LSHS Board of Directors

Minutes of the Meeting

LOUISIANA STATE HORTICULTURE SOCIETY (LSHS)
BOARD MEETING MINUTES
March 31, 2003

The Board meeting of LSHS was held on Monday, March 31, 2003,in the Coffee Room of LSU Efferson Hall, Baton Rouge, at 2:00 p.m.  The following attended: Ed Bush, Annie Coco, Bobby Fletcher, Dan Gill, Allen Owings, John Roy, Robert Turley. Absent: Drew Bates, Rafash Brew, Sid Guedry, and Eddie Martin.

Journal
Ed Bush reported that Paw Prints on campus is printing the journal. He brought a draft of one page. Cost will be under $1,000 for 100 copies.  He is trying to get the journal registered and catalogued through the LSU Library. There are only 8 articles for the first draft. Do the journal as is, or solicit more articles this year, then print a better journal. Decision to send request for articles to all members, and out-of-state articles can be accepted if relevant to La. Articles need to be peer reviewed to be an official journal.  For future reference, the first one or two issues need to be done well.

Could include lists of peaches released by LSU, etc. Allen Owings and Dan Gill will coordinate lists to include in the journal. Allen motioned to call for papers with a June 1, 2003, deadline; second by Robert Turley; motion passed.
We have up to $750 budgeted, so get as many copies as we can with that amount and print for January 2004. Each LSHS member will receive a copy free; non-members may buy them. Will send one copy each to several states, at no charge to them, to get more exposure.

Treasurer's Report
Robert Turley distributed copies of report and reviewed it. Current balance as of 3-31-03 before this meeting is $3,795.37. There are 32 paid members for 2003. Bobby Fletcher motioned to accept report; second by Dan Gill; motion passed. Robert reimbursed Annie Coco for Board lunch, which preceded the meeting.

Tour to Mobile area May 22-23
Annie Coco reported she has reserved 10 rooms, 8 doubles and 2 kings, at the Hampton Inn in Daphne, Ala., just across the bay, east of Mobile. Allen Owings reported the following:

Tour Schedule

Thurs. May 22 8:00 am Depart Baton Rouge in LSU van
9:00 am Pick up in Hammond/Covington
Eat lunch somewhere along way
1:00-3 pm Mobile Botanical Garden
3:15-5 pm Auburn U. Ornamental Hort. Substation
After 5 pm Hotel - Hampton Inn Daphne
Dinner at restaurant nearby

Fri. May 23 8:00 am Depart hotel
8:30-11 am PDSI/Flowerwood Nursery
11:00 am Depart to return to La.

Deadline is May 15 to let Annie Coco know if you're coming, 985-748-9381.

Hotel info: Hampton Inn Daphne, 29451 US Hwy 98, Daphne, AL 36526, phone 251-626-2220. Government rate (with govt. credit card or letter on govt. letterhead 2 weeks in advance) is $79.00 double or king, one or two persons. Will be on city side. Annie Coco reserved 10 rooms with Arnita; when you make your reservation, ask for room held for Annie or LSHS for rate quoted. Reserved rooms are non-smoking, but confirm preference when reserving your room. Continental breakfast included.

Each person participating is responsible for their own expenses. LSU AgCenter faculty should use their corporate American
Express cards to get government rate.

Election of Officers
Each of the following were nominated then elected by
acclimation unanimously:
President Annie Coco
Vice-President Ed Bush
Secretary Dan Gill
Treasurer Robert Turley
They were elected to two year terms.

2004 Annual Conference & Membership Meeting
In the upcoming newsletter, include request for topics/speakers to go to Annie Coco. She will contact Sid Guedry
about possibility of having meeting at SLU in Hammond. If not, she will reserve Burden. Meeting will be third Thursday in January, so Jan. 15, 2004.  One suggested speaker - David Creech, Stephen F. Austin U. If in Hammond, could tour McLendon's Nursery and/or JA Newsham greenhouses. Maybe lunch at Trey Yuen.

2004 Tour
Annie suggested going south next year, since we've been north, west, and will be east this year. Maybe New Orleans - could tour private French Qtr gardens, New Orleans Botanical Garden, Longue Vue, Audubon Zoo/Park, Aquarium, which all have horticulture components. Non-horticulture of interest - Blaine Kern, D-Day museum. No decision made.

Golf Shootout
Allen Owings asked LSHS to donate $100 to LSU AgCenter's Nursery & Landscape Fund in conjunction with a Golf Shootout to be on May 30th. Annie Coco motioned to donate $100; second by Bobby Fletcher; motion passed. Check was given to Allen by Robert Turley.

There being no further business, meeting was adjourned at 3:25 pm.

Submitted by Annie Coco, 4-2-03