Page 6 - WCA July Ketch Pen 2020

Good Morning WCA Friends,
Letter from the EVP
Mark Streuli
I just dropped an ice cube in my coffee so I can gulp it down and wake up this morning!
It was great to be in the WCA office yesterday. WCA has it’s hand in so many things right now and I sure appreciate Bev and Dillon keeping our new efforts on track --- like the membership database and the streamlining of our accounting --- not to mention all the daily work that goes on behind the scenes to keep everything running and moving forward. They even put up with me as I was on the phone joining Sam and our allies, the wheat growers, to push back on NRCS regarding their criteria for acceptance in conservation programs. Always a pleasure to join Sam on those calls as I can promise you, he doesn’t hold back when it comes to fighting for Washington’s ranchers!
Speaking of that, let me put my lobbyist hat on for a minute. It may seem that our legislative session
is a long way off, but I can feel it in the air already. It’s hard to know the exact number yet for the
hole in the State’s budget, but we are hearing numbers as big as $9 billion and we are already hear-
ing about proposals out there for Capital Gains taxes and increased taxes on corporations. We also
know there will be cuts in funding to agencies. Tightening belts in lean times is always the smart
thing, but it’s worrisome when it hits close to home, like the Washington State Department of Agri-
culture’s budget. I also anticipate big discussions around food this session. I think the pandemic has people really thinking about the food supply chain and how we can make sure that the proper channels are in place to ensure that our communities have full access to food at all times. We’ll see what happens. The bottom line is that we’re headed for a long session in a full budget year.
Switching topic for now. Here’s a little Q and A on questions we’ve been getting at the office:
Q – Are we having a state convention in November this year?
A – We sure hope so friends. We are certainly not letting go of it and neither is the Three Rivers Convention Center. They are currently working on a reopening plan and are hoping their community can eventually progress to Stage 4. Stay tuned. We’ll keep you updated.
Q – How is the hiring process going for a new Executive Vice-President for WCA?
A – Kudos to the hiring committee that was appointed to make recommendations. There were many quality resumes submitted and they made tough decisions to recommend two finalists. There will be interviews with the Executive Committee on June 23rd.
Q – Why is the new database such a big deal?
A – Great question! The new database really helps bring our association in to the 21st century and allows for processes to be streamlined for effi- ciency and effectiveness. Here are a few examples.
• Gives members the ability to pay their membership dues online through the WCA website.
• Streamlines multiple administrative functions.
• Gives members the ability to access committees and committee contact info.
• Gives members the ability to access the member directory from their computer or phone.
• Gives members the ability to sign up for events online.
• Gives members the ability to view an event calendar so they can see what’s going on at a moment’s glance.
• And that’s just for starters. There’s so much more!
That’s it for this month, friends. Thank you for everything you’re doing out there. Every week since I’ve been in this position, It seems I’m always hearing about some WCA member helping a friend, helping a neighbor, or helping out in their local community. It really makes me proud to be with the WCA!
Thanks again,
6 KETCH PEN - July 2020