ABP elections

[grassfarmer]

Numbercaller, maybe you should stick to trying to motivate people to come to the meetings? I find your writings rather hypocritical - fair enough telling people to work together and quit "schoolyard whining" but why then spend the rest of your post slagging off the feedlot operators?

Personally I'd be quite happy with BFW's idea of dropping the levy collection totally and then we can all have genuine representatives for our "industry" (or sectors of the "industry")appointed and funded as producers see fit. True free- enterprise and "marketing choice" - no, I guess that would never work in Alberta.

[BFW]

Actually, I'm not advocating that we split the checkoff up (although my first response to that idea would be in favor of it) but I do think that that option needs to be put on the table. Face it, no one is happy with where our businesses are headed no matter what sector of the cattle industry you are in. I think that the longer we hang our hats on the "democratic process" that many at ABP hide behind the less chance we have of meeting any of the challenges that come at us. The last thing we need is more "likeminded people" in the room as that strategy is failing miserably. We need new ideas and people that can focus on creating strategies that will move our BUSINESSES for now and in the future. Consider this, "Democracy ensures that you will be governed by no better than you deserve." (George Bernard Shaw)

[numbercaller]

Thats exactly what I"m getting at ...if thats what you believe, stand up and promote it instead of being the smartest guy on the thread. I'm not saying that I have all of the answers but I have gotten involved enough to at least be informed. If you feel that studies like I mentioned before are beneficial then promote it. If I am hypocritical its because of hearing all of the great ideas that no-one wants to bring to the table. Too many times all we have to do is look in the mirror to see the root of our problems. If I struck a nerve I apologize.. but at least we are having a dialog ...and given enough time we would find some common ground.

[numbercaller]

Great quote..... not everyone at ABP is a beleiver in their democratic process....trust me. Here is another quote that you might enjoy that I find very appropriate " What's troubling is the gap between the magnitude of our chalenges and the smallness of our politics- the ease with which we are distracted by the petty and trivial, our chronic avoidance of tough decisions, our seeming inability to build a working consensus to tackle any big problem" ( B. Obama)

[grassfarmer]

numbercaller, I moved a resolution at my local fall producer meeting last year that a plebiscite be held to determine whether the majority of producers were in favour of the ABP continuing to be the sole levy funded producer representative group in the province - it was defeated.
I wrote a letter proposing much the same which was published in the Cattleman magazine - the Alberta Beef Magazine absolutely refused to publish it. Some of us are trying, and have been trying - what will be any different this time around?

[numbercaller]

Yes you did . First off I have'nt a clue what the Alberta Beef Magazine and Alberta Beef Producers have in common. Lets take it back further and talk about other things pertaining to plebiscite issues. There is also a resolution on the books and it is renewed every year that ABP update their mailing list. Herein lies the problem with any plebiscite issue, they can't get to the people they represent because their mailling list is antiquated. I have personally been beating on this horse for 3 years and I'm just about to see results. The easy way to get a proper mailing list is to go to LIS and get the mailing info off of the manifest...but no the governments FOIP regulations say you can't do anything simple like that, in order to do that the Ag Products marketing plan has to be changed.... all of which cannot be done at the blink of an eye. I'm sorry your resolution did not pass but like all resolutions you have to garner support for yours or anyones ideas taht starts in your own zone at the producer meetings. I know that ABP isn't the answer ,or the be all to everyone but get involved to make change. I hear far too many producers say I can,t make a difference I'm sorry I think you can. Obviously the sitting delegates in your zone did not sell the idea or principle very well beacause there was little or no disscussion on your resolution at the AGM.Elaborate what organization you would like to see get check off dollars and maybe some one would come to your aid. Maybe nothing changes but if anybody stands on the sidelines and throws rocks they are most certainly not helping to create a situation that is condusive to change. Smile it's catchy.

[grassfarmer]

The Alberta Beef magazines editorial policy was to highlight the problem we face in Alberta - a real problem of democracy where the media can only print what the people "in control" say they are allowed to print. This is how dictatorships operate - most Albertans seem asleep at the wheel at this affront to democracy going on in their back yard.

Personally I think the mailing list is a bogus issue. It is raised every year and is something the ABP folks can re-assure us will be dealt with. I think it's thrown in there as a distraction - it certainly reduces the time left for serious issues. I would be confident enough running a plebiscite with the mailing list they have - sure, it's inaccurate and that is a disgraceful in itself but there are bigger issues.

My resolution did not pass at the producer meeting so it did not appear at the AGM. To highlight the hopelessness of the situation at ABP it was not passed because only about 8 people voted in favour of it - there were more ABP directors/delegates and hangers on than that at the meeting so the majority prevailed. Had it passed there where would it go next? would it make it to the shortlist at the AGM? - probably not as it is counter to their agenda and they get to pick what appears at the AGM remember. If it did it would not have had a cat in hell's chance of passing - what chance has a resolution passed in one zone got of being adopted? virtually none. So does that mean we have a perfect democratic system where the majority rules?
I think it means we have no way to be heard, the system is run from the top down and not from the bottom up as it should be. The system is rotten to the core and I would like to see it abolished. Scrap the levy, don't allocate it to any other organisation - let the free market for representation prevail - I don't think this would hurt producers. As it stands now what option do we have but to stand on the sidelines and throw rocks?

[numbercaller]

Very well sir, I can see that you're not about to get involved..... and that is your perogative... so is complaining. Your Alberta Beef comment is way off base as McClintok publishes whatever he pleases.... and so he should... he runs the mag. I hope you get your wish to get another check off funded representative body to further muddy the water when dealing with gov't... as if it isn't bad enough as it is. Have a great evening.

[grassfarmer]

More precisely Alberta Beef magazine prints what is bought and paid for - they prostituted their journalistic integrity for the almighty dollar. This was brought to my attention on Agriville by some of Cam's supporters who only got articles published by paying for them.

You should polish up on your reading skills I have twice stated clearly that it was not my wish "to get another check off funded representative body"

You think I'm not getting involved? - wrong again, but more to the point what are you doing to get involved?

[rkaiser]

Wow - it looks like it may just be a history making year to be part of at good old ABP. I can't wait. Never been in the middle of an implosion before.

Who do you think should make the motion to share or cut off the checkoff BFW - a cow calf guy or a National Cattle Feeder guy. Either way - it may have a good chance of making it past the fall zone meetings.