The mission of Pacific Northwest Grain and Feed Association is to organize, promote and serve the mutual needs of firms involved in the processing, handling and merchandising of grain, feed, and other agricultural commodities within the states of Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.Pacific Northwest Grain & Feed Association


Bi-Weekly NewsBulletin                            Volume 4, Issue #2 - 1/29/2008

 

Topics in this Issue:

 1.  41st Annual Warehousemen's Conference:
              
w  List of our VERY Generous Sponsors
              
w  Registration Form & Information
              
w  Hotel Information
              
w  Tentative Agenda, Trade Show & Credits
              
w  Planning Committee Members
 2.  PNWGFA Started a Dedicated Honorary Member Fund: 
              
w  New Year...New Budget...Please Donate to the Fund
              
w  Notice From Our President About the Program
              
w  Current Sponsors of Honorary Member Fund
 3.  More Sad News - Vern Matthews Has Passed Away
 4.  WADOT Press Release - Snoqualmie Pass Closed
 5.  WADOT Press Release - More Road Closures
 6.  WSDA Risk Management Agency - Three Opportunities for Funding
 7.  NGFA - Letter to New Secretary of Agriculture
 8.  New Regulations for Aluminum Phosphide Products

Association News:

1.  41st Annual Warehousemen's Conference -- February 21-22, 2008: 

w  List of Sponsors
Our planning committee has already been hard at work securing FABULOUS Sponsorships for the Welcome Reception and Dinner Banquet.  Thank you very much to all the GENEROUS Companies who continue to support this worthwhile event!  If you would like to be a sponsor, it's not too late, call the office today!

NEW...We also have two Sponsors for the Spouse Event:  H&S Services and the Davenport Hotel have both sponsored some Door Prizes for this event.  We have never had sponsors for the Spouse Event before, so this is a wonderful addition!  Thank you very much for the wonderful Spa Treatments, I'm sure the lucky winners will enjoy them!

w  Registration Form & Information
Follow this link for the Registration Form and Information on the Event.  

w  If you have not made your reservation at the Davenport, Please do that today!

The Davenport Hotel
Spokane, Washington
For Reservations (800) 899-1482
Room Rates - $129/night + tax

w  Agenda, Vendors & Credits
Agenda...Follow this link for the Tentative Agenda.
Trade Show Vendors...Can break down and head home after lunch (noon) on Friday.
Credits...We have received 4 credits from Montana...12 CCA credits have been given to our program...I hope to get 8 credits from Idaho, Oregon & Washington.

w  BIG  THANKS to the following people and the companies they work for, they put in a lot of work during the year and at the event itself.  

Warehousemen's Planning Committee:
Mike Dunlap - Inland Empire Oilseeds LLC - Chairman
Keith Becker - Whitman County Growers
John Cranor - Northwest Grain Growers
Marty Hughes - H&S Services
George Johnstone - St. John Grain Growers


2.  Honorary Members Pledge Drive:

w  New Year...New Budget...Please help sponsor the Honorary Members Program
Now that we have started a New Year, many of you are working with a new Budget, the Honorary Members Program is a worthwhile place to put some of that money!  We will be continuing the pledge drive for a few more months.  Thanks so much!

w  Notice From our President About the Pledge Drive - Bud Riedner Writes
The Pacific Northwest Grain & Feed Association is proud to announce the formation of "The PNWGFA Honored Alumni Fund".  This fund is being established to assist Honored Alumni in attending our Annual June Convention.  The Board of Directors has authorized a Pledge Drive to establish this fund.  All contributions will be recognized at the 91st Annual June Convention in Chelan, Washington and noted in the 2009 PNWGFA Annual Directory.  

The following pledge levels will apply:
$2,500.00 & Up............................Platinum
$1,500.00 - $2,499.99...........................Gold
$500.00 - $1,499.99.............................Silver
$200.00 - $499.99..............................Bronze

The PNWGFA Board of Directors are confident that our current membership will want to establish this find and our goal is $25,000.  Please give generously as a tribute to our past membership!

Regards,
Bud Riedner, 2007/2008 PNWGFA President
Kalama Export Company, LLC

w  Current Sponsors of the Honorary Members Program:  

Platinum
Northwest Grain Growers, Inc.

Gold
Ritzville Warehouse Company

Silver
Evans Grain, Feed & Seed Company
The Haskins Company
Laughlin Cartrell, Inc.
Pomeroy Grain Growers
Shaver Transportation
Tidewater Barge Lines

Thank you very much for these generous sponsorships!!!  


3.  Vern Matthews Will Be Missed
Below is the obituary from the Spokane Review:

Vernon Wade Matthews (Age 53)
Passed away on Sunday, January 20, 2008. Vernon moved to Rockford, WA from Oregon 15 years ago.  He was a grain manager for CHS.  Vernon enjoyed golfing, fishing, playing poker, and he loved Karaoke.  Vernon is survived by his wife of 26 years, Terry; daughter Mandy; sisters, Karen and Pam; and his brother Ernie.  The family has requested that if you knew Vernon, take a moment out of your day to remember him.  There will be a private family service.

 

Industry News:

4.  Washington Department of Transportation
The WA Department of Transportation issued a press release today stating that I-90 over the Snoqualmie Pass will be closed.  Follow this link for all the details.


5.  Washington Department of Transportation
Looks like we have a few more road closures as the day wears on.  Follow this link for warnings and closures for the Cascade Passes, Eastern Washington, Puget Sound, Vancouver & Mount St. Helens.  


6.  USDA Risk Management Agency - Three Opportunities 
The USDA Risk Management Agency announced three opportunities for funding.  Follow this link for all the details.


7.  NGFA - Letter to New Secretary of Agriculture 
The PNWGFA Board of Directors has signed on the the National Grain & Feed Association's letter to the new Secretary of Agriculture asking for the USDA to consider its rejection of allowing CRP ground to come out penalty free.  Follow this link for the entire letter.


8.  New Regulations for Aluminum Phosphide Products 
Follow this link for important new regulations concerning storage of aluminum phosphide products.


Contact Us:

Pacific Northwest Grain & Feed Association
Becky Andrews, Director

200 SW Market Street, Suite 190, Portland, Oregon 97201
Phone: (503) 227-0234, Fax: (503) 227-0059, e-mail: Becky@pnwgfa.org