ABP Zone Meetings

[tower]

Finally got the ABP annual report and the itinerary of Zone Meetings.

[wd40]

I hear that the GM resigned. So their probably looking for another yes man.

[wd40]

Producers have the opportunity to vote for the delegates of their choice at the Zone meetings, so hopefully these meetings will be well attended.

[wd40]

WD40 - Resigned is not exactly the word.
A better explaination was made by someone in the office;
"Kind of like letting a coach go after a loosing season."

Yes a new person will be hired in time.

[rusty1]

rp - kinda long season eh. good news non the less!

[cowman]

Well obviously I don't know the reason Sargeant was let go but usually when things are screwed up someone has to go and often that is the employee...seldom the people who are elected!
The tide turns and all the politicians try to get in front of the parade sort of thing? Got to have an excuse for doing nothing the last year or so, right? So what are you going to do?...fire the guy who was following your directions...usually works fairly well!
I suspect Gary Sargeant is that fall guy?

[cowman]

cowman, how many producers do you think actually research the candidates and find out what qualifications they have before voting ? I have attended many zone meetings and seem the same few faces of producers in attendance. I think that if there are compliants and concerns about ABP, the onus is on producers to get out and vote for candidates they feel can do a better job.

[farmers_son]

I believe the reason there was a change of General Manager is because the ABP is a very different organization than it was even 5 years ago. The feedlot sector has basically taken over the ABP and Mr. Sargent did not have the support of the mega feedlots. A new GM will be hired who more closely listens to the wishes of the mega feedlots, to the detriment of the average cow calf producer.

Of even more concern at these fall meetings is a vote that will be put before those in attendance to allow the packers 2 seats on the board of directors under the guise of "Industry Council". Although the spin that will be put on the vote is to bring in the Auction Marts and order buyers, Industry Council is controlled directly and indirectly by the packers. If the push to have the packers sitting at the ABP board table is successful, the influence of the cow calf sector will be even further eroded. To the point where the cow calf guy is paying the checkoff but "Industry" is controlling the organization.

Whoever the new General Manager is, the board will make sure he/she is more supportive of the "Industry" than Gary Sargent was who did support the cow calf producer more than most know.

[grassfarmer]

Farmersson, Is it the case that these two packer reps will be elected in the fall meetings? I know when this was aired in the spring some of us were very unhappy at that prospect. I talked at length to my ABP rep about it but she informed me after the July(?) meeting in Edmonton that these people were no longer being elected to the ABP. Was I lied to or this still really a live issue? please let me know as we might be able to encourage a better turnout at meetings if we point out that Cargill and Tyson are going to be even more in control of our industry as well as our industry organisation if we stand back.

[farmers_son]

No your ABP rep did not lie to you.

This is what is going to happen. At this falls meetings, the ABP will ask you to vote on allowing two "industry council" reps to sit on the ABP board of directors. Actually, the majority of delegates have already voted and approved this change (note however that not all delegates did, some still represent the cow calf producer and voted against it but they are now a minority). All the ABP needs is this vote to pass at one fall meeting anywhere in the province (even if it was voted down at 30 other meetings) and then it can be brought forward to the Annual General Meeting where it will be rubber stamped by the feedlot delegates and directors of the ABP who now form a majority within the ABP.

This proposed change came from the board of directors who are going to see it happen one way or another. The talk is Shirley McClellan wants to see it happen and I certainly believe Ralph wants to see the packers represented on the Alberta Beef Producers.

Now don't be fooled for a minute. The spin will be that these two "industry council" reps will be an auction market rep and an order buyer rep but there is no doubt that the real purpose of this change is to allow the packers onto the ABP board to complete the transition from a producer organization to an industry organization. The door will be wide open for the packers to tap the auction rep and order buyer on the shoulder and say move aside we are sitting here now.

When your ABP rep says these people are not going to elected to the ABP she is right. Once the change is in place producers will not vote for or have any input regarding "industry council" reps. "Industry council" which is the packers, auctions, order buyers will simple appoint 2 people to the ABP board. Once the packers are on the board of ABP they can move from there to the board of CCA which is where they really want to be. Then the packers will control or have influence on both the Canada Meat Council and the Canadian Cattleman’s Association. No more worries about the federal government not siding with the packers positions from now on.

If you closely follow the CCA and their statements, you will have noticed the CCA never says anything bad about the packers knowing full well within the next few months two packer reps could be sitting on their board.

If you think this couldn't happen, you truly underestimate the producer apathy that is out there. The same old bunch will come to the meetings and stick their hands up for everything that is put before them. The rest of the producers will sit at home and watch the tube and then gripe about the ABP and why it doesn’t represent their interests. And it is no longer enough for producers to just come to the fall meetings, they need to go the AGM to make sure their delegates don’t say one thing at home and vote another way in Edmonton.