IOIA Goes International

On March 4, at the 2007 AGM in Encinitas, CA the following motion passed with an overwhelming majority.

Motion: Moved by Kelly Monaghan and seconded by Jack Reams

"that the attendees of this meeting recommend to the IOIA membership to change the name to incorporate the word International."

Why a Name Change?

• International better reflects the increasingly international nature of the organization in both membership and range of activity.
• To quote the AGM Discussion Group on this topic, "Independent is where we came from, International is what we are now and where we are headed in the future."
• IOIA inspector membership has changed since its inception.
• IOIA will be better able to grow globally and perceived less as an American organization.
• Moving into the international arena helps insure independence.
• Paves the way for branch offices in other countries.
  

When IOIA organized in 1991, 'independence' was a core principle. 'Independent' perhaps meant different things to different people, but the founders incorporated the word with pride. Most IOIA inspector members were independent contract inspectors who worked for more than one agency. 'Independent' also underscored the distance maintained between inspectors and the applicants and between inspection and certification. To some inspectors, 'independent' is still key to '3rd party inspection'.

IOIA in 1991 was 44 Inspector Members and 2 Supporting Members (both based in the USA). IOIA was a North American organization. Inspectors represented only 3 countries: USA (80%), Canada 16%, and Mexico (4%).

Things have changed since 1991.

• IOIA has grown to 224 Inspector Members from more than 16 countries and speaking at least 20 languages.
• IOIA's supporting members include individuals and businesses in 6 countries, and certification agencies in Canada, Germany, Australia, and USA.
• IOIA has a special relationship with the Japan Organic Inspectors Association (JOIA). IOIA and JOIA have collaborated for nearly 10 years on training in Japan.
  " Many IOIA Inspector Members now are staff inspectors, work for only one agency, or do other non-inspection, but related work (i.e. reviewing files for certifiers, serving on certification teams).
• IOIA has provided or cosponsored with regional groups more than 200 inspector trainings, of which nearly half occurred outside the US. In 1993, IOIA provided its first inspector training (2 courses in the US). In 2006, IOIA provided 26 courses in 10 countries. In 2007, IOIA will cosponsor at least 8 Spanish language trainings, plus Japanese language trainings, and partial translation courses in Korea.
• The IFOAM/IOIA International Organic Inspection Manual is published in Spanish, French, and English.
• IOIA is experiencing a new era. We are presently training member inspectors in a global venue.
  

On March 2, 2008 at the AGM in Retalhuleu, Guatemala, IOIA made several important decisions; most important, the membership voted with a strong majority to change the name of the association to the International Organic Inspectors Association. Complete implementation will take up to a year.

New Board of Directors

The 2008-2009 Board of Directors now consists of 5 members, plus a First Alternate and 2nd Alternate. This decision to reduce the size of the Board was made at the 2007 AGM and implemented with this AGM.

Results of the Board of Directors election:

Director, Gene Prochaska (Indiana), 2nd term

Director, Stephen Bird (California), newly elected

Second Alternate, Lidia Girón (Guatemala), newly elected

The Board met after the AGM to elect officers:

Chair, Bob Durst

Vice Chair, David Konrad

Treasurer, Gene Prochaska

Secretary, Monique Scholz

Executive Member at Large: Stephen Bird

Thank you to outgoing BOD members Garry Lean, Maheswar Ghimire, and Sue Baird (Second Alternate)!

2009 AGM

Tentatively, we agreed that the next AGM will occur in Canada. Locations were discussed, but no definite decision reached.

2008 AGM Minutes

Draft Minutes

IOIA AGM
02 March 2008
IRTRA, Retalhuleu, Guatemala

1. Call to order 15:02
Quorum confirmed. 15% present by proxy or in person. Catherine and Bob participating by Skype.
Clarification on who votes.
Andrew Black and Ernesto de la Rosa confirmed as most recent new members.
Proxies: not voting on mail-in issues.
Attachment 1: Members Present and Proxies registered.

2. Approval of 2008 agenda
Clarify that item 10 is Election AND Voting on Proposed Bylaw Change.
Motion to adopt agenda as clarified.
Proposed by Margaret Dickson.
Seconded by Bob Howe.
Passed.

Chair also verified that any Spanish speaking members who did not fully understand English were seated with a bilingual member to ensure translation as needed.

3. 2007 AGM minutes.
Presented by secretary as Spanish resume. English hard copy available.

Motion to adopt 2007 AGM Minutes proposed by Margaret Dickson.
Seconded by Margaret Weigelt.
Passed.

4. Annual Report
Chair Garry Lean presented report. Refer to printed document (attachment 2), a BANNER YEAR for IOIA.

5. Treasurers Report
Gene Prochaska presented report of 2007 revenues and expenses. He also presented 2008 budget. Refer to printed documents (Attachment 3).

Motion to accept 2007 financial statement, proposed by Lars Crail.
Seconded by Garth Kahl.
Passed.

