7 seats on U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council open for election

The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) is seeking nominations for individuals to fill seven positions on the council.

Current terms of four USHBC Regional Members, as well as a USHBC importer, exporter, and a public member will close at the end of 2018. Nomination packets for USHBC Regional Member positions will be sent by the USHBC to growers in each of the four regions — Western, Midwest, Northeast and Southern — this January. Included in the nomination packet will be a USHBC Nomination Application Form and instructions, a USHBC Information Sheet and mailing envelope.

Nomination packet information will also be posted on the USHBC website at www.blueberry.org.

The USHBC regional member nominations by growers in each region will take place over a five-week period from January 22 to February 26, 2018. Please send your nominee information to the USHBC prior to the February 26 closing date. Nominations received after February 26 will not appear on the final printed USHBC ballot.

Following the nomination period, individual USHBC Regional Ballots will be sent to growers in each of the four regions on April 23, 2018. Ballots will list nominees from the region along with their candidate statement. Space will be available on the ballot to indicate any write-in candidate as well. Ballot instructions and a mailing envelope will also be included in the ballot packet. Ballots will also be posted on the USHBC website in downloadable form. Elections will take place over a five-week period from April 23 to May 25, 2018. Regional Members, as well as Importer, Exporter and Public Members, will assume their USHBC positions starting January 1, 2019, for a three-year term.

The USHBC Industry Relations Committee will also be accepting nominees in 2018 to be considered by the Committee for the Importer #1 (1 member position), Exporter #1* (1 member position) and Public Member (1 member position) and their Alternates on the Council. Nominees for these positions are also being sought for the three-year term that begins on January 1, 2019. The USHBC Industry Relations Committee will present a slate of nominees to the USHBC Executive Committee by February 5, 2018. The Council will then make final candidate selections at the USHBC Spring Meeting on March 2, 2018. At this meeting, the Council will recommend to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture a final candidate for member and alternate, along with two additional candidates for each of these three positions for consideration by the Secretary for final appointment.

Blueberry industry members interested in being considered for the USHBC Importer, Exporter or Public Member and Alternate positions are encouraged to contact the USHBC office at 916-983-0111 and complete and send (or email to mvillata@ushbc.org) the USHBC Importer, Exporter, Public Member Nominee Application (OMB No. 0581-0093) to the USHBC office no later than Monday, January 29, 2018.

The USHBC has adopted a diversity outreach plan to attempt to achieve a diverse representation on the Council. USHBC programs are open to all individuals without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, genetic information, parental status, and marital or family status. It is USHBC policy that membership on the Council and its committees reflect the diversity of individuals served by its programs.

To accomplish this objective, the USHBC will strive to attain the representation of growers and other industry participants from diverse backgrounds on the Council and USHBC committees. To this end, the USHBC strongly encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to seek nominations to the USHBC and to participate in Council and USHBC committee activities.

All members of the blueberry industry are encouraged to attend and participate in USHBC meetings and are asked to also consider future service with the USHBC as an elected member or alternate. Please contact the USHBC office at (916) 983-0111 if you have any questions concerning the USHBC or for more information about USHBC member or alternate positions.

Above: The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council Fall Metting, October 13, 2017, at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids, Michigan.