10:30 a.m.: Coffee, registration and collection of membership dues ($25.00 per person for the year).

Welcome by Larry Paterson, Vice President
Introductions
Call to Order for AGM of COVA
Business Meeting
Election of Officers for 2008 / 2009
Discussion of items on Agenda and New Business
Adjourn the Business Meeting

We had a great lunch with some lovely liquids about halfway through the business meeting, then continued on.

Larry Paterson opened the meeting at 10:30 (Carl Kimmett, was unfortunately late, and Larry stepped in to chair the meeting)

Larry reviewed the minutes of 2007 COVA meeting – Paul Ward moves to accept the report. The attendees accept the report.

Liang Liu tabled Financial Report
13 paid up members to date and $3,247.21 in bank account

ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Jim Warren                               -     President
Carl Kimmett                            -     Past President
Larry Paterson                           -     Vice President
Liang Liu                                   -     Treasurer
Maureen Hubble-Davidson        -    Secretary

DIRECTORS
Bryan Pell                                                  Rob Davidson
John Rufa                                                   Fred Archibald
Irwin Smith                                                Matt Passafiume
Neil Lamont                                               Phil Ryan

NEW BUSINESS

- Status Quo is no longer acceptable; it is unfair to Smaller Wineries UNFAIR RULES NEED CHANGING.
- Trish & Scott Sargent are too busy to be Directors
- Burt Dunn has decided to drop out all together from the organization and to retire
- Possible new Web site to be developed
- Jim Warren our new President made some opening remarks. He had some concerns on what the function of this association should be. He belongs to three organizations: the FRUIT WINES OF ONTARIO, ONTARIO WINE PRODUCERS and COVA.. He is very frustrated on not being able to achieve targets of anything of significance. The Government shuts them down. Wants things to start moving forward. The WINE COUNCIL is too expensive to belong to & is made up of for the big players. Most associations for the smaller guy are having a significant decline in membership. If this is to move forward we need something (goals) for members to get concerned with. Some suggestions, QC a designation for fruit wines, but maybe it could be extended to the newer hybrid grape varieties. The five-year agreement with the LCBO for the QC (Quality Certified) has expired but he is unwilling to be the first to bring it up (keep it under the radar). Time to rethink some strategies; ankle biting is starting to pay off.
- Did you know that a VQA wine gets a 35% rebate from the government but the same program does not apply to QC fruit wines? Why not???
- On June 9th at QUEENS PARK a Fruit Wine Tasting is being held for MPP’s.
- Would like to see a LEVEL PLAYING FIELD.
- The government shouldn’t be selective where the money goes i.e. the big guys.

- Larry Paterson made the following observations;
- He would like to reach the general public and the media with our concerns
- We can inform the appropriate gov’t departments of what info we are releasing
- Try to change some of the obstacles. Reach Wine Writers, target the right media outlets. Let the truth speak for itself. The timing is right. The general population has a huge appetite for information i.e 100 mile diet, environmental and farmers rights.
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION
President has to be willing to so sign any press releases, which have been researched & submitted.
Critical Mass – 80% of member commercial wineries have to approve all proposals so submitted.
All changes were approved by membership and are available for viewing on web site.

OTHER COMMENTS
John Rufa - We have nothing to loose, lets try something new and try to level the playing field.
The gov’t rules are getting increasingly stacked against us. Let’s move forward. Try a new tact. Eat & Drink locally is ever so popular and Economic Development in rural areas is pushed by MPP’s.
Irwin Smith - Is it worth fighting the same fights as the battles the Fruit Winery’s have done???
Rob Davidson - Press releases have to be prepared carefully to make the JELLO stick to the wall
Phil Ryan - Get OMAFRA on board to fight the fight.
Bert Andrews - the current situation that exists is not fair and we need to start picking it apart

LUNCH BREAK - excellent meal served, with sample wines and the best apple pie ever tasted

VOTING TIME - the following motions were approved by the attending membership
1) Constitution Changed with amendments suggested by Fred Archibald
2) MAP of location of members to be available as a PDF file on the website
3) Board of Directors to investigate the possibility of COVA whether or not to participate and what exact involvement would be for the 2009 OUTER LIMITS in Toronto
4) Instead of our past involvement in Fiesta Buckhorn membership requested Carl Kimmett to obtain prices of smaller presentation board which would then be made available for members to purchase at cost to display in their wineries and when they have away booths. Lets wave our Banner more often. Now OVA. See below
5) Name Change ONTARIO VINICULTURE ASSOCIATION (someone investigating whether or not OVA.ca is taken for a web identity address)
6) Board of Directors to investigate draft brochure and the costs thereof.
7) Executive will make a decision on price of Banner and how many to order

NEW COMMENTS FROM THE FLOOR
- 9TH ANNUAL Fruit Wine Showcase in Support of Big Brothers & Sisters being held at Archibald’s on Thursday, May 29, 2008
- Larry is preparing a demonstration of additives for the Ontario Wine Society tasting
- The executive will send a retirement Congrats to Burt Dunn and thanks for his work
- Carl will inform Deb Crossen with decision NO to FIESTA BUCKHORN
- Support all we can to Bert Andrews and his plight with the Alcohol & Gaming commission where he has to dump 1000 liters of grape wine because he was over his 20% arbitrary rule for grape to fruit wine ratio. A victimization letter should be sent out from our association on his behalf – support is what we will show for the total waste.

ALL THE RULES ARE SET UP TO SUIT THE BUREUCRATS AND NOT FOR THE WINERY.

2:00 - MOTION TO ADJOURN THE OVA meeting. Motion carried

Minutes of meeting prepared by Maureen will be posted on the website for all members to view

Secretary: Maureen Hubble-Davidson Email Maureen Hubble-Davidson

Director: Dr. Bryan Pell Email Bryan Pell

Director: Fred Archibald Email Frec Archibald     Archibald Orchards Estate Winery

Director: Irwin Smith Email Irwin Smith     Ocala Winery

Director: John Rufa Email John Rufa     Kawartha Country Wines

Director: Matt Passafiume Email Matt Passafiume     Applewood Estate Winery

Director: Dr. Neil Lamont Email Neil Lamont     Coffin Ridge Boutique Winery

Director: Phil Ryan Email Phil Ryan     Villa Nova Estate Vineyards and Winery

Director: Rob Davidson Email Rob Davidson

COVA Home Wine Growers www.littlefatwino.com