Current Topics and Agendas

Below you will find a variety of topics and information submitted by the LCGGA officers.

We encourage all our members to log onto our member's forum for the latest information and active correspondence. Log in today and share your ideas!

Goals & Objectives

Here is a list of ideas developed by your board plus a few long-time members of the organization. This outline is broken out in the following pages of this document. Our January meeting (in case you missed it) focused on these programs. I explained each idea, took questions and then had the membership vote on and prioritize the programs. The results of the votes (23 memberships were represented) are at the end of this section.

Create Organization Brochures

• Develop/revise and Publish LCGGA Brochures

• “So you think you want to grow grapes”

• Distribute to new and prospective members

• Should include items such as:
  – Cost
  – Labor/time estimates
  – Sales Data
  – LCGGA Key Contact information
  – Members Grape Inventory Summary
  – Links

• Make available at state/local wineries for public distribution

Create Common Knowledge Book

• Built with LCGGA funded office supplies

• All Education programs presented will be included:
  – Speaker supplied notes reproduced by Admin before each meeting
  – If not supplied then notes taken and distributed next meeting

• Membership contributions key to meaningful program

• Joint program executed by the Education-Viticulture and Admin

Start Master Pest/Disease Picture Book Program

• Title—”Have you seen this?”

• LCGGA library starter

• Provides membership handy reference for local pests

• Picture with captions explain pest

• On each Meeting Agenda for Picture Solicitation from Membership

• A hands on Reference Guide that will be available at each meeting

• Could be replicated on Website

• Reward program for idea solicitation

• Falls under Education-Viticulture and Admin

Create Membership Biographies

• Who are you

• Where are you

• What do you grow and when planted

• Information for Grower Relations Chair

• LCGGA will provide Google Earth Entry

• Include on website and in Common Knowledge Books

• Joint w/ Membership Committee, Admin

Conduct On Location Meetings

• Annual Symposium

• April thru September on Location

• Educations Program Conducted/Coordinated by Vineyard Owner

• Educational Areas (ideas from membership):
  – Trellis Systems
  – Pruning
  – 2nd and 3rd Year Training
  – Planting
  – Do-It-Yourself Innovation Show
  – Sprayers, Spray Programs and Chemicals
  – Pest and Disease
  – Pre-Harvest Preparations

• Falls under Education-Vit Committee

• BYO Lawn Chair

Expand Wine Education Program

• Get Oklahoma Wineries to conduct wine tasting with Oklahoma wines at each meeting

• Education emphasis on grape condition at harvest
  – Brix, Acidity, pH, etc.

• Include the grower in the program if LCGGA Member
  – Provide Vineyard specifics that went into the wine

• Weather, Pruning Method, Spray Schedule, Etc.

• Make one meeting amateur night for member grower submissions

Establish Organization Liaison

• Liaison Committee Members attend other grape grower org meetings (State and Local) for information exchange and Grower/Winery networking

• Knows LCGGA Member inventory and issues

• LCGGA pays Org Memberships

• Provides report at LCGGA meetings

• Works closely with/or is Grower/Winery Relations Chair

• Steering Committee member

Form Harvesting Co-op

• Get on board with Agri-Tourism

• Central coordinator to place pickers with vineyards

• Establish participation rules to ensure repeat pickers including:
  – Vineyard Mowed, Sprayed for Pests
  – Adequate Refreshments and Food, Shade
  – Safety Briefing Guidelines

• Committee to inspect vineyard for participation rule compliance

• Feedback from picker

• Follow-on winery invite for crush

• Track wine through bottling

• Advertising Committee

Form Steering Committee

• Made up of active interested members

• Goal to keep org on track with mission statement/objectives

• Current board oversight

• Nominated and approved by membership

• Assists board with Committee oversight

• Meet quarterly or as required

• Make report to membership

• Responds to membership for conflict/issue resolution

Form Fundraising Committee

• Responsible for ideas for fundraising opportunities

• Oversees events

• Procures “Volunteers” for fundraisers

• Raise funds for:
  – Knowledge Book Program
  – Advertising
  – Annual Symposium
  – Classes for Education Chair
  – LCGGA Membership in State and Local Grape Grower Organizations
  – Administrative Supplies
  – Parties

Update Bylaws

• Some of these ideas probably require by law changes

• Board will research and recommend
  Here is the result of the voting. As expected, the educational materials portion gained the top three priority spots. This is good, as they are relatively easy to accomplish. All of these programs require you the member to get involved! The organization will only be as good as you make it. Click on the Get Involved link to see the recommended committees we’ll need to accomplish some of these programs.
  
  Our February meeting will focus on organizing the committees to move our organization forward in 2007. Please come ready to join and discuss the implementation of these important programs.

Thanks to everyone for the support and, in advance, for getting involved in growing our organization and our industry. Who knows, we might just learn something along the way!

Proposed Committees

At the January meeting, we discussed some programs that we voted to implement for 2007. In order to get anything accomplished, we all have to get involved. Here is a long list of committees/areas that need motivated people to step up and make happen. I’ve been a long time member of this group. One thing that has struck me about it is this; 95% of the work gets done by 5% of the people. As your president this year, I’m out to change this. Through leadership by example, arm-twisting, peer-pressure and maybe even bribery, I want to see everyone get involved this year. Its simple folks, if you want to grow our organization, get some good inexpensive education and further our industry in the state, YOU HAVE TO GET INVOLVED. Let’s team up and tackle some of our goals this year, we’ll all feel a lot better about ourselves if we do.

• Education

• Wine Education Program

• Grower/Winery Relations and Organization Liaison

• Steering

• Fundraising

• Entertainment

• Membership, Advertising and Public Relations

• Administration

Education Committee

• Develops program topics through membership and board

• Coordinates ‘On-location’ program with grower

• Establishes program schedule

• Coordinates Common Knowledge Book entries

• Manages Master Pest Book

• Attends formal training classes (funded by LCGGA)

Wine Education Program Committee

• Coordinates Winery participation for meetings

• Ensures program compliance with program objectives

• Assigns wine glass cleaning

Grower/Winery Relations and Organization Liaison

• Knows and stays current w/LCGGA grape inventory

• Attends other regional and state grower meetings with a goal of networking (LCGGA funded memberships)

• Reports on pertinent info around the state

• Works closely with Harvest Coop central coordinator

• De-facto member of Steering Committee

Steering Committee

• Nominated and approved by membership

• Made up of any active interested LCGGA member

• Goal to keep organization on track with objectives

• Board oversight

• Meet quarterly or as required

• Responsible to membership for conflict/issue resolution

Fundraising Committee

• Solicits and submits ideas from/to members

• Raise money for LCGGA programs such as:
  – Common Knowledge Book
  – Advertising
  – Annual Symposium
  – Classes for Education Chair
  – Parties
  – LCGGA membership in Regional and State Grower Organizations
  – Administrative Supplies

• Procures ‘Volunteers’ for fundraising events

Entertainment Committee

• Coordinates food and entertainment for LCGGA events and parties

• Create excuses to get together and have a party!

Membership, Advertising and Public Relations

• Expand membership base through event participation and advertising

• Updates organization brochures

• Writes and distributes press releases

• Advertise organization events and fundraisers

• Develops website content

Administration Committee

• Coordinates all program materials distribution

• Manages Common Knowledge book content

• Coordinates website updates

There you have it! Some of these positions can probably be combined or otherwise handled. We’ll focus on organizing committees and tackling our goals at the February meeting. Remember, we aren’t asking you to quit your job and take this stuff on full time. If we all step up and break down the tasks, we can get things done in minimal time.

Let’s work together and learn something!