California Seed Association

COMMITTEES AND COMMITTEE JOB DESCRIPTIONS

FIELD SEED/SEED CERTIFICATION/TURF SEED: The Chairperson of the Field Seed/Seed Certification has a most important duty in planning and conducting at least two meetings a year of the Section Membership, as well as Special Meetings, that may be necessary from time to time, to promote harmony and good public relations, and for solving problems common to and affecting the membership of C.S.A. In addition, it is the responsibility of the Chairperson and the Committee to:

Work with the Chairperson of the Youth Activities Committee to solicit youth participation in field crop projects;
Work with the Seed Industry Conference Planning Committee to organize the conference to the end that field seed problems are adequately covered in these conferences;
Provide input to CSA staff on pesticide registration to ensure that agricultural chemicals required in the field seed industry are available for use in California;
Plan and carry out specific programs which affect the overall field section industry of California;
Work with association officers and other committees to support the CSA Code of Ethics;
Advise and inform the chairperson of the Legislative Committee to keep him/her abreast of changes that occur, or are projected, for the various laws and regulations, particularly in California, in order that he/she might act if necessary;
Appoint study groups which will address subject and problem areas specific to those types of field seed, whenever the need arises;
Chairperson serves automatically as voting member of CSA Board of Directors.

The CSA Board of Directors will also appoint a member of the committee to serve as CSA’s representative on the California Crop Improvement Association Board of Directors. That individual shall serve no more than four consecutive one year terms. Multiple terms are recommended to provide continuity of representation. The CCIA representative shall coordinate seed certification related activities of the Field Seed Section. Since certified seed represents a substantial portion of California seed sold the committee shall:

Represent the segment of the field and vegetable seed industry in California whose interests are involved in and affected by the distribution and sales of certified seeds in the commercial trade channels;
Provide and maintain communication and accountability between the CSA and the California Crop Improvement Association;
And inform the section chairperson and the association officers of any developments in this field of activity.

SEED DEALERS COMMITTEE: The Chairperson will plan and conduct at least one meeting per year to be held during the CSA Annual Convention. A second optional meeting may be held at the CSA Midyear Meeting. Other meetings shall be held at such times and places as the chairperson deems appropriate. At the annual convention issues impacting seed dealers may be discussed in a problem solving format or special speakers may be scheduled to present information pertinent to the activities and functions of those who are seed dealers. Areas of interest include:

New products and services and education about same;
General business operations topics;
Operational aspects of seed dealership that are specific to dealing in seed;
Relationships between and liaison between breeder-producers and seed dealers;
Governmental regulations, statutes and issues impacting seed dealers in specific and agricultural suppliers in general and advising the chairperson of the CSA Legislative Committee regarding these matters;
Working with the officers and directors of CSA to support the CSA Code of Ethics.

VEGETABLE / FLOWER SEED /
GROWER SHIPPER LIAISON & PLANT HEALTH COMMITTEE: The Chairperson of the Vegetable Seed Section and the Committee have a most important duty in planning and conducting at least two meetings a year of Section Membership, as well as Special Meetings that may be necessary from time to time to promote harmony and good public relations, and for solving problems common to and affecting the membership of CSA. In addition, it is the responsibility of the Chairperson and the Committee to:

Work with the Chairperson of the Youth Activities Committee to solicit youth participation in vegetable crop projects;
Work with the Seed Industry Conference Planning Committee to organize the conference to the end that vegetable, flower seed and plant health problems are adequately covered in these conferences;
Provide input to CSA staff on pesticide registrations to ensure that agricultural chemicals required by the vegetable and flower seed industry are available for use in California;
Plan and carry out specific programs which affect the overall vegetable and flower seed industry of California;
Work with association officers and other committees to support the CSA Code of Ethics;
Advise and inform the Chairperson of the Legislative Committee to keep him/her abreast of changes that occur, or are projected, for the various laws and regulations, primarily in California, in order that he/she might act if necessary;
Chairperson serves automatically as voting member of CSA Board of Directors.

