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Inside R-Calf

Bill

Well-known member
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Duke It Out
Colorado Springs, CO Feb. 17, 2007

Perhaps the industry wouldn’t be so fascinated by R-CALF’s internal power struggles if not for their insistence only they knew how to run a railroad.

We’ve marveled at the group’s split personality ... kind of libertarian/liberal/socialist/anarchist. At three conventions, we’ve observed them debating every detail in full session, as if committees of their peers were not to be trusted for even rudimentary work. Policy resolution sessions are chaotic and excruciating because no businesslike preparation has been done by a resolutions committee. The scene suggests semi-anarchists distrustful of even vote-on-every-paper-clip ultra-democracy. They seem terrified of losing their self- proclaimed “grassroots” certification.

Yet in this “open” organization, written financial reports were not available at the annual meeting until last year. Even then, the report disclosed little.

People are slack jawed now because just days after their annual convention, President Chuck Kiker was suddenly removed from office by the board of directors. Surprisingly, in this very “grassroots” organization, the members don’t vote on their officers. The board elects the officers themselves from among their own number. The officers serve at the board’s pleasure and, evidently, the pleasure abruptly ran out.

R-CALF’s split personality is well illustrated by their attitude towards USDA. Depending on the moment, they may laugh contemptuously at the agency, congratulate themselves for getting meetings with or speeches from USDA officials, lash out that USDA is not listening, try to get USDA to put shackles on others or be flat out suing the agency for enforcing or not enforcing laws and regulations. Apparently, that tumultuous and contradictory relationship with USDA was responsible for Kiker’s downfall.

We can shed some light on a probable scenario pieced together from various sources. Jerry Hagstrom, writing for the Congressional Daily on nationaljournal.com, noted that R-CALF CEO Bill Bullard had written a letter to USDA Secretary Mike Johanns in early January regarding the proposed 30-month rule on Canadian cattle and beef. Other sources confirm that.

In order to increase “access” in Washington, R-CALF had hired former USDA Undersecretary Bill Hawks – a man not warmly received by many R-CALF members at past conventions – as a D.C. consultant. According to Hagstrom, Hawks advised Kiker that Bullard’s letter was offensive in tone. Kiker sent a follow-up letter to smooth things over. Apparently, it was that letter that set off a furor within R-CALF. Our information is that neither letter was approved by the board beforehand.

The contrast between Bullard’s letter described as offensive and portions of Kiker’s letter provided by R-CALF members, are illustrative of R-CALF’s split personality syndrome.

“We recognize that the Secretary of Agriculture has the prerogative to lift the delay ... at any time,” a portion of Kiker’s letter apparently said. “We also understand that if the new proposed rule allowing additional imports from BSE minimal risk countries ... becomes final, USDA feels it would be consistent to lift the delay and allow the importation of the beef products ...

“Therefore, we respectfully request a reevaluation of the risk associated with the importation of beef products and whole or half carcasses from animals 30 months of age or older ... and that the delay on the importation of these products not be lifted until that evaluation is complete.”

Evidently, such mild language was enough to light the fuse on a powder keg within R-CALF.

We’ve seen evidence at least one R- CALF member, former officer Kathleen Kelley, was absolutely outraged over such diplomatic language from an R-CALF president. She also charged that someone other than Kiker or the board had provided input into the letter and considered even such input a betrayal of R-CALF’s grass roots heritage. She said the letter was contrary to an earlier Kiker fundraising letter calling for aggressively attacking USDA’s proposed rule, pressure on Congress to force withdrawal and preparation of a lawsuit.

Hagstrom said Kelley told him she had started the movement to remove Kiker.

Information we have obtained, bolstered by R- CALF’s website, is that after the meeting ousting Kiker, founder Leo McDonnell and two other directors resigned. No directors are now listed at all from Regions I (Montana and northwest states), Region IV (California and the Southwest) or Region V (Texas). We have further information claiming 12 committee chairmen have resigned.

R-CALF has always favored confrontation. Now it appears the group has used a circular firing squad to eliminate their Jekyll and Hyde split personality problem.

Source: Dittmer AFF
 

Tam

Well-known member
Sandhusker said:
Big Muddy rancher said:
Sandhusker said:
And more predicatble drivel from the one-man "foundation". What a hack....

So Junior what not the TRUTH with Dittmer's post?

What has EVER been the truth behind a Dittmer post?

