It’s a buzzword that gets thrown around a lot in the business world, and it was a word that was used quite a bit at our recent Special Member Meeting held in Saskatoon, Sask., during the Interprovincial Meeting, hosted by the Saskatchewan Seed Growers’ Association, this past November.
Having a Special General Meeting in conjunction with the Interprovincial Meeting allowed CSGA to take advantage of an existing meeting of seed growers and ask feedback on the latest developments and proposals for a new National Seed Organization (NSO) for Canada. Consulting with members is critical to help guide the process and ensure we’re on the right track.
Getting the conversation out on the floor, having members open up and tell us their true feelings on the entire situation was hugely valuable.
This is a 115-year-old organization and it has always been a grassroots farmer-based organization. Everyone is passionate about what they do. It’s their livelihood and that livelihood is passed down through the generations.
This legacy is incredibly important but at the same time, people see the need for change. Change is not always easy, but we have to switch things up every now and then — be it changing equipment on our farms, altering cropping practises, or changing the structure of our industry. Change is important to ensure we are continuously improving.
There is a quote by Winston Churchill that I like to refer to in my presentations: “To build may have to be a slow and laborious task of years. To destroy can be the thoughtless act of a single day.” Our members realize there is a need for change, but they know we must do it right. Seed growers are by nature very detail-oriented people, and in member consultations, they have asked very detailed questions on the proposals for the NSO to ensure we are doing it right. Those same members also realize that we are stronger united.
We had healthy discussions at the Interprovincial Meeting, and in the Ontario, Maritimes and Manitoba Branch meetings this past December, and we need to continue the discussion to help guide this process. I hope to see you at the upcoming British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Quebec Branch meetings in early 2020, and if we don’t cross paths, please don’t hesitate to share your feedback with me by emailing jnyborg@seedgrowers.ca.
Visit the Seed Synergy website for the latest proposal on the NSO.
