Ralph Again!

[pandiana]

Listening to the news this am and recapping what went on in the legislature, it was clear that Ralph was not getting the picture. Following an invitation by Brian Mason to join him at a meeting in Vegreville, Ralph stated that no way would he follow Brian to a set up situation. He said that he had been to meetings all around Alberta represented by all sectors of the beef industry and he had heard "not one complaint about the governments aid program". Just praise.

Apparently, there are too many layers of rose-coloured glasses between Ralph and the real situation. It seems to me we need to send him some of the stories that have appeared on this forum plus a few more. Every farmer, grain included, should take this opportunity to let Ralph know how much they have benefited from the government money. Somehow, we have to speak for ourselves and not through organizations that propose to speak for us as they seem to be telling somebody else's story.

[PureCountry]

Well said pandiana, very well said. Recent newspapers have had little clip-out letters to mail to Ann Veneman and Bob Speller; I think it's part of the old 'Drive to the Border' campaign. It's a noble gesture, and I hope everyone of you finds it, clips it out, signs it and mails it off. If you like their addresses and e-mails are as follows:

Ann Venemen - agsec@usda.gov
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture
USDA, Washington, D.C.
20250
USA

Bob Speller - spellb@parl.gc.ca
Canadian Agriculture Minister
Sir John Carling Building,
930 Carling Avenue,
Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0C5

Write a letter, send an e-mail. Hell if you read this you're online anyway, get at it!

In the meantime, who really is interested in a grassroots-based organization representing the cow/calf sector - and ONLY the cow/calf sector? Time to antie-up, put your money where your mouths are, $h!t or get off the pot, walk the walk and stop talkin' the talk. My e-mail address is:

pcstockfarm@yahoo.ca
780-888-3791

Let's just see what we can find out, what we can learn, what we can accomplish. Who knows? Maybe there's other folks on a forum somewhere that have already got the ball rolling!

Oh, and by the way, Horse, or any other pessimists - I know, I know...I'm dreaming. So, if you haven't got nuthin' nice to say, don't say anythin' u'tall. (But I'd be more than happy to entertain ideas, suggestions or comments on an organization. Don't tell me you haven't thought about it.)
You're all smart experienced producers, that's obvious in your postings. So what harm can be done in putting as much effort into a discussion on this?

[PureCountry]

I'll also try to find numbers and addresses for the offices of Ralph Klein and Shirley Mclellan.

[PureCountry]

I love Ropin' the Web! So much free info. Mrs. McClellan and Mr. Kleins' contact info. is as follows:

Hon. Shirley McClellan
Legis. Office
#408, 10800-97 Ave
Edmonton, Ab
T5K 2B6
Ph: 780-427-2137
Fax: 780-422-6035

Constituency Office
Box 1386, 119-2nd Ave West
Hanna, Ab
T0J 1P0
Ph: 403-854-4333
Fax: 403-854-2812
Drumheller.Chinook@assembly.ab.ca

Hon. Ralph Klein
Legis. Office
#307, 10800-97 Ave
Edmonton, Ab
T5K 2B7
Ph: 780-427-2251
Fax: 780-427-1349

Constituency Office
#128, 6707 Elbow Drive SW
Calgary, Ab
T2V 0E3
Ph: 403-252-0346
Fax: 403-252-0520

premier@gov.ab.ca

There you have it folks. Make the most of it.

[k-way]

Unfortunately Ralph has no one to listen to except CCA/ABP to try to get our story. They are supposed to represent us as far as he knows. That's what we pay them for, right?

We really need to get some of this forum out into the world. This web page gives you a feedback/comments page for the premier's office.

http://www.gov.ab.ca/premier/Feedback.cfm

I sent him an email and a link to our forum with an invite to come and get the real picture from the cattle industry (both cow/calf and feedlot) instead of CCA/ABP.

Also found this info for anyone who wants it:

Ralph Klein
Phone 780 427-2251
Fax 780 427-1349
email premier@gov.ab.ca

Shirley McClellan
Phone 780 427-2137
Fax 780 422-6035
email NONE except drumheller.chinook@assembly.ab.ca (Drumheller constituency office)

[boone]

PureCountry: I've got a suggestion for a name for your new association, and remember to always refer to it as an association. Like the doctors, and lawyers,engineers, etc. you will see why, as it develops. Anyway the name I offer up is 'THE WESTERN GRANGE' dust off you dictionary (Webster's College Edition) and you will see it depicts a clear and concise message of who and what you represent as Grain and Livestock producers.

[boone]

Grange hmmm. Until now it was only the name of the bright yellow hotel in Carmangay Alberta. Now I know the rest of the story.

[boone]

rpkaiser: And you call yourself a granger? Shame on you. (LOL)

[PureCountry]

grange:noun. a country house with farm buildings that belong to it.

Feed me peanuts and call me Dumbo, but I'm afraid sir that I don't quite get the jest of what you're saying. Am I to take your post as sarcasm, or are you stating your desire for the first-ever membership card? Please clarify and clear the fog from my young, naive mind.

[Horse]

Purecountry what can I say except that I live with what is not what IF But I wish you luck .

[boone]

PureCountry: You don't need any peanuts, maybe just a larger dictionary.
grange;a) the Patrons of Husbandry, an association of farmers organized in the U.S. in 1867 for mutual welfare and advancement.b) any of its local lodges. granger 1. a farmer 2.a member of the Grange.

[cowman]

I think a few years ago there was an attempt to set up a cow/calf organization, but it was pretty well shot down by both the provincial government and the ACC. A lot of rhetoric about division of the industry etc. etc. And seeing how the guys trying to set it up were working with their own time and money it never got off the ground.
Here is another example of how it works: About 6 years ago(My memory is a bit shaky)when the ACC wanted to increase the checkoff from $1 to $2 there was a "slight" grassroots revolt! A fairly large feedlot owner/farmer in Central Alberta led the charge to get a plebicite on whether the ACC could have this increase or in fact if they had a right at all to collect a mandatory checkoff! He pulled it off somehow! He did his best to convince people to get on the bandwagon and I was one of them...it helped that he was a neighbor and I knew him well! So we all worked like beavers to get out the vote, phoning,visiting people, even donating some cash for ads(and this feedlot owner contributed a lot of cash!)! In the meantime the ACC was out in force(on a per diem basis of course!) giving speeches and rallying their old boys network and sending out brochures to all producers! Results: The ACC got their endorsement with 51% of votes cast! 12% of elegible voters, voted!!! So about 6% of cattle producers in Alberta decided that the ACC(ABP) would be the voice of the cattle industry and have the right to impose and collect the checkoff! Now they don't even bother asking to raise the checkoff they just go ahead and do it!
Later I would ask people how they voted...people who I had talked to and who seemed real incensed that the ACC was violating their rights! The answers...Oh, I forgot to vote. Oh the kids had a hockey game that day. Oh I didn't feel like it would do any good. Oh, my neighbor is the ACC rep and I didn't want to upset him!
I threw up my hands! Apathy! You see the same thing in politics! You don't vote, you deserve the garbage you get!