Minutes 2020
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.
PLANT WNY ANNUAL MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, August 12, 2020
PLANT WNY ANNUAL MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, August 12, 2020 - 7 pm
Lakeside Sod - 6660 Goodrich Road, Clarence Center, NY 14032
Our meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by Phil Tripi, president. Phil and our membership thanked Lakeside Sod for hosting our meeting and providing a tour.
New for this meeting, agendas with financial statements were emailed to attendees. The sign-in sheet was not circulated and since members were asked to RSVP for this, there is a record of attendees based on that list and will be used as proof of attendance.
By a show of hands, it was determined we had a quorum.
Steve Sypniewski, secretary, welcomed our new members: The Guy Next Door Landscaping and Pro-Cut Property Services.
Kristy Schmitt, treasurer, gave the financial report. Kristy noted that changes were made to the Foundation’s profit and loss statement to make it easier to follow.
Committee Reports:
Audit Committee - The audit will be scheduled soon.
Botanical Gardens - Like many other not-for-profits, 2020 has not been good for the Botanical Gardens. There are many ways in which our members can support the Gardens including a raffle and online classes. Ticketing is time-ticketed for visiting the gardens. Thursday night has food trucks.
CNLP/Awareness & Promotion - By a show of hands, people did express interest in attending a CNLP tour. Kim will look into options.
ED Day/Trade Show - As of right now the committee is planning an Education Day however, they are looking into a hybrid version which would include an online option. If need be, we may do a virtual one. CNLP and DEC credits would be available. There are many factors to consider such as attendee limits and is it financially feasible to hold with event with all the constraints. A concern was raised as to a problem with online ticket purchase in that one ticket purchase can allow for a crew to watch the classes as well. Landscape Ontario would be a good organization to contact as they have been doing online events for a while.
It was suggested to survey past attendees and exhibitors on whether they would attend.
Foundation - Investments were down drastically at the start of the pandemic and has slowly been recovering.
Golf Outing - The outing is planned for September 18 at a new location, Chestnut Creek Hill in Darien Center.
Harvest Dinner - Due to past experience with our Harvest Dinner being held in tighter spaces with several people to a table, it is looking like November is not a good fit for the dinner. Phil was thinking of a combination October membership meeting with the Harvest Dinner. He has been in contact was a facility that would allow for space and at the same time provide a wonderful dinner. A short business meeting would need to take place which would include elections and 2021 budget. Landscape Awards could possibly be presented.
Historian - The committee hasn’t been able to get together. Since Plantasia did not take place, the committee gave thought to what took place for income before Plantasia. Members offered memories of involvement with Buffalo Home & Garden Show, Eastern Hills Mall, Junior League Home, and Buffalo armory. Matt is looking to put together a timeline.
Landscape Awards - The program will take place with a new procedure to enter. Members were encouraged to start taking photos of their work.
Membership - Phil stressed the importance of working with social media to attract new members.
NCCC – Tom Mitchell stated that enrollment is at or very near capacity for horticulture classes. There will be both online or online combined with in-person classes. The demand for NCCC students is continual so they need to keep moving ahead.
Nominating Committee - The committee is accepting nominations for incoming 2021 secretary. Voting will happen at the October/Harvest Dinner.
Plantasia - We have the dates but we don’t know the future so things are on hold right now. Vendors and landscapers were given the option to receive a refund or put toward next year as a deposit and almost all landscapers are onboard for 2021. Plantasia’ s Show Stoppers insurance claim was denied. The membership agreed that we should seek legal advisement.
Media/Marketing - PLANT WNY’s Facebook page has almost 750 likes and almost 850 followers. Joan Mariea is hoping to feature members and CNLPs with profiles on Facebook. She would ask people what they did in their past and how it brought them to horticulture.
State Reps – Kim and Phil will be attending the State Board meeting on August 20. The NYSNLA has a new management group and is trying to get up-to-speed.
