Director Andy Gusa Cooperative Elevator Company 7211 East Michigan Avenue Pigeon, Mi

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1 Great Lakes Chapter Volume 2, 2012 FALL 2012 Great Lakes Directors President Randy Mahoney Wipfli LLP 2901 E. Enterprise Ave. Appleton, Wi Vice President Nate Wenzel Growmark, Inc 1701 Towanda Ave Bloomington, Il Secretary Jeff Thompson CRI/AgSource 135 Enterprise Dr. Verona, Wi Ex FAX Treasurer Tyrone Lein Ill. Agricultural Auditing Assn. 318 Susan Drive Normal, Il Director Elizabeth Hawthorne Goodwine Cooperative Grain Co PO Box 38 Goodwine, Il Director Jason Les Mi Milk Producers Assn. PO Box 8002 Novi, Mi ext 239 Director Andy Gusa Cooperative Elevator Company 7211 East Michigan Avenue Pigeon, Mi Director Andy Jones Premier Cooperative 501 W. Main St Mt. Horeb, Wi Newsletter Ralph Miller 1218 N. Jefferson St. Dixon, IL (815) Education Dave Loyd Growmark, Inc 15 Emerald Ct Morton, Il National Director Jeff Brandenburg Clifton Gunderson LLP 8215 Greenway Blvd Suite 600 Middleton, WI Fax m PRESIDENT S MESSAGE As August draws to a close, I am appreciative that the heat broke a bit in our area and that regular season NFL and college football is coming soon. This should be an interesting season for the NFC North as we have three strong teams, the Packers, Bears, and Lions (sorry Viking fans). Well, earlier this month I participated in the NSAC National Conference at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas and was pleased to see so many people from the Great Lakes Chapter. We got together for a couple of dinners and shared some pretty good stories and laughs. The conference provided excellent education and some entertaining key note speakers. Larry Romuald completed his year as the National

2 President and passed the gavel to Clay Worden from the South Atlantic Chapter. Also, the formal announcement came out that Jeff Brandenburg won the election to serve as our National Directorcongratulations Jeff! I have been in contact with the team working on the Time and Place for our next Chapter meeting in June We know it will be in Wisconsin, but they are still reviewing options to make sure it is a great event- more to follow in the next newsletter. Have a wonderful fall. Respectfully, Randy Mahoney, Chapter President NSAC Great Lakes National Director s Farewell I want to thank the Great Lakes Chapter membership for their confidence and trust they exhibited in me during the seven years I represented them on the NSAC National Board. It culminated in August at the Las Vegas Annual Conference with me ending my term as National President. The friendships made and networking accomplished as the National Director have been priceless. In Las Vegas, it was with sadness that I presented the Silver Bowl Award to Mary McIntyre in memory of Mike. All of us remember Mike and the great service he did for the Great Lakes Chapter and the NSAC National organization. His efforts, friendship, and guidance are going to be missed by all of us. We have truly lost a great friend. I have been so proud of the leadership of the Great Lakes Chapter. Most recently the leadership exhibited by Kent Erhardt on his accomplishments as Chapter Development Chairman. The efforts of his work will be felt by your organization for many years to come. Jeff Brandenburg will be a tremendous asset as your new National Director to both the Great Lakes Chapter and the National organization. I look forward to his leadership at the National level in the future.

3 NSAC has undertaken a serious International Initiative. NSAC membership now transcends national borders. For those who attended the Las Vegas meeting, they saw the introduction of our two latest NSAC members from the country of India. As I leave NSAC in a leadership role, I am very pleased with the efforts that have been expended by my predecessors at the National level in recent years. I have looked for guidance from Ralph Miller and Bob Beerup. Their input helped me greatly at the National level. At this time, I have one final year as Past President on the Executive Committee. Once that has been completed, I will ride off into the sunset and become just a regular member. Again, thank you for your confidence, and my sincere appreciation and joy in having represented you. Larry NATIONAL DIRECTORS REPORT By: Jeff Brandenburg Thank you for the opportunity to serve as the National Director for the Great Lakes Chapter! There is a long and rich history of leadership from the Great Lakes chapter members that have served on the National Board, and we are grateful to them for their service and dedication to NSAC. I look forward to serving our chapter at the National level and ask that you feel free to contact me with thoughts; comments and suggestions that will help NSAC continue to be a vibrant and successful organization. For those of you who had the opportunity to attend the national meeting in Las Vegas, I am sure you will agree there was something there for everyone. I mean that quite literally! Las Vegas is really quite the place. Next year the national meeting will be in Charleston, SC from August 4th to the 7th. It is never too early to start planning for what should be another great opportunity to network, get cooperative-focused continuing education and have the opportunity to see a really historic place in the United States. Best wishes for continued success as we head into the fall of the year. Jeff. (please see his photo attached)

