Beyond what you've pointed out about the Plum Island lab relocation, there was a monkey that escaped several years ago from a similar lab in California. The monkey used a sewer pipe as his route to freedom. And then there was the lab worker that contracted one of the diseases being handled in a Texas lab. I guess I like the idea of those horrific diseases being contained on an island rather than in the middle of cattle country. Why take the risk?
NCBA has made an effort to repackage itself and I think many appreciate that. It's a kinder,gentler organization these days much of the time. Just when I see some improvement however, I read things like NCBA hooking up with the environmental activist groups on matters like revamping energy policy at the national level. Don't get me wrong, I don't have any gripe with an outfit teaming up with any group that can help achieve the goals being sought mutually. But, I can remember the day when NCBA folks threw such a fit about other organizations linking up with consumer groups to achieve COOL. It's the hypocrisy that bothers me.
R-CALF's implosion has left it an empty shell of an organization that has faded to a loud few. When I talk to other producers in the country what I hear is that they're sick and tired of R-CALF's proclivity for the "USDA is the enemy/cut the head off the beast" non-stop radical rhetoric. Little wonder the leadership refuses to release audited membership numbers or indepedent line item financial audits. I also heard that another board member resigned right after the February convention and the past director from that region was quickly appointed to fill that seat. This happened after the board was forced to sign confidentiality agreements or be ostracized and left out of the loop, which doesn't exactly provide members adequate representation. Again, it's the hypocrisy that bothers me.
As you well know from past history, taking care of members, giving them transparency, eliminating secrecy and letting them have a voice makes an organization strong. George Swan had a good grasp of that theory. So did Pat, the old exec for the SD Beef Industry Council.