Local #362

Annual General Meeting Minutes – April 14, 2012
Ontario Agricultural College, Alfred, ON K0B 1A0

1:00 p.m.

Present from Executive Committee:Karen Markle, Les Gills, Larry Vingerhoeds, Bernard Foley, Rebecca Gills, Marlyn O’Connor

Present from membership:Rob Oechsli, Katie Ward, Martin Zimmer, Colleen Ross, Joey O’Connor, Paul Slomp, Jesse

Agenda Item / Discussion / Action/Decision
  1. Call to order
/ Bernard called meeting to order at 1:27
  1. Approval of agenda and minutes of previous meeting
/ Les moved, Rob 2nd
  1. Business arising from the minutes
/
  • N/A

  1. President’s report
/
  • Thank you to everyone who attended the booth at the Ottawa Valley Farm Show
  • Les, Larry, Bernard, Marlyn, Paul, Coral Sproule, Jim Earl, Ron Visser, Karen
  • To get our booth from Peterbourough, Doug Plante brought it with him and saved us the expense and trouble of couriering it. Many thanks!
  • Sylvie Wilson, coordinator of Alfred College, facilitated set-up of the AGM in recognition of our bursary to the college.
Motion: Les Gills moved we address OSPCA matter. He will follow up with MPP Jack McLaren’s office to find out the status of his private member’s bill. Ask NFU_O to make an official response to the ON gov’t. Rob 2nd, carried
  • Delivery of signs, need to follow up.
  • Bernard wants to build relationships with neighbouring locals, attend meetings, etc.
  • Les is playing tag with reporters.
  • Rob: OFA does a radio report of commodity markets out of Cobden; we should offer a volunteer to do something similar.
  • Re: communications, ask NFU-O to announce Local 362 meetings in e-news, also on OMAFRA and Ecological Farmers News website.
  • Send minutes to everyone on e-mail list as well as on Local 362 website
Katie moved, Colleen 2nd, carried
  1. Treasurer’s report
/ No expenditures since last month
$6153.00
  1. Correspondence
/
  • Don Crosbie, Legault seeds: wants to know NFU position on Ontario energy FIT programme.
  • Charlie Nixon, International Committee in conjunction with Via Campesina: Lilliana Abano, farm union rep, Columbian peasant activist, 3 yrs in jail, released but still followed by military; NFU asked to write to MPs and Colombian gov’t to make sure she is kept safe.
  • Colleen Ross and others who keep these matters in the public eye should be commended.

  1. Report from NFU-O AGM
/ Les: 5 resolutions
  • Farmers' Right to Save Seed, Local Food Act, Testing Milk for rBGH, Amendment to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals act of Ontario, Support For Horse Racing Industry
Directors’ meeting
  • Re: OSPCA
  • Re: horse racing
  • Building leadership

  1. Bursary project
/
  • Bernard spoke to Spring Williams, Renee Van Acker and Joyce Steele about bursary to University of Guelph, Kemptville College
  • Text to be provided by Bernard following Colleen’s amendments
  • Theme: Sustainable, small, family farming scholarship
  • Conditions:
  • Method :
  • Alfred wants to do it differently so the application is not complete yet.
  • Colleen and Katie asked for Local 362 to read submissions to make recommendations from all entries.
/ Colleen to amend
  1. Recess
/ Many thanks for food and drink! It’s all local and mostly from our own producers.
  1. Other
/ Audited financial statement for year 2011, February 2012
  • Opening balance: $6611.99
  • Deposits: $8112.77
  • Total: $14,724.76
  • Dispersements: ($8337.97)
  • Bank charges: ($71.40)
  • Total: ($8409.37)
  • Balance: $6315.39
Signed: Jack Hoogenboom
Bernard Foley acknowledged Jack Hoogenboom with many thanks. / Letters to Jack Hoogenboom, Doug Plante, Alfred
  1. Other
/ Rob re: voluntary antibiotics limits
  • CFIA is laying off inspectors.
Would like to raise awareness in general public.
Colleen suggested putting it to National office; it’s a bigger issue than we can manage because of the scale. / Colleen to bring it to NFU national agenda
  1. Other
/ Paul re: CBAN
  • Working against genetic modification of crops
  • Start up a GM alfalfa campaign similar to small abattoir campaign?
  • Would we be interested in helping both financially and with work?
/ Paul to prepare a co-ordinated response and bring it to the next meeting
  1. Election of officers
/ Nominations for President: Paul nominated Les
Les Gills is President by acclamation.
Nominations for VP
Rob nominated Bernard
Marlyn nominated LV; declined
Bernard Foley is VP by acclamation.
Nominations for Secretary
Marlyn nominated Katie
Bernard nominated Karen; declined
Katie Ward is Secretary by acclamation
Nominations for Treasurer
Bernard nominated Marlyn
Marlyn O’Connor is Treasurer by acclamation
Nominations for Youth Advisor
Bernard nominated Rebecca
Rebecca Gills is Youth Advisor by acclamation
Directors; all the following volunteered
Rob Oechsli
Martin Zimmer
Paul Slomp
Larry Vingerhoeds
Colleen Ross
Karen Markle / Congratulations to everyone.
Many thanks to those who pulled together over the past year to keep Local 362 moving forward. Special thanks to Bernard Foley for his passion and hard work.
Looking forward to a year of growth and action as we continue to advocate for sustainable family farming in Eastern Ontario.
  • Paul moved to cover all invoices for expenses for this AGM
  • Katie 2nd ; carried
  • Colleen moved to cover all invoices for the OVFS
  • BF 2nd; carried
AGM Expenses
  • Les Gills
  • Wine $39.80
  • Food $30.00
  • LCBO license $25.00
  • Subtotal $94.80
  • Robert Oechsli
  • Food $131.74
  • Larry Vingerhoeds
  • Food $58.65
  • Wine $42.85
  • Subtotal $101.50
  • Alfred College
  • Room Rental $141.25
  • Marlyn O’Connor
  • Food $22.58
  • Supplies (plates, etc.) $18.31
  • Subtotal $40.89
  • Domaine du Cervin
  • Wine $40.00
  • Total $550.18
Cobourg NFU Convention March 16-17
  • Bernard Foley $689.48
  • Les Gills $51.39
  • Larry Vingerhoeds $161.59
  • Paul Slomp $87.02
  • Total $989.48
Ottawa Valley Farm Show
  • Bernard Foley
  • Rental of table, chairs $222.72
  • Total $222.72

  • Thanks for Paul and Les for work on GM pigs and suspension of project

  1. Next Meeting
/
  • 03-05-12
  • 7:30 in Winchester

  1. Adjourn
/
  • Rob motioned to adjourn, 3:50

Minutes taken by Karen Markle, interim Secretary Local 3621