The National Watermelon Association unveiled its first Annual Report at the
national convention in Lake Tahoe, recapping highlights from efforts and projects
throughout the past year, and initiatives that are on-going.
“Our intention is to offer the annual report at convention each year, and highlight
accomplishments, initiatives and feature member services that make a difference,
every day,” said Bob Morrissey, NWA Executive Director.
The Annual Report covers everything from the purpose of the Association, to
leadership recognition, Public Policy & Advocacy, Food Safety, Farm Production
research, Communications, Promotions, Education of our members, Partnerships,
and a Future Outlook.
Bob went on to say, “we created the report in an easy-to-use format that also
doubles as an excellent member-recruitment tool. Did you ever ask, or did anyone
ever ask you what the NWA does for its members? Well, now you have the answers, and plenty of them, in your hands.” The report is easily downloadable and
printable from our website ( www.watermelon.ag). Enjoy!
Annual Report
Released
A Focused
Association
The Association is geared up and focused to accomplish much in 2017, while
working to make a difference in the lives and livelihoods of our members across
the USA.
Our very own Watermelon Food
Safety Guidance, first released
in 2008, has been updated in its
third issue to incorporate the
Food Safety Modernization Act.
You can download the updated
guidance from our website
( www.watermelon.ag).
We are introducing our very own
portal that will bring our members
and legislative leaders together in
a quick, easy-to-use format called
MUSTER. Advocacy in public
policy is a job for all of us; not
just a few. Much more detail is
provided on page 23 of this issue.
We continue to offer membership
programs to our chapters that can help
to renew and bring-on new members.
Members make up the life-blood of
the Association, and our programs
are proven winners. For example,
the partnership last year with Bayer
Vegetable Seed introduced 39 new
watermelon farmers to our member
rolls.
The executive committee of the Association has assembled two working groups to
look into the future, with two specific areas of focus: Membership and its definition to include Value and ROI, and Revenue to build the Association while securing its future success for the next generation(s) of leaders.
The year 2017 will be a challenging year for sure, with the world around us
changing so quickly as it is. Rest assured that the Association is working on your
behalf on many fronts to make it a bit easier, a bit less costly, and bit more profitable …. for you, our stakeholders. Keep the Faith, and Have a great watermelon
season in 2017. We’ll see you down the road.
