Sustainable Meeting Notes

March 12, 2001

Lodi, CA

Attendees: Brad Alderson, Kathy Archer, Cynthia Carson, Rich Cartiere, Nat DiBuduo, David Freed, Nick Frey, Walt Hampe, Allan Hemphill, Jon Homlquist, Jill Jepson, Randall Lange, Jim Lapsley, Robert LaVine, Cliff Ohmart, Pete Opatz, Linda Reiff, Karen Ross, Mike Sangicomo, Herb Schmidt, Murray Silverman, Liz Thach, Ann Thrupp, Mike Vail, Mike Wanless, Doug Wilson

Key Points:

- The meeting included 6 presentations from groups that have advanced programs to address various aspects of sustainable practices. They included:

- Cliff Ohmart - Lodi-Woodbridge Winegrape Commission Self-Assessment Workbook - Robert La Vine - Central Coast Vineyard Team Three-year Project Addressing Non-point Source Pollution & 1,000 Point Self-Assessment Tool - Linda Reiff - Napa Valley Vintners Watershed Plan and Proposal on Farmworker Housing - Nick Frey - Sonoma County Grape Growers Association Grower Outreach to Neighbors Program - Herb Schmidt - AVA Environmental Issues/Land Use Across the Country - Karen Ross - CA Pest Management Alliance and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Project

Unable to attend - Presentations to be available:

- Kari Birdseye - Wine Institute Sustainable Practices Committee - Steve Gross - Wine Institute and Co-Chair of the California Environmental Dialogue/Participant in the Futures Network - However, despite illness and airline difficulties they did provide a helpful overview of their programs for circulation at the meeting.

- Special Presentation A presentation was made by Dr. LoriAnn Thrupp, U.S. EPA Region 9 Agricultural Initiative on "Working with Stakeholders to Establish Credibility on Environmental Issues". There are many compelling reasons to involve them and involve them early.

- The task force became clearer and focused on its opportunity to inventory sustainable efforts/programs and create a means to share, build on and support all programs that move us forward to expand the adoption of sustainable practices supporting all 3 legs of the stool. This will also allow us to identify areas not being addressed and encourage efforts in those areas

- The task force refined the sustainable priority objectives based on discussions and the experience the now have. They are refined as follows:

1. Inventory & encourage sustainable practices & research to improve winegrape/wine quality and our stewardship of natural resources. 2. Develop waste & materials management effort. 3. Provide safe working conditions, living wages and benefits. 4. Establish a good neighbor and community relations program. 5. Political action to foster government cooperation.

- The programs presented will be used to develop an inventory process (objective 1) and then made available through the WineVision website as resources for those interested in similar efforts. Others will follow.

- Passionate discussion centered around the question: Are we losing our ability to objectively train people in sustainable practices - this relates to the objective re. enhancing research and education efforts - further discussion and action was recommended in the future and could develop into a subcommittee to assess

- Sonoma State is interested in addressing objective 3 - suggested phased approach:

1. What information do we have that helps us measure status of wages and benefits and how it compares with other sectors with whom we compete for HR in our communities. 2. Create a Winery/Vineyard Human Resource Steering Committee to review data and identify data needs 3. Conduct a survey on feasibility of industry-wide group buying power to make benefit packages accessible to all sizes and kinds of wineries and vineyards 4. Consider a code of ethics -- If developed, roll it into self-assessment tool

Downloads:

• Minutes 03/12/2001  .pdf file
• Minutes 03/12/2001  .doc (Word File)
• July 17th 2003 minutes  .doc (Word File)