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2008 Annual Meeting

Addison County Maple Sugarmakers Association

March 2008

Annual Meeting Summary

Almost 90 people came out to enjoy a wonderful meal, good conversation and a good presentation by Bill Clark, Past President of VSMSA. Thanks to all that could make it for the evening.

A few points that Bill brought up that may be of interest:

• Consumers are more aware then ever about purity and quality—selling only good quality syrup will help keep Vermont Maple in demand.
• Keeping good records and paper trails on purchased syrup will help producers in the long run to sell syrup to packers or other producers.
• Producers should seriously consider participating in Seal of Quality programs as well as the organic requirements.

Notes from VSMSA directors meeting:

• Certification using the Seal of Quality will go into effect in '08, the Association and the State will be working out the details.
• Tapping on State lands continues to be discussed and the discussion seems to be positive.
• Barrels should be sealed for transport, especially across borders. Would also be a good idea to have your "paper trail" with you regarding the barrels.

Other notes from the Annual Meeting:

• The Addison County Maple School was well attended but the Committee will work on ways to attract more exhibitors to the trade show.
• The Directors got the go ahead to purchase a cream machine and will do that at the next Director's meeting.
• Barb Rainville will be manager again this year and Sheila Masterson will be the coordinator of the demonstrations.

Contact Sheila if you would like to show off your skills in the kitchen or any other maple related talents.

Goings On from the Annual Meeting

Maple Festival
The Maple Festival will be April 25-27th in St. Albans. And the Festival organizers remind everyone that there is plenty of time to cook up something sweet for the cooking contest. Also don't forget to submit your best of the crop this year to be judged. Pint entrees can be of any grade (VT Fancy, Medium Amber, Dark Amber, VT B) or any other pure maple products—candy, cream, indian sugar, etc. Please visit www.vtmaplefestival.org for more details.

Maple King & Queen applications are also being accepted up until April 18th with the crowning at the Maple Festival. Contact Pauline Couture, Chair, at 802-744-2733 for an application.

VPT Cooks
A great way to connect Sugarmakers with Vermont Public Television. This year the cooking show aired on March 9th and 12th and it was a sellout for the maple baskets at the highest donation level. The final tally was 64 baskets. 14 over what was committed by participants. A special thank-you to Cindy Myrick for the maple jelly, Pat Rainville for the hand-painted magnets and the Lockharts and Bruce Martell for coordinating it all.

VT Ag Dept. Website
The State Ag. Dept. is working on their website to better promote all maple businesses. If you haven't received a form in the mail to get listed please contact the Ag. Dept at 802-828-0389.

Hall Of Fame Inductee
Congratulations to Don Dolliver, the 2008 inductee to the Addison County Sugarmakers Hall of Fame. Other honorees receiving their awards during the Annual Meeting were Emma Lou Craig and Ken Button.

Other Happenings

The Maple Forecast for '08

• A later than usual start for most but those in the valleys have been doing pretty so far. Both Moe and Don Dolliver are very encouraged so far this year.
• Syrup in Maine is expected to retail for $50 a gallon this year as the price of everything especially fuel is high this year.

The Big E
Sheila Masterson will be co-manager with Mary Croft this year. They are looking for syrup and workers. The Big E runs from September 12-28 and VT Day is the 20th.

• The Sugarmakers have arranged for housing for anyone that is going to be staying and working for several days. Workers get paid $85 a day with a lunch included.
• If you have syrup that you would like to sell, it should be early season, in bulk stainless barrels, and in the top half of the grade charts in both color and flavor. The price has yet to be determined but it will be competitive.

Contact Sheila if you are interested in either or both at 453-7155.

French Heritage Day
Saturday, July 16, in Vergennes, is a wonderful opportunity to share maple with visitors. The day consists of French performers, narrated walking tours of Vergennes in French and English, traditional crafts demonstrations, and farmer's market. If you are interested in learning more or selling your maple products—syrup, cream, candy, whatever please contact Marguerite Senecal at the Chamber of Commerce office at 388-7951.

Maple Promotion at Snow Bowl
On February 23, Addison County Sugarmakers sponsored maple promotion at the Snow Bowl. Skiers sampled cotton candy and maple cream on donuts or crackers. We have participated in this event for several years and it is always received well by the skiers.

