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The Rural Voice, 1990-04, Page 100HURON County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER Box 429, Clinton, Ontario NOM 1L0 519-482-9642 * The Rural Voice is provided to all farmers in Huron County by the HCFA. SIGN BLITZ The Membership Committee of the HCFA has been busy planning a major "Sign Blitz" for the month of March. Our objective is to have an OFA sign hanging at the front of every Farm Family Member's home in the four target townships of Grey, McKillop, East Wawanosh, and Hay. And while hang- ing up signs, we hope to exchange a few words with the members in these townships and get their opinions on various agricultural concerns. We really wish that we had the stamina to hang signs all over the entire county, but we feel that it is better to approach this project in manageable amounts. Next year, we intend to extend the Sign Blitz into other designated townships. The HCFA is supplying special brackets for this project. And, in each of the townships we are focusing on, the township federations are working with us through their executive and the linesmen on each line. This is truly "Grassroots Involvement." We in the Membership Committee see our duties as twofold this year: both membership recruitment and membership re- tainment. In this project, we are reaching out to those who are already OFA members because we want to increase their sense of identification and involvement as "Farmers Working To- gether" to promote and support agriculture in the 1990s. We are always interested in recruiting members and encouraging them to become actively involved in federation activities. Our target date was the last two weeks in March. During this time, we approached the selected township as a group, phoning the Farm Family Member first for permission to hang the sign, and then "blitzing" the line. Blaine Stephenson PYKE TO SPEAK IN HURON The Membership Committee of the HCFA has also invited Brigid Pyke, president of the OFA, for a two-day visit to Huron County on April 10 and 11. We are planning several "kitchen - table meetings" for her to attend as well as some type of a general meeting. More information will be forthcoming. If you are interested in attending a kitchen meeting, contact Bob Down at 235-2557, Doug Garniss at 357-1939, Jeanne Kirkby at 887-6428, or Chris Palmer, 357-2871. HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE HCFA BOARD MEETING • Brenda McIntosh and Chris Palmer attended the Huron County Development Day at OMAF for agriculture -related groups; written brief presented (March 19, 1990). • A land stewardship seminar was held at the Golden Pheasant Motel in Wingham, with Essex -Kent MP Jim McGuigan, assistant to David Ramsay, presiding. • Meeting held at the Wingham Legion, March 15, on the Grains and Oilseeds Safety Net; OFA vice-president Roger George in charge. • Letter received from Bill Crawford, OFA: convention dates of November 26, 27, and 28 set for the Constellation Hotel in Toronto. 96 THE RURAL VOICE photo by Blaine Stephenson Terry Boland, communications director for the Ontario Corn Producers Association, discusses effective public relations at a meeting sponsored by the HCFA recently. • Huron County agricultural representative Don Pullen is retiring at the end of March. • The Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program re- quested a donation; motion by Brenda McIntosh, seconded by Bob Harrison, to give $100. Carried. • A lengthy discussion was held about the purchase of a photocopier for the county office; it was decided that we would buy a used copier (two years old) at a cost of $800. Carol is to call the company back to confirm the deal. • There was a discussion about government programs that have been dropped: BFAP, Farmer's Helpline, OPIIP, and others. Motion by Doug Garniss, seconded by Ken Scott, to write David Ramsay asked why these have ended with no replacements; copies to Jack Riddell, Murray Elston, David Peterson, Robert Nixon, and the OFA. Motion carried. HCFA EXECUTIVE: 1990-1991 President: Chris Palmer 1st Vice: Brenda McIntosh 2nd Vice: Bob Harrison DIRECTORS Heinz Claus Bob Down Larry Plaetzer Ralph Scott R. R. 5, Wingham NOG 2W0 R. R. 4, Seaforth NOK 1WO R. R. 1, Monkton NOK 1PO R. R. 1, Fordwich NOG 1 VO R. R. 1, Hensall NOM 1X0 R. R. 1, Auburn NOM 1E0 R. R. 3, Blyth NOM 1H0 357-2871 522-0358 887-6910 335-6364 235-2557 526-7121 523-9528 MORRIS AND GREY federations of agriculture JOINT ANNUAL MEETING — April 11 Brussels, Morris, Grey Community Centre — 12:30 p.m. Guest speaker Brigid Pyke Tickets $8 per person from Keith Williamson, 887-6587