THE MAPLE MESSENGER. President s Letter. Officer s Contact Information. Meeting Hosts Needed

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1 THE MAPLE MESSENGER Jan uary/ Fe bruary 2011 Volum e 66 The Newsletter for the Southern Maine Maple Sugarmakers Association President s Letter Officer s Contact Information Greetings, President: Dewy Lloy/ lloy@fairpoint.net V. President: Jo-Ann Merrifield/ merfarm@aol.com Secretary: Sharon Lloy/ lloy@fairpoint.net Treasurer: Richard Morrill/ nashvalleyfarm@myfairpoint.net Newsletter: Jo-Ann Merrifield/ merfarm@aol.com Meeting Hosts Needed We are looking for host for the following upcoming meetings this year. The next would be in April our Meeting/Syrup Contest, please check and see if you can host a meeting. If you are interesting in hosting any of the dates listed below, please me at Merfarm@aol.com. April 16 th Need Host (Maple Syrup Contest) May 21 st Need Host June 18 th Need Host August 20 th Need Host/ BBQ October 15 th Need Host (Annual Meeting) As I sit down to write this letter following our December meeting; I think of how quickly time will pass between now and tapping season and how much needs to be done in the woods and sugarhouse before being ready. After talking with others I realize that I am not alone, being part of an association provides us an opportunity for helping each other and sharing ideas. It was great seeing many of the members at our November meeting at Bill Mason s and I want to thank Bill for hosting a wonderful meeting. Sharon and I enjoyed hosting the December meeting/yankee Swap. The SMMSA January Roundtable/Business Meeting will be held January 15 th from 9 am 4pm at the United Church of Christ at North Gorham. The MMPA will have voted on their Guidelines for the Formation of Chapters by that time and I will be calling for a vote to approve or decline becoming a Chapter of Maine Maple Producer s Association at our January meeting. The website project is moving along and I urge everyone to send along any changes, updates and pictures to my address as soon as possible lloy@fairpoint.net. We are hopeful to have a somewhat completed website in the next couple of weeks. I hope everyone has a Joyous Holiday Season and Best Wishes for a Healthy and Prosperous New Year. Dewey

2 Page 2 The Maple Messenger Secretary Report November 20, 2010 Called to Order 7:00 pm Secretary s Report: Motion to Accept 2 nd Ashley G. - Passed Treasurer s Report: Motion to Accept 2 nd Lyle M, Passed Old Business: Chapter discussion presented by Lyle. Maine Maple to limit appointment to 1 director from each chapter. More discussion at Maine Maple s January meeting December another draft of proposals will be presented. Will be calling for a vote at January SMMSA meeting Review of pros and cons Website: Krack media found spy ware and thought our website had a virus. Review of Krack Media s proposal Linking of sites with MMPA website. Set up cost $894. $ for hosting and domain. Motion made to go forward and have Krack Media formulate new website by Mark C. 2 nd Passed (Dewey will initiate and oversee initial setup) Anyone interested in taking on the role of Administrator is welcomed). Now is the time to submit your sugarhouse, contact information and pictures. Maine Maple Mania: Will be tentatively held June 11 & 12 at the University of Maine Farmington. No charge for facility because of the non-profit status. SMMSA involvement is needed: (cover registration table? ~ lunches?) Meeting will cover:. Tech Sessions. Visit to sugarhouses. Trade Show will run Thursday through Saturday evening. Thursday evening dedicated to vendors. Expect 12 vendors and attendees. (Lyle will generate a list of categories of where help is needed) New Business: New grading transition to be adopted in the next 5 or 6 years. (Golden, Amber, Dark, Extra Dark) SMMSA January Roundtable January 15 th 9am 4pm (tentative location the Gorham Church) (contact an officer for any suggestions) Topics Recommendations: vacuum, GPS, value-added. Gerry (fondant candy); D. Lloy (sugar) D. Morin (coated nuts) L. Merrifield (maple cream) Next Meeting: December 18 th at The Lloy s ~ 140 Egypt Rd. Raymond Yankee Swap $10.00 per person limit Potluck Dinner!!

