ANNUAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF AMERICAN TURPENTINE FARMERS ASSOCIATION COOPERATIVE April 21, 1976 ATFA's Board of Directors met in regular annual session in Valdosta, Georgia, at 2 o'clock P. M., on April 21, 1976. All Directors were present, they being: Jim L. Gillis, Jr., President John J. Langdale Fred H. Carter Carroll Girtman E. R. Pilkinton W. A. Register Lewis E. Kight J. Q. Ryals D. R. Stallworth President Gillis brought the meeting to order and asked the Secretary to read the minutes of the last meeting, that being a Special Meeting held on December ), 1975, at the Experiment Station at Olustee, Florida. The Minutes were approved as read. The Board members were informed of negotiations with the Government for an increase in rental rate for space in the ATFA office building being utilized by the Tobacco Market News Service. The Board unanimously approved the increase in rent from $165 per month to $175 per month, effective July 1, and giving the Government an option to renew for a period of three years. In further action, the Board authorized the President to select a Queen and Calendar Girl from entries in the "Miss Georgia Forestry" Contest, when that organization helds its Annual Meeting at Jekyll Island in early June. The amount of $250 as a scholarship grant was approved for payment to the girl selected as the Queen. By a unanimous vote, the Board agreed to continue production of the Association Calendar in the same quantity as last year; that being 2000 at $1.65 each plus postage and freight. At the last meeting or the Board, the President had been asked to pursue the possibility of continuing the Naval Stores Loan Program for 1976. In line with this request, the President then informed the Board that he and the Association's Vice President, Mr. Girtman, had in fact been to Washington and met with Mr. Thomason and Mr. Benjamin of the Grains, Oilseeds and Cotton Division of ASCS, and in turn the four of them met with Mr. Kenneth Frick, Deputy Administrator of ASCS. Mr. Gillis reported that Mr. Frick seemed very favorable for continuance of the Loan Program and would be in contact with him at the end of two weeks. Many of the Board members expressed the hope that with the continuing decline of stocks of rosin on hand, price for the new crop would increase and stabilize at a profitable level. However, it was agreed that all efforts should be made to effect a 1976 Loan Program. The audit report submitted by Mr. Ralph Finney, CPA, covering ATFA's fiscal operations for the fiscal year ended January 31, 1976, was distributed to the Board members, who reviewed the report at length. In this regard, a committee consisting of Mr. Girtman, Mr. Langdale and Mr. Gillis was appointed to review current salary rates of ATFA personnel and make suggestions regarding any revisions. The Board members were then informed of the results of the election of Association Directors. The Ballots were tabulated earlier in the day by the Ballot Committee consisting of Association members M. H. Pritchett, E. R. Stockwell, D. M. Gay, Leroy King, John Ray, Travis Cook and Alton Carter and Mrs. Elizabeth Pickral of the Naval Stores Market News office in Raleigh e BBJ107 The following Directors, all incumbents, were declared to have been re-elected: District I, Georgia, Sub-District 1, Fred H. Carter; Sub-District 2, John J. Langdale; Sub-District 3, E. R. Pilkinton; Sub-District h, Carroll Girtman; and Sub-District 5, Jim L. Gillis, Jr.; District II, Florida, W. A. Register and Lewis E. Kight; District III, Alabama, D. R. Stallworth; and District IV, Mississippi, J. Q. Ryals. There being no gum production in District V, comprised of North and South Carolina, there were no votes cast in that District and the Office of Director was considered vacant. Upon Mr. Gillis' call for nominations, it was proposed that the incumbent officers be re-elected; and, pursuant to motion duly made, seconded, put and carried, the following were elected: President, Jim L. Gillis, Jr.; Vice President, Carroll Girtman; Secretary-Treasurer, Joyce G. Lamb; Assistant Secretary-Treasurer, Faye W. Simmons; and General Counsel, B. Lamar Tillman, After discussion by the Committee appointed earlier to review salaries of ATFA employees, the Board approved compensation for the Secretary-Treasurer at $800.00 per month, and the Assistant Secretary- Treasurer at $25.00 per month. The Board also appointed Walter G. Autrey, Louis P. Shelton and Joe L. Wetherington to serve as Directors of Pine Gum Development Corp. in accordance with the By-Laws of that corporation. At this time, Mr. Gillis introduced to the Board Mr. Lioniel S. Edwards, Regional Director of Agricultural Marketing Service in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Mrs. Elizabeth Pickral also of the Agricultural Marketing Service in Raleigh. The weekly and monthly Naval Stores Market News is published