Are you denying that the letters Dittmer is talking about really exsistAnd they were the cause of the blow up.? Think Carefully before you answer :wink:
 

fedup2

Well-known member
Thanks for sharing someones opinion bill. Although on a scale of 1-10, I would rate this man a minus! Just wondering why you changed the original title that you had on this thread? Didn't it have the cheap tabloid type heading fitting of this mans opinions? :roll: :roll: :roll:
 

Sandhusker

Well-known member
I'm denying that Dittmer would ever publish a truthful non-biased story on anything to do with R-CALF. The guy gets paid to publish crap about R-CALF. He's in the same league as Saddam's old information minister. But, the Canuck Victims of R-CALF hang on his every word because they like what he says...... You can have him, his style fits in well with yours.
 

RobertMac

Well-known member
Bill & et al, if R-CALF was gone tomorrow(which it won't) and nothing about the border changed(which it wouldn't)...who would you blame then???????
 

Bill

Well-known member
fedup2 said:
Thanks for sharing someones opinion bill. Although on a scale of 1-10, I would rate this man a minus! Just wondering why you changed the original title that you had on this thread? Didn't it have the cheap tabloid type heading fitting of this mans opinions? :roll: :roll: :roll:

And just like Dittmer...you are entitled to your opinion.

After giving it some though I thought this title was more appropriate. Also just my opinion. :wink:

There have been numerous requests of some or ANY proof against what Dittmer writes on BSE, trade and R-Calf and no one has stepped up and proved him wrong.

Can you Fedup?
 

Sandhusker

Well-known member
I've done it half a dozen times! I even started a new thread once so you idiots could find it easier! Then, every flippen time you post his crap again, the same challenge comes out; prove him wrong, prove him wrong.

Tell you what, Bill. Go ahead and believe everything he writes, everything. Take it as gospel, written in stone. He'll take you far, son.
 

fedup2

Well-known member
Why would anyone waste their time trying to prove cheap hype and sensationalized biased opinion wrong Bill?
The words he chooses can be fit to anyone or no one. Do you believe this to be non-biased opinion and not sensationalized crap bill?

[Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Duke It Out
[We’ve marveled at the group’s split personality ... kind of libertarian/liberal/socialist/anarchist]
[as if committees of their peers were not to be trusted for even rudimentary work]
[The scene suggests semi-anarchists distrustful of even vote-on-every-paper-clip ultra-democracy]
[The officers serve at the board’s pleasure and, evidently, the pleasure abruptly ran out.]
[Apparently, that tumultuous and contradictory relationship with USDA was responsible for Kiker’s downfall.]
[are illustrative of R-CALF’s split personality syndrome]
[Evidently, such mild language was enough to light the fuse on a powder keg within R-CALF]

What is there to prove right or wrong here bill? It is ‘we marveled at----the scene suggests-----evidently----an illustrative of-----as if-------.
You might consider this type of BS as fact and defend it. I’ll call it for what it is!
If I told this forum that you were a commie-homo-fear monger-split personality- blab-blah- blah, would you waste your time trying to prove me wrong? Would the fact that I would not accept any of your attempts to do so make it true? C’mon bill, this is third grade crap!
 

Bill

Well-known member
fedup2 said:
Why would anyone waste their time trying to prove cheap hype and sensationalized biased opinion wrong Bill?
The words he chooses can be fit to anyone or no one. Do you believe this to be non-biased opinion and not sensationalized crap bill?

[Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Duke It Out
[We’ve marveled at the group’s split personality ... kind of libertarian/liberal/socialist/anarchist]
[as if committees of their peers were not to be trusted for even rudimentary work]
[The scene suggests semi-anarchists distrustful of even vote-on-every-paper-clip ultra-democracy]
[The officers serve at the board’s pleasure and, evidently, the pleasure abruptly ran out.]
[Apparently, that tumultuous and contradictory relationship with USDA was responsible for Kiker’s downfall.]
[are illustrative of R-CALF’s split personality syndrome]
[Evidently, such mild language was enough to light the fuse on a powder keg within R-CALF]

What is there to prove right or wrong here bill? It is ‘we marveled at----the scene suggests-----evidently----an illustrative of-----as if-------.
You might consider this type of BS as fact and defend it. I’ll call it for what it is!
If I told this forum that you were a commie-homo-fear monger-split personality- blab-blah- blah, would you waste your time trying to prove me wrong? Would the fact that I would not accept any of your attempts to do so make it true? C’mon bill, this is third grade crap!

I guess you must have missed what I wrote above:

And just like Dittmer...you are entitled to your opinion.

We will soon see how far off he is.
:lol: :lol: :lol:
 

Bill

Well-known member
Sandhusker said:
I've done it half a dozen times! I even started a new thread once so you idiots could find it easier! Then, every flippen time you post his crap again, the same challenge comes out; prove him wrong, prove him wrong.

Tell you what, Bill. Go ahead and believe everything he writes, everything. Take it as gospel, written in stone. He'll take you far, son.

