58 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN February 2024 NC’S POLICY MAKING PROCESS LAURA FIELD | NC EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT One of Nebraska Cattlemen’s principal tenets is policy development. As a grassroots organization, Nebraska Cattlemen (NC) policy begins and ends with members. Each NC member can influence the policy-making process through involvement in a variety of ways. NC policy is stated in two forms. The first, resolutions, are objective and require action. Resolutions in their entirety constitute the current NC action plan and, at any given time, there may be more than 100 resolutions on record. The second form, policy statements, clearly define NC’s position on matters critical to the purposes and objectives of the association and its members. Policy statements do not necessarily require any current action. Nebraska Cattlemen policy is developed via a process that begins with individual members who submit proposed ideas to their local affiliate, to a respective council (Feedlot, Seedstock, Farmer-Stockman or Cow-Calf), to one of the six policy study committees (Animal Health and Nutrition, Brand and Property Rights, Education, Natural Resources and Environment, Education and Taxation) or from the floor to the membership at the NC Annual Meeting. Policy can also be submitted by an affiliate to one of the policy study committees. Once proposed, policy is reviewed and approved by a council or committee with a simple majority vote of those active members in attendance in the council or committee meeting. The policy is then forwarded to the Resolutions Committee, which reviews the policy and prepares it for presentation to the full membership at the annual meeting. The policy is then brought before members at the annual business meeting, discussed, possibly amended and either adopted or rejected by a majority vote of the active members present. Policy that is introduced on the floor of the annual meeting without first being approved by the previous steps must be presented to the membership in proper written form and approved by the NC president who presides over the annual meeting. Upon presentation, the policy will be discussed, possibly amended and either adopted or rejected by a two-thirds vote of the active members present at the annual meeting. Nebraska Cattlemen does not allow voting by proxy at any level, so if a member wants to vote on policy, they must be in attendance at the annual meeting when the policy is considered and voted on. The NC Board of Directors has the authority to develop and enact interim policy between annual membership meetings on any subject or matters not covered at the previous annual meeting. Interim policy will be considered by the appropriate NC policy study committee and the Nebraska Cattlemen membership at the next annual meeting. The board of directors is also empowered to interpret current resolutions and, when unforeseen circumstances arise, they may, with prudence, modify existing resolutions by a two-thirds vote of present and voting board members. This is a rare occurrence but is allowed by NC bylaws. Resolutions and policy statements must be renewed every other year at the annual meeting, or they expire. If the action of a resolution has been completed, a committee may choose to modify and present it as a policy statement for consideration. Policy development is arguably one of the most important NC member responsibilities. Once policy is adopted by members, it is that policy that directs and guides the association’s work in the year ahead. Without policy, the association will not engage on issues important to members’ livelihoods. If you have questions about the policy process, please reach out to the Nebraska Cattlemen office. ~NC~ POLICY INDIVIDUAL MEMBER COUNCIL / COMMITTEE LOCAL AFFILATE POLICY STUDY COMMITTEE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE FULL MEMBERSHIP NC BOARD RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE NC POLICY FLOW NEBRASKA CATTLEMEN RESOLUTIONS/POLICY
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