SECRET ORGANIC MEETINGS

[parsley]

Here's the new CWB's make-work vision being quietly distributed to only SELECT organic growers.

I'm feeling quite badly I did not get an invitation.

I wish someone had assembled a group with a name like "The NorthWest Organic Growers" or the "Petro-Valley Organic Club, or the "Green Organics Vision", and with their name on it, sponsored me to go and speak on their behalf.

I can't figure out why I wasn't asked.


Here's the secret invitation(and I wasn't invited)

QUOTE from the CWB itself:

"CWB Organic Consultation Focus Group Meetings

The CWB will be holding five focus group consultations with organic farmers in April prior to seeding.

Producer groups, marketing clubs and organizations, and certification associations are being asked to put forward names of two farmer delegates each to participate at the sessions.

These focus group sessions will provide input on a number of options for the CWB organic policy related to both CWB marketing of organic grain and the Producer Direct Sale policy.


The Saskatchewan meetings will be held as follows:

Saskatoon: Wednesday, April 11, 2007 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. followed by lunch Manitoba Room, Saskatoon Inn, Saskatoon.


Regina: Thursday, April 12, 2007 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. followed by lunch Queensbury Conference Centre,
Room #6, Regina Exhibition Park, Regina.

Focus group participants will be provided with papers outlining the options to prepare for the discussion groups.

Options will explore the full spectrum of levels of involvement of the CWB in organic marketing, from organic pool to no involvement.

Following the focus group sessions, the results of the discussions will be incorporated into a policy review by the CWB management and board of directors.

Please indicate your nomination of participants to the focus group sessions and fax this form back to the CWB at 204-983-3841 or email your suggestions to donna_youngdahl@cwb.ca

Thank you for your participation in this process.

Saskatoon Meeting:
I. Delegate Name: __________________________________________________ ___________

Address:__________________________________________ ___________________________

Telephone No.: __________________________________________________ _____________

Fax: No: __________________________________________________ ___________________

Regina Meeting:
2. Delegate Name: __________________________________________________ _________

Address:__________________________________________ ___________________________

Telephone No.: __________________________________________________ _____________

Fax: No: __________________________________________________ ___________________


Parsley


PS I think David Orchard gets to go and so does Nettie Wiebbe.

PPS It comes out of your pooling accounts. Will they buy lobster for lunch?

[TOM4CWB]

Parsley,

Yoou almost sound bitter Parsley!

The CWB didn't allow me to go to the January Strategic Planning session either!

Perhaps the CWB would hold a vote on Organic... with the statement that all interested people in the Organic Industry need a 66% approval... for the CWB to force collectivisation?

[parsley]

An organic co-operative held their spring marketing meeting in Regina, Saskatchewan yesterday to discuss organic contacting for the coming season.

Buyers from the USA attended.

CWB Directors Rod Flaman and Kyle Korneychuck were invited to speak on organics and the CWB.

Flaman began his power point presentation by slamming US trade deals. He finally had to cut a portion because organic growers were interrupting him, rancorous, and decidedly not prepared to accept the CWB as the giver of information as opposed to being the reciever of information.

The old trick of the CWB filling up their speaking time with slides of CWB propoganda was subverted by hostile growers continuoulsy interrupting his presentation, until he finally aborted his agenda, because growers were not to be denied their opportunity to tell the CWB exactly what they thought.

It was decidedly the verbal brawl of the year, with both Wheat Board Directors having their single-desk eyes opened.

To give you some sense of the atmosphere, one organic grower called Kyle Korneychuk a liar.

Korneychuk at one point referred to Americans by using the word "bully".

Hardly what the organic growers and American buyers wanted to hear.

The Americans retaliated saying that the most problem they had in Canada was dealing with the CWB.

A grower motion was passed, defending our American buyers.

A resolution was also passed for the CWB to issue export licenses to Western organic farmers the same as they do for Eastern organic farmers.

Both CWB Directors admitted there was a problem with PDS (buybacks)

Both Directors want to continue issuing licenses to Ontario and they both want to continue denying licenses to Western famrers.

Korneychuck felt he was "treated better" by another group of organic farmers who want the CWB to begin marketing and pooling organic grain, and he seemed to indicate he was more inclined to listen to those who treated him "nicer"

Parsley

[Fransisco]

I think I would have enjoyed seeing that.

[parsley]

The resolution passed for the CWB to issue export licenses to Western organic farmers the same as they do for Eastern organic farmers was passed with no dissenting votes recorded.

The organic meetings being set up by the CWB are not posted on the website, seem to have ..er...selected representatives and are behind closed-e-mail-door-invitees consensus in the making.

Kyle Korneychuck has become an organic farmer in transition and Rod Flaman is also an organic farmer. It is unfortunate that both of them want state marketing.

Those entering organics do not seem to realize that organics was originally based upon embracing a free and open market with a closely built association between the buyer and the grower.

Newcomers to organics are frequently producers who are accustomed to dumping their loads and expecting Government agenncies to market for them, and if there is a shortfall, for Government to make up the difference.

They cannot shed this paradymn, and bring their baggage to organics.

The CWB would be wise to recognize the furor of the debate throughout the organic industry with regards to establishing an organic pool.

Organic growers are not prepared to act as sheep.

Parsley

[ridgie]

I am not organic, but, earlier this winter I was booted out of an "alumni conference" from an earlier Combine to Customer course I had taken with them. Then our farm was oditted for grain stocks/contract amounts this spring. We had no cash advances or EPOs outstanding, so this goes against the rules. I talked to the secretary to the Minister about this.
Blatent scare tactics......YIKES, wonder if we should all run for cover from our commy broker??
I think they want all of us wearing funny black uniforms and marching like an army carrying a tin pail of wheat each, singing their song.

[parsley]

BTW, this was a corporate meeting held for it's shareholders, and the shareholders/gowers spoke clearly and boldly.

There are other organic growers' associations who feel very strongly about keeping the CWB out of organics.
They need to voice their opinion as well.

[wedino]

Parsley, A colleague told me of a meeting where Rod Flaman had to be escorted out in fear for his life? Was this the meeting or do you know if there is any truth to this story? I don't doubt it's going to happen, he's such an arrogant SOB. IMHO

[parsley]

He had to leave this meeting for another appointment and Mr.Korneychuck remained to field questions.

I didn't see him leave, I think Management courteously saw him out, but I imagine he would be relieved to be finished for the day.

Parsley