The Committee shall also maintain lines of communication between the seed industry and the vegetable grower and shipper community. CSA’s main activity on plant health issues has been to work with county agricultural commissioners, grower-shipper associations, the CDFA and seed testing laboratories to promote an effective Lettuce-Mosaic testing and control program. The committee will continue to address other plant health issues, particularly those that relate to seedborne diseases. However, all matters involving the relationship between the vegetable/produce industry and the seed industry fall under the jurisdiction of this committee. PLANT BREEDERS & BIOTECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE: Research Section: This section was established to provide an opportunity for close liaison between research personnel in University and College programs with those in member firms supporting C.S.A. With expanding research programs by industry, it is necessary to more closely examine the total program in operation by private and public agencies to assure that each can most effectively channel its programs to meet the needs for improved field and vegetable seed crops. The CSA Plant Breeders/Biotechnology Committee provides industry leadership in all matters pertaining to biotechnology as it applies to plant life and shall make recommendations to the CSA Board in all matters of federal and state legislation and regulation pertaining to the technology. Coverage includes research and development and commercial release into the environment of plant life modified through the application of genetically modified microorganisms. The committee deals with transgenic variety distribution issues of concern to the membership. The committee also recommends educational program topics for the CSA membership to increase understanding of the area, and develops a public awareness program to facilitate the acceptance of these new technologies. The Administrative Council for the Research Section is composed of equal representatives from public and private breeders. The Chairperson and Vice Chairperson are alternately chosen from public and private breeders with the Vice Chairperson annually succeeding the Chairperson in office. It is the duty of the officers to:

Plan and carry out specific subject matter programs in connection with the Annual Meeting of CSA;
To serve as a program committee for developing its portion of the program for the Seed Industry Conference;
To cooperate with the Field Seed/Seed Certification and with the Vegetable Seed Section in the study of and recommendations on such technical matters as may be assigned to it by the Chairperson and committees;
To maintain close contacts with legislative programs and inform the Legislative Chairperson on any subject that may have special significance to plant breeding in both public and private programs.

LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE: The work of this committee continues as the fundamental purpose of the CSA. While it primarily concerns itself with Intra State Seed Law and Regulations, the importance of California production also make it mandatory to be concerned with Federal law and legislation in other states. It is the duty of the Chairperson and the Committee to:

Study all proposed legislation that would affect the general membership;
To advise the Board of Directors of any recommended action to be taken;
To give suggestions, advice and instructions to the delegates to the California Seed Council, which should be part of this Committee;
To work with the appropriate government legislative people in presenting our views on legislation and regulation;
To maintain good relations with State enforcement personnel and the appropriate people in the State Department of Food and Agriculture.

YOUTH ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE: It is the responsibility of the Youth Activities Committee to effect the best possible relations with the public in general, and specifically with any and all youth associations interested in or working with agriculture and horticulture. The committee is to work with 4-H, FFA and the various agricultural colleges and universities in California as well as the electronic and print media. Youth Programs and Activities - The committee should maintain good relations with the University of California Cooperative Extension Service and its 4-H representatives and, should also maintain relations with all FFA groups and their correlating and supervising entities at both state and local levels. In furthermore of these objectives, it is the policy of CSA that such youth groups shall be encouraged by public recognition by awards, and it shall be the object of the Committee and its chairperson to induce the total membership of CSA and agriculture in general, to be responsive to the needs of agriculturally oriented youth groups whenever and wherever possible. It shall be the duty of the Chairperson to call such meetings as necessary for furtherance of the objectives of the committee.

INDUSTRY COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE: This committee will work to increase the perception of the value of seed in the supply chain and improve communication, both within the CSA and between CSA members and the supply chain. The duties and activities of the Industry Communications Committee are:

To ensure that information flows quickly and efficiently between the CSA staff and the membership, in both directions;
To develop strategies for disseminating information about the California seed industry that will increase in the supply chain the perception of the value of the products, services and technologies offered by CSA members.

Public Relations - Attention will be focused not only on media serving the general public, but media specifically serving agriculture and the seed industry. The committee will assist CSA staff in identifying topic areas and issues as they arise for action through association press releases, opinion editorials, letters to the editor and other means of media contact. The committee may also host media events and tours to better inform the press about issues facing the seed industry.

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE: The 1st Vice President will serve as Chairperson of this committee and the 2nd Vice President will serve as Vice Chairperson. The Associate member on the Board will serve as the Membership Chairperson for the Associate category of membership. The purpose of this committee is to retain current membership levels as well as obtain new members. The ultimate goal is for this committee to achieve growth and strengthen the membership base for the California Seed Association. The duties and activities of the Membership Committee are:

To recognize that quantity in membership is important, and quantity of membership is vital;
To seek out membership for those active and participating directly in the seed industry;
Seek out those in allied businesses for Associate Membership;
Recommend the approval of the Board of Directors of the names proposed;
Acknowledge new member sponsoring firms;
Form a three member club for those who sponsor three or more members and provide incentives;
Have membership committee meetings at the convention and the mid year.