The Council shall have the following duties:
(a) To meet not less than annually, and to organize and select from among its members a chairperson and such other officers as may be necessary;
(b) To evaluate or develop, and submit to the Secretary for approval, promotion, research, consumer information, and industry information programs, plans, or projects;
(c) To prepare for each fiscal year, and submit to the Secretary for approval at least 60 days prior to the beginning of each fiscal year, a budget of its anticipated expenses and disbursements in the administration of this subpart, as provided in Sec. 2109.50.
(d) To maintain such books and records, which shall be available to the Secretary for inspection and audit, and to prepare and submit such reports from time to time to the Secretary, as the Secretary may prescribe, and to make appropriate accounting with respect to the receipt and disbursement of all funds entrusted to it;
(e) To prepare and make public, at least annually, a report of its activities carried out, and an accounting for funds received and expended;
(f) To cause its financial statements to be prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to be audited by an independent certified public accountant in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards at least once each fiscal year and at such other times as the Secretary may request, and submit a copy of each such audit to the Secretary;
(g) To give the Secretary the same notice of meetings of the Council as is given to members in order that the Secretary, or a representative of the Secretary, may attend such meetings;
(h) To submit to the Secretary such information as may be requested pursuant to this subpart;
(i) To keep minutes, books, and records that clearly reflect all the acts and transactions of the Council. Minutes of each Council meeting shall be promptly reported to the Secretary;
(j) To act as intermediary between the Secretary and any producer or importer;
(k) To follow the Department's equal opportunity/civil rights policies; and
(l) To work to achieve an effective, continuous, and coordinated program of promotion, research, consumer information, and industry information designed to strengthen the mushroom industry's position in the marketplace, maintain and expand existing markets and uses for mushrooms, develop new markets and uses for mushrooms, and to carry out programs, plans, and projects designed to provide maximum benefits to the mushroom industry.
Promotion, Research, Consumer Information, and Industry Information