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1999 S-103 Winter
Meeting
Members in attendance: Susan Barton (DE), David Beattie (PA), Bridget Behe (MI), PJ van Blockland (FL), Robin Brumfield (NJ), Tom Fernandez (SC), Charles Hall (TX), John Haydu (FL), Roger Hinson (LA), Alan Hodges (FL), Patricia Knight (MS) Jeff Kuehny (LA), Robert McNiel (KY), Ben Posadas (MS) and Steve Turner (GA). Special guests attending were Jerry Parsons (TX) and David Holder (CSREES). Charlie Hall arranged an excellent tour of Color Spot and the San Antonio Botanical Garden, including a delightful lunch in the renovated stable, followed by independant tours of the Riverwalk. Members thanked Charlie Hall for his arrangements. Chairman Charles Hall officially welcomed members who introduced themselves. David Holder commented events in Washington, D.C. The Education Reform Act Implementation (AREERA) is progressing. New in 1999 is the integration of research and extension monies; hopefully activities will be integrated one day soon. There is an increase of $24 million in the FY99 budget. All integrated activities are funded on competitive grants; dollars are not limited to land grant universities. So, while there are budget increases, not all money may go to campuses. There is an NRI website for comments concerning future funding. More specifically, members are encouraged to comment on the RFP for 2001 funds. Our administrative advisor, Everett Emino, was ill and did not attend. He sent comments through Charles Hall about the progress of our project proposal renewal. The project proposal has been reviewed and we expect comments will be forthcoming. Charles Hall and others on the proposal writing sub-committee will incorporate changes as soon as they are received. We anticipate completing the project proposal renewal process within two months (May). Jerry Parsons gave a special presentation on CEMAP. Although researchers have identified superior taxa, the general public does not readily purchase superior plants without promotional efforts. Texas Superstars are promoted by extension professionals on radio and television. Promotional efforts have increased sales of these plants dramatically. Promotional efforts are effective to guide the general public to taxa ideally suited for their gardens and producer benefit from these increased sales. Many retailers tag plants (5 cents per tag), including the mass merchandisers. Charles Hall distributed minutes from the August, 1998, meeting in Atlanta. Minutes were approved, with a change in meeting date. Manuscript Reports: Robert McNiel reported on progress of the Container Nursery Manuscript. Costs were updated in March, 1998, and await his efforts to put them on the Internet. There was some discussion pertaining to posting this manuscript on the web, prior to review. We agreed to post it on the web, password protect it, and ask committee member to review it. Robert McNiel, David Beattie, and PJ van Blockland comprise this sub-committee. PJ van Blockland requested percentages be rounded up to the nearest whole percent to facilitate use by others. Robert McNiel reported that the landscape budgets are 80% updated with 1999 costs. He plans to continue this work in the summer. Charles Hall reported on the progress of the Greenhouse Publication. He has six of nine chapters in hand. The others should be submitted by this summer. He plans to have a review of the draft for the summer meeting. David Beattie reported on progress of the Perennial Publication. There was considerable discussion about publication avenues. Robin Brumfield agreed to investigate the feasibility of publishing S103 manuscripts through NERAES. Members agreed it is important to have at least some printed publications, especially of the national survey John Brooker is implementing. Susan Barton reported requests to update the Garden Centers of America publication, from which S103 did not benefit very much. Charles Hall appointed a publication sub-committee of John Haydu, Roger Hinson, and Susan Barton to help identify ideal outlets for S103 publications. Bridget Behe reported on progress of the Geranium Consumer Preference manuscript. HortScience has accepted the manuscript for publication and it is expected to appear in print this summer. Bridget Behe also reported on progress of the SERVQUAL manuscript. She and Susan are working on a draft and anticipate it ready for review by the summer meeting. Charles Hall commented on the numerous publications and presentations made by S103 members at the Southern Nursery Association Researchers Conference in Atlanta last year. At least six members had a publication or presentation. New Business: Charles Hall asked members to report on their progress in mailing surveys for the national nursery producer’s survey. All members had sent or were in the process of sending their surveys. David Beattie reported that he had no funds to distribute his surveys. John Brooker will contact David Beattie to see how S103 members can help him distribute those surveys in Pennsylvania. Steve Turner reported that one of his graduate students is investigating the effects on profitability of private companies going public. He is using a Dunn & Bradstreet data base with SIC 181 firms and making comparisons to poultry businesses in similar situations. Robert McNiel made an informative slide presentation on the S103 member trip to The Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium last August. Susan Barton reported on a project she is implementing to educate consumers on the proper method to plant a tree. This educational program occurs in the garden center where people buy plants. She conducted a focus group at SNA with GCA board members. Free standing sandwich boards and a series of four banners were developed by a graphic artist at Univ. of Delaware. A panel on a banner and detailed take-home instructions were also developed. A survey at the February Management Clinic revealed that garden centers were likely to pay between $75 and $100 for the materials. Twenty-five garden centers have been selected as pilot sites to receive the banner, 500 trunk mats, and tree hangers will be provided in exchange for feedback from consumers by surveying several sites. Interested cooperators are encouraged to email Susan immediately if they are interested in having a pilot garden center in their area. Patricia Knight is heading a sub-committee to investigate the success of specialized marketing or promotional programs. Committee members include Charles Hall, Robert McNiel, Steve Turner, and Jeff Kuehny.- Robin Brumfield asked about developing a speciality cut flower budget after Robert McNiels budgets are completed. She gets numerous requests for the speciality cut flower budgets. Charles Hall reviewed the status of sub-committees. Members of the Turfgrass sub-committee are PJ van Blockland, John Haydu, Roger Hinson, Charles Hall, Forest Steglin, and John Brooker. Members of the Publications sub-committee are John Haydu, Susan Barton, and Roger Hinson. Members of the National Survey sub-committee are John Brooker, Roger Hinson, Steve Turner, Charles Hall, and Robert McNiel. A new Potential-members sub-committee was formed to solicit active members from other states who are conducting work like ours. Steve Turner, Charles Hall, John Haydu, and Susan Barton form this committee. Paul Wilson (AZ) and John Dole (OK) were mentioned as potential members. Elections were held. Charles Hall and Bridget Behe were approved for another year of service as chairman and secretary, respectively. Charles is “fired up for another year.” The summer 1999 meeting will be held in Delaware on July 21-23. Susan Barton is hosting the committee meeting. Plan to fly into Philadelphia for a half day of touring Wednesday afternoon and tours all day Thursday. Our business meeting will be held Friday and Saturday morning, most likely at the Hampton Inn in Newark, DE. The winter 2000 meeting will likely be held in either Biloxi or Gulfport, Mississippi, on February 25-27. The meeting was adjourned at 4:15 pm. Bridget Behe, S103 Secretary.
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