Join Us! PROTECT YOUR BUSINESS CAPTURE SAVINGS ADVANCE OUR INDUSTRY
The Oregon Winegrowers Association advances and protects the investments of its members. Harnessing the power of statewide consensus, the OWA stands as a vital advocate for the health, growth and economic sustainability of Oregon s wine grape growing and wine production community. OWA & OWB: WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES? FUNDED BY MEMBERSHIP DUES STATE AND FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY ADVOCACY COMPLIANCE UPDATES AND GUIDANCE COST SAVINGS FOR MEMBERS TAX FUNDED (TONNAGE AND PRIVILEGE) MARKETING OREGON WINE VITICULTURE, ENOLOGY AND BUSINESS RESEARCH EDUCATION
OWA is here for wineries & growers The reasons to join: LEGISLATIVE OWA is the only statewide organization scanning the horizon for emerging issues and advocating on behalf of growers and wineries to policymakers at the state and federal levels to ensure the Oregon wine community s continued success. REGULATORY As the regulatory landscape becomes increasingly complex, OWA members stay informed through timely compliance guidance and updates. SAVINGS OWA members capture savings through preferred pricing with various benefit partners, and save on Oregon Wine Symposium tickets. See full benefit details on www.oregonwinegrowers.org The OWA isn t funded by grape taxes, it is our industry organization and if you are not a member you have no voice in the most important regulatory, legislative and policy issues affecting Oregon s wine industry. Membership in the OWA is a smart investment and critical to our business plan. - HILDA AND EARL JONES, ABACELA WINERY
Legislative / Regulatory Work STATE LEVEL INITIATIVES New State Funding: OWA secured $500,000 for the Oregon Wine Board s Market and Research Investment Strategy program to help develop more markets for Oregon wine and to fund critical state research needs. This is the first time general funds have been allocated to the wine industry. OLCC Rule Changes: Worked with the OLCC to get sensible new rules enacted. One allows winemakers and employees to legally confirm product integrity and quality before pouring for guests and customers or at staff trainings. The other allows winery staff members or their distributors to use social media within certain guidelines to promote tastings and special events at restaurants and other OLCC licensees. Herbicide Drift: Continued to raise awareness of herbicide drift damage in vineyards through ongoing dialogue with farming groups, chemical retailers, the Oregon Department of Agriculture and others, in addition to seeking improvements in ODA investigation and testing protocols. Double Overtime Fix: Advocated to change a 2016 Bureau of Labor and Industries interpretation that manufacturing employers (including wineries) must calculate daily and weekly overtime and pay both, reverting back to paying the higher of the two. This will save Oregon wineries significantly during crush. Savings by Number of Crush Employees NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES 1 3 5 10 FEDERAL INITIATIVES Federal Funding: Pressed the importance of continued federal support for international marketing, clean plant material, scientific research, and TTB label and permit appraisals. Excise Tax Reduction: Worked with Senator Ron Wyden, WineAmerica and industry partners to build support for the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act that, if passed, would reduce federal excise taxes for every Oregon winery while also raising the ABV threshold that triggers higher wine excise tax rates. SIZE OF WINERY 5k Case 20k Case 50k Case SAVINGS $1,710 $5,130 $8550 $17,100 Possible Savings by Winery Size ANNUAL EXCISE TAX $2,021 $8,085 $37,223 ASSUMPTIONS: $15/hr base salary 2 weeks at 84 hrs worked per week (7 days of 12 hrs) 4 weeks at 72 hrs per week (6 days of 12 hrs) WYDEN TAX PROPOSAL $832 $3,329 $10,213 SAVINGS $1,189 $4,756 $27,010 Annual tax savings would exceed OWA dues The annual legislative reception in Salem and the advocacy trip to Washington, D.C. underscore the strong and productive relationships the OWA has developed with decision-makers at the state and federal levels. - BOB MORUS, PHELPS CREEK VINEYARDS
