ONE of the most important talents a person must have to succeed is the ability to communicate, say what needs to be said and listen to the response.

It does not matter when or where - be it the kitchen, board room, milking shed or sporting field - it is essential to talk!

Not just words. They must express clearly what needs to be said in the tone of voice that maybe different in all of the places mentioned.

It seems little communication took place with the appointment of United Dairyfarmers of Victoria president Doug Chant to the Gardiner Foundation board.

The foundation board had decided a change of board membership was desirable and former UDV president Max Fehring was drawn as the first person to be replaced.

Chairman Chris Nixon, on behalf of the board, spoke with the foundation's three shareholders: UDV 50 per cent, manufacturers and processors 25 per cent each.

Chris spoke to Doug, who obviously did not discuss his appointment with the UDV central council or they would not be as upset as they are, and should be, due to lack of facts.

Apparently, this is not the first time the central council has not been fully informed on matters by the president. Any action should have been taken in the normal democratic way at the last annual conference when Doug was re-elected for the third time unopposed, so it is a bit late to be complaining and blaming the wrong people, in this case the Victorian Farmers Federation executive.

Over the past decade, there has been much change taking place in the management of the VFF and from dairy farmers' point of view, not always good, especially in the financial areas.

And this all comes back to the lack of good plain honest open discussion and debate with all the facts and figures on the table for all to see, from the newest member to the top. Over the past eight years this has not always happened.

A farmer organisation cannot be run like a corporate board of a company. It may seem like a good idea to those at the top, but farmer members are not only shareholders, they are also managing directors of their own very large business operations. They expect to be treated accordingly by being fully informed with the facts and likely effect of changes proposed. Good leaders know that if they want to bring the members with them, they must understand the reasons.

Likewise, it is time for Gardiner Foundation board to conduct meetings around the state to inform dairy farmers and answer questions about future planning and what they have achieved since inception. A recent document that went before the board contained several inaccuracies.