Berks Farmers 9 Assn, starts membership drive © By LAUREL SCHAEFFER Staff Correspondent LEESPORT - Berks County Farmers’ Association kicked-off their annual membership drive December 11, as more than 20 committeemen met at the Berks County Agricultural Center, here, to organize “One of the most important things the Association does each year,” described Gerald Stephens, manager of program development and training with the Penn sylvania Farmers’ Association. Stephens addressed the group, encouraging the members to continue to do anoutstanding job. “You are the model for other Coun ties,” he told the farmers, “but you have to stay on r i i t SWOPE & BASHORE, INC. RDI. MYERSTOWN. PA Located 1 Mile S. of Int. 78 & 6 Miles N. of Myerstown your toes, even top brass can lose it’s shine.” Stephens was refering to the recent accomplishments made by the County association, including the honor of being named this years All Star County of the Pennsylvania Fanners’ Association. Berks has won this award, the highest recognition a County can receive, six times. Stephens, who is also the field service manager for regions I, n, and IV, em phasized the importance of agriculture and the need for a strong organization such as the Farmers’ Association. Especially in these times when farmers are under constant pressure from state regulations. He pointed out bills passed by the legislature which have been IHWWtMHIIMNKI / \ \ A* V on Rt. 645 in Frystown PHONE: 717-933-4138 helpful to the farmers, because of the clout exerted by this organization. These accomplishments include a bill extempting the farmer from sales tax on many agricultural products. “If we are going to solve some of the problems of agriculture, then you, the members of the Penn sylvania Farmers’ Association will be the ones to do it,” Stephens con cluded. Heading the membership drive for the County, are Lloyd Dreibelbis, Shoemakersville, and Harry Shaak, Hamburg, who is co chairmen. So far they have enrolled more than half of the members needed to reach the County goal of 1047. Reaching the mem bership goal is one of several prerequisites needed to be eligible for the All Star County Award each year. Jack Kooker, County president, mentioned that the annual dues were in creased this year to $4O. He explained that $29 now go to the state association and $ll are for the County association. The County dues are used for such things as: newsletters, PACMA orders, postage and phone calls, County board materials, County directories, legislative and training meetings, public displays, insurance, conventions, and The Voice, a weekly newsletter published by the state association. Kooker and the co chairman of the mem bership drive added that the farmers of Berks County are assured of-lhe benefits of a strong organization by their membership dues, and their dues are an investment in one of the most effective farm family organizations. and your family share a Christmas full of joy and merriment, in the warmth of each other’s love! Our thanks to you all. M B I •„ Lloyd Oreibelbis, Harry Shaak, Jack Kooker, and Irene Grim, membership processor (standing left to right) help to kick off the Berks County Farmers’ Association membership drive. “The Berks County Far- to remain free to formulate agriculture, then we need to mere’ Association is the action to achieve develop- , , . ... voice of agriculture here in ment of a most profitable De me ™hers of this Berks County, and if we are and perminant system of association,” Kooker said. on nitrite additive controversy WASHINGTON, D.C. - The General Accounting Office (GAO) plans to in vestigate the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) and USDA’s handling of the controversial nitrite issue. Seven congressman have called for a probe to find out why the agencies didn’t evaluate research submitted by the Massachusets In stitute of Technology. The agencies allegedly had the report for four months. lowa State University scientists and' the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) have both been highly critical of the MIT report in evaluations. No results are expected from in vestigations until January. Lancaster Farming, Saturday, December 23,1978 GAO to investigate FDA It is also noted that the Agriculture Department and Food and Drug Ad ministration have asked the scientific community and government researchers to evaluate the MIT study to determine if further research is needed. Ac cording to reports, the dosage in rats tested was equal to human consumption of 23 tons of bacon and drippings daily for 70 years. /'' * , ' s>s St'S / /* s i s '*/* ' , . v. . i * y f V/ V / 55
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