2015 COG`s Annual General Meeting

COG National Office Ottawa, ON

Saturday May 2nd, 2015

CANADIAN ORGANIC GROWERS

2015 AGM Agenda

1. Accept minutes from 2014 AGM2. Approve the 2015 AGM Agenda3. Organic 3.0 – Envisioning the Future of Organic,

presentation by Andy Hammermeister 4. Celebrating COG’s 40th anniversary and the 2015

International Year of Soils5. 2014 Financial and Audit Report 6. Auditor Recommendation 7. By-Laws Amendments8. Chapter Restructuring Proposal9. 2014 Year in Review and Looking Forward to 201510.Questions and discussion11.Election12.Adjourn

CANADIAN ORGANIC GROWERS

MOTION TO ACCEPT MINUTES FROM THE 2014 AGM

CANADIAN ORGANIC GROWERS

MOTION TO APPROVE AGENDA OF COG 2015 AGM

Featured Speaker

Organic 3.0 – Envisioning the Future of Organic

presented by

Dr. Andy Hammermeister, Director of the Organic

Agriculture Centre of Canada (OACC) and Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Agriculture at

Dalhousie University, NS.

COG turned 40!

We want to celebrate by sharing your

stories, photos, thoughts related to

COG.

• Special Fall 2015 TCOG Issue

• Special page on our website (coming)

2015 is the International Year of the Soils

COG celebrates the ways in which organic practices promote soil fertility and health!

• Special TCOG 2015 Summer Issue

• Promote the IYS 2015 through social media, E-news, website…

2014 Financial Statements

2014 Financial Statements

[Insert Income Statement]

2014 Financial Statements

[Insert Balance Sheet]

2014 Financial Statements

[Insert Income Statement]

2014 Financial Statements

2014 in Review

• In 2013, accomplishment of the 1st year of financial consolidation. We have completed the 2nd full year of consolidation and we will continue to improve.

• BIG Thank You to all Chapters for continued collaboration throughout the year

• Review of the A/P and A/R

• Met our timeline this year and the audit was completed on schedule

• New bookkeeper

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

2015 Objectives 

• Increase efficiencies in bookkeeping

• Work more closely with Chapters on financial reporting. We want to be able to provide the Chapters with useful reporting throughout the year.

• More timely reporting of results

• Reduce audit fees

Motion to appoint WGP as COG’s Auditors for the 2015 Fiscal Year

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Resolutions to Amend the By-laws

RESOLUTION RESPECTING ABSENTEE VOTING AT MEMBERS' MEETINGS

By-law Amendments

• WHEREAS it is considered to be in the best interests of the Corporation to allow as many members as possible to participate in elections, and

• WHEREAS the Corporation’s records indicate that it has members without an electronic mail address, which suggests that they may lack access to the internet, and

• pursuant to subsection 197(1) (Fundamental Change) of the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act

BE IT RESOLVED AS A SPECIAL RESOLUTION THAT:

By-law Amendments

• The first sentence of subsection 3.8 of the General Operating By-law #1 of Canadian Organic Growers Inc. / Cultivons Biologique Canada Inc. be amended by inserting the words “by mailed-in ballot or” to read as follows:

• Pursuant to section 171(1) (Absentee Voting) of the Act, a member entitled to vote at a meeting of members may vote by mailed-in ballot or by means of a telephonic, electronic or other communication facility […]

Approve the motion to amend subsection 3.8 of COG’s

General Operating By-law

By-law Amendments

RESOLUTION RESPECTING NOTICE OF MEETING OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS

WHEREAS it is considered to be in the best interests of the Corporation to improve the ability of directors to prepare for board meetings, and

pursuant to subsection 6.4 (By-laws and Effective Date) of the General Operating By-law #1 of Canadian Organic Growers Inc. / Cultivons Biologique Canada Inc. and the December 8, 2014 resolution of the board

By-law Amendments

BE IT RESOLVED AS AN ORDINARY RESOLUTION THAT

Subsection 4.4.2.4 of this By-law, adopted at the August 24, 2014 special general meeting of members of the Corporation, excerpted below:

Unless the by-law otherwise provides, no notice of meeting need specify the purpose or the business to be transacted at the meeting except that a notice of meeting of directors shall specify any matter referred to in subsection 138(2) (Limits on Authority) of the Act that is to be dealt with at the meeting

By-law Amendments

be replaced with the following:

A notice of meeting shall specify the purpose or the business to be transacted at the meeting.