REGIONAL INITIATIVES WASHINGTON COUNTY Lined up with Washington County growers and wineries to pressure Washington County Commissioners to modify an adopted ordinance that would have required existing wineries to seek new permits and subject their basic operating practices to a new county review process. WALLA WALLA VALLEY Partnered with the Walla Walla Valley to craft a tailored alternative to a TTB proposal that could have jeopardized Oregon s stringent labeling rules. The alternative would allow broader use of The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater AVA while also protecting Oregon s labeling laws. We re here for you! SOUTHERN OREGON Drafted food service guidelines for wineries located on farmland that has been endorsed by the Department of Land Conservation and Development and the OLCC, responding to a need for clarity around food service at wineries in Southern Oregon and other regions. WILLAMETTE VALLEY Intervened with Oregon s congressional delegation and hosted timely seminars with the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement in response to membership concerns about legal requirements and intrusive enforcement activities. EOLA-AMITY HILLS Provided legal support to growers and winemakers in the Eola-Amity Hills threatened by a new asphalt batching operation near their vineyards. When an asphalt batch plant was proposed near numerous vineyards in the Eola-Amity Hills, timely legal advice from OWA s land use counsel at Davis Wright Tremaine played a key role in the application being withdrawn. Knowing I can call on OWA when critical industry issues arise is invaluable and well worth the investment in membership. - PATTIE BJÖRNSON, BJÖRNSON VINEYARD
Compliance REFERENCE TOOLBOX Advance and protect your business An exclusive new benefit designed with member input and expert legal insights. The Reference Toolbox is a dynamic online business support center, OWA members can access on demand to learn more about the regulatory, policy and legislative environment critical to their business. Featured content includes: Land Use/Natural Resources, Employment, Vineyard Operations, Sales/Tasting Room Compliance, Business/Financial WWW.OREGONWINEGROWERS.ORG/ REFERENCETOOLBOX Capture Savings FEDEX PREFERRED PRICING Up to 65% off select FedEx services LEGAL GUIDANCE Free access to attorneys for mailbag legal or regulatory questions and information OFFICE DEPOT DISCOUNT Average savings of 25% plus, free next-day delivery on orders more than $50 OREGON WINE SYMPOSIUM $60 off event tickets SEE FULL BENEFIT DETAILS ON WWW.OREGONWINEGROWERS.ORG
Join Us! TO BECOME A MEMBER, RETURN THIS FORM OR SIGN UP ONLINE: WWW.OREGONWINEGROWERS.ORG To be eligible for Professional Membership, you must have one or more planted vineyard acres in Oregon or be an owner, operator or have a significant financial investment in a bonded, commercial Oregon winery. Our dues year runs from January through December. Member Type: Winery Winery/Grower Grower Company: Mailing Address: Company Phone: Primary Contact Name: Email: Dues Calculator - Minimum Dues $200, Maximum Dues $6,000 TOTAL ACRES OF GRAPES SOLD IN 2017 TOTAL CASES OF WINE SOLD IN 2017 x $35 = DUES RATE x $0.20 = DUES RATE + = 2018 TOTAL DUES PAYMENT OWA receives wine requests for political events. Please check this box if you are willing to donate to this effort. The OWA contributes a portion of your dues to the OWA Political Action Committee. Please check this box if you do not want a portion to go to the PAC. PAYMENT OPTIONS Credit Card Credit card payments are accepted online at www.oregonwinegrowers.org Check Return completed form and make checks payable to: Cut Here Oregon Winegrowers Association (Indicate 2018 Membership Dues) 4640 SW Macadam Ave., #240 Portland, OR 97239
4640 SW Macadam Ave., #240 Portland, OR 97239 CALENDAR OF EVENTS January 10, 2018 OWA Annual Meeting and Legislative Reception, Oregon State Capitol, Salem February 20-21, 2018 Oregon Wine Symposium, Oregon Convention Center, Portland April 11-13, 2018 OWA Policy Outreach and Legislative Tasting Washington, DC