Relocation
Update
Notes for
Semi-Annual Meeting September 14, 2004
The Ontario Corn Producers'
Association (OCPA), Ontario Soybean Growers (OSG) and Ontario Wheat Producers'
Marketing Board (OWPMB) have signed Letters of Commitment for second floor space
in the recently announced Ontario AgriCentre, located in Guelph's Research Park.
An Administrative Team has been established to handle the administrative details
of relocation. This process (running parallel to the political process) will
involve finalizing the lease, developing an efficient and flexible floor plan
for the new office space and investigating was of achieving increased office
efficiencies by sharing resources.
Between now and September 2005, the Administrative Team will review what the
organizations currently have for office equipment/furniture, the office systems,
such as telephone, security and computer, and the services, such as legal and
banking, utilized by the organizations to develop a plan based on efficiencies
for implementation at the new site.
Participating on the Administrative Team for OCPA are Brian Doidge and Brenda
Miller-Sanford.
An update on the sharing of resources will be presented at the regional and
county meetings in January/February 2005 and the 2005 Annual Business Meeting.
Merging
of OCPA, OSG & OWPMB Update
Notes for
Semi-Annual Meeting September 14, 2004
The Ontario Corn Producers'
Association (OCPA), Ontario Soybean Growers (OSG) and Ontario Wheat Producers'
Marketing Board (OWPMB) share a common grower base and have many similar organizational
activities. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOD) was signed by the three groups
in July 2004, committing to form one Grains and Oilseeds organization with a target
date of September 2008. The intention of the process is to create an organization
that is efficient, effective and advantageous to the members.
Recognizing that each organization has different mandates, authorities and governance
styles, a facilitator will be hired by late September or early October 2004 to
assist the organizations through the political process of forming one Grains and
Oilseeds organization. A MOD Political Team has been formed with two representatives
from each organization. Working on OCPA's behalf are Doug Eadie and Larry Cowan.
It is expected to take 12 to 18 months for the Political Team to explore options
for a new Grains and Oilseeds organization. This will involve the investigation
of legislative and regulatory requirements, changes in by-laws and constitutions,
board governance styles and regional representation. Due to the legislative, regulatory
and structural differences of the organizations, this may be a lengthy process.
Updates will be made at the 2005 and 2006 regional and county meetings and Annual
Business Meetings.
The Political Team will work with the findings from the investigation period to
develop a framework for preferred options for the new organization. The projected
timeline for completion of this task is early 2007. Presentations will be made
to the membership for consultation at the 2007 regional and county meetings and
Annual Business meeting.
By the 2008 regional and county meetings and Annual Business meeting, the structure
for the new Grains and Oilseeds organization will have been developed and will
be presented to the membership.
The membership will be consulted on an on-going basis at the county and regional
meetings and Annual Business Meetings.