The Organization for Competitive Markets will hold its kickoff organizational meeting at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri (near the airport) on August 25-26, 1998.  The agenda for the meeting is attached.

 The press is welcome to attend to cover the proceedings.  The meeting will be open to the press all day on August 25, 1998 and after 3:00 pm on August 26, 1998.  The meeting will be closed to all but OCM members between 8:30 am and 3:00 pm on August 26, 1998.

 The following is additional information about the panelists and speakers:

Working Group #1:
 Randy Beard:  Private attorney experienced in litigation against meat packers.
 Robert Cook: Private attorney experienced in litigation against meat packers.
Dr. John Helmuth:  Agricultural economist, formerly with Iowa State University.
Neal Smith:  Former Congressman from Iowa on House Agriculture Committee.

Working Group #2:
 Eric Tabor:  Lawyer and agriculture expert with Iowa Attorney General's Office.
 Paul Strandberg:  Lawyer and agriculture expert with Minnesota Attorney General's Office.
 Dr. William Heffernan:  Rural sociologist, University of Missouri.
 Dr. John Helmuth:  (See above).

Working Group #3:
 Robert Bergland:  Former Secretary of United States Department of Agriculture.
 Tom Bius:  Vice President of Government Relations, National Farmers Union.
 Gilles Stockton:  Agriculture Issue Team member, Western Organization of Resource Councils.

Dinner Speaker:
Dr. Harold Breimyer: Rural sociologist, University of Missouri.

 This meeting is a significant event for agriculture.  The future viability of independent agriculture is at stake.  The new Organization for Competitive Markets intends to be an influential voice for independent agriculture and rural communities.

AGENDA
Organizational Meeting
August 25-26, 1998
Embassy Suites Hotel
Kansas City, Missouri

Day 1 - August 25, 1998

7:30 - 8:30 am - Registration

8:30 - 9:00 am - Invocation and introductory remarks
Brother David Andrews
Fred Stokes, co-chair, OCM Steering Committee

9:00 - 9:45 am -Introduction of members and guests Clay Daulton, co-chair, OCM Steering Committee

9:45 - 10:00 pm -  Break

10:00 - 12:00 pm -  Working Group #1
Unfair trade practices in the meat packing industry
Panel members: Randy Beard, Robert Cook, John Helmuth, and Neal Smith

12:00 - 1:00 pm -  Lunch

1:00 - 3:00 pm -  Working Group #2
Industry consolidation in food processing/retailing
Panel members: Eric Tabor, Paul Strandberg, William Heffernan, and John Helmuth

3:00 - 3:15 pm  -  Break

3:15 - 5:15 pm -  Working Group #3
Relations with government and the public
Panel members: Robert Bergland, Tom Bius and Gilles Stockton

7:00 - 9:00 pm -  Dinner
Speaker:  Dr. Harold Breimyer

Day 2 - August 26, 1998

8:30 - 9:45 am - Operating principles approval
Member discussion and vote

9:45 -10:00 pm - Break

10:00 - 12:00 pm - Organizational policies and issues Member discussion and vote

12:00 - 1:00 pm - Lunch

1:00 - 3:00 pm - Election of Board of Directors
Member discussion and vote

3:00 - 3:30 pm - Concluding remarks

4:00 - 6:00 pm - Board of Directors meeting