Any background information relevant to the purpose or the business to be transacted at the meeting, including, but not limited to, financial statements, reports and other memoranda, shall be provided by means of an electronic communication facility to every director of the corporation not less than three (3) days before the time when the meeting is to be held.

AND THAT

the December 8, 2014 resolution of the board respecting this amendment be hereby confirmed.

By-law Amendments

Approve the motion to amend subsection 4.4.2.4 of COG’s General Operating By-law

By-law Amendments

Chapter Restructuring

proposal

• How can we work together, and perhaps differently, to support people making positive organic change in their communities?

• How can we nurture and revitalize COG’s grassroots across the country?

Chapter Restructuring Proposal

Proposal Part 1:

Making the formality of an AGM (reporting financials, electing steering committees) optional for Chapters

Chapter Restructuring Proposal

Proposal Part 2:

Creating avenues other than formal chapters for individuals to use COG resources to organize organic events/action in their communities

Chapter Restructuring Proposal

Proposed Next Steps:

• Revise bylaws for 2016 AGM

• Develop new Chapter Toolkit

• Update/restructure website to enable more community engagement (pending $$)

• Create general COG communication resources for chapters (donation pitch, pamphlets)

Chapter Restructuring Proposal

2014Year in Review

Anne-Marie Dufour

Acting Executive Director

Julia DupuisOrganic Agriculture

Program Coordinator

COG NATIONAL STAFF

Ashley St HilaireActing Executive

Director(on maternity leave)

Wayne Adams

Bookkeeper

Thank you to Reza Irvanian for being COG’s bookkeeper for over 8 years! And thank you to Anouk Mackenzie for her tremendous help as

COG’s Fundraising Assistant for the past 5 months!

ORGANIC WEEK 2014

The 5th edition of Organic Week was the biggest so far!

• Doubling of sponsors & tripling of retail partners (including Loblaws & Sobeys)

• Reached more people through social media and the online contest

• Over 200 events all across the country

• COG hosted the book launch of Myths of Safe Pesticides

• by Andre Leu, IFOAM’s President in Ottawa

Save the date for 2015!

NEW COURSES & PARTNERSHIPS

COG continued to offer valuable professional development courses:

IOIA – Processing Course

Mississauga Nov 2014

Organic Master Gardener Course Toronto & NOW Ottawa!Fall 2014, & Winter 2015 (2 locations)

NEW ONLINE STORE LAUNCHED!

NEONICOTINOID AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

• Bee Health Fact Sheet - Neonicotinoid Pesticide Awareness Campaign

• COG continues to participate in a Federal Bee Health Roundtable to bring the organic voice to the table

• Successful Feed The Bees in Ontario seed campaign, 200 people received certified organic, pollinator friendly seeds to plant. Looking to expand nationally next year!

• Special Fall 2014 TCOG Issue

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

• Successful Special General Members’ Meeting in August 2014 to approve our Articles of Continuance and COG new General Operating By-laws. We have completed the continuance process to the Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act

• New partnership with Bauta Family Initiative on Canadian Seed Security – Needs Assessment on Seed Production Curriculum. Final report, recommendations on 2nd proposal to move forward will be presented to key people at USC Canada on May 20th.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

COG members’ activism in 2014:

• Many COG members are very active in the review of the Canadian Organic Standards process and part of the Canadian General Standards Board Technical Committee and Working Groups

• Anne Macey represented COG at IFOAM’s 18th Organic World Congress in Istanbul in October 2014

