Given events of the past few years, some people might have thought it impossible.
The Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan, an organization that appeared on the verge of collapse two years ago, marked its 10th anniversary at its annual meeting held March 23-24.
APAS membership dropped from a high of 134 rural municipalities in 2005-06 to a low of 62 for the year just ended March 31, after internal struggles led to resignations, dismissals and turmoil.
The good news, said general manager Nial Kuyek, is that memberships for this year are already at 61.
Read Also
Powdery mildew can be combine fire risk
Dust from powdery mildew can cause fires in combines.
APAS is moving to a calendar membership year and current members were invoiced for three-quarters the usual price to switch to the new system. The March meeting also represented a change from the usual December AGM.
Kuyek told the delegates that 50 of the 62 members have already renewed for 2010.
Seven former members have rejoined, as have four new members.
He expects at least 10 of the 12 existing members that hadn’t renewed by last week would still do so.
“That’s a pretty good start, especially when the membership year begins next week,” he said.
President Greg Marshall, who was re-elected by acclamation at the meeting, said the board members and committees are working as a team. Staffing has stabilized and APAS is rebuilding credibility.
“Our policy initiatives are now based on solid research and analysis and our approach to developing and advancing policies is more strategic,” he said.
Member recruitment will continue to be a focus this year, he said.
APAS was formed after a resolution at a Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities convention to establish a general farm organization using the RM structure.
Member RMs elect a representative to APAS. The representatives then choose two directors from each of six districts for a board of 12. In addition to Marshall, vice-presidents Jeff Simpson and Don Connick were re-elected. The entire board was re-elected and Todd Lewis from the RM of Lajord filled a vacancy in District 2.
The weeks ahead of seeding will be spent meeting with RM councils and trying to recruit more members.
“APAS was built one RM at a time. We’re rebuilding it one RM at a time,” said Kuyek.
