The Rural Voice, 1991-11, Page 45Is
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RAINY RIVER
Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
Box 416, Emo, Ontario POW 1 E0
807-482-2051
• The Rural Voice is provided to Rainy River
Federation members by the RRFA.
I'm home again for a whole week this
time. Ralph and I are both scheduled for
physiotherapy and were told that we should
expect to be in Thunder Bay for a month. At
least we'll be able to come home weekends.
The directors of the Rainy River Federa-
tion of Agriculture met in the Stratton Hall
on Thursday, October 3. Directors present
were Linda Armstrong, Kim Hunsperger,
Wayne Flatt, Rick Boersma, Gary Esselink,
Sue Boersma, Peggy Mason, and Shirley
Morrish. Guests present were Gerry Carey
and Jack Elliott.
Jack Elliott and Rick Boersma presented
two resolutions that they would like to have
presented to the OFA annual meeting in Tor-
onto. They concern fire permits for burning
off seed production fields, and compensa-
tion for wildlife damage to crops and leaf
cutter bees, etc. Rick Boersma moved the
resolutions be forwarded, and Gary Esselink
seconded. Carried. Jack Elliott will fax the
proposed resolutions to the Toronto office.
Jack Elliott announced his willingness to
run for provincial director at the annual
meeting on Saturday evening. Gerry Carey
reported on the membership drive. He and
Ken McKinnon were able to sign five new
members, Peter Spuzak, Nick Mutz, Sam
Koski, Brian McCoy, and Doug Anderson.
Gerry Carey said that farmers need to get
the ear of our people in parliament. "We
have to get the decision makers out there to
see what really is happening in our area —
they are the ones who make the final deci-
sions." He feels that there is a great future
with the new team on the OFA leadership.
Stable funding appears to be on the back
burner for the time being.
Kim Hunsperger read a letter on a
farmer's program for November and Janu-
ary. It will be a four to five day learning
experience, beginning at 9:45 a.m. and run-
ning until 3:30 p.m. with a noon lunch. It is
to have a commodity format. The suggested
location is in the Stratton Hall. It will possi-
bly be funded by N.O.A.D.P., Community
Futures, farm organizations, industry, and
daily registrations. The Federation is to
select five of the possible topics.
The Federation will assist with the pur-
chase of the beef halters for the new 4-H beef
club members. The next meeting will be in
the Our Lady of the Way School in Stratton
on November 7, 1991, at 7:30 p.m.
"One reason your dog can help you so
much when you are downcast is that he does-
n't demand to know why."—John M. Henry
"The man who produces the milk, in
reality, produces the butter and cheese. The
factory men only separate it after it is pro-
duced. It is the milk producer's care, clean-
liness, and intelligent management of his
cows that controls, in a marked degree, the
quality of the goods, and the price obtained."
— W. D. Hoard
Annual meeting
The Rainy River Federation of Agricul-
ture annual meeting, dinner, and dance was
held in the Stratton Hall on Saturday, Octo-
ber 5, 1991. President Linda Armstrong
called the gathering to order at 7:30 p.m. An
overflow crowd necessitated the setting up
of two more tables. Archie Wiersema asked
the blessing. Joe Carlson "Wild One" from
Devlin provided background music for din-
ner, and later in the evening for dancing.
Linda Armstrong introduced the head
table: Tom and Shirley Morrish — Tom is
the president of the Rainy River Cattlemen's
Association and Shirley was acting secretary
for the evening; Michael and Jo Anne Neil-
son — Mike is the farm management spe-
cialist in the Emo OMAF office; Linda and
Stanley Armstrong — Linda is the president
of the Rainy River Federation of Agricul-
ture; Peiter Van Ballegooie, provincial di-
rector for the Northwestern Region to OFA;
Kim Hunsperger, treasurer for the Rainy
River Federation of Agriculture; and Gerry
Carey, a member of the executive committee
of OFA, and guest speaker for the evening.
Pei ter Van Ballegooie gave a short report
on membership and mentioned the "sale" —
sell two memberships at the regular price and
get your own renewed for $99. Peiter has
been provincial director for three years, and
has decided to step down at this time.
Kim Hunsperger introduced Gerry Ca-
rey, our guest speaker. Gerry thanked Ken
McKinnon, Sue Boersma, and Archie Wier-
sema for their help on the membership drive
over the past few days. He mentioned some
areas that the OFA is working on provin-
cially: farm tax rebate; the future of farming
— stressing environmental concerns.
The main part of Gerry's talk was about
five elements necessary for a strong volun-
teer organization. The five elements are: 1)
recruitment of new members; 2) organiza-
tional development; 3) leadership training
— OATI is such a vehicle. Pat Clysdale-
Cornell is involved locally in providing lead-
ership training; 4) retaining members —
keep members informed —Farm and Coun-
try, Rural Voice, OFA Members' Digest,
general county meetings; 5) external or
public relations — covering in the local
papers, effectively telling people about our
problems, getting the message out to those
who are not directly involved in agriculture.
He brought up the Grenville County bill-
board that caused a commotion with MTO.
It said "JUST THINK — NO Farmers — NO
Food — NO Future." Linda Armstrong
thanked Gerry for coming and speaking, and
for his work on the membership drive.
Pat Clysdale-Cornell was election chair-
person for the evening. She declared the
positions of president, secretary, treasurer,
one director from each zone, and provincial
director, vacant. It was moved by Todd Weir
and seconded by Don McCulloch that Tom
Morrish be election secretary. Carried.
It was moved by Don McCulloch and
seconded by Rick Boersma that the voting be
by ballot. Carried. Pat Clysdale-Cornell
asked Bruce Ward and Laurie Welsh to be
the scrutineers. Linda Armstrong was ac-
claimed as president. The position of treas-
urer was left open, and will be filled as the
board of directors find someone to take the
position. The directors elected for a two year
term were acclaimed as follows: zone I,
Archie Wiersema; Zone II, Jack Van den
Brand; Zone III, Michael Zimmerman; Zone
IV, by a director at large — Jack Elliott.
Jack Elliott was acclaimed as the provin-
cial delegate nominee from our area. Don
Belluz has been nominated from Thunder
Bay, and a mail in ballot will be required.
When you receive yours, please vote with
your pen, elect the provincial director you
want to represent the Northwestern Region.
Following the elections, Mike Neilson
gave some comments and announcements:
leadership in action in Quetico Centre, Nov-
ember 20 to 23 — contact Pat Clysdale-Cor-
nell; Farm Interest Reduction Program; bus
tour to Minnesota November 5 to 7 — con-
tact Pat Clysdale-Cornell or Mike Neilson.
Jack Elliott outlined the Farm Program
meetings being planned for the winter.
President Linda Armstrong thanked
everyone, and adjourned the meeting. (A
complete list of the winners and donors of the
door prizes will be published in next month's
newsletter.)
There are changes of great proportion on
the way for the Hunspergers. The quota has
all been sold and spoken for. It feels very
strange to even contemplate not having to
milk cows morning and night. I guess this
city bred girl is at a loss to express the strange
sensation I feel, but I guess a new chapter in
our lives will begin after the new year.
I read in the Hoard's Dairyman some-
thing that I think fits farming very well. "If
you are ambitious, if you have an idea that
some other place outside the farm will give
you an opportunity to exhibit your talent and
your brain and your education, let me advise
you that on the farm and in these problems
you will find a theater broad enough for all
the brains a Webster can bring to bear, and
here you will find opportunity for intelli-
gence and interesting study." W. D. Hoard.
See you next time.0
Jacquelyn
NOVEMBER 1991 41