AMC 2016 Accomplishments, 2017 Priorities, Membership Fees & Benefits

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In 2015 we formally launched a new strategic plan based on the membership survey done in the spring/summer of 2015 as well as input provided verbally and via email by members.Since then my team, the AMC board of directors and myself have been implementing it. Attached are what we consider to be accomplishments of the past year and I ask that you review these and let us know your thoughts.

The focus on advocacy and educating government about our industry has provided great dividends, including increased questions about the difference between the shortline versus mainline industry; requests for additional information about our exports and key markets; and, invitations to meet and be part of consultations with federal and provincial governments. I’m now being asked with increased frequency by government representatives what our industry needs to grow and continue being prosperous.

2017 Priorities:

Our priorities for 2017 are to increase how we engage with you and enable you to engage with us and industry colleagues. You have hopefully already logged into your member profile of our relaunched website and are following us on twitter: @AMCshortlinecda.

Despite these relatively seamless communication tools, you indicated you wanted more quality opportunities to talk with other industry leaders. For this reason, we will be hosting more events in 2017 including our FCC-AMC breakfast on March 8 at the London Farm Show, a speaker session with HSBC during the Canada Farm Progress Show, a mini trade show in Guelph (Ontario) and our marquis annual convention and trade show that will happen the week of November 27. More details about our planned events will be shared next week at the annual general meeting. Over the last couple of years, attendance at the annual golf tournament that had been held as a precursor to the Canada Farm Progress Show has waned. Consequently we will no longer host an annual golf tournament.

New Provincial Advisory Committees:

Starting in January, 2017, we will establish provincial advisory committees in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. The chairs for 2017 will be as follows:

• Ontario Chair: Geof Gray
• Manitoba Chair: Gary Anderson
• Saskatchewan Chair: Gavin Semple
• Alberta Chair: Mel Svendsen
  

These committees will meet monthly to monitor and as appropriate, develop positions on key issues impacting our industry. My team and I will support and coordinate the committees with the chairs. The committees are being established based on the feedback that members would like a forum in which to gather, talk about key issues (carbon tax, agricultural implements acts/regulations, dealer purity to name but a few) and consider industry positions. The committees will be a one year pilot project and I will work with the chairs to evaluate whether to continue them in 2018.

2017 Member Benefits:

Building on our 46 year history as the voice of the shortline industry in Canada, we have a number of new benefits for 2017:

• Government Insights - Access to advocacy documents and support for your lobbying efforts federally. This includes one on one preparation time with the AMC president and/or our registered lobbyist in Ottawa. Advocacy is an important part of our strategic plan and to execute it, AMC is leading many advocacy endeavors but our industry voice is stronger if you get involved. As such, AMC will support your efforts to become a stronger advocate and speak confidently to government decision makers about our industry and your business;
• Industry Engagement - AMC will host provincial advisory committees in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta beginning in January 2017.The committees will monitor regulations and legislation in each province that significantly impact the future prosperity of our industry;
• Industry Networking - Networking opportunities including but not limited to the following:
• FCC-AMC breakfast on March 8 at the London Farm Show;
• HSBC-AMC Speaker Session in June during the Canada Farm Progress Show;
• Plant tours and member meetings in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta with federal and provincial government representatives. Locations and dates will be communicated via email and on the member portal of www.a-m-c.ca;
• AMC Annual Convention and Trade Show – Date and location to be announced at annual convention and trade show Nov. 30 - Dec. 2, 2016;
• 5% discount on print and digital advertising in Western Producer, Canadian Cattlemen, Country Guide, Grainews, Manitoba Co-Operator, Alberta Farmer Express, Le Bulletin des agriculteurs, Prairie Ag Directory, Ag Dealer, and Commodity News Service Canada;
• 10% discount on Ag in Motion and Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show e-newsletter products;
• 10% discount on Farm Boy Productions video production.Check out a recent video they did for Salford:

• Regular members will have the opportunity to participate in the random lottery to secure space in AMC’s space at the 2018 National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville. The lottery will be open March 1-31 to all regular members. The organization’s 2017 membership fees must be paid on or before March 1, 2017. More details are included in the attached Louisville policy document.

We continue to offer the following in 2017:

• Extended discount program for product testing and development with WESTEST, ranging from 10% to 75% applied to WESTEST’s equipment utilization fees;
• AON Reed Stenhouse Inc. provides insurance and risk management services;
• Sentry Insurance provides product liability in the USA;
• 5% discount for AMC members exhibiting at the Canada’s Farm Progress Show;
• 10% discount for AMC members exhibiting at the Ag In Motion Show; and,
• Discounts on office supplies and furniture with Supreme Office Products.

As I look back on the year, I am excited by how we have increased awareness of our industry ranging from the number of media articles that reference our industry to the number of invitations I receive to speak about our industry.

Since coming on board as president in March 2015, I have reduced our office costs and will do so further in 2017 when we will become a virtual operation. Effective April 1, AMC will no longer be located at the Stockman’s Arena. For members, this means, we are no longer paying annual rent of $24,000 but you will continue to be able to call and access myself and my team as you always have.

2017 Membership Fees:

As part of our business evaluation and with much consideration, the board and I agreed to revise the membership structure and rates to reflect the new services and opportunities moving forward. Associate membership fees remained unchanged from 2003-2016 at $250 plus GST. In 2017, the new associate membership fee will be $395 plus GST.

Like associate members, the fees and fee structure for regular members had been unchanged since 2003. For 2017, we reduced the number of levels from 11 to 8 and the regular membership fees will be as follows:

Invoices for the 2017 membership fees will be sent in December and we ask that you pay before March 31, 2017.

Questions or feedback on AMC's priorities can be directed to President Leah Olson at leah@a-m-c.ca

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