4 MEMBERSHIP REPORT As of July 31, 2012 the membership of our chapter was 125. Please join me in welcoming the following new members to the Great Lakes Chapter, since our last newsletter: Jessica Muelemans, CPA Wipfli, LLP Andrew Ruck, CPA Balestra, Harr & Scherer, CPAs Inc. Daniel Coulthard Accelerated Genetics Cory Wiese, CPA CliftonLarsonAllen Molly Hollister Michigan Milk Producers Association Each current member should strive to obtain at least one new member this next year. As you will see if you ever attend a chapter meeting or a national meeting, your peers in the cooperative world are ready to lend a helping hand. I encourage everyone to identify at least one prospect over the next three months that could benefit from membership in NSAC. Please remember that our members come from a variety of disciplines: attorneys, bankers, CPA s, insurance agents, actuaries, general managers & CEO s, human resources, IT providers, and others. Think of how many types of service providers a cooperative uses in a year. I m sure that each would find benefit in a membership in NSAC. Please forward any prospects you may have to me. The best way to contact me is via at Andy.Jones@PremierCoop.com. Respectively submitted, Andy T. Jones, Membership Chair

5 EDITOR S COMMENTS Just a few random thoughts before I head south for some vacation time!! Having enjoyed Las Vegas for a week (about four days was plenty) it is now time to relax. The sessions were mixed (I see where Jeff disagrees). I suppose the last day could have been better why have four economists/educators all on the same morning. Now had the Great Lakes chapter been in-charge, the program would have mixed those in the first two days. We were grading everything on what the chapter did last year as host, and this year s meeting did not quite add up to prior year s. Joe should have volunteered to chair the Las Vegas gathering. Maybe next year!! I did get to enjoy the Hoover Dam site with Kent and our wives. It was the highlight of the venture out West. For the new members, try to attend either the chapter meeting in June or the national meeting in August as you will always get something beneficial whether it is new friends, new ideas for work or just to network with your peers. I happened to attend one session where someone from the Great Lakes chapter was the presenter. After the session and a few inquiries, this same person had never been to our chapter meetings. When I approached this person later in the conference, I hinted that the chapter meeting is near Milwaukee next year and I had better see them there or phone calls will be made!! We welcome Jeff as our national board representative and say goodbye to Larry. After serving all those years on the national level, I bet Larry is ready to ride off in the sunset. We wish him and Pat the best down the road! We have been fortunate to have outstanding leaders from our chapter not only board members but committee chairs as well. The one thing I would like for future editions of your newsletter is any article concerning your business in the news, retirements, deaths, weddings, special awards or whatever. This is your newsletter, which is the best way to communicate what is going on within your Chapter and NSAC. We look to have a newsletter the middle of December, one after the NSAC board meeting in February, and one after our annual meeting. SO GET THOSE ARTICLES AND FACTS IN ANYTIME! Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever. Remember; say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side. Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn t cost a cent. Remember, to say, I love you to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you. Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again. Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind. AND ALWAYS REMEMBER: Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

6 BOARD MINUTES 54 th Annual Meeting The Great Lakes Chapter meeting was held at the Ramada Hotel and Spa in Galena, Illinois on June 14 th and 15 th, The meeting as called to order by President Jason Les at 3:45 pm. After brief opening remarks the committee reports were given as follows: Minutes The minutes of the 53 rd annual meeting were included in the materials given at registration. After allowing time for review, a motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes of the 53 rd annual meeting as presented. Motion carried. Treasurer s Report Jason Les, in the absence of Ty Lein, Treasurer, spoke briefly about the treasurer s report distributed to the attendees. A motion was made and seconded to approve the treasurer s report. Motion carried. Education Report David Loyd gave a brief report on the upcoming Basic and Advanced accounting seminar to be held in Bloomington, Il on July 17 thru 19. It will be a joint session with the Mississippi Valley Chapter. National Director Report Larry Romuald mentioned his term ends this year and ballots would be going out to vote for his successor with the announcement in Las Vegas at the National meeting. Larry also indicated, after significant review, the chapter boundaries would remain the same as prior years. Kent Erhardt distributed a copy of the Chapter Recognition Program document and discussed the guidelines. Roger Van Someren, National Board Member, gave an update on NSAC membership and some other initiatives. Membership Report Andy Jones reported that NSAC National membership increased from 1,508 to 1,521 in the current year. Membership of the Great Lakes Chapter is currently 119 vs. 117 last year. Andy recognized the following membership milestones: 5 Years Keith Baumgartner, Teri LaFleur, Scott James, David Siegfried, Deborah Cronin, Melissa Wegner, Michael Doyle, Dennis Olsen, Andy Jones 10 Years Stephen Skok, Blaine Priebusch, Jason Les, Elizabeth Hawthorne, Samuel Miller

