“History never looks like history when you are living through it.”

John W. Gardner

So, I show up at the Ag Lenders Society’s Annual Meeting for the Board of Directors in March ready to pass the baton of the Presidency to my successor.  As we reached the portion of the director’s meeting where officers were to be selected, I was surprised to learn that the board decided they were not ready to let me assume the ranks of a board member and elected me to another term!  So much for the pensive final column.  So much for stepping down.  As I see it though, I am both honored and humbled.  I am happy to serve all of you and I know this will be another great year.

We have a very talented board this year.  The new members are Mike Limas from Rabobank, Mike Flynn from Wells Fargo, Jim Soppe from Aegon, Jill Jelacich from Rabobank and Sandra Flores from Kingsburg Federal Land Bank.  I look forward to working with them and the rest of the board.  We have met twice since the annual meeting and I am seeing the type of commitment and talent that always inspires.  We have some fine activities planned including the renowned Ag Lending Institute in June, perhaps a program on the “high density” olive production, a tour to Monrovia Nursery and a fall golf tournament.  Say tuned to your computer for announcements and details.

I mentioned the Ag Lending Institute.  This educational program is a joint venture between the Ag Lenders Society, ALI and California State University-Fresno.  What a tremendous two year educational program.  It is devoted to training those in the lending business about some of the unique facets of lending to production agriculture.  Roy Martin and Curt Covington deserve our consistent thanks for continuing to see to it this program remains successful.  This year students from as far away as Idaho are registered.  Encourage those in your office to attend.  It is a very good program.  The Society is proud of it and you should be too.

Your executive director, Laura Vogt has been working diligently in improving the Society’s access to its members through email and other “cyber-centered” methods.  We subscribe to a program that allows us to monitor the effectiveness of our communication to our members.  You may be contacted by Laura in the near future to verify email addresses or ask you for updated information.  Please give us your information so you are kept informed of all we offer.  At the same time, this will help you communicate with us regarding your concerns or ideas for up coming programs or other ways we can serve you.

By now you are asking: “what’s with the quote?”  Perhaps you are asking: “who is John Gardner?”  Let’s take the second question first.  John Gardner was the Chairman and CEO of the Carnegie Corporation when President Lyndon Johnson asked him in 1965 to be the Secretary of what was then the Department of Health, Education and Welfare.  He presided over the implementation of many of the “Great Society” measures and reforms that began then.  Those programs included Medicare, The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965-which changed the role of the federal government in education, and he presided over the formation of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.  After government service he formed Common Cause, the first non-profit public interest group in the United States.  Believe it or not, he was a Republican serving a Democratic President in a cabinet level post.

Now, why the quote?  All I can say is look around.  In the past year we have witnessed the meltdown of much of the financial services industry, institutional banks receiving bailouts, we as taxpayers are “owners” of major portions of the auto industry and Congress has passed major reforms in the credit industry.  California voters have soundly defeated measures permitting additional state borrowing which will likely result in budget cuts and the agricultural industry is facing environmental regulation, commodity safety concerns, price pressure in several sectors and water availability issues.  We are witnessing a fascinating time.  Be sure your seat back and tray tables are in the upright and locked position, keep your hands and arms inside the vehicle and enjoy the ride!

By the way, that’s the last time I show up late for the annual meeting!