Background

The Member Advisory Board of Directors concept was initially utilized in the formative stages of FNA. At that time the advisory board was used to facilitate discussion among members from all areas regarding the scope of FNA's programs and future direction of the organization.

In 2006, the advisory board was reinstated, consisting of a volunteer member advisor from each territory to again provide FNA with an understanding of the direction members would like the organization to go. In addition, the advisory board serves as a sounding board for FNA's current initiatives, thereby providing management with valuable feedback for future program consideration. The advisory board may eventually evolve into a democratic structure whereby members of FNA are elected to the board.

The member advisors represent their territory at all advisory board meetings and assist Territory Farm Consultants in setting up territory meetings. More importantly, though, they give the organization a local presence and act as a communication conduit between members and FNA head office. In this manner, FNA can keep certain the programs it offers are effective and reflective of what members in each territory need and want.

FNA's advisory board is not a forum for political debate, and FNA is a non-partisan / non-political organization. Members need to be aware that FNA cannot be bound by recommendations of the advisory board and it is, in fact, advisory in nature.

FNA holds an annual advisory board meeting at the annual general meeting and additional board meetings throughout the year as required.

Composition

The board is comprised of members from each territory, representing the complete member base of FNA. Presently, there are 26 territories in the prairie region (AB, SK & MB) with each remaining province with membership (BC, ON & PQ) representing one territory each. As the membership numbers in each of the outlying provinces (BC, ON, PQ & others) increase, these provinces will be divided into actual territories and will then be assessed more advisory board positions, based on membership numbers at the time.

There does not presently exist an advisory board position for USA members, as a separate advisory board will be established in the USA. Although some issues are common to farmers in Canada and the USA, most of FNA's business activity (preferred suppliers and FNA in-house programs in Canada) does not apply to the USA and vice versa.