Minutes from general meeting held Oct. 23, 2003         

Meeting was held at MPA Conference Center at Seagirt Marine Terminal

16 members were in attendance representing 13 firms.

Mary Jane Norris advised us that the WTC is slowly being reoccupied.

Treasurers Report;

Beginning Balance 7/31/03        $2271.16

Disbursements                            8629.65

Deposits                                     9497.00

Balance                                    $3138.51

Freight Forwarders Committee – Peggy Chaplain advised us that new regulations have been issued.  They will not be pursuing licensing for AES filers at this time.  SED will now be called EEI  Electronic Export Information.

PGA- unstaffed CES site still in progress. Award to be made in December.

An Affiliated Presidents Network day will be held during the NCBFA conference in March. Appx. 2000 brokers, forwarders, etc attend the Conference.  Dave Bennett suggested that we and/or the MPA should have a booth.

Unfinished business – ballots and proxies were counted for the 4 bylaw amendments.  The outcome is as follows;

  1. Membership eligibility change – defeated
  2. Election of members change – defeated
  3. Non-generic wording change – passed
  4. Payment of BCBFA leaders – defeated.

John Murray, the new Director of Marketing for the MPA gave us a brief bio. He would be glad to hear from any and all of us on any suggestions we may have or any help we may require from the MPA.  His e-mail address is jmurray1@mdot.state.md.us

Bioterrorism satellite downlink will be shown at UMCP on 10/28.  FDA will hold 4 half day sessions of training on Nov. 13 and 14.  Sign up with Nora Orrell at 410-631-0322 x 113.  New rules for prior notice and registration of facilities will go into effect on Dec. 12, 2003.  BCBFA will either have a showing of the downlink or pass around a copy of the video or both prior to Nov. 13.

Respectfully submitted,

Diane Kraus, Secretary