Farm Bureau out of touch with freedom Friday, October 19, 2001 Napa Valley Register

Dear editor,

Farm Bureau out of touch with freedom Friday, October 19, 2001 Napa Valley Register Dear editor,
Congratulations to Supervisor Bill Dodd for taking to task the Napa County Farm Bureau and its President Tom Gamble during the Montalcino discussion for being out of touch with its members and community (Napa Valley Register, Oct. 10).

How can Mr. Gamble claim that he speaks for nearly all 1,100 Farm Bureau members when he and his board of directors have never asked the membership what their opinions are?

Mr. Gamble's representation that "He was elected unopposed by the 1,100-member organization and speaks for nearly all of them" is disingenuous at best.
Of those 1,100 members more than one-third belong to the Farm Bureau's insurance program and as non-farmers are non-voting members.

Of the actual voting members, only 12 percent showed up to the annual meeting last July and voted for the officers and directors. Members have no choice when voting for president of the Farm Bureau because they are not allowed any choice -- the by-laws prohibit it.
Additionally, this Byzantine and secretive organization prohibits members from knowing who their fellow members are. I, and other members, have asked for a membership roster and were informed that "official" Farm Bureau policy prohibits any member from having or accessing the membership list.

Not only is the Farm Bureau's leadership out of touch with our community and its members, but it is out of touch with the basic principles of democracy.

Stuart Smith