Discussion. Request for additional phone line at office by Margaret Weigelt. She also made a suggestion to ensure office keep up with modern technologies (capacity to digitalize documents for example).

Gene also presented results of audit (positive), auditor recommendations and some changes implemented since. He reported the development of an Audit Policy currently in process, by Finance Committee and the BOD.

Clarification regarding cash reserve: current policy target 25% of annual operating expenses.

6. Committee Reports
Scholarship Committee: Margaret presented in person; see attachment 4.
Communications&Marketing: Bob Howe presented in person. Began by invitation to forum for Monday evening. See attachment 5.
Accreditation: Monique briefly presented report. Luis underlined importance to enhance process and present it as inspector licensing. He stated that this is how it is viewed in Latin America. Garth contributed that he thought certifiers would be interested in providing seed-money to build an enhanced program.
CGG ad hoc Committee: Luis presented summary of interventions. Garth stated he was in agreement with the IOIA position EXCEPT he questioned why IOIA supported the 5000$ ceiling.

Margaret Scoles spoke briefly on behalf the absentee Committee chairs.
Bylaws Committee: Chaired since 8 years by Arthur Harvey. Were active this year acting per the BOD request on the name change ballot.
Canadian Committee: Chaired since 1995 by Janine Gibson. Reported development of training program (to cdn std) and application of federal funding to do so, with COG.
Ethics: Chaired by Joyce Ford. Happily, no ethics issues needed treatment.
Membership Committee: Chaired by Kelly Monaghan. Survey results. Excellent participation. Condensed version will be in upcoming newsletter. Detailed version with comments is on members only section of web site. Luis pointed out that staff inspectors is a reality in Latin America; this is definitely an opportunity for IOIA.

A short Break.
Revisiting the agenda. With assembly consensus, point 11 deferred to Monday evening, to be led by Bob Howe as informal discussion.

7. Notes from Executive Director
Staffing
New building
New Board transition
BOD retreat and Open house in Broadus
Record number of trainings and Exciting collaborations: Body care, JAS training, alliance with Animal welfare, BCS for EU training, OMRI training for input inspection and sampling, Non-GMO project, GroLink and the Indian agriculture department, OFRF (Organic Farming Research Foundation)
Developing Training Institute concept: and our new byline: Making sure organic really (or truly) is organic.
MNA conference and new linkages and resources.
Concern for energising Committee structure.
Fundraising: new projects being instigated by Susan Colwell.

Round of applause for ED.
Round of applause for office staff.

Inspector Asset of the year award: Lidia Girón, presented by ED.
Friend of IOIA: Jean Hough, presented by Monique Scholz. 'Be like the oyster, learn to turn grit into pearls.'
Out-going Chair award to Garry Lean, presented by Gene Prochaska, with an additional token of appreciation for her forbearance to Margaret Dickson.

8. New Business
Deferred to after elections, to enable the Ballot Committee to begin counting ballots.

9. Candidate Presentations
Clarification of process.

BIOS circulated in advance of meeting. Candidates present (Maheswar, Gene) spoke. Catherine also spoke via SKYPE. Lidia, candidate for alternate, also spoke.

Ballot committee announced by BOD. Composed of Susan Colwell (chair), Carmela Beck, Gabriela de Soto and Jean Hough.

First round of ballots (2 new BOD members) distributed and collected by Ballot chair Susan Colwell.

Bylaw change: Proposed name change

Presentation of history of issue. Discussion by members. ED transmitted Joel Hoffman's concern, as he was unable to attend and had requested her to do so.

Show of hands on by-law change:
19 in favor
2 opposed
No abstentions.

This must be added to the mail in ballots.

10. Election and Bylaw changes

An error noted on ballot. Maheswar graciously accepted to not contest the election result.

Susan announced that Gene Prochaska and Stephen Bird have been elected.

Open to nominations from floor for alternate, in addition to Lidia Girón and Jeff Cunningham already on ballot. David nominated Maheswar but he declined. Maheswar stated he would be pleased to continue participating in IOIA but in different capacity. Luis eloquently thanked Maheswar, praised him for his involvement…to much applause.

Lidia announced as winner of Second Alternate seat.

Name change tally of show -of-hands and mail-in ballots: accepted 63 to 10.
Round of applause for International Organic Inspectors Association.

Vote Totals: BOD Election

Stephen Bird- 27
Catherine Cash- 19
Maheswar Ghimire- 24
Gene Prochaska- 50
Mary Wilson- 25

2nd Alternate:
Lidia Girón - 56
Jeff Cunningham - 18

11. Focus Group Discussions and Plenary (deferred)

12. Location for next AGM (2009)

Members present discussed possible locations for 2009 AGM Inclination to hold next IOIA AGM in Canada. Decision deferred to new BOD.

13. Adjournment 6:40

Moved by Bob Howe
Seconded by Margaret Dickson.

Adopted.

Attachments:
1. Members Present and Proxies Registered
2. Annual Report
3. Treasurers Report
4. Training Report
5. Scholarship Committee Report
6. Communications Committee Report