| A Message from AIC President Doug Yungblut
 Let me take this opportunity to introduce myself and give you a snapshot of where I see AIC going in the near future.
I have a long association with AIC as a P.Ag., a member of a scientific society (CSAS) and a member of a university accreditation team. As an independent consultant I also benefit from AIC's group insurance program. I feel very strongly that there has never been a greater need for a strong voice for the role of science and professionalism in the dynamic field of agriculture, especially with all of the diversity that the word agriculture has come to represent.
It would be something of an understatement to say that AIC has gone through a lot of upheaval over the past few years. The recent departure of our CEO is the latest in a series of changes. It is a testament to the dedication and talent of our dedicated staff and volunteers that we have continued to conduct our core activities of publishing scientific journals, managing a CIDA project, continuing and building the accreditation program and providing regular information updates to members throughout this period.
The Board of Directors is absolutely committed to maintaining these core activities and to building the AIC's role as a voice for scientific agriculture. We held a strategic planning session in January of this year and adopted the mission that "AIC will broaden society's knowledge and use of science and agriculture." We have specific goals in the key result areas of membership, information sharing and networking and external communication technology. These goals give us areas of focus to direct our activities going forward.
The need has never been more critical for AIC to develop our role as the voice of scientific agriculture. On behalf of myself, the Board of Directors and our dedicated staff and volunteers I invite everyone who shares this mission to support us in fulfilling this mandate.
Douglas Yungblut, PhD, PAg
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Nominations for the AIC Board of Directors
The AIC Nominating Committee invites nominations for the 2010-2011 Board of Directors.
AIC Bylaws
Section 9 - Subject to the provisions of this By-law, the board of directors shall be comprised of directors giving consideration to but not limited to:
- Geographic representation across Canada
- Gender
- A range of skills and experience that are of value to the mission of the Institute.
An AIC Director
To be eligible for the Board you should demonstrate a leadership role in the business, public policy and/or science of the agri-food industries or other industries that rely upon science and agriculture for profitable and sustainable agricultural production. Directors must share a commitment to broaden society's knowledge and use of science and agriculture in Canada.
The Directors share with the President the responsibility of establishing AIC policy, and with the CEO, the growth of AIC's ability to contribute to scientific capacity building in Canada. This is a multi-disciplinary challenge. AIC Directors are expected to be creative, visionary and respected by other industry, academic and government leaders. You believe in the separation of powers between the Board and the CEO. Your networks will assist in building AIC and amplifying the message. Under the current by-laws, the elected position is for a three year term and you may be re-elected for a second term.
There is no salary for this directorship, but AIC will cover costs associated with travel and accommodations. More importantly, your position on the Board provides you with the opportunity to garner support for investment in science and innovation so critical to the profitable and sustainable use of agri-resources to meet energy, health, and food demands now and into the future.
Further information on qualification for the AIC Board of Directors and nominating a candidate can be found on the AIC website. Nominations should be sent to Graham Gilchrist, Chair of the Nominating Committee, with a copy to the AIC office.
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Best Practices from our International Partners
 AIC's International Twinning Partnership Program uses Canadian and local partner expertise to help strengthen scientific societies in developing countries and work with them to alleviate poverty and improve food security.
We often focus on what we teach, give or contribute and are not always aware of what we can learn from our partners. The recent trip of four Canadian project coordinators to visit the two projects in Ghana found some best practices that we can use in Canada.
At a time when organizations are struggling with membership numbers, both partner groups in Ghana, the Ghanaian Society for Animal Production GSAP and the Ghana Institute of Horticulturists GhIH are successfully adding to their membership. The success is combining activities to increase and retain membership with activities that give members ways to get involved.
Each membership area or zone is conducting a membership drive to increase local membership and new members are getting involved in organization activities at the local, regional and national level.
Annual meetings, workshops, training sessions, e-conferences, scientific journal production and the international project keep members busy and learning. At the national level both GSAP and GhIH develop communiqués to government following their AGM. GhIH is working with government to declare August the Fruit and Vegetable month to bring attention to the nutrition requirements and availability of locally grown fruit and vegetables that meet the requirements.
Both organizations are also working to increase student participation and ensure the sustainability of the organization. There are student chapters at academic institutions, students are included in activities and represented on committees and the organizations provide a mentoring program to assist recent and new graduates in their careers.
The best practices of our overseas partners are an example Canadian organizations would be well-served to follow.
Tom Beach, International Program Coordinator
Photo: Patrick Kumah, Irene Idun and Francis Appiah (Ghana Institute of Horticulturists), Josée Owen and Mary Ruth MacDonald (Canadian Society for Horticultural Science) and Tom Beach (AIC) meet in Ghana, February 2010; photo courtesy Josée Owen.
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Fifteen Years after Beijing
 2010 holds significant importance for the promotion of gender equality and empowerment of women. It marks the 15 year review of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action adopted at the United Nation's Fourth World Conference on Women, the 10 year review of progress achieved in the Millennium Development Goals, and the 10 year review of implementation of the Security Council resolution on women and peace and security. The full Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action made at the UN conference is posted in several languages on their website. Canada's 1995 statement as a member state included the idea that "equality benefits not only women, but all of society" and that "worldwide, women's autonomy and control over economic resources are essential to their own and their families' survival." Item 35 of the 1995 Declaration, which is of interest to the work of AIC, stated that the governments involved were determined to "ensure women's equal access to economic resources, including land, credit, science and technology, vocational training, information, communication and markets, as a means to further the advancement and empowerment of women and girls, including through the enhancement of their capacities to enjoy the benefits of equal access to these resources, inter alia, by means of international cooperation." From March 1-12, 2010, the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) undertook a fifteen-year review of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. Experiences and good practices were shared, with a view to overcoming remaining obstacles and new challenges, including those related to the Millennium Development Goals. The CSW transmitted Moderator's Summaries to the 2010 Annual Ministerial Review of the Economic and Social Council. Points of interest relevant to AIC's work on gender equality mainstreaming and international partnerships include the following:
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The full and effective implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action is essential to achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Gender equality and empowerment of women is a key development goal in its own right and an important means to achieving all the Millennium Development Goals.
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Legislation and policies have been adopted to increase women's ownership of productive assets. Implementation however remains inadequate in many countries owing to socio-cultural norms and women's lack of knowledge about their rights.
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Access to land and housing is vital to women's livelihood and economic independence.
To read more, please click here. Dinah Ceplis, International Gender Equality Program Officer
Photo: International Women's Day celebrations at Ukiriguru, Tanzania, March 8, 2010; photo courtesy Bert Phillips
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 Agricultural Institute of Canada
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Ottawa, Ontario K2E 7Z4
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www.aic.ca
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