Preparing a resolution for upcoming Producer Meetings

Resolutions are an important part of our democratic and representative principles. They give producers the chance to influence the policies, priorities, and activities of Alberta Beef Producers (ABP).

The resolution process

Resolutions are accepted at ABP’s Producer Meetings, ahead of the Annual General Meeting (AGM).

When it’s time to cover resolutions, eligible producers will have the opportunity to share their resolutions aloud.

If a resolution is seconded by another eligible producer, the person bringing the resolution to the table will be given a chance to speak to it. There is then time for debate and discussion before a vote is called.

Eligibility

Any person who has sold cattle and paid check-off in their own name or their company’s name within the previous two years can submit a resolution for consideration in their zone.

If their business zone differs from their resident zone, they must vote in your business zone.
If their business operates in multiple locations including their resident zone, that is their eligible zone.

The same is true for voting at Producer Meetings, with the additional caveats that:

If a couple sells cattle under one name, they get one vote.
If more than one person sells cattle under one company, one representative is selected to vote on the company’s behalf.

While all resolutions are recorded, only those that are carried are taken to the Resolutions Committee.

It’s the Resolutions Committee’s job to decide how to group and order resolutions. The Committee also decides which will be debated at the Annual General Meeting (AGM), and which will be debated by the Board of Directors or the appropriate committee or working group.

Resolutions that go to the AGM are moved and seconded by delegates from the relevant zone, and there is once again a time for discussion and debate before eligible delegates vote.

All resolutions at the AGM, whether carried, redundant, or defeated, will be recorded, and the producer who was the initial mover, will receive a written response from ABP on the outcome of their resolution.

How to prepare a resolution for zone consideration

As you think about writing resolution statement(s), keep in mind that a successful resolution needs to:

resonate with other beef producers,
be specific/relevant to the beef industry, and
align with the scope of the work done at Alberta Beef Producers.

Resolutions also need to include two key pieces: a “whereas” statement, and a “be it resolved” statement.

Whereas

The “whereas” statement, or “preamble,” provides important background into the resolution. It’s the “why” behind a resolution.

Whereas statements identify the problem, and may also speak to its urgency/timeliness, and any other facts that are relevant to understanding the reason(s) behind a resolution.

Be it resolved

Sometimes referred to as the “operative clause,” the statement beginning with “Be it resolved” provides a recommendation for specific actions.

Examples

Here are a couple of examples of previous resolutions.

Whereas the Alberta Beef Producers currently support the Young Cattlemen’s Council by supplying a representative from Alberta and the Cattlemen’s Young Leaders program through the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association but they fail to engage the youth from Alberta that participate in the programs, therefore…

Be it resolved that ABP actively engage all individuals from Alberta involved with the Young Cattlemen’s Council (YCC) and Cattlemen’s Young Leaders (CYL).

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Whereas wild game can be donated to food banks without inspection, and whereas currently significant amounts of healthy protein is wasted because of onerous regulation, therefore…

Be it resolved that the appropriate ABP committee encourage Alberta Meat Inspection to allow mobile slaughter of accidentally compromised animals to achieve some form of an “inspected” status that would allow healthy protein to be harvested for human consumption.

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