Montana Celiac Society

Billings Support Group

March 6, 2010

            Enjoying gluten-free goodies!                                                                   

Montana Celiac Society/Billings Support Group

Minutes, March 6, 2010

Billings, Montana

The Billings Montana Support Group met at the Billings Crime Prevention Center in Rimrock Mall at 10 AM, Saturday March 6, 2010 Carl Solberg welcomed everyone and thanked them for coming. Ten individuals attended the Billings Support Group for the first time. One “first-timer” had heard our advertisement on the radio. Our group gave a deep gratitude of thanks to our media committee and to Leonard Koziol for his excellent work in contacting various media throughout the Billings area.

The next meeting will include a potluck. Everyone bringing a food item was asked to include the ingredients so everyone would be alerted to allergens. The new issue of “Living Without” magazine was available. Everyone taking a copy was urged to thank the publishers of the magazine for putting us on their list of complementary issues.

Jean Powell from the central office designed a poster to advertise our meetings. Those knowing someplace to display these posters were encouraged to take one. Carl Solberg mentioned that results from the survey were still coming in, and he will wait to give everyone a copy until responses quit coming. Hopefully next month a copy will be available to everyone.

Each person who attended this meeting for the first time was asked to introduce themselves and explain how they had heard about our group. New people had heard about us through encouragement from other members, from the newspaper, and from the radio.

Carl Solberg then asked Joan Dannenberg speak to everyone regarding holding a conference in Billings in August. She said the gathering would be a fund raising type of activity however she wanted to hear from the audience regarding it. Joan said that if it were held, August 7, 2010 would be the date. She said that a place had been booked at the Billings Clinic for such an activity. Joan mentioned that we should be able to draw people from throughout Montana as well as people from Northern Wyoming. This facility has two rooms and could seat about 50 people with an adjoining hallway for food. Joan said that the facility would have coffee available to purchase and we could contact business for donations. At that point Joan introduced Mike Dannenberg. Mike, in his work, plans and organizes similar type of functions as this. Mike spoke to the group on what type of things must be done to plan an organize a successful conference. He explained some logistics and discussed what various committees were needed to pull it off.

Joan Dannenberg introduced the speakers for the meeting. The speakers introduced were Rich Powell, Gary Iverson, Dean Miller and Larry Meville. Rich is with the Montana Monster Munchies. The others are associated with Montana Gluten-free processors. Larry is a research gluten-free baker.

All the speakers in detail explained the very stringent process of keeping their products free from gluten. Many various products were discussed to include oats and oatmeal, cookies, granola, food products from grape seed oil, etc.

Rich Powell mentioned his support of The Montana Celiac Society and how his firm helps make contributions.

Gary Iverson spoke giving a history of Montana Gluten-free Processors. He explained the fact that people with Celiac Disease need fiber in their diets and how his grain products are excellent sources of fiber. Gary explained in detail the process of keeping their grains gluten-free. Gluten-free grains are grown four years away from wheat. He explained that there are different varieties of oats and how oatmeal is processed.

Our guests brought food items from their companies to share with the group. Many interesting and worthwhile questions were answered by all the speakers. Everyone was enthused about the valuable and worthwhile information they gave. Certificates of appreciation were given to the speakers as a small token of appreciation. Drawings were held and various food items were given away.

At the conclusion of the meeting, many people stayed to visit. The next meeting will be at 10 A.M. Saturday, April 10, 2010 with a gluten-free potluck.

Respectfully Submitted,

Jan Solberg