Dates: 

• March 25, p.m., Annual Meeting
• March 26: Advanced Training
• March 27 - 28 (a.m.): Training - Introduction to Social Compliance Auditing

Where: Chico Hot Springs Resort & Day Spa, Pray, Montana, about 40 miles north of Yellowstone National Park, the first park in the extensive US national park system. IOIA will have full run of the Conference Center throughout the event for the annual meeting and training. The center has a stone fireplace, a cash bar, hardwood floors, and a stunning view of the mountains of the Paradise Valley. Not all roads will be open in the park, but roads with access to the northern part of the park should be open. Horseback riding, dogsledding, yoga classes, spa treatments, and other activities can be booked through the Chico website.

Two open-air natural, chemical-free mineral hot springs pools are geothermally heated every day of the year. Neither are treated with any chlorine or other chemicals, and both pools are drained daily. The Chico restaurant is considered one of the best in Montana, and an on-site saloon and pool-side grill add to a good range of food choices. The nearest airport is Bozeman (BZN), now the largest airport in Montana, an hour away. Chico is located in the spectacular Paradise Valley, about 45 minutes north of Yellowstone National Park, in an area of abundant wildlife. There is a day spa that includes massage services. Activities include horseback riding. This is a great place to bring the family! Check it out at https://www.chicohotsprings.com

Reservations may be made by calling Chico at (406) 333-4933 to book within the International Organic Inspectors Association room block. It is not possible to book online in the IOIA room block. You must call the hotel to book within the IOIA room block. The block is available Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. You can add Sunday night or Friday night at the same rate, but it is important to book early, as rooms will be limited for those extra nights. The rooms vary from quaint with sink/no bathroom and shared bathrooms in the hall in the historic main lodge for $130, to similar rooms with private bathrooms for $160, to fully modern rooms in the newer structures for $255/night. Taxes are additional. Note: there are no TVs in any rooms on the property. 

You may register for a room reservation any time. You will pay the hotel directly when you check out. Advanced Training registration will be open by mid-January, with a deadline to apply by mid-February.  IOIA anticipates that the room block will fill up, so members are encouraged to book early.

Annual Meeting (hybrid online/in-person format) on the afternoon of Tuesday, March 25, with music, no-host bar, and live benefit auction to follow throughout the evening. Keynote and lunch starting at 12:30 p.m., with the annual meeting beginning at 2:30 p.m. Keynote address will be rancher Glenn Elzinga of Alderspring Ranch, Salmon, Idaho, with “What Beaver Taught Us”.  Board members will be elected via the online voting platform Election Runner. The election will end during the annual meeting, to ensure that everyone has a chance to vote.

Keynote speaker Glenn Elzinga, a stellar storyteller, has a background in Forestry. His wife Caryl has MS and PhD degrees in Environmental Studies with an emphasis on community plant ecology in wetland and riparian systems. She is the lead author of Monitoring Plant and Animal Populations: a Handbook for Field Biologists, a book for students and practitioners in managing wild landscapes. They started Alderspring Ranch in 1992 with the purchase of 147 acres and 7 cows. They began marketing grass-fed and finished beef in 1993 with 2 head. From these humble beginnings, their enterprise grew to a 7-figure direct marketing enterprise and a 1700-acre ranch with a 46,000-acre wild rangeland permit. The entire operation is certified organic. They are working on innovative approaches to restoring their wild mountain rangelands, working in partnership with agencies and The Nature Conservancy. For more information about Glenn, Caryl, and their fascinating partnership with the wild, see www.alderspring.com.

AGM Draft Agenda

Board Candidate Bios

Proxy Form

Advanced Training is under development in collaboration with Regenerative Organic Alliance for Wed-Thurs March 26-27, with the focus on March 26 being environmental and soil health monitoring and other topics still under discussion. The theme of this training will be “The Future of Organic Inspecting – What will inspecting look like in 10 years?”

The training on March 27 will be an Introduction to Social Compliance Auditing and a field trip (weather permitting). NOP does not address social compliance, but triple bottom line sustainability is becoming increasingly important for commerce, especially to European markets and many consumers. Organic operators find themselves needing add-on labels to satisfy markets. Social compliance is a key aspect of the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). Those who wish to earn a Certificate for the Social Compliance auditing session should plan to stay through the morning of March 28. This course will assist organic inspectors in learning how to navigate what is required for approval to do social compliance auditing. The information covered will be also useful and applicable for organic inspectors conducting organic inspections. The agenda will be posted here shortly. Training will be open to register for advanced training days individually.

Who:  The advanced training team currently includes Kathe Purvis, Western Australia, social compliance auditor and organic inspector; Ryan Sitler, the GOTS representative in North America; Elizabeth Whitlow, Regenerative Organic Alliance; and Nate Powell-Palm, who farms and ranches in the area. Sitler and Whitlow are former organic inspectors and Sitler served on the IOIA board of directors. Purvis is currently serving on the board and will lead the social compliance training. Powell-Palm was the recent chair of the USDA’s National Organic Standards Board.

Advanced Training Agenda (draft)

Speaker Bios

Travel: Nearest airport is Bozeman (BZN) about an hour away, the largest and busiest airport in Montana. Billings (about 2.5 hours) is also an option and avoids mountain passes. Rental cars and carpooling are recommended as the best way to get to Chico. There is no shuttle to the airport, although there are some local transportation services. Silverback Transportation (406-551-0721) can be booked with 24 hours advance notice for pickup or departure.

Meals: The Chico Dining Room - one of the best restaurants in Montana - offers fine dining at its Montana best. Dinner reservations must be booked early. Other eating options are available in the Poolside Grille and the Saloon. IOIA will provide lunch on-site each day during the Annual Meeting and the Advanced Training.