Time of Reflection
Greg Ruehle, CEO
Greetings from Branson, Missouri! I write this update mid-way through the USSSA National 10-Under fastpitch softball tournament, where our daughter's team is competing with 60 other teams from across the country. We are half-way through the week's activities are doing well, but each game gets more competitive.
Like the thousands of other parents and family members, I am amazed at how well nearly 800 young ladies are playing in 95+ degree heat (and 100+ heat index) - at this level of competition, every pitch, every hit and every inning matters, and we encourage our girls to "leave it all on the field" each and every game. With a 3-1 record so far, they have been following our requests.
I am reminded of how funny it is that life runs in parallels - independent, regional seed companies experience the same type of competition - every bag, every acre and every product matter, and you can't be successful unless your every effort in product development and customer service "leaves it all on the field."
Because of rain delays, young ladies have played games that finished well past midnight, and most were back on the fields before 8 AM the following day. Because the seed industry has experienced such dramatic changes in the past few years, seed companies follow a similar schedule and start at sunup and working much of the year well past sundown.
It is important that these regional entities have someone working "in their corner" - the reason that nearly 100 of them came together over 20 years ago to form the Independent Professional Seed Association (IPSA). During these past two decades, IPSA has provided strong and consistent support to regional, independent seed companies through a variety of programs and services.
But times are changing, and IPSA must change along with it. To help address the changes facing our members, IPSA has initiated a process to secure assistance and expertise in three key areas:
- Ø Conduct a survey of IPSA members and non-members regarding their satisfaction with and expectations for IPSA.
- Ø Develop a ‘futurist' presentation for the 2011 IPSA Annual Conference to help regional, independent seed companies anticipate the future and how they might take advantage of changes they will face.
- Ø Support and facilitation for IPSA's biennial strategic planning effort during the first quarter of 2011.
The Board is currently evaluating several proposals to address these needs, and I look forward to their final decision and to initiating this process. I hope that each of you will take time to complete the survey, and to participate in the ‘futurist' presentation at the next Annual Conference.
If I can be of assistance in the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact the office.
Greg Ruehle