ACMSA Website
We have our very own website now. You can find us at www.AddisonCountyVTMaple.org. If there is anyone that wishes to help maintain the site please contact me (Barb) and I can let you know the passwords to get access to the pages. Hopefully, the site will be one more way that we can reach customers to sell product and to educate.

VT Life Ad
The County Association took out an ad in VT Life to take advantage of the State Ag Dept program. We are advertising for folks to come to Field Days and sample our maple products.

Recycling Your Tubing
Don Gale is looking into recycling some not wanted sugaring plastic. If you are interested in learning or have a bunch of tubing, fittings, main line, etc. that can be recycled please contact Don at 453-2785 or sgrmaker@yahoo.com. He is compiling a list of names of the sugarmakers who have contacted him and he is hoping that with the list we can convince the producers to consider the idea.

Buy, Sell, Swap or Trade
For sale: LEADER forced draft unit with grates, good for 5' or 6' wide evaporator. $1000.00 OBO. (802)434-5353 —Steve Willsey

For Free: I have 1,200 old drops (5/16" Ts, vinyl tubing and health spouts) for free. They are used but the fittings could be salvageable if someone wants to cut them apart. —Richard Faesy 434-4254

New Director
The ACSMA welcomes Don Gale as our newest board member. Don Gale will serve until '11 and can be reached at 453-2785 or e-mailed at sgrmaker@yahoo.com. Don lives in Lincoln. Mike Christain's term was "re-upped" until '11 at the Annunal Meeting. For a list of all County and State Directors see the list within this newsletter.

Directors Meeting

The meeting will be either the 28th or the 29th of April (Monday or Tuesday), please let me know which day works best so we can get as many people there as possible.

Rough Agenda

• Scholarships. If you would like to apply for our $500 scholarship please contact me (Barb) at 453-5797 and I can e-mail you an application.
• Purchase of a cream machine, previously mentioned.
• Repair/replacement of the floor and reworking of some of the sale areas.
• Other equipment purchases for Field Days, including items for the kitchen.
• Website work/suggestions

Tidbits

Don't forget to renew your membership to the State Association. A lot of helpful information is available along with some discounts and exclusive offers.

Operation Maple Sweetness will be collecting gallons of syrup again this year for our Troops overseas. If you would like to donate a gallon please drop it off at Moe Rheaume's store on Route & South or at Maple Landmark. Donations will be accepted until April 30th.

Directors List for 2008:

Officers Moe Rheaume, President Rheaume & Sons 393 Blake Roy Rd. Middlebury, VT 05753 388-3009 (w) 388-4815 (h) rheaume@sover.net Andy Hutchison, Vice-Pres. Mt. Pleasant Sugarworks 1627 Shackett Rd. Leicester, VT 05733 247-3117 info@mountpleasantmaple.com Barbara Rainville, Sec/Treas. Airy Glen Sugarworks 598 Browns Road Lincoln, VT 05443 453-5797 (h) 388-0627 (w) rainvb@wcvt.com

Directors Mike Christian '11 Village Sugarworks 505 Main St. Orwell, VT 05403 948-2101 maplwrks@shoreham.net Don Dolliver '10 Brown Hill Sugarworks 1027 Big Hollow Rd. Starksboro, VT 05487 453-3794 Gerald Masterson '10 282 Masterson Rd Lincoln, VT 05443 453-7155 jsmasterson@gmavt.net Jim Rowe '09 Mountainside Maple 7926 Main Rd. Huntington, VT 05462 434-7415 Don Gale '11 Twin Maple Sugarworks 88 W River Rd Lincoln, VT 05443 453-2785 sgrmaker@yahoo.com Dave Wetmore '09 Traditionally Vermont Maple 2757 S. Lincoln Rd. Lincoln, VT 05443 453-5592 djwetmore@gmavt.net

Elected Directors to VMSMA Don Dolliver '09 Brown Hill Sugarworks 1027 Big Hollow Rd. Starksboro, VT 05487 453-3794 David Folino '10 Hillsboro Sugarworks 270 Rounds Road Bristol, VT 05443 453-5462 dffolino@gmavt.net Don Gale, Alternate '09

If you are interesting in service as a director either for the County or the State please do not hesitate to contact a current director. No Experience Necessary! Andy Many Hands Make Light Work!