.
Apologies: Rob Dean, Margaret Edwards, Ed Scott
Key Matters Arising
- It was moved and accepted that the ONZ Executive should prepare a remit to the 2006 conference recommending that the ONZ constitution be changed to allow the Executive Officer voting rights at Executive committee meetings.
- It was agreed that the summary of the minutes would be prepared after the minutes of the previous meeting had been accepted and then posted on the website.
Financial Report
Bank balances as at 31 January 2006 were:
00 a/c $96,444 (marketing expenditure is still to come out of this figure)
02 a/c $19,161 (IOP)
03 a/c $10,812 (Conference) (subject to a transfer being made of $500)
The 2005 conference made a loss of $1,500.
- Subscriptions are tracking at $72,000, down $8,000 on budget, ie, 40 members down.
- Awards and Certification: received $27,000, down $3,000 on budget.
- Capitation fees expenditure is $2,000 over budget.
- Because income is currently down about $10,000, but there have been some reductions in expenditure, it was agreed that the Treasurer and Exec. Officer would re-budget for the rest of the financial year.
- The financial report was accepted.
Regional Chair’s Meeting
- The meeting had allowed the Executive to present a detailed account of ONZ’s current work programme and its research bids. Such information is important in ensuring that members are aware of the need to think beyond “olives as lifestyle” to “olives as an industry.”
- The Bay of Plenty is looking towards forming a regional olive growers’ group.
2006 Conference and Awards Dinner
- The Exec. accepted the proposal prepared by Wairarapa members for a final ONZ-only day conference to be held in Wellington on 7 October, as from 2007 onwards, the ONZ conference will be held in conjunction with the Horticulture New Zealand conference.
- There was a suggestion that ONZ workshops could be held at the Hort NZ conference and the Exec. Officer is to liaise with Horticulture NZ over ONZ’s conference plans.
2006 Certification
The Technical Officer is to prepare a paper on this issue. Key points to be addressed are that the information about certification is easy to locate on the web and easily interpreted. The cost of certification is also to be reviewed.
Marketing
- The news of the $400 seeding grants for media advertising in the regions was well received at the Regional Chairpersons’ meeting.
- A major NZ producer of table olives is happy to talk at the conference.
Funding
There was further discussion about the proposal for a voluntary levy. It this is to work, processors will need to support it. A meeting is to be organised to bring inn the first instance the major processors together to talk about what is involved as part of assessing the feasibility of putting a motion to the AGM in support of a voluntary levy.
Research
- Applications have been made to SSF and FoRST and ONZ is waiting for the outcome of the first round of assessments of proposals.
- Unspent research funding has been earmarked for Friday Obanor’s work on residue testing.
Communications
- A positive meeting has been held with the editor of The Orchardist to discuss copy for the ONZ pages.
- An ONZ member has volunteered to assist with the website and this offer is to be followed up in the immediate future.
- It may be possible to get the whole architecture of the website reviewed and a proposal made for its re-development at no cost. This possibility will be followed up, also in the immediate future. However, if this possibility may not eventuate. It was moved, and the Exec. agreed, that $10,000 be budgeted for website development.
- The full technical report on the peacock spot research has been received and will be posted on the website.
- If the power point presentation on the marketing research provides a suitable account of the findings (as it has to be read without any commentary on each point) it will be posted on the website.
- A disclaimer needs to be posted on the website relating to accuracy of information. It is important that all documents that are posted have been checked for grammatical, spelling and factual accuracy.
Membership
The discussion of this issue was postponed until the next meeting and the EO is to discuss possible membership structures in allied horticultural industries with Hort NZ and report back.
The LA County Fair
The Exec. was advised of the change in policies and practices involving the use of IOOC –accredited judges. It was agreed that the EO would circulate the Technical Officer’s report on this issue to all ONZ members.
|
