Attendees at GEAPS International Board of Directors meeting posed for a photo in the historic stockyards of Fort Worth, TX during a recent meeting. Photos by Jack Crone, Christie’s Photographic Solutions.
While the calendar tells a different tale, we’re about to begin a new year at the Grain Elevator and Processing Society (GEAPS).
GEAPS’ fiscal and membership year begins July 1. A new year is a fresh start – a beginning full of possibilities and a grand time to make resolutions.
Members who have not renewed their memberships are at risk of losing their member benefits. With a new year at our doorstep, it would be a shame to leave the dynamic, growing, industry-forward association that is GEAPS.
As members repeatedly say, the more a person puts into GEAPS, the more they get out of it.
We want members to get a lot out of their GEAPS membership.
Sure, it’s possible to become a member and merely get an inbox full of emails and enjoy a discount or two, but that’s not why GEAPS was formed nearly a century ago by a couple of elevator superintendents who got together and started talking about how an organization like GEAPS could help them better address the challenges of running grain facilities.
We were called Society of Grain Elevator Superintendents (SOGES). Our founding members first met in Chicago, IL until chapters began sprouting in grain centers around the Great Lakes and across North America.
While our predecessors went about their work differently nearly a century ago, the mission was the same. After farmers did their part, our predecessors did theirs as they worked to feed and fuel the world just as we all do now.
Objectives and Values
Like many organizations, GEAPS operates under a set of objectives and values. They are timeless and represent all of us. No matter your role in our vital industry, as you read through the list you will likely find yourself nodding your head. That’s because no matter our role, whether we wear steel-toe boots or polo shirts with embroidered logos, we all have a common purpose. We aren’t just going to work to collect a paycheck. We are part of something much bigger.
• Agriculture matters: The grain industry and its professionals feed the world.
• Relationships matter: People – and operating with integrity – drive our network and business.
• Intelligence matters: We apply information, innovation, knowledge and training to make progress and evolve.
• Responsibility matters: We are stewards of the grain industry and have a focus on sustainability, safety, and quality initiatives.
• Inclusion matters: We are welcoming and understand that diverse people and opinions make us stronger.
• Membership matters: Members choose to be part of something bigger by joining GEAPS, and we prioritize their value.
Reading the list above, it’s easy to see where we all fit and easy to see how we all belong. GEAPS celebrates that work, cultivates relationships, and strengthens our industry.
International Board of Directors
GEAPS soon will announce those elected to serve on GEAPS International Board of Directors. Chairman Chris Blair will leave the board after nine years of dedicated service. We will miss his contributions and are grateful Blair will continue to be a part of the association. He also is part of a newly formed education committee at GEAPS, which had its first meeting on the campus of Iowa State University this spring.
With Blair’s exit, Chuck Kunisch moves up from his role as president to chairman. Austin Carpenter will move up from his position as first vice president to serve our association as president.
Other positions will be announced in July. We are confident, with these leaders in place, GEAPS will continue to grow and thrive to better serve our grain industry.
“GEAPS is a member-driven organization, and our board really takes that to heart. It’s one of the most understated benefits of membership GEAPS offers: hands-on leadership development and practice. Whether at the chapter level, committee level or international board level, GEAPS is building the industry’s next leaders,” says GEAPS Executive Director John Caupert.
One needn’t be on GEAPS International Board of Directors to have a significant role within GEAPS.
Every member has a voice and is encouraged to use it! You have the power to get the most out of your membership.
When you’re a part of GEAPS, you’re part of the global grain community. We encourage you to immerse yourself in all GEAPS has to offer – from gaining skills in training and education programs, attending chapter events, networking and sharing ideas from colleagues near and far, having access to online training and getting discounts on so many opportunities, getting involved with volunteer leadership and attending events – GEAPS is the place thousands of grain industry professionals come together to learn, amplify their voice, excel in their career, and make a true difference as they work to feed and fuel the world.
Together, we’re going to have a wonderful year.
Jessica Waltzer
Communications Manager
Grain Elevator and Processing Society (GEAPS)