District 4 Report: Dec'08
Monthy Report from David Spencer and Norm Hall
On November 19 District 4 held a meeting in Wadena. A number of issues were addressed during the well attended meeting. Executive Board Member Greg Marshall and communications consultant Aj Thakker presented the majority of the material for the reps to absorb. This included the policy issues that APAS has been dealing over the past few months, as well as the recent resignation of the President and the press releases that he produced afterward. The second part of the meeting involved the gathering of information and opinions from the reps, mostly in the forms of motions and resolutions to go to the Annual Meeting to be held on Dec. 4th and 5th in Regina.
Later that evening Aj Thakker, along with the Rep. Norm Hall, attended a meeting in the RM of Emerald to make a presentation some of the ratepayers who will make up part of the advisory committee of the RM.
On November 18 Aj and David Spencer met with the RM of Connaught 457 to answer some concerns about APAS’ direction. Later that day they also met with the RM of Tisdale concerning the RM rejoining APAS. Both meetings were very positive, with good understandings achieved.
Once again APAS was present at Agribition where many more contacts were made and many more renewed. It is at venues like these that we gain our strength. This is where we realize how much work there is to do in ag policy and how much our organization is needed in Saskatchewan. It is from the comments of our contemporaries in both the farming community in Saskatchewan and in Canada that we hear the need.
Although the numbers at the AGM were down from other years, everyone at the meeting was contributing in a positive way knowing that if APAS does not survive that Saskatchewan will not have another opportunity to have another group of its kind for many years, and that the farming community cannot afford such a setback. A number of resolutions were passed at the AGM dealing with current policy issues as well as some bylaw changes. A detailed report on the AGM can be found on another page on this site.
David Spencer was elected as a Director for District 4, and looks forward to serving APAS, and especially District 4. We would also like to thank the past director ,Stan Novogrodsky for his commitment and dedication!
On December 11th Norm Hall attended the RM of Lakeside council meeting. Since the RM representative Kerry Holderness stepped down the RM has been unable to secure another rep. A short report on the AGM was presented to council. Council expressed concerns about issues affecting their ratepayers, farm inputs, livestock prices and government support, environmental issues, crop insurance and the economy as a whole. Further reports to the RM will be given until a rep can be found for the RM.
The December Board meeting was held on December 22 in Regina. One of the first orders of business was the signing of the Code of Conduct and Board Member Commitment Agreement. These documents are basically a contract that each member of the board has with APAS laying out agreements on confidentiality, conflict of interest, the accepting of gifts and other issues of governance. These documents have been in front of the board for most of 2008 and have finally been signed by the new board. The new directors received as short review of the new board binder which includes: APAS bylaws, governance policies, contact lists, committees, our strategic plan and the non-profit corporations act. The board has also dealt with our committees, and has decided to amalgamate some of the committees to make the work more efficient. An official notice will be sent to the committee members as well as the reps soon. The resolutions passed at the AGM were sent to the proper committees to be dealt with. A report on the Crop Insurance Study by Myers Norris and Penny was given by our policy analyst Adam Harnett and plans for further action were discussed.
Aj Thakker reported on two letters that have been sent to PM Harper and Premier Wall on their support for the livestock industry and the press release to go along with them. Aj also discussed the new website and the need for a transparent organization.
Until next time, we remain;
Your APAS District Four Board Members
David and Norm