President's Letter

December 2011

TO:	NATIONAL COTTON COUNCIL Officers, Board Members, Delegates, Alternates, Advisors and Guests

The 2012 Annual Meeting in Fort Worth, Texas, is the second under our new shortened meeting format. There are several important considerations for you to note.  The first events will begin at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, February 10. The convention’s final event, the General Session, begins at 10:00 a.m. and concludes by 12:00 noon on Sunday, February 12. Meeting travel should be arranged in accordance with the Board’s policy for payment of expenses, which can be found on the last page of this book. Also, due to the new format, hospitality tours will not be offered through the Council. However, the hotel concierge can assist you with available options.

Policy development at the 2012 Annual Meeting will begin with the six program committee meetings on Saturday morning, followed by Board review of the program committee recommendations that afternoon and consideration by all delegates as the first business item in Sunday morning's General Session. Also included in this session will be a 2011 activities report from Council Chairman Charles Parker.

Policy recommendations are distributed to Council delegates prior to the Annual Meeting. All changes made in Fort Worth by the program committees and Board will be distributed for review during the interest caucus meetings on Saturday afternoon. This opportunity to review the program committee recommendations in depth will enable the delegate body to consider the resolutions during Sunday's General Session without a lengthy review process. This approach is not meant to circumvent any debate or discussion. Delegates will have the opportunity to initiate discussion on the recommendations during Sunday's session.

Every Council delegate has been asked to serve on one of the six program committees. Because these committees meet on Saturday morning, delegates and program committee advisors should arrive in Fort Worth on Friday. The resolution process and conduct of other official business of the Council are intended to promote maximum attendance at Sunday morning's General Session. Accordingly, all delegates should arrange departures late enough on Sunday afternoon to permit attendance and participation during the entire Sunday morning program.

Special activities include the "Welcome to Fort Worth" reception for all attendees on Friday night, the Saturday Luncheon and the Prayer Breakfast on Sunday morning. Business attire is appropriate for all meeting events.

I encourage all Annual Meeting attendees to thank our sponsors for their generous support. I look forward to seeing you in Fort Worth.

Sincerely,

Mark Lange
President & CEO