7 20 Years James Shumate 30 Years Gregory Heino Newsletter Report Ralph Miller indicated that there was no information to report. Nominating Committee President Jason Les indicated Randy Mahoney and Nate Wenzel first terms as Board Members were ending. All were nominated to serve a second term without opposition. A motion was made and seconded to elect the group to serve second terms. Other Business None A motion was made, seconded and approved to adjourn at 5:00 pm. Board Re-organizational Meeting On June 14, 2012, following the program, the new officers were elected. The following morning on June 15, 2012 the board met and the minutes from the March board meeting approved. The meeting was reconvened on Friday June 15, 2012 at 8:00am by newly elected President Randy Mahoney. President s Comments Newly elected President Mahoney thanked Great Lake Chapter members for their past and current service. President Mahoney presented Jason Les with a plaque for past service as President of the Great Lakes Chapter. Newly Elected officers President Mahoney reported on the results of the Board re-organizational meeting on June 14, President- Randy Mahoney Vice President- Nate Wenzel Secretary- Jeff Thompson Treasurer- Ty Lein agreed to serve another year Internal Audit Greg Heino and Jeff Brandenburg performed an internal review of the financial records and reported there were no irregularities Annual Chapter meeting A short discussion on planning the next annual chapter meeting in Wisconsin and the time and Place Co-Chair volunteers were Diane Patza and Jessica Meulemans. Program Co-Chairs volunteers were Brendan Ropuzer and Nick Faber. A motion was made, seconded and approved to adjourn at 8:30 am.

8 IMPORTANT DATES March 2013 Board Meeting Itasca, Illinois June 2013 Chapter Meeting Wisconsin August 2013 National Meeting, Charleston, South Carolina August 2014 National Meeting, San Diego, California News & Views Link: National Office NSAC 136 South Keowee St. Dayton, Ohio Kim Fantaci Exec. Director Fax

9 These are two of the most enjoyable people you could ever be around!!! If you have never met either of them, please attend the next chapter meeting. I can only imagine what the gentleman on the right is thinking.

10 TREASURER S REPORT GREAT LAKES CHAPTER NSAC TREASURER S REPORT For the Period Ended August 31, 2012 and Year Ended December 31, JANUARY 1 FUND BALANCE $ 19,693 $ 13,484 JUNE ANNUAL MEETING Registration Fees 7, Expenses ( 5,757) ( 122) Net Income (Expense) From Annual Meeting 1,343 ( 122) OTHER REVENUE Membership Dues 640 1,260 A&A Seminar 1,073 2,710 Other -0-8 Total Other Revenue 1,713 3,978 EXPENSES REIMBURSED/(TO BE REIMBURSED) BY NATIONAL OFFICE -0-4,033 OTHER EXPENSES ( 2,488) ( 1,680) PERIOD END FUND BALANCE $ 20,261 $ 19,693 Here is the most recent Treasurer s Report. As you can see the fund balance continues to run very strong. One item to note is that included in the Other Expenses is a $1,000 donation to the Michigan 4-H Foundation in the name of Mike McIntyre. As many of you know we lost this friend and colleague earlier this year. Mike was a very staunch supporter of the NSAC and was active at both the National level as well as the Chapter level. Mike was also very active in the 4-H and honoring him with this donation is fitting. For anyone who knew him Mike will be missed. Respectively submitted, Tyrone Lein, Treasurer

11 Our new national leader????? If he can accept this in the mirror, then our chapter is in real good hands!!! Did he really wear this outfit in Vegas?