The Rural Voice, 1997-01, Page 58BRUCE
County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
44610th St., Hanover, Ontario N4N 1 P9
519-364-3050 or 1-800-275-9551
• The Rural Voice is provided to Bruce
County Farmers by the BCFA.
Notes on the 1996 BCFA Annual Meeting
Note to Environmental Farm Plan
Participants: We would like to
encourage those who have not
returned the grant application for
finished or partly completed projects
to do so to use up the funds that are
earmarked for this project until March
31. After that date unused money
returns to the Federal govemment and
then the EFP Plans will be funded
from the Canadapt Program.
At the BCFA Annual meeting in
Paisley, November 8 everyone had a
good meal, some stuff happened and
then they all went home. Does this
sound plausible? I don't think so but
others have expressed the opinion that
there is a growing apathy in the rural
community to farm organizations and
the work they do. Commodity boards,
co-operatives, community or school
organizations and general farm
organizations all seem to be relying on
the same people year after year with
long serving volunteers feeling
compelled to carry on. Is this the right
way to keep these events and
organizations going? Should some of
them cease to exist? Should
volunteers be more forceful about
their desire to have someone else take
over their role? Are most commodity
prices strong enough that farmers
have forgotten the benefits of working
co-operatively or will they suddenly
wonder why no one was interested in
coming to meetings to get involved
when things are going good, but when
there's something to bitch about you
will certainly hear from them. Stay
tuned for answers to these and many
BRUCE COUNTY
FEDERATION OF
AGRICULTURE
Directors' Meeting
Monday, January 27, 1997
8:00 p.m.
OMAFRA Boardroom, Walkerton
Members are welcome to attend
54 THE RURAL VOICE
other questions no one actually asked
me in next month's article.
By the way the stuff that happened
at the annual meeting was:
Brant township farmer Gerry
Poechman was deemed the best
candidate for president, Murray Clark
of Kincardine township was bumped
up to 1st Vice (due to no opposition)
and Lloyd Graham from high and dry
Kinloss township was the victor in a
hard fought battle for Second Vice.
Thank you to Jim Farrell who has
been BCFA President for the past two
years. Jim has been an excellent
leader, and we wish him well as he
forges on to a new frontier.
The annual Award of Merit Trophy
presented by Gisele and Brian Ireland
went to Joanne and Byron Monk.
Volunteer of the year award was
graciously accepted by Roy
Pennington, chairman of Market Grey
Bruce, who never seems to be at a loss
for words when the opportunity
presents itself.
The guest speakers Dr. Joan Kent
and Ian Cummings, new residents to
Bruce County used the book Boom,
Bust and Echo as the basis for their
presentation. The book follows the
demographics of the Baby Boom, The
Baby Bust (lack of babies born) and
the Echo (children of the baby
boomers) and shows the relationship
of the number and age of the popula-
tion to real estate prices, housing,
health care needs, job markets, stock
markets, inheritance transfers, funeral
business, mutual funds and rural
living. They foresee a large exodus
from cities as active retirees or those
who no longer want the stress of the
rat race and view living in the country
as the closest they will get to heaven
while they are alive.
P.S. Come to Management Day
January 2 at Farmers' Week to hear
meteorologist Jay Campbell's 365
Day Forecast, Tax strategies and
Opportunities in Commodity Markets.
The TV program Family Farmer
will feature the "Flyover of Bruce
County" again in June and the BCFA
will be obtaining a copy of the tape of
the show if anyone would like to see a
bird's eye view of the Bruce as
narrated by Byron Monk.O
Murray Clark
Vice -President, BCFA
GREY AND BRUCE FEDERATIONS OF AGRICULTURE
Seminar
at Scone Hall (east of Chesley) January 15, 1997
Pre -Registration Required - $10.00 Registration Deadline - January 8, 1997
Does your group hold lengthy discussions with no real conclusion?
At this seminar you will learn at least 5 techniques for arriving at group consensus decisions.
Does your board need new directors and you're not sure how to recruit?
At this seminar you will learn how to plan and carry out a successful recruitment program.
AGENDA
9:30 a.m. Registration and Coffee 12 noon Lunch - Catered by Shirley Veen
10:00 a.m. Welcome and Introdud ons 1:00 p.m. The 5 -Step Method to Good Recruitment
10:15 a.m. Group Decision Making 8 3:00 p.m. Adjournment
Arriving at Consensus
Workshop Leaders: Gerrie Blake, OFA Field Representative
Gayle Bogart, Member Service Support Staff
Registration Form
Yes! Please register me for the January 15 Seminar described above!
NAME: PHONE:
My registration fee of $10 is enclosed for the seminar, which includes lunch.
Send to: OFA 446 Tenth St., Hanover, N4N 1P9 no later than January 8, 1997.