ABP annual meeting

[grassfarmer]

50%?? try 85-90% that sat at home. Perhaps with turnout figures like these we should try to encourage a total boycott next year instead of a bigger attendance. If no one turns up how could they claim to represent producers. Maybe hold Beef Initiative Group Producer meetings to run at the same time?

[cowman]

If the ABP got 15% of producers out to vote, I would be surprized! That would be a vast improvement over the 12% they got to vote on whether to scrap the whole darned thing back in the early 90's.Maybe they need to change the way the vote is taken? How about mail in ballots like the CWB does? I wonder what the percentage of producers vote in the CWB elections?

[cowman]

I understand that some of the ABP 'brass' seemed to be fairly arrogant during the meetings. I blame nobody but the producers whose apathy have allowed this to happen. I attend the Zone meetings each year and vote for the candidates I feel will best represent the concerns of the cow/calf producer. Government views ABP as the INDUSTRY, so perhaps the message needs to get to Government if there is a wide dissatisfaction with the way ABP is representing us.

[pandiana]

Without a doubt the cow/calf producer is not being heard.

As has been said ad nauseum on this forum, unless our representatives have a strong voice behind them they do not have the power to make change. We need 500-700 people at these zone meetings, rallies or any get-together if there is a serious effort at being heard.

All sectors of this industry have their problems. Some however, are much better at getting the message out to those that can make changes happen. As long as cow/calf producers are willing to play the 'last man standing' game, their message will be drowned out by the louder, more powerful voices.

[boone]

On a lighter note.

There is always a way.

The little shopkeeper listened in amazement as the two managers pitched their offer, they had just taken out the option on the rest of the block of prime downtown real-estate, so they were offering to buy him out and split his 50 foot frontage that lay in the direct centre of the block. In a thinly veiled threat they made it clear that once they opened their new monster stores with bright departments and children's entertainment and daycare his time would be short in business. He listened to them and then gently declined, as his elderly mother was still running the till and the rest of the workers had been with his father for many years before he had passed on, his store was more than moving in product and stacking up money, it was a lifestyle and a larger community.
So the construction began and true to their words they levelled everything on both sides and built two of the most modern and exciting department stores. Well the much anticipated grand openings drew near and the morning finally came. Strangely enough when people lined up, they were all trying to get into his little store and were fanned out in both directions. He had prepared in several ways, he had done his research and brought in extra people and the newest and sought after merchandise, but how wondered the two managers had he incited the people to even bother with his little store in deference of their great offering. So they went down to the street and made their way slowly in line to the centre of the block. When they stood in front of the little store they turned amazingly different shades of red and white. For the other change the little shop keeper had made was to his sign. From eve to eve was the largest and brightest sign they had every seen with the original message gleaming below still announcing Lieberman's since 1925, but above it were the bold new words 'MAIN ENTRANCE'. As his father had taught him. There is always a way to fight back.

[Horse]

Today on the dreded CBC Link Byfield and Bert Brown were on the program as to being elected senators in waiting and the question that I have asked many times was asked of them , why the big push to corect ottawa and never bothering to fix some of the SNAFUs we have right here it holier than thow alta and the answer is[ we are working on senate reform], Dont that tell you something about politics and the public in general, When its the other guys ox geting gored look away.

[ivbinconned]

Not fair comment horse. Link has been very critical of your Alberta tories. just go to his web site and you will see.

[boone]

Geez Louise!!!! I didn't mean to kill the thread with that gentle little anecdote. Oh well I'll have to be more careful, with everyones sensibilities.

[cakadu]

Not ever having been to an ABP meeting, but listening carefully to what all of you have been saying, is it possible that the delegates at the annual meeting are acting that way because there is so much apathy out there? Would they be able to get away with the "double-speak" if the turnout at zone meetings etc. was much higher?

What do you see as a means to get people out? I would have thought that with all of the problems out there, that producers would have come in droves to ensure that the best candidates possible were representing their true views.

I suppose that this is a problem that isn't exclusive to the ABP and organizations like it - there is probably apathy in a lot of organizations. Seems to me that a golden opportunity for the producer to take back their industry and their organizations was missed. What do the rest of you feel?

[grassfarmer]

I feel that ABP is a waste of space. However they came by their current setup it is clearly undemocratic. It is run from the top down instead of from the bottom up. Unfortunately the top is also jointly run by US packer interests and Government interests which doesn't make it able to represent producers. Cakadu, check out my "rally" post - I hope you will consider attending this event - we are taking a sheep along to represent the hardships being suffered by owners of the other ruminant species. I believe this is something you wanted highlighted?