ABP elections

[numbercaller]

Board of Directors for three years ....bucking the status quo ... and you sir?

[rkaiser]

Are you looking for an introduction numbercaller?

Randy Kaiser Ponoka Alberta
http://www.westernrancher.com/CelticCattle.html

-BIG C co-founder

-President - Canadian Galloway Association

-Vice President - Canadian Welsh Black Association

-President - Celtic Beef Alliance - a new direct marketing beef company.

And you Sir - Maam?

[numbercaller]

Randy who stood beside you when Big C started. You of all people know that I do not hunger for the limelight, I get to be at the front all I want as often as i need. And you need no introduction... and happen to be one of the people that I will listen to at any time, contrary to what some folks may think or tell you. Talk to you when you've figured it out

[gwfl]

This is a very interesting thread and reads very much like this board on the topic about three years ago.

Some of the comments are very thought provoking and cause me, for one, to ask how has the ABP (which I support through the check-off) benefited me financially? ..and you know, nothing comes to mind. I could be wrong and shortsighted, and would appreciate it if someone could point out my ignorance.
I know ABP delegates have a lot of meetings to attend and meet with various government departments to discuss agricultural policy. I read about this in the various agricultural papers and magazines, including the Alberta Beef Magazine. As a little exercise, just go the ABP web sight and see how current their information is about our industry. If it wasn’t for the various other farm publications, we all would be very ill informed about the goings-on in the cattle business. If I had a choice of where a good portion of my check off dollars went, it would be to the Alberta Beef Magazine. Maybe they could be the official voice of the cattle industry in Alberta.

I too was one who financially supported the article about Cam’s concerns about our industry and at the time was very disappointed to find that money was the key factor in having them published. I for one cancelled my subscription to the magazine as a result. Cam is very concerned about the direction we are headed and his dedication to relaying his message of concern to as many producers who would listen to him is exemplary. I know he has contributed hundreds of hours and funds of his own to try and make our endeavors more profitable. Many of the points that Cam made and tried to make to others are coming true today.

Every Cow Calf Producer has cows to sell at some time through the year; maybe the BIC is doing something for me after all. I have never heard more comments on the beef available in the stores that is so inconsistent in the quality and taste than this year. Our cow beef has found a home. It can’t go across the line, so it has to be in a store near you. Maybe the Beef Information Centre sold it for us.

[numbercaller]

I wish I could stand up and say that ABP is putting money in your pocket, but I cannot. I will say that on some occasions that they most likely prevent government from taking more money out of your pocket, by implementing some policies that could be detremental and distorting.(gov't that is)
Pertaining to the website, you most certainly have a point, it is not easy to navigate, and does'nt contain enough information on any given subject to quench even a small thirst for knowledge. Here's the good news, as we speak there is a committe, working with a techy company to revamp and overhaul the website , so as to be more practical, and informative.
As I mentioned earlier in the thread, the lack of a comprhensive mailing list really seriously hampers communication with producers.That also is very close to happening and should go a long ways to revitalizing communication to stakeholders.
Is it a perfect organization ?.... No but like it or not we all put money in, and I for one would like to try and get my moneys worth. Change does'nt happen overnight, and it starts with little things and moves on to bigger things.
Maybe involvement isn't for everyone..... but it beats the alternative of being negative and feeling hopeless.
I too was, and still am very disgruntled at times with what goes on with industry leadership and government. I thought I was being shut out in the information department. But as I got involved I found out that had I talked to some Delegates and Directors the information I wanted was at hand, now having said that, being involved makes it much easier to get more and better information. but again thats not the way it should be... but I feel that help is on its way in the communication department.
I choose to be involved and try and make things better if possible, in some eyes I'm wating time......but I don't think so.

[grassfarmer]

gwfl, Could you explain your comment "If I had a choice of where a good portion of my check off dollars went, it would be to the Alberta Beef Magazine. Maybe they could be the official voice of the cattle industry in Alberta." it makes no sense to me especially when you later say you(like me)have cancelled your subscription to the magazine.
I echo your sentiments on Cam's contribution and am disgusted that ABP expended so much time opposing his efforts.

numbercaller, Perhaps you could enlighten us on whether the ABP is lobbying the Alberta Government to pay producers to age verify calves. I asked this question in another thread and never got an answer.

[kato]

I don't understand this problem with a mailing list. I may be wrong, but it seems to me that the Manitoba Cattle Producers Assoc. uses names and addresses from the checkoff as their membership and mailing list. Does the ABP not have access to who is paying the checkoff? I would think that if you pay a checkoff you are a member.

[numbercaller]

ABP is not lobbying the gov't to age verify. The gov't wants to make AV mandatory, or attempt to. Gov't wants to pay producers for two years to get more of a critical mass of AV calves. Abp is saying to Gov't if you want to pay for two years... fine .... but not mandatory.

[numbercaller]

Kato you're probably right in the case of MCPA. ABP, when it was hatched had markets,dealers,and plants collect check of dollars.... in all of the founding fathers wisdom there was nothing required by the collectors to remit mailing info to ABP.(Brilliant eh). Now many years latter FOIP has taken hold and this type of info cannot be shared without a whole lot of political wrangling. One could approach some markets , and dealers and most likely get the info... but others will not even entertain the idea of giving up the info. Hope that helps explain a bit.

[wd40]

The only reason to Age Verify calves is for export to Asia - are we doing that? I don't think so. Its another "Red Herring".

ABP need to move out of their Ivory Tower (oak, brass, & glass) and into some up staires back rooms of some auction mart, they they might get back to reality.