The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) is now accepting applications for the organization’s Advisory Teams, known as A-teams, for the 2019-2021 term. A-teams are comprised of USGC members who provide insight and guidance on designated topics to the Council’s staff and Board of Directors.
“Being an Advisory Team member is a great way to become more knowledgeable about the Council’s export market development work and bring your organization’s perspective and ideas to the Council’s program planning process,” said USGC Chairman Jim Stitzlein in a communication to members about the call for applications. “Sharing your expertise provides valuable insight and guidance to the Council staff and the USGC Board of Directors.”
The Council aims to empower A-team members to become leading global thinkers who are recognized experts on trade policy issues. These dedicated individuals, in turn, assist the Council in effectively engaging influential decisions-makers in global markets to achieve mutual success.
The input from A-teams and the Council’s international staff also forms the backbone of the Council’s operational blueprint and long-term planning document, which allows the organization to apply for funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA’s FAS).
The Council has seven A-teams, each focused on a specific area of the Council’s global programming, including:
- Asia
- Ethanol
- Innovation and Sustainability
- Middle East/Africa
- Trade Policy
- Value-Added
- Western Hemisphere
Completed applications should be submitted by April 26. The incoming USGC chairman will finalize and announce A-team appointments before the USGC Board of Delegates meeting in July, and new A-team members will begin their terms on Aug. 6.
Find the application for A-team participation online here. Please return completed applications to Maria Murphy, USGC manager of membership administration, at mmurphy@grains.org with “A-teams” in the subject line.
About The U.S. Grains Council
The U.S. Grains Council develops export markets for U.S. barley, corn, sorghum and related products including distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and ethanol. With full-time presence in 28 locations, the Council operates programs in more than 50 countries and the European Union. The Council believes exports are vital to global economic development and to U.S. agriculture’s profitability. Detailed information about the Council and its programs is online at www.grains.org.