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SFA Founded in 1952
Meeting was called to order by A.J. Robida at 10:00 o’clock. A list of those in attendance is attached. Mr. Robida introduced Harold Colee, Vice-President and General Manager of the Florida State Chamber of Commerce, who gave a welcoming address. Next introduced was Chas. E. Jackson, General Manager of National Fisheries Institute. Mr. Jackson, acting as Chairman, suggested that a committee be organized, made up of people from different branches of the industry, to draft proposed By-laws for the new proposed Association. This Steering Committee was made up of the following:
Steering Committee retired for about two hours, during which time they drafted By-laws, per copy attached. At about 2:30 meeting was again called to order. Mr. Jackson first stated that he wished, on behalf of the Steering Committee, to express our appreciation to Mr. Craig of the Merrill-Stevens Corporation, for the use of room 1010. We were able to get together and do a job, which we think will give you something to work on, in about two hours and fifteen minutes. We are now able to give you a report. First I want to introduce Mrs. Gladys Waller, Secretary of the Florida Shrimp Exchange, who has agreed to work with us today in recording the minutes of this meeting. Your Steering Committee consisted of Tony Ramos, Charlie Rice, O.H. Morris, Jack Yeomans and Robt.Combs. Advisors Harry Peace and myself. We wish to report to you what we have been doing in this room for two hours. First we can answer a lot of queries that you may raise by giving you the proposed by-laws of the Association. Please understand that this is only what the Steering Committee is recommending to you, the Committee has no powers, you can change or alter all or any part of it. This has been a strictly democratic meeting without log rolling.
Recommendations of Steering Committee: Your Steering Committee recommends that those persons present at this meeting immediately establish a temporary organization to be known as the Southeastern Fisheries Association; to consist of members as set forth in the proposed by-laws, which will serve as a working paper to form a permanent organization;
The Steering Committee used a copy of the By-laws of the National Fisheries Institute and changed them as best we could to make them apply to the needs of the new proposed Association. Mr. Jackson read the suggested by-laws-- --That gentlemen is a report of your Steering Committee. Mr. Jackson: I think boys it would be wise for some committee members to bring out points that were up for discussion, unless you prefer to start over again and discuss section by section. Mr. Yeomans: It was decided by the Steering Committee, in view of the fact that we have so many different industries represented here, for instance the Shrimping industry, the Fresh Water Fishing industry, the Oyster industry and the Salt Water Fishing industry, that it would be best not to try to influence any member of those three or four different divisions of the seafood industry in the State of Florida by asking them to take part, if they would be in favor of the old association of the Shrimpers or the old association of the fisheries. In other words, we don’t want to put anybody in this position, 'I went up and I put you into an organization'. We are forming a completely new association composed of people who are interested in the various different angles of the Seafood industry in Southeastern United States. We are just trying to get organized, so in order to have some semblance of order here in the meeting today, we have decided to propose to you people that you elect a temporary president, Secretary and Treasurer, also a temporary Board of Directors, who will serve until the general meeting, which is to be held not later than June 23rd. At that time your permanent officers will be elected. Another thing, when you fellows get back home, the first question your friends are going to ask you is how much is the dues of the new association going to be. We want to put you in position to say that that is going to be decided upon when you are present at the next meeting, and this is why I want you to go with me. It was agreed, to finance the new organization, that we would ask those present today to loan $100.00 each. When the general meeting is held, and the dues decided upon, this $100.00 will be deducted. If the dues decided upon are less than $100.00 per year, the difference would be refunded, or applied on your dues for the second year. Mr. Singleton: Jack, will you explain to me who is considered a dealer in the Shrimp business. I will want to know just who I should ask to join our new association. Are producers and handlers included? Mr. Yeomans: I don’t know yet, it was originally thought that the new organization would be composed generally of business men, not the men who actually catch the fish, but the line is indefinite and I am inclined to think that anyone interested, who is willing to pay the dues and go along with us, should be able to take part. Within the limited time your committee had in the room, it was impossible to go into this in detail. We will have to work it out from time to time to the best interest of the organization. Considerable discussion was carried on concerning who were to be classified as business men, dealers having wholesale license, producers selling own production, boats five tons over, etc. Mr. Robida suggested that representatives from the different areas get together and discuss these various matters before the general meeting. This should eliminate a lot of controversy that has been coming up for the past number of years. Mr. Jackson: We agreed to propose to the people present that to temporarily get our organization started, we donate $110.00 each. To keep anybody from being embarrassed or believing somebody else was running them into something, we called Mr. Harold Colee into the committee meeting, to see if he would cooperate with us, as if through the medium of his office he could help us or recommend someone to help us get the next meeting organized. Mr. Colee very generously came in and said he would be very happy to cooperate with us. Discussion arose concerning the boundaries of the twelve areas. No decision was reached, but it seemed different types of business in the surrounding areas would determine other boundaries. Was left to be decided later. Mr. Jackson suggested that the Recommendations of the Steering Committee be reread and discussed, paragraph by paragraph, as working paper. Mr. Robida suggested a copy of the By-laws be mailed immediately to as many as can be contacted. Mr. Jackson: This is what your Chamber of Commerce would do. Recommendations of the Steering Committee were read, paragraph by paragraph, discussed and voted on. All was unanimously carried. Mr. Jackson: Do you understand that while this is the Southeastern Fisheries Association, organized in Florida, it is to extend to adjoining states? Will you attempt to get others interested if you feel they can qualify? After considerable discussion it was generally conceded that this would work into our plans later. For the purpose of electing temporary officers a Nominating Committee was appointed which consisted of John Salvador, Tom Smoot and members of the Steering Committee. Nominating Committee recommended the following be voted upon:
Mr. Robida explained that he could not accept the nomination, and Frank Fant was nominated. All nominations were seconded and unanimously carried. Present temporary officers are as follows:
Board of Directors to serve until the Regular meeting are members of the Steering Committee, plus the following:
Money and pledges to finance new organization totaled $2,000.00, and turned over to Treasurer Meyer. ($600.00 cash, $1400.00 pledges) A resolution was offered and adopted to the effect that all moneys due and to be collected be turned over to Max Meyer, of the Meyer Fish & Produce Company, 840 West Bay Street, Jacksonville, Florida, as temporary treasurer, with authority to deposit and disburse funds as necessary in connection with the conduct and promotion of the contemplated organization. Motion that the meeting be adjourned and carried. Meeting stood adjourned at approximately six o’ clock. |
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