COSA Committee Minutes 10/10/07

Called to order at 9:04am Pacific

Participants: Kim Leval, Julie Dawson, Michelle, Kelly King, Julie Sibbing, Diana Jerkins, Jane Sooby, Pat Carr, Caron Gala, Jason Hill, Susan Andrews

1. Introductions and welcome

2. Interim Chair – Michelle will help as interim Chair until the end of the year; RE: Recruitment of new Chair – Michelle/Caron will send out the duties of the Chair so folks who might be interested will know what is expected.

3. Membership from Sustainable Agriculture Community – Kim is talking with the Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (SAC)and Center for Rural Affairs about joining COSA; also OFRF is considering joining

Kim outlined the interest in becoming a division
Pat outlined some of the changes in consideration of divisions for example forming an organic division
Div. meeting for A8 on Wed. at 11am - room 210 at the Convention Center
Michelle will announce the A8 meeting with S3 via email; Pat will send announcement to Michelle
COSA business meeting 9am on Monday, Marriott, Magnolia Room 208

4. Roundtable – Jerry Glover not able to come. Jason Hill will be speaking to perennials and biomass. Speakers went over their topics. Topics to be covered: switchgrass, perennials and diversity, effects of residue removal and carbon sequestration, sustainable biofuels production and impact on rural communities and local economies, wildlife implications, policy implications.

-Panelists will develop a short paragraph (1/2 page) to describe what they will be speaking to; please send to cgala@agronomy.org
-Funding and logistics: With Jerry not coming and not being replaced we will have a total of $2,500 in expenses for speaker travel and $800 left over to use for whatever the Committee decides. Julie Sibbing needs assistance with on-line registration and housing. We went over the logistics and how to register and how to get housing. Kim recommended http://www.hotwire.com/ for hotel rooms at the last minute.
-Structure of the roundtable – we will have panelists speak for 15 minutes each and then there will be questions and a discussion; panelists should send a short paragraph - motion passed to make this schedule change. Caron will send out a new agenda to the panelists and the COSA committee. Caron will send out the full list of questions in case we need them to jump start discussion with larger group.

****panelists signed off

5. $800 to allocate: We will use that money to pay for food and a no-host bar. We will not have powerpoint capability available but handouts are fine.

6. Expenses – Panelists need to turn in their expenses and form right after the annual meeting and the forms – Caron Gala is the contact for this.

7. Caron will ask OFRF if they will contribute to COSA for food for the reception

8. Kim will send her files to Caron for archives

9. Michelle and Julie will work out the facilitation of the meeting over email

10. Michelle will handle the agenda for the COSA business meeting over email.
Agenda items:
-Elect new leadership
-Nominations
-annual report
-funding
-becoming a division

Call closed at 10:34am Pacific.

Notes submitted by Kim Leval