The Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies has a new president.
Markham Fair representative and past board member from District 5 Elaine Rennie was elected for a one-year term at the annual convention in Toronto.
Over 150 voting agricultural societies confirmed Ms. Rennie and also accepted a newly revised governance plan.
Voting societies also passed a newly revised constitution which will downsize the board of directors from 30 to 15 members and remove the agriculture and home craft leadership titles. This change will take effect February 2017 and is the result of a working governance committee supported by staff of the Rural Ontario Institute.
Judy McFaul of Russell Agricultural Society, Brian Slaughter of Forest Agricultural Society and Catherine Redden of Campbellford-Seymour Agricultural Society will join Ms. Rennie’s executive as first and second vice present and past president respectively.
“We are pleased that our membership supports making significant changes to bring the association into the 21st century,” says Ms. Rennie. “Board members have been working towards a new structure for many years and we appreciate their vision and hard work.”
Themed “Celebrate Rural Ontario”, the convention attracted over 1000 delegates including 91 fair ambassadors.
The OAAS acts as a resource and a united voice for its members by providing leadership through education and communication to encourage them to promote agriculture and a rural way of life in Ontario.
“We are pleased that our membership supports making significant changes to bring the association into the 21st century,” says Ms. Rennie. “Board members have been working towards a new structure for many years and we appreciate their vision and hard work.”
