Minutes of the American Turpentine Farmers Association held Apr. 15, 1992 in Valdosta, Georgia

REPORT OF THE BALLOT COMMITTEE

We, the duly appointed Ballot Committee, certify that we have examined
carefully and tabulated the votes cast in the election of Directors for
the American Turpentine Farmers Association Coonerative, and do hereby
declare the followinz elected to serve as Directors for tne ensuing year:

DISTRICT 1 (GHORGTA)

Sub-District 1

Sub-District 2

Sub-District 3 Ku Se es IG
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Sub-District a Ae fee:

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DISTRICT 2 (FLORIDA) I) 08 Goad
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DISTRICT 3 (ALABAMA/MISSISSIPPT ) kL Y) Lut

AND SO CERTIFIED this 15th day of April, 1992:

Lived: Di beiaawe

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APPROVED:

sfa= re ee. , Secretary

ANNUAL DIRECTORS' MEETING
APRIL 15,. 1992

The Annual Directors' Meeting of American Turpentine Farmers Association
was held in the Valdosta, Georgia office on Wednesday, April 15, 1992.
Directors present were Jim L. Gillis, Jr., President; LLoyd L. Powell,
Vice President; Travis P. Cook, Jack Tilton, and K. D. Vickers. Director
Horace D. Prine from Alabama was absent.

The President called the meeting to order by having the Minutes read for
the last meeting on April 24, 1991, after which they were approved as
read. The Board then discussed the current financial statement, and in
conjunction with that two particular points were brought to the Board's
attention. (1) The current lease of office space will expire on June 30;
but the owner has agreed to extend for another year for $200 a month if
he can have access to the single room off the hallway. (2) The Georgia
Forestry Association who had been having the Queen contest in Jekyll,

as a part of their Convention activities and their selection of their
own Miss Georgia Forestry Queen, decided to discontinue the contest.

But the Georgia Forestry Commission picked it up and held a contest in
Macon last month. This year's Queen is Sophie Hiers from Valdosta. One
nice thing about this contest is that GFC gave Miss Gum Spirits a $250
award as well ase $250 scholarship award. Since our Queen and Calendar
are our only means of advertising, we appreciate the GFC including our
Queen selection in their contest. And, of course, the Calendar is still
very popular and is good publicity.

In line with the expenditures explained above and the expiration of the

lease, Mr. Cook made a motion to extend the lease for another year, Mr. Vickers
seconded and it was unanimously approved; Mr. Powell made a motion to

continue the $250 scholarship for the Queen, Mr. Tilton seconded and it was

also_unanimously approved by the Board. Upon motion by Mr. Cook, seconded by
u5 Powell and una Emous ly passed, it was agreed to purchase 1000 calendars for
1993 at a cost o 3 each.

The President directed the Board's attention to disposition, or relocation
for display purposes, of the Association's many files of pictures and old
records. Mr. Gillis said he could only think of two places that might be
interested at the present time: (1) Forest World located at Waycross, but
he said it was not easy to find and not on any major highway, and (2) The
Agrirama at Tifton, which in contrast is an ideal location being right off
Interstate 75, and they already have many exhibits and events pertaining to
the naval stores industry. He asked for the Board's ideas and recommendations;
and, after some discussion it was agreed that negotiations should be with
Agrirama. Upon motion made by Mr. Powell and seconded by Mr. Tilton, the
Board unanimously approved this arrangement. The president told the
members that the Association had given the large portrait of Judge Langdale
to the Langdale family, and it was recently picked up by John Langdale.
The President told the Board he had talked with Jim Feltham of Akzo, who

said he wasn't selling any rosin and if it didn't change he would have to

pay a lot less for gum than he is paying now. He said he was buying

Brazilian and Chinese for less than half of what he pays for American. He
explained that it was,the melting point of foreign rosins that was different
from American rosin, ben that other countries are getting better at production
and distillation. Mr. Felthan also told Mr. Gillis that he is still interested
and enthusiastic about the bottle collection method and wants to see serious
studies done. The President noted that Hercules is also very interested in
any bottle collection studies, and he plans to go with Grady Williams to

see some Hercules officials. Mr. Gillis said further that sawmills are clear
cutting timber and not replanting and if this practice isn't slowed or stopped
soon, the outlook for the industry certainly isn't good.

The Board then reviewed the list of tools currently in ATFA's inventory, and
while supplies are low on some things, particularly double-headed nails,

the general feeling is that the Association shouldn't stock additional tools
or nails. It is believed that used nails can be found and that some producers
may have excess supplies of nails they would be willing to share.

Mr. Alton Carter was then asked into the meeting to give the report of the
Ballot Committee, whichwas that all current directors were re-elected. The
Board then proceeded with the election of officers, and upon motion made by
Mr. Cook and seconded by Mr. Tilton, all incumbent officers were re-elected,
they being Jim L. Gillis, Jr., President; Lloyd L. Powell, Vice-President, and
Joyce G. Lamb, Secretary.

The visitors were then asked to join the meeting. Charlie Grimsley spoke
first and reported on the making of acid and paste. He also told the
meeting that a company in Mobile wants to buy the cup and apron making
machine and he anticipates selling to them. He said this company told him
they would make these items for the producer, but Mr. Grimsley thinks it
might be easier for him to make them and save the cost of freight, if anyone
expects to need a supply soon and could let him have the order right away.
This company wants the machine to make cups and aprons for someone in Honduras,
but it will be about two months before they actually move it, so he said

he would be glad to make these items for anyone who wants them as long as

he has the machine. Mr. Grimsley also noted that with production down,
there should be a lot of good used cups available and he can clean them

for producers.

Claude Bird, representing Akzo Coatings, then spoke to the meeting. He

said Mr. Feltham was sorry he was unable to come, but assured the Board that
his company was committed to 1992, and about September or October they would
take a look toward 1993. He explained that Akzo has a heavy inventory of
pale grades on hand, that approximately 75% of all inventory is WW and WG.

He said a lot of the lower grades are used in shoe polish, ship bottom paints,
solder core and solder flux used in making resins and a varnish type used in
magazine and book printing. He also said some markets are being lost; an
example being Cracker Barrel who no longer uses rosin in baking potatoes.

,
Mr. Bird said Akzo is looking very closely at Mr. Carter's bottle business

and hopeSit will prove profitable and allow us to compete with foreign gum.

He said Akzo will pay the same price they paid last year, and that turpentine
is actually moving better than rosin right now. He said the Chinese are still
making a lot of rosin, but Brazil has now pulled theirs from the market to
probably re-enter: at a higher price which is what China did. He again assured
the Board of their intention to maintain a market for domestic gum as long

as possible.

Grady Williams then spoke briefly to the meeting about the Conservation
Program and the interest in research by the Georgia Forestry Commission
particularly with the bottle collection project. He said he was working
with Alan Hodges of the University of Florida and said with Mr. Mixon's
interest and help there may be a further extension of funds to continue that
research. Mr. Williams expressed his willingness, as well as that of

Ed Herbert and Wesley Hartley, to assist Board members and all producers in
every way they can.

Mr. Gillis then thanked everyone: for coming, and since there was no further
business to come before the meeting, it was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,

Go yen is mie

SEretary

LOT?EHa