“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!