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March 16, 2011 Minutes 1 <br /> AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION BOARD - MEETING SUMMARY <br />March 16, 2011 <br /> <br />MEMBERS PRESENT: Roland Walters, Elizabeth Walters, Howard McAdams and Spence Dickinson, Patrick <br />McGarry, Joe Thompson and Allan Green. <br /> <br />MEMBERS ABSENT/EXCUSED: Louise Tate <br /> <br />GUESTS: <br />STAFF: Gail Hughes, Soil and Water Conservation District <br />Tina Moon, Natural and Cultural Division <br /> Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation <br /> <br /> <br />ITEM #1: CALL TO ORDER <br />Chair Roland Walters called the meeting to order at 7:40 p.m. <br /> <br />ITEM #2: CHAIR COMMENTS (none) <br /> <br />ITEM #3: CONSIDERATION OF ADDITIONS TO AGENDA <br /> <br />ITEM #4: APPROVAL OF MINUTES January 19, 2011 <br />Members read through the meeting minutes. McAdams motioned to approve the January minutes. <br />Thompson seconded the motion. The APB voted unanimously to approve the January 19, 2011 minutes. <br /> <br />ITEM #5: ITEMS FOR DECISION <br />a. Officer Elections <br />McAdams nominated Roland Walters for APB Chair. Green seconded the motion. The APB voted <br />unanimously to elect Roland Walters as Chair of the Agricultural Preservation Board for the next year. <br />Elizabeth Walters nominated Howard McAdams for APB Vice Chair. Dickinson seconded the motion. The <br />APB voted unanimously to elect Howard McAdams as Vice Chair of the Agricultural Preservation Board for <br />the next year. <br /> <br />ITEM #6: ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION <br />a. New Farmer Welcome Kit <br />Members read through some of the sample informational brochure materials in the packet and offered <br />comments. Green suggested developing an Internet Wiki to help answer questions for local farmers. The <br />Wiki could include all kinds of information from government agency contacts to recommendations for tractor <br />repair businesses. Members and staff discussed the challenges of Internet upkeep and the problems <br />associated with appearing to recommend one particular vendor over another. <br /> <br />While the APB liked the opportunity to use the Internet and its various links for providing in-depth <br />information some members expressed the importance of handing something in hand (a brochure) with <br />names and addresses as a starting point or checklist. The brochure could include Internet addresses and <br />links where users could go for more detailed information. <br /> <br />Assignment for May meeting: members agreed to come to the May meeting with suggestions for information <br />to be included on the brochure. Names and contact information for specific agencies or supply sources that <br />APB members had found helpful in their own farming efforts, particularly information that they found after <br />they really could have used it. Staff was asked to begin to assemble local farm agency information into <br />brochures. <br /> <br />b. Conversations with Conventional Farmers <br />Members discussed their progress meeting with conventional farmers to discuss their thoughts on various <br />topics discussed at the last few meetings. Staff prepared a one-page list of “talking points” to help members <br />focus their conversations.