Canadian Organic Growers Cultivons Biologique Canada

Transcription

1 Annual General MEETING AGENDA AND Date: June 27th, 2017 Start time: AGM Present: Shannon Jones, Av Singh, Maryruth Thiong o, Janine Gibson, Tara Scott, Georgina Benscik Wayne Adams, Rochelle Eisen, Sarah Dobec, Marilyn Crowley, Sam Appleby, others asw per record- please expand 1) 2 Motion to Approve the Agenda 2) Motion to approve minutes Con Rochelle Welcome from the President Rochelle Minutes of 2016 AGM BoD meeting See attached. 3) Financial Marilyn Presentation of the Financial Results of Audit 4) Rochelle Motion to approve WPG Professional Corp Chartered Accountants for Amend / Approve Approve Understand BOD approval of Audit Decision Janine moves, seconded by Sarah, to approve agenda carried. Sarah moves, seconded by Marilyn to accept 2016 minutes as presented. Carried. No issues noted. Marilyn encourages any questions to herself or Wayne at any time. Rochelle moves, Janine seconds accept the auditor for motion carries. Discussion of timing in

2 2017 Audit change of auditors. Benefits of staying with firm which understands us vs taking bids for other offers to ensure competitive prices. We will not solicit bids in 2017 and the decision will be reviewed again in 5) Election Rochelle Janine Elections of 2017/2018 Board of Directors Commitment Thank you Sheila for your dedicated two terms, 6 years of service to the COG Board! Janine As the Nomination Committee chair described the invitation to the board process & introduced Sam Appleby a MB organic dairy farmer interested in sharing a producers perspective on the

3 6) ED Report Rochelle/ Wayne/As hley Introduction of Executive Director Wayne Adams, 2 years of dedicated service and Ashley St. Hilaire Director of Programs and Government Relations with 5 years of service! Overview of range of staff activities national level to support COG work in the organic sector. Rochelle introduces nominee Owen Madden, lawyer, inspector and review officer for a certification body, an ecological approach to support the advancement of the organic sector. Both nominees were successful in the election and we welcome them to our BOD! Thank you Sam and Owen for your commitment to COG. Rochelle introduces & thanks Wayne for responding promptly to Rochelle s s at every hour of the day and night. Ashley has taken on brilliantly the role of Director of Programs

4 and Government Relations which is an unofficial role COG has played for many years in the organic sector. Ashley has done excellent work for us & the sector as a whole. Wayne thanks the board and the members for making our work possible and introduces the staff and their roles. Please see slides. Great staff teamstriving to be more involved with members, more people engaging with our message. Bylaw update changed membership structure- many benefits for membership and donations. Fundraising campaign Stand Up for Organics raised $65,000 to help us achieve our financial goals. 607 joined as members in Dec

5 2016 with 119 donors- 726 supporters an increase from In all of 2016 $87,791 was raised to support our activities throughout Kroeker Farms were a major sponsor whom we welcome and thank for their support. Thank you Wayne for your excellent work! 7) Update Ashley Discussion We have come through a challenging time of funding with a great staff team and board cohesiveness, talented dedicated people all, especially the many volunteers who regularly support COG in achieving our goals! 8) Chapters Update Anne Wayne, Janine Island Natural Growers- COG Toronto Organic Food Council of MB. ING-Advocacy on protecting farmland- Seedy Saturdays on going-events as inspired.

6 9) Ashley summarizes accomplishmen ts Agri Risk- a policy silo from federal funding to support case studies and data on measuring what the impacts of transition are on cost of production on yields and revenues COG Toronto- 11 years of a great consumer conferencemuch appreciation to Tanmayo and Elizabeth the team stepping down from coordination- Challenges with resources to find replacement coordinators. OFCM table displays promoting library and membership- well received- working in collaboration with the MB Organic Alliance in a similar way to how COG, COTA and OFC are collaborating. Producing a Planning Tool for use by Producers to manage the risks of transition based on data from case studies. Working with Prof. Jeremy Caradona also doing case studies on veg production- next

7 practical skills handbook Organic Vegetable Production should be available in January. Working with the U of M to expand their nutrient manager program to develop the ideal crop rotation across eastern Canada as it is going so well in western Canada. Ann moves, seconded by Tim Rundle to accept the ED Report. Carried. Anne encourages COG active participation this fall at the IFOAM Conference in India. ING has put money on the table to help finance this which could be leveraged to raise funds to send Ashley or another rep to participate as the COG representative. Shannon asks to see more initiatives &

8 education from IFOAM in the magazine and e-news. Anne says we at COG are doing an amazing job! High praise and much appreciated Thanks all for participationfirst board meeting postponed due to lack of quorum. With our larger board we need 9 people in attendance to run COG. Executive is invited to stay on the call- Rochelle moves, seconded by Georgina to adjourn. Thanks ALL! Toll Free Conference Call Dial In Number: Conference Access Code: