NEWS IN A NUTSHELL
Co-op Election Season Kicks Off
Blue Diamond members are encouraged to exercise one of their rights and responsibilities as owners of the cooperative:
electing members of the board of directors and grower liaison committees. The annual election is an opportunity for
members to help shape policy through the ballot box or run for a seat to represent their own district. Member involvement
is crucial to the success of any cooperative and is even more so to Blue Diamond as it competes in a fast-changing, highly
competitive industry.
Blue Diamond
offers members a
number of ways to be involved and
affect policy:
• Participation in district and
annual meetings;
• Discussions with district directors
and field supervisors;
• Voting in elections; and
• Service on a Liaison Committee,
the Advisory Committee or
board of directors.
You will have an opportunity to
participate in several of those
activities between now and the
end of the year. While the summer
round of district meetings is held in
July, you will have an opportunity to
attend
Blue Diamond
’s 108th Annual
Member Meeting in Modesto on
Wednesday, November 14, 2018. Put
the date on your calendar and plan
to attend!
Board of Directors
Being a director on the board of
Blue Diamond Growers
provides
a unique opportunity for a grower-
owner to be a significant contributor
to the ongoing success of the leading
grower-owned cooperative and
marketer of almond products. There
has never been a more exciting time
to consider running for a seat on the
board of directors.
As representatives of the
cooperative’s grower-owners, the
board monitors the performance
of the Chief Executive Officer and
collaborates with the CEO and
Blue Diamond
’s Leadership Team on
strategic direction with the mission
of maximizing the return for each
grower who entrusts their almonds
to
Blue Diamond
. Serving as a
director is a significant responsibility,
requiring the time and commitment to
fulfill the powers and duties of the
board of directors as defined in the
corporation bylaws and to prepare
for, attend, and actively participate
in scheduled
Blue Diamond
meetings
and events.
Annually, three board seats are
subject to an election either to
re-elect the incumbent or choose a
new director. Each seat represents
a specific district. The director
position from Districts 1, 4, and 6
are those that will stand for election
during the 2018 cycle. Incumbents
from all three districts will be
running for re-election.
Those considering running for a
director position should understand
there is a significant time commitment
for the three-year position. All-day
board meetings occur typically
five times each year. Directors also
participate on various committees
of the board which typically occur
the day before a board meeting.
Also, attendance at Grower Liaison
Committee (twice a year) and
Advisory Committee (once a year)
meetings is common practice, and
the board and management have
an annual three-day strategic
planning session. Invitations to
represent
Blue Diamond
at political
fundraisers and other events/
meetings also commonly occur,
as well as opportunities to attend
industry-related conferences.
Preparation time for board and
committee meetings and the travel
time to meetings and events needs
to be considered.
Directors should:
• Act in a manner consistent with
their fiduciary duties of loyalty
and care.
• Demonstrate integrity and
independent judgment, including
the ability to understand and
exercise sound judgment
on issues related to the
corporation’s goals.
• Have business or professional
skills and experience that will
contribute to the effectiveness of
the board and its committees.
• Intend to foster a long-term value
for the corporation’s members.
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A L M O N D F A C T S
