Oberg leading the CWB over a cliff.

[TOM4CWB]

Craig et al,

It is truly sad that Chairman Oberg and his buddies will not allow those who do want to work together to put together a new marketing partner.

The principal of a voluntary co-operative marketer... working for growers... is widespread and working well in western Canada now.

Why not have Federated Coop make a bid to run the CWB corporation in the new environment?

Or our Credit Unions that are Cooperatives... or even CHS Inc. from the US. I am very disappointed that none of these alternatives have been discussed... let alone good business plans that growers could vote upon which one they think would serve their needs the BEST.

3 good sound NEW marketing business alternatives SHOULD have been what this Plebicite was about.

CWB Chairman Oberg has really missed the bus... so to speak... this time.

A Pitty.

[mbratrud]

Some comments I made about CWB 2 that are appropriate here. In my mind these are the types of things The CWB Directors should be looking at Instead of Unite the Left Rallies!

I wish the Board of Directors of our organization (although it seems it more some than others) needs to start looking at the future.

The CWB as it is today is run its course and its time to move on. I am really getting tired of the Mr. Oberg and his propaganda machine spending our money. Who is footing the bill for the other side of the argument?

There are many important issues that need to be addressed, and I am wondering who is working on them? For instance who is looking at Transportation Issues, Inventory Financing for Terminals, Contracts and Cash advances, and maintaining customer relationships through the transition. What will the new organization look like?

The plebiscite that is out there is a joke. We know that when the ballot goes to every Tom, Dick and Harry that ever had a Permit book, the results will be skewed and do not show the will of many of the actual producers of Wheat and Barley.

Lets look at the problems that we face immediately in a change in the CWB.

Transportation - One common concern and one shared by me would be access of Grain Transportation to all areas and companies. The current Car allocation system, gives the CWB control over many cars that they try to distribute fairly. Instead of looking at this as a problem, maybe it is an opportunity to fix our transportation system. Some ideas that would go a long way towards to ensuring equal service opportunity would be opening up the rail running rights. Let the CWB II Transportation arm control the Cars the Farmers and the Government own. CWB II could be very key in a new Rail Allocation System.

Cash advances; there is no reason that CWB II Finance could not operate a Bank where producers could deposit Money into an account that makes a little better than Bank interest. Other services they could offer would be Cash advances or operating lines, to Grain Co's and Farmers. Would need seed money from Government, and if 50000 farmers had on Average of $5000 on deposit with them that’s $250000000 they could put to work. Of Course it wouldn't be interest free, but it could be low interest.

Grain Inventory Financing, a major concern is Grain Inventory Financing for Grain Terminals. Solution, more Condo Storage units, Companies can sell some of there storage to Farmers and Even the CWB Marketing Arm. Why Couldn’t CWB II buy or Lease space from Grain Companies to help them do business in the future? There is no way that most of the Grain Companies could finance their own inventories, and as a result have extra Capacity. For Example In Weyburn alone if the Terminal Capacity was full it would take more than 50 million to Finance the Inventory. Why would some of these companies not Lease some Storage to CWB II and establish a throughput agreement.

Pooling, despite Mr. Oberg's comments this is very doable for farmers that want that sort of thing. Producers would have to commit acres ahead of time and sign auditable contracts. Hell they could do it for all Grains not just Wheat and Barley.

Existing contracts, if they really cared about this they would have had it solved or still could. A like John Depape mentioned it’s outside the CWB Mandate to sell what would be 2012 crop. And this year’s pool should be a tonnage and grade commitment to be in the pool otherwise your work off the PPO’s, which would reduce the risk of making an uncovered contract.

Enough verbal vomit from me, I’m sure I have exposed myself to major picking apart, (especially grammatically) and believe me the above suggestions are not deeply thought out but just thrown out there. My point is its time to start looking at solutions. I want Market choice but I also think there are many talented people at the CWB and they are doing many good things, and I believe there can be a role for them in the future. I urge them to start thinking outside the box and looking forward.

Message to Mr. Ritz its time to be absolutely clear, and stop all this nonsense. If members of the current Board are struggling with change accept their resignations and move forward with some vision.

What are your thoughts on how CWB II could look?

[chuckChuck]

Blame the the CWB for its own demise when the Cons have given no indication of what level of support they will offer?

The CWB has no grain handling facilities, no retained earnings, no capital, must contract with competitors, and no guarantee of supply.

If you think that is makings of a successful grain company, then you are living in a fantasy land or you know very little about business!

[wmoebis]

Ritz has men inside the BOD. Does he not take thier word? Why are they so quiet to the public?

He is taking the railroad and grain co's word that things will be better without the board. Is he having an audit on thier word?

I'm not saying your wrong but I have herd the CWB's side lets here how the rail is going to be better. How is the grain Co's going to be better for farmers?

Not second hand propaganda but right from thier BOD's.

[TOM4CWB]

wmoebis,

The 8 think alike CWB directors rule the CWB.

15 total Directors. Chairman Oberg is the only one allowed to speak for these 8 on the CWB who rule the roost pubically.

Corporate governance rules and protocol have tied the hands of the 7 Marketing Choice advocates who have no choice... pubically... but to remain silent.

It is perhaps helpful... that Chairman Oberg is now clearly indicating just how little he understands about running a multi $B Co... and working in the real world where those responsible pay... when they make a mess of things!

[Fransisco]

There is nothing stopping the CWB from making deals with everyone in the chain, other than the current Board of directors who are hell bent on poisoning the well and pissing off everyone they should want to do buisness with.

[agstar77]

Nothing stopping them except the uncertainty of funding in the Cons world. Take on all the responsibilities without assurance of funds. How do you insure employees a job ? Without a defined path there can be no CWB 2. The Cons must make an assurance of support and finance the liabilities or would all you open marketers volunteer to pay for them?

[silverback]

Can you tell us the consequences of what would happen if 7 directors held a press conference to talk about their views on the future of the cwb?

[parsley]

Exactly, silver. The worst that could happen would be they get voted off, and then Ritz could appoint another batch.

And repeat.
And repeat.

Soon, suspicion about what the CWB is doing internally would reign.

The sitting grunts loooooove their meetings and pension plans, is what I guess.

Grown men stuffed full of themselves have not yet grown up. Pars

[parsley]

You one of those farmers still needing the governments to babysit you agstar? Your whimpering resembles the sound of the fear of being an unfunded victim.