(1) Quorum (= 8 voting Directors minimum, out of 13 total):

Directors present (9): Pierce, Edwards, Connor, Meckes, Boeraeve, Clever, Sanders, King, Ramsay

Directors absent (4): Fox, Banks, Rogers, Kohler

Others present:

Bill Hollenback

Danila Sheveiko

 

(2) ABS 2025 Conference (Connor, Clever) –

– Dates and Location: 29 Oct – 1 Nov 2025 in Greenville, SC; Primary hotel is the Embassy Suites Riverplace.

– Schedule is now complete. Registration fee of $250 is the break-even rate. Options were discussed about how to handle any profit made, decision deferred. Ramsay suggested $275, with the extra $25 going toward marketing.

– There likely will be no live auction.

– The ABS Board will meet in the Tkachs’ room on the first day.

– Vendors are given the afternoon of the final day.

– Edwards named National Bamboo as a possible source of poles.

 

(3) Liability Insurance for ABS2025 (King) – 

– One venue at the 2026 conference requires an additional insured certificate from the ABS, which currently has no underlying insurance.

– King will look into obtaining one for the meeting.

– The Board recommended a policy covering all the days of the meeting rather than just the one day where the venue requires coverage.

– Edwards will forward to King a copy of the insurance for the LGCC Avery Island event.

 

(4) ABS 2026 Conference (Meckes) –

– Meckes visited “Bambootexas.com” nursery in Hockley, TX, about 30m west of Houston. They have clumpers to be seen and an event place (junkinbarn.com) is next to the nursery. This seems to be the best Texas location for the conference.

 

(5) Membership and Web (Meckes) – 

– Current membership stands at 391.

– The registration form for ABS2025 is nearing completion.

– Meckes requested advance notice about current local/regional bamboo events so she may post the dates well in advance.

 

(6) Nominations (King) –

– The terms of ABS-elected At Large Directors #1 (James Clever) and #5 (Autumn Ramsay) will end at the termination of the October ABS Annual General Meeting. The nominating process should start soon.

– Ramsay was appointed Nominations Chair by President Boeraeve, who volunteers to help.

– Chapter Directors are chosen by their own members. Terms expiring this year: FCC (Pierce), SCC (Banks), SEC (Rogers).

 

(7) Species Source List (Hollenback) –

– In May, a request to update listings will be sent to all on the list.

– Hollenback will retire at the end of May and should have more time to put the SSL together.

 

(8) Advertising (Edwards) –

– Edwards requests further assistance with procedures.

 

(9) Arts/Crafts Competition (Pierce) –

– Last year’s contest winners have not received their prizes yet.

– It is difficult getting contest applicants, especially US-based.

– Pierce is working with a school to promote a bamboo curriculum and will possibly have an event before the ABS conference.

– Pierce agreed to produce a short video for the ABS to place on its page in the World Bamboo website.

 

(10) ABS Director Job Descriptions (Boeraeve) –

– Deferred for now.

 

(11) BAMBOO Magazine (Sanders) –

– No report.

 

(12) Chapter Activities –

– FCC: Pierce says the chapter is active but people are shying away from becoming new members. Ramsay suggested providing them with a transparent breakdown of member benefits.

– LGCC: More artists have joined the Chapter, which has rented a modest studio for them where one event has been held so far. Edwards asked for suggestions on how to increase attendance at the 3-day James Wolfe workshops to better cover the $1000 cost. Connor suggested making a short video for YouTube.

– LGCC: Ramsay will work with Edwards on the proposed bamboo growers’ coöps.

 

(13) International Activities (Boeraeve) – 

– The Australian Bamboo Society has a new president who is trying to revitalize the group.

– ABS now has 3 Guatemalan members, all of whom wish to sell bamboo poles.

– In Japan, most bamboo products are now imported; an aging population and high labor costs are factors contributing to the decrease in domestic production.

 

Next Meetings –

ABS Board: 8 June 2025 via Zoom.

 

Adjournment: 13:00 PDT.