Joining four other like-minded grower organizations, Winter Cereals Manitoba Inc (WCMI) is exploring potential amalgamation.
WCMI directors Doug Martin and Allan Olinyk have jumped on and joined the farmer-led steering committee consisting of other directors from the Manitoba Corn Growers Association (MCGA), Manitoba Flax Growers Association (MFGA), National Sunflower Association of Canada (NSAC), and the Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers Association (MWBGA).
“As the WCMI board of directors looked to the future of winter cereals in Manitoba, the time was right to join the discussion with fellow commodity groups to explore a potential amalgamation with the understanding that membership will make the decision,” Martin says in a news release.
Back in February of this year, WCMI contracted the NSAC and MWBGA to lead its day to day operations along with research activities and communications with its membership and stakeholders.
“We wanted to build upon the success of our collaborative relationship with NSAC and MWBGA,” Martin adds.
According to the news release, an amended proposal exploring legal amalgamation into one organization will be released next month. The proposition will include revised board and governance structures, an organizational chart, budget allocations, timelines, and the legal process to amalgamate.
The committee is also figuring out what the next steps are to ensure an adequate consultation period for members to review the proposal, including providing details of when and how a membership vote would occur.
