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Recent News
Mar 12, 2008
March Bulletin
March 2008 Bulletin
CONTENTS
- Winnipeg Branch Sunrise Seminar & AGM
- Western Manitoba Branch News
- MIA AGM
- New Members
- MIA Provincial Council Update
- ABSA Grow the Opportunities Dinner
- Election
- Highlights from Jan. 24, 08 Council Meeting
- CPD Opportunities & Events
WINNIPEG BRANCH SUNRISE SEMINAR AND AGM MARCH 27, 2008 CABOTO CENTRE
Clayton Manness will be the guest speaker and he will be discussing the potential for new investment in the ag sector. Clayton will talk about interesting ideas for products and services that can add value to the sector, and what is needed for entrepreneurs to succeed. The branch AGM will follow the sunrise seminar and will include introduction of the new branch executive committee for the coming year.
WESTERN MANITOBA BRANCH NEWS
AGM was held January 14, 2008 in Brandon with a good turnout for the meeting and to hear guest speaker Brad Magnusson, consultant, Credit Union Central of Manitoba review the Economics of Agriculture .
MIA President Earl Geddes, Tech.Ag. and Executive Director Jim Weir participated in the meeting on behalf of Provincial Council.
Questions from the floor included a suggestion for MIA to look at increasing opportunities for using webinars for CPD as a member benefit .
MIA ACC scholarship winner Kendell Kohinski attended and was recognized during the meeting.
The 2008 Western Branch Executive is (**newly elected members):
President: - Mitch Long, P.Ag. (on Provincial Council)
Incoming President John Bandor, P.Ag.(assume office 2009)
Past President Trent Nowosad, P.Ag.
Secretary / Treasurer Heather Perkins, P.Ag.
Other Members
- Jenna Alexander, P.Ag. (currently on Provincial Council 2007/08)
- Bev Dunlop, P.Ag. (branch councillor 2008/09)**
- Lise Munro, P.Ag. (branch councillor 2007/08)
- Gary Topham, P.Ag. (branch councillor 2007/08)
- Danielle Tichit, P.Ag. (branch councillor 2008/09) **
- Jackie Gerrard, P.Ag. (branch councillor 2008/09) **
MIA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
A date will be confirmed and announced shortly for the AGM. Council is looking at a half-day event that will include a luncheon with guest speaker, a seminar/panel format for professional development, and the formal business meeting. The timeframe being targeted is the last part of April or early May.
NEW MEMBERS
MIA Council approved the application for registration of the following people in January & February 2008.
Scott Atkins, P.Ag. Wyeth Animal Health Gordon Finlay, AIT CWB
Dale Gryba, Tech.Ag. Self-employed farming Frances Kolla, P.Ag. Canbra Foods Ltd.
Twila Luba, P.Ag. Sunprime Extracts Wendy McDonald, P.Ag. Parrish & Heimbecker
Morgan Moore, P.Ag. MAFRI Shelby Mosset, P.Ag. J&V Nielson & Assoc.
Melissa Springer, AIT MAFRI Nicole Sraybash, P.Ag. MAFRI
Bernie Whetter, P.Ag. Green Spot Garden Centre Chris Wilson, P.Ag. MB. Intergovernmental Aff. & Trade
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL UPDATE
The Grow the Opportunities Dinner put on March 5th by the U of M Agribusiness Students Association (ABSA) was a sell-out. 170 people attended including representatives from 19 companies representing a wide spectrum of Manitoba s agriculture industry. MIA co-sponsored the new networking event that brought students and industry people together to talk about potential career opportunities in agriculture. Dustin Gosnell, P.Ag., Vice-President of MIA, spoke briefly about MIA s involvement in the event and the importance of the profession to the public. Greg Stewart, P.Ag, head of Farm Credit Canada was the featured speaker. Kudos especially to Pam Desrochers, ABSA President and her student crew who raised the sponsorships, sold all the tickets, and worked hard to put on a great event. Thank you to all of the many professional members of MIA who attended and supported the event through their companies.
The election and appointment process for new councillors to sit on the MIA Council is in process. Tracy Gilson, P.Ag is Chairperson of the elections committee. The committee will update members shortly regarding the elected and appointed positions on Council.
Highlights from the MIA Council meeting January 24, 2008:
- IEAP Angela Chotka, Coordinator, made a short presentation to Council regarding the new program being delivered by the U of M Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences. 13 participants are looking ahead to completing the 8-month academic portion of the program and toward work placements to complete the employment and experience portion of the 12-month program. Discussion included some of the challenges encountered and how these challenges are being met. It was noted that faculty members have been particularly responsive and helpful in delivering the new program.
- Financial: Finance Chair M. Banerjee, P.Ag. reported that finances of the MIA are in good order, and a budget for the new year was approved and will be available to members at the AGM.
- Employer Contact initiative President Earl Geddes, Tech.Ag. reported that contact meetings held to date have been positive noting that employers increasingly see the value of having professional agrologists as employees. Feedback also included doing more to promote MIA and the profession. Other meetings are scheduled in Manitoba, and going forward may include joint meetings with the SIA with companies based in Saskatchewan that do business in Manitoba.
