LAUREL, Md. -- The Retailer's Bakery Association here has approved a restructuring that will provide more representation of in-store bakeries on its board of directors.
The RBA board voted to OK the new plan at its annual meeting, held this year in San Antonio, Oct. 13 to 15. Last year, the board appointed a task force to examine its membership makeup and election procedures.
The new structure assures that there will be at least seven members on the board who represent in-store bakeries. The 35- to 45-member board had previously included only two or three representatives from the supermarket industry.
"In essence, this will make the organization more responsive to the specific needs of the in-store community and will make it more conducive to their participation," said Peter Houstle, RBA executive vice president.
"It's conceivable now that an in-store representative could be elected president of RBA. Previously, it was unlikely just because the pool to draw from was so small," Houstle added.
He said the restructuring plan is aimed at three goals: 1) to establish a board of directors that is more representative of all segments of today's baking industry, 2) create a stronger network between RBA and affiliate associations and 3) allow broader participation in the electing of board members.
The new structure also provides three local affiliate organizations, and the current chairperson or president of the RBA National Bagel Board, RBA National Donut Board, Bread Bakers Guild of America and Allied Advisory Committee will have seats on the board.
The RBA board also elected officers for 1997. They are: president -- Alan Harvey, Ye Olde English Bakery & Deli, Temple, Texas; first vice president -- Randy McArthur, McArthur's Party Cake Bakery, St. Louis; second vice president -- Michael Manni, LaSalle Bakery, Providence, R.I.; third vice president -- Terry Wagner, Olde Time Pastries, Turlock, Calif.; and treasurer -- Hans Nadler, Nadler's Bakery & Delicatessen, San Antonio.