Phil Tripi made the motion to accept the minutes of March 4, 2020. Ed Dore seconded the motion.
Dave McIntrye motioned to adjourn the meeting. Ed Dore seconded the motion. Meeting was adjourned at 8:27 pm
Minutes submitted by: Joyce Janson
PLANT WNY ANNUAL MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, March 4, 2020
PLANT WNY ANNUAL MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, March 4, 2020
6 pm
Buffalo Museum of Science
1020 Humboldt Parkway, Buffalo, NY 14211
Called to order at 6:10 pm by Phil Tripi, president. By a show of hands, it was determined we had a quorum.
Steve Sypniewski, secretary, welcomed out new members: Earthworks, Heavenly Ponds & Maintenance, Junior's Lawn Service & Landscaping, LOE Trailer Sales of WNY LLC
Kristy Schmitt, treasurer, gave the financial report which was included in the agenda packet.
Committee Reports:
Botanical Gardens - The gardens are excited to be sponsoring the Children’s Garden again this year at Plantasia.
CNLP/Awareness & Promotion – 9 candidates are registered to take the CNLP exam taking place on March 5 at NCCC. 8 of which have attended review classes. Additionally, five current CNLP’s have attended review classes for credits. We have a very eager and hard-working group.
Ed Day/Trade Show - David Culp is the keynote speaker for 2021. CNLP day will take place Thursday, February 4 and the Trade Show & Education Conference will be Friday, February 5.
Foundation - The Foundation is in good shape. A suggestion was made to simplify the Foundation’s profit and loss statement as it is hard to understand. The Executive Board will look at what can be done and may possibly leave out the Wells Fargo account information on the report as it is confusing.
Harvest Dinner - A date and location for November will be announced soon.
Historian - Matt Dore along with Dave McIntyre and Bonnie Guckin are sorting through photos and organizing them. Matt is looking to have another work meeting and will be sorting through papers. Please let him know if you are interested in assisting.
Landscape Awards - Start taking landscape photos early so that you can be ready to submit them in the fall - you will need before and after photos. Suggestion to hang them in the walkway on the way from the Event Center to Artisan Hall.
Leaf a Legacy - Jeanetta Hanlon reported that she will be reaching out to garden walks to see if PLANT WNY can support them in their ongoing/established project. The Leaf a Legacy needs to be a public location.
Nominating - The committee is not actively seeking nominations but they are always open to it.
Plantasia - Preview Night is sponsored by Entercom. Lucarelli’s will be providing the food. Lakeside Sod is the sponsor of the show. If there are specific plants that you want, please let Gardner Low know. Mulch will be there. New this year - landscapers have to send one person to help with cleanup on Monday so that everyone shares in the workload. Phil is working on garden signage and will need landscaper’s logo files in Adobe or Illustrator format. The logos will be printed on vinyl and put on plexiglass. We are doing a social media campaign and are looking for landscapers and vendors to email photos to post.
Media/Marketing - Kristy Schmitt is working on creating Facebook events. Please like us on Facebook.
State Reps – The State Board is looking at changing the NYSNLA management company. They are currently reviewing proposals from three companies. Currently, there is no money to market the CNLP program. This is going to have a rebuilding process. A great member benefit is that the NYSNLA is strong in knowing what legislation is coming and it gives us a voice.
New Business
Bonnie Guckin is now the Buffalo distributor for the Upstate Gardeners’ Journal. Let her know if you would like to get on the distribution schedule.
Julie Hughes and Dan Robillard brought along students from McKinley. The Foundation was thanked for supporting horticulture students at NCCC and presented with a card.
Mike Frank motioned to accept the minutes of February 6, 2020. Dave McIntyre seconded the motion. All were in favor.
Chris Zeisz motioned to adjourn the meeting. Kim Schichtel seconded the motion. Meeting was adjourned at 7:05 pm.
Minutes submitted by: Joyce Janson