by AMS in Raleigh. Both Mr. Edwards and Mrs. Pickral spoke briefly to the Board members, assuring them of their pleasure at having been invited to attend the Board meeting and the "Gum Naval Stores Group Discussion" to be held immediately following the Board meeting. Mr. Edwards expressed his desire to learn as much about the gum naval. stores industry as he could in order to better serve the needs of gum producers and he asked the Board for any suggestions they might have at any time. There being no further business to come before the Meeting, the same stood adjourned. Respectfully submitted, AZ SPECIAL MEETING of the BOARD OF DIRECTORS July 22, 1976 The Board of Directors met in called session at 11 o'clock A.M., on Thursday, July 22, 1976, in the Conference Room of the ATFA Building. Directors present were: Jim L. Gillis, Jr., President, presiding Fred H. Carter Ee R. Pilkinton Carroll Girtman W. A. Register Lewis E. Kight D. Re Stallworth Je Q. Ryals Director John J. Langdale was absent. Mr. Lamar Tillman, the Association's attorney, was also present. In attendance at the meeting at the invitation of Mr. Gillis were Mr. F. G. (Tommy) Thomason, of the Grains, Oilseeds and Cotton Division of ASCS in Washington, and Mr. Grady Williams, naval stores specialist with the Georgia Forestry Commission as well as a gum producer and member of ATFA. Jim Ryals, son of J. Q. Ryals, and Jerry Bulloch, son-in-law of W. A. Register, also sat in on the meeting at the invitation of the Board, Mr. Gillis reported to the members of the Board that he had attended the Georgia Forestry Convention in June for the purpose of having a young girl chosen from GFC's "Miss Georgia Forestry" contestants to represent ATFA as its Queen and Calendar Girl for this year. A lovely girl, Jamie Andrews from Lyons, Georgia, was selected. Mr. Gillis assured the Board members that she would make a picture for the calendar which would meet with everyone's approval. He also told the Board that Mr. Ollie Knott, photographer for the Georgia Forestry Commission, had taken the calendar pictures the previous day. Mr. Gillis then presented Mr. Thomason to the members of the Board as a "real friend of naval stores". Mr. Thomason spoke briefly to the Board and presented the 1976 Naval Stores Loan and Purchase Program. He explained that the Purchase Program was merely an option on the part of ATFA to sell any or all eligible rosin of the 1976 crop year to CCC prior to December 31, if ATFA elects to do so. He further explained that in the event of a loan from the Columbia Bank for Cooperatives , the Purchase Program would act as a guarantee to the Bank for such a loan. Upon motion by Mr. Girtman, seconded by Mr. Ryals, the Board unanimously approved a resolution authorizing appropriate officers to execute and deliver the Loan and Purchase Agreement and to implement and carry out its provisions. The Board then heard a brief report from Mr. Tillman concerning a recent meeting with Columbia Bank for Cooperative officials. Mr. Tillman and Mr. Gillis met with the Bank personnel on July 12. He explained to the Board that the Bank feels ATFA should be in position to market the product of its producer-members and should accumlate capital by issuing what the bank calls "revolving fund certificates". In order to do business with the Bank on a long-term basis, it will be necessary that ATFA change its Charter and By-Laws. Mr. Tillman further explained that the Bank is not insisting that this be accomplished before we can get the initial loan, but their aim is toward a marketing cooperative with capital. Upon motion made by Mr. Girtman, seconded by Mr. Ryals, the Board unanimously authorized Mr. Tillman to proceed with efforts to effect the necessary revisions of the Association's Charter and By-Laws to conform to the Bank's policies. BBJ107 Mr. Grady Williams then spoke to the members of the Board, He reported on activities in connection with the Naval Stores Conserva- tion Program and expressed his belief that some producers should begin receiving their cost-share payments by the end of this month. Mr. Williams stated that one of the most pressing needs of the gum naval stores industry was some means of attracting younger people to the industry. It is his feeling that mechanization is possibly the only way to encourage young people to work timber for naval stores. He reported that response to the gum carrier recently developed by forestry personnel had been very good and that several of the carriers were now being built. With regard to the rossing tool, Georgia Tech was successful in reducing the weight, but there are still problems with the belt running hot. Mr. Williams expressed the hope that by the end of summer, they would have some definite ideas about perfecting this tool. There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting stood adjourned. Respectfully submitted, cc aae iF ae a eteae J 43