Gee Sadhusker, I must have missed the time where I said I believed everything Dittmer writes although I must admit he has been right most of the time.

It's alright for you, Oldtimer, Haymaker and the rest of the R-Klowns to post any half truth that you choose to yet if anyone else posts an opposing view or source you whine and complain throw a fit.

:cry2:
 

Tam

Well-known member
Sandhusker said:
I'm denying that Dittmer would ever publish a truthful non-biased story on anything to do with R-CALF. The guy gets paid to publish crap about R-CALF. He's in the same league as Saddam's old information minister. But, the Canuck Victims of R-CALF hang on his every word because they like what he says...... You can have him, his style fits in well with yours.

IF there is no letter from R-CALF's CEO Bill Bullard on Jan. 7 2007 to the USDA and another letter from R-CALF's President Chuck Kiker on Jan 8 2007 sent to the USDA that caused problems then what is this ?

Just a snip from an R-CALF email

On January 7, 2007 a letter, signed by Bill Bullard, was sent to USDA. Unfortunately, the Board had not had an official board meeting regarding this letter, and the letter was sent without the approval of the board and without acting under past established protocols. It was sent despite the fact that there were unanswered questions from some of the Directors and from the President.

On January 8, 2007, President Chuck Kiker sent a letter to Secretary Johanns, requesting that Bill's letter be disregarded.
And this from another email

I am becoming increasingly disgruntled with the lack of action by this board of directors to retract the letter written by Chuck Kiker to Secretary Johanns concerning the "30 Month Rule." Currently, in the eyes of USDA, the Kiker letter stands as R-CALF USA policy.

Come on Sandhusker explain :?

If everything that Dittmer prints is crap here why are the following profiles gone from the R-CALF web site
1. Leo McDonnells
2. Chuck Kikers
3. Jon Wooster
4. Dennis McDonald
According to the email I recieved a dozen other Chairs and Co Chairs walked and the Editors of the Cattlesmens Journal USA. :shock:

Please Explain Sandhusker :?

According to that Email the vote was 4 to 5 in an emergency board meeting that was called to discuss another topic. Tell me how many border members does the fastest growing beef organization in the Nation have that they can boot the president with a 4 to 5 vote?

. One report said it was a CONFERENCE call meeting . :roll:

Please Explain Sandhusker :wink:
 

Sandhusker

Well-known member
Tam, you're not a member. Who are you to ask for explainations? One thing that I will say, Dittmer's got it wrong - your emails have it wrong from the start. When you start on the wrong trail, you head to the wrong end. Go ahead and think what you want - you don't matter.
 

mrj

Well-known member
Sandhusker, when you say to Tam "your emails have it wrong from the start", are you saying Jon Wooster and the rest who have resigned are lying?

It's mildly interesting, even a bit ironic that the champions of "member control" for producer organizations apparently have given control of R-CALF to staffer Bullard.

MRJ
 

Tam

Well-known member
Sandhusker said:
Tam, you're not a member. Who are you to ask for explainations? One thing that I will say, Dittmer's got it wrong - your emails have it wrong from the start. When you start on the wrong trail, you head to the wrong end. Go ahead and think what you want - you don't matter.

I'll have to remember this little quote the next time you want explanations dealing with the Canadian industry
you're not a member. Who are you to ask for explainations?
Have you checked out the R-CALF web page yet to see who's profiles are there and who's aren't? :wink:

Do you have any Idea who wrote the email I received ? :?

You sir know so little about what is going on in an organization that you have spent the last few years defending that you are striking out at anyone that might know. If your lack of knowledge on R-CALF wasn't so pathetic it would be funny. Hell what am I saying it is flippin hilarious :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Close your eyes stick your fingers in your ears and scream "I'm not listening" until the cows come home, it will not change the Fact that Dittmer is right on the MONEY with this article. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
 

Tam

Well-known member
MRJ said:
Sandhusker, when you say to Tam "your emails have it wrong from the start", are you saying Jon Wooster and the rest who have resigned are lying?

It's mildly interesting, even a bit ironic that the champions of "member control" for producer organizations apparently have given control of R-CALF to staffer Bullard.

MRJ

Hey MRJ did you get your PM today save this this gem it might just come in handy some day :wink:

you're not a member. Who are you to ask for explainations?
 

TimH

Well-known member
There is another odd rumour going around about R-calf. Maybe some of the members on here can clarify it.
I heard ,from some Doctor friends I was having supper with, that R-calf had some T-shirts made for the office staff and others. They had "TEAM BULL" or "TEAM BALL" or something like that written on them, doesn't matter. The rumour is that these T-shirts were imported from China or Taiwan or somewhere and printed in Canada.
Is that true??? :???: :?
 
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