3 The Maple Messenger Page 3 Secretary Report Continued December 18, 2010 Called to Order: 7:00 pm Secretary s Report: - S. Lloy Read, Motion to Accept M. Cooper; 2 nd, B. McKenney Passed Treasurer s Report R. Morrill Beginning Balance $9, Paid out: Krack Media $ website Joann Merrifield $ print supplies $8, Ending Balance after deposits $9, Read, Motion to Accept L. Merrifield, 2 nd S. McKenney Passed Old Business: Maine Maple Mania Discussion L. Merrifield Scheduled for June 9, 10 & 11 th. University of Maine Farmington. We hope to keep the cost Between $100-$ accommodations. Comfort Inn provides discount for Farm Bureau Members. Discussion on how SMMSA can contribute. Ideas discussed were, book layout registration & information bags, tours, meals. SMMSA will contribute to goody bags, suggestion made was a travel mug which Joann would look into. Vermont has done mugs, hats, small cutting board. If you have any recommendations please let us know. SMMSA Roundtable will be January 15 th at the Gorham Church 9:00 4pm. Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided. Fee: $5.00 members/$15 non-members Website: - D. Lloy. Viewed the new format of our website at Eric Lammers provided us with a mock up of the home page. A few changes in coloring and format of logo were made as well as a FACEBOOK button that he thought would be beneficial to the association. Critique of website was given by the members. Members voted 7 to 5 to leave SMMSA logo as is and not to have a FACEBOOK button on website. The mock website currently shows the new logo but will be changed to old format. If members have any pictures, changes in addresses or information please send them ASAP to Dewey Lloy at lloy@fairpoint.net as Krack Media will begin working on this and can have done in two weeks once all the information is provided to him. Design changes made later may result in additional fee. Chapters L. Merrifield Draft #3 of the Maine Maple Producers Association Guidelines for the Formation of Chapters was handed out by Lyle and reviewed. For a copy contact Joann. Lyle states that Guidelines to the formation of MMPA bylaws needs to be accepted in January by the Maine Maple before we can vote. Adjourned: 9:00 pm

4 Page 4 Web Site Information The Maple Messenger Coming Events Dewy & Sharon Lloy need your help! Please the following information so we can have our web-site up and running by Maine Maple Sunday March 27 th, So if you can it to them by the Middle of February. If information is not received by then, we may not be able to get your information onto the web for Maine Maple Sunday. Farm Name, Address, Phone Number, and Address. Any Descriptions you want about your Farm, Maple Sunday information and photos. Jan. 11 th -13 th - Augusta Agricultural Trade Show (Thursday is Maple Day) Jan.15 th - SMMSA Meeting/Tech. Session 9am to UCC at N. Gorham Feb. 3 rd - MMPA Monthly Meeting, Augusta Farm Bureau- 7pm Feb. 12 th - Merrifield Farm-Open House for Sugaring Supplies (9am-3pm) February 19 th - SMMSA Meeting 7pm, Merrifield Farm March 3 rd - MMPA Monthly Meeting, Augusta Farm Bureau-7pm Classified Maple Recipe MAPLE GINGERBREAD 2 Cup Flour 1/2 teaspoon Salt 1 teaspoon Ginger 1 teaspoon Soda 2 Eggs 1 Cup Pure Maine Maple Syrup 1 Cup Sour Cream Preheat oven to 325, Combine and sift dry ingredients. Mix maple syrup with beaten eggs and add sour cream. Combine the mixture and bake in greased 8 x8 pan for 20 to 30 minutes. Serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream. Yield: 8-10 servings. (Recipe by, the Official VT Maple Cookbook) Second Edition We have Advertizing space available for members to advertize your business in our newsletter, it comes out every other month. Business Card size is $10.00 per Newsletter. Questions or to artwork send to Merfarm@aol.com. If you have a Classified that you would like to get into the next newsletter please contact me at Merfarm@aol.com. For Sale: Association Materials Maple Sugaring Coloring Books, sold individually or by the case. Cost to Members is.50 cents each. Call or Richard Morrill for more information or arranging pick up.

5 The Maple Messenger Page 5 Maple News Saturday January 15 th, 2011 SMMSA Technical Session/Meeting 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. United Church of Christ at North Gorham 4 Standish Neck Road Gorham, ME Price for SMMSA Members: $5.00 Price for Non-Members: $15.00, become a SMMSA Member for $20.00 Morning refreshments and lunch will be provided. Technical Session will start at 9am and will go until 3p.m., 3-4pm will be SMMSA Meeting Demonstrations: Maple Cream, Maple Nuts, Maple Confection (no machine) and Maple Sugar Round Table Discussions Please mail form or Call and RSVP if possible so we will have a head count for food. Name: Address: # of SMMSA $5.00= # of Non-SMMSA $15.00= Please Make Check Payable to SMMSA and Mail to Jo-Ann Merrifield, 195 N. Gorham Road, Gorham, Maine, Directions to Next Meeting: United Church of Christ at North Gorham, 4 Standish Neck Road, Gorham. At the intersection of US-302/ME-35 turn onto Tandberg Trail/ME-35. Continue to follow ME-35 (2.4Mi), Turn left onto Standish Neck Rd., (1.Mi.) Church will be on your left.

6 Page 6 The Maple Messenger Membership Application * January 2011-December 2011 * Yearly Membership Due is $20.00 Sugarhouse or Farm Name: First Voting Members Name: Second Voting Members Name: Mailing Address: Town and Zip: Phone/ Number of Taps: Wood or Oil Tubing or Buckets or Both Evaporatior Size: Make Check Payable to: SMMSA Mail to: Richard Morrill - 79 Nash Road, Windham, ME SMMSA c/o Merrifield Farm 195 N. Gorham Road Gorham, ME 04038