- AIT Review Darren Keam, P.Ag. Chair of the AIT program review team reported that the committee would shortly submit a report to the Membership committee. The committee activity has included a review of all aspects of the current AIT program, comparison with programs in other provincial institutes, and development and prioritization of ideas that could be included in a revised program for the MIA.
- Forensic Agrology- the program originally developed and delivered by Assiniboine Community College has been suspended based on feedback from participants and industry. The University of Saskatchewan has developed an alternative course focussing on investigation techniques. Led by a former RCMP investigator, the course will be offered as a distance education program and registration will begin in April.
- Labour Mobility- Agrologist institutes from across Canada will be meeting in Montreal in late April to begin the process of completing a new Mutual Recognition Agreement that is consistent with the Agreement on Internal Trade. The institutes will, with financial help from the federal government, work toward an agreement on standards and procedures so that professionals can seamlessly move from one province to another. This is becoming increasingly important to employers who assign work teams and have clients and customers in several provinces and who desire integrated regulatory strategies. Council reviewed a discussion paper raising issues related to the potential for a comprehensive definition of agrology that could be applied nationally and that will recognise changes to agriculture and the practice of agrology. This will be an ongoing discussion within Council as a national consensus is attempted over the next several months.
- Funding Request Council renewed its financial contribution to Ag in the Classroom and noted support is consistent with MIA s objectives and strategy.
- New Bylaw: Council voted to add a new article that establishes a process for appointing committees other than the existing standing committees of Council. The new bylaw is:
Article IX Council
14. Committees: Council may from time to time appoint committees for the purpose of facilitating the business of the MIA. Subject to provisions of the Act and by-laws, Council shall, when establishing a committee, provide terms of reference that terms shall include:
a) the purpose of the committee and it s duration and the method by which it may be dissolved or abolished.
b) the method by which, and by whom, the members are appointed;
c) the method by which, and by whom its chair shall be appointed; and
d) the committee s right to establish its own order of agenda
e) the method by which a committee member may be removed from the committee
- Compliance: Council reviewed a short paper on internal and external aspects of complying with The Agrologists Act. It was noted that other provincial institutes are considering compliance activities based on new or existing legislation. Education is highlighted as a key factor. An important issue identified in the discussion paper is whether a more consistent approach among the institutes is possible. This matter will be the subject of further review from Council.
CPD OPPORTUNITIES & EVENTS
Here are a few CPD options. Don t forget to enter your earned credits.
PRAIRIE INNOVATION FORUM, March 10-28, 2008 presented by RBC Foundation in cooperation with Assiniboine Community College. Several events during the period featuring speakers who will give you Food for Thought on a diverse range of topics. Attendance at these events qualifies for CPD credits. For further information go to www.prairieinnovation.ca or phone Karen at-725-8700 (ext 6199)
MRAC AGM 2008 Thursday March 27th. Deadline for registration is March 19th. The meeting will be held in Brandon with the theme, Competitiveness through Innovation that will showcase speakers that are leading the way in agricultural innovation. For more information:
For further information visit www.mrac.ca or contact MRAC: Phone: 204.982.4790 or Toll free: 1.800.216.9767 or by Email: mracinfo@mrac.ca
This event qualifies for CPD credit.
CAMA LUNCHEON Wednesday, March 26th, Norwood Hotel. Western Canadian Value Chain Initiative
The Manitoba Rural Adaptation Council (MRAC) has joined forces with agriculture councils from across Western Canada to form the Western Canadian Value Chain Initiative. The initiative will unite producers, processors, and marketers across Western Canada to increase opportunity and market share for Canada s agriculture and agri-food products. For more information and to register email camamb@mts.net or call George Fraser at 204-339-0985.
1 CPD credit
UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA AGRICULTURAL & FOOD SCIENCES SEMINAR SERIES
"So food in Canada is the safest in the world, eh?" with Dr. Rick Holley, Department of Food Science
Wednesday, March 19, 2008 at 3:00 pm - refreshments in the Atrium
3:30 pm - seminar in Carolyn Sifton Lecture Theatre, 130 Agriculture Building
1 CPD credit
CPD Reporting Members who are reporting or logging CPD activity outside of MIA for their employer and possibly for other organisations, can report their aggregate credits in the Other section of the CPD report . Members who choose this option can either send the original report to the office to be placed in the personal file or retain the report themselves in case it is requested. If you need further clarification regarding how to report please call the MIA office.
New MIA brochure: A new information brochure is available and in use by MIA. It can be viewed on the MIA website at: www.mia.mb.ca . The look has been updated and the content simplified to help people understand agrology and the profession. If you would like a supply for your own use or for display where you work please contact the MIA office.
Tell us what you think about The Bulletin:
Do you read it? What do you like/dislike? What would you change?
If you have an item you think should be included in the Bulletin, please contact the MIA office.
If you haven t done it already, please update your personal scope of practice details and select from the public information options. Go to www.mia.mb.ca Members Only section. We require everyone to complete a Scope & Practice form this is not just for new registered members or for people who have changed their area of practice.
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