• COG attended COTA's Annual Parliament Day in Ottawa in November to celebrate the sector’s growth and to meet directly with MPs to discuss more about the sector

• COG testified in front of the Standing Committee on Agriculture about Bill C-18 and proposed that amendments be made to protect farmers and more broadly the organic sector

CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS

COG OSO Chapter

• 9 Senior Organic Gardens in 2014

• 240 participants of EcoFarm Day

• 80 people attended Fall Reflections

• Growing Up Organic currently has 11 schools in Ottawa and is expanding to Prescott-Russell and Stormont- Dundas-Glengarry areas

CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS

COG Toronto

• 9th Annual Conference• Over 300 attendees• Guests included;

• Dr. Elaine Ingham, • David Montgomery,

and• Thierry Vrain

• Thierry Vrain’s presentation on Glyphosate was uploaded to YouTube and has been viewed over 40,000 times

• Now preparing for next year’s conference to be held February 20, 2016

CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS

COG Island Natural Growers• Hosted another successful Seedy Saturday in February,

their biggest education and fundraising event

• Sponsored the organic certification of the Salt Spring Abattoir

• Provided a $100 scholarship to a new producer applicant

• Donated funds to Gulf Islands Secondary School Farm to Cafeteria Program

 

CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS

Organic Food Council of Manitoba

• Participated in Earth Day, Brandon Ag Days, Small Farms Manitoba events with displays showing the benefits of organic consumption and production

• Chair, Janine Gibson, was invited to chair COG Toronto Chapter Conference “Organic By Choice”

• OFCM members participated in a strategy session on Growing the Organic Market with the Manitoba Organic Alliance and the Organic Producers Association of Manitoba where

exciting plans for Organic Week 2015 were finalized! 

CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS

COG wouldn’t have the same reach without the amazing work done by the Chapters, their staff

and volunteers!

It’s inspiring to witness the commitment of people who work so hard to sustain COG’s efforts across the country and support the

organization’s mission to lead local and national communities towards the sustainable organic stewardship of land, food and fibre!

Looking forward to

2015-2016

The Canadian Organic Grower Team

Welcome Amy Kremen (left) & Stephanie Wells (right) as TCOG’s

new co-editors!

And a BIG thank you to past editor Beth McMahon! Due to Beth’s hard work, vision and commitment, TCOG is now an important revenue stream for COG.

PROJECTS FOR 2015-2016

• Continue working with Gaia College and SOUL to offer Organic Master Gardener Courses

• Work to get the Organic Landcare Professional programs off the ground

THINK CANADA ORGANIC

COG is partnering with COTA to create Farmers’ Profiles featured on:

ThinkCanadaOrganic.ca

• 8 farmers’ Profiles have been launched, more to be featured in the coming months!

PROJECTS FOR 2015-2016

Launch our new Corporate Sponsorship Package

OTHER PROJECTS for 2016

• Continue to work with Bauta to lead the development of an organic and ecological seed production curriculum

• 3rd publication of the Organic Field Crop Handbook in progress

• Organic Price Tracker expansion

• Revision of the Guidance Document & organization of webinars on Revised Standards

• Improved and streamlined web presence……and more!

MANY THANKS TO OUR CURRENT BOARD

Rochelle Eisen, BCPresident

Tegan Renner, NBVice-President

Vlad Skotar, ONTreasurer

Janine Gibson, MBSecretary

Sarah Dobec, ONMember-at-Large

Jordan Marr, BCMember-at-Large

Sheila Hamilton, ABMember-at-Large

Beth McMahon, ONMember-at-Large

Ward Middleton, AB Member-at-Large

CANADIAN ORGANIC GROWERS

Thank you & farewell to our outgoing board member

Elizabeth Nason, NB

CANADIAN ORGANIC GROWERS

2015-16 Board of Directors’ Election

• Voting Procedures• 2015 Nominees;

Vlad Skotar

Niki Jabbour

Georgina Bencsik

Questions or Comments?

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US!

Motion that the COG 2015 AGM be Adjourned