During the eight decades since its inception, the mission and objectives of GEAPS haven't changed much. It was in 1927 when two elevator superintendents first started talking about launching an organization to help them deal with the operations challenges of running their grain facilities. The exchange of grain operations ideas and information is the foundation of GEAPS' mission.
"GEAPS: An international professional society dedicated to providing its members with forums to generate leadership, innovation and excellence in grain-related industry operations."
While many of today's operations challenges are new and more complex, the concept of getting together to share ideas and find solutions is a familiar one. Currently, thirty GEAPS chapters are engaged in providing that same sort of forum for some 2,400 members across the U.S. and Canada. Those and other members around the world, exchange ideas and information through an array of programs and services including interpersonal networking, conferences, seminars, trade shows, publications and GEAPS' Web site, www.geaps.com.
GEAPS began as the Society of Grain Elevator Superintendents [SOGES], with its first meeting in 1930 in Chicago. Among the early organizers were Elmer Karp and Chris Wood, who were assisted by trade journal publisher Charles Clark and his son, Dean. Beginning with Chicago, chapters began to form in grain distribution centers across North America: the Minneapolis chapter began in 1936, followed the next year by Thunder Bay.
Today, GEAPS membership network comprises some 16 countries. Through strategic alliances with other similar organizations, GEAPS members have the expanded opportunity to exchange ideas and information with your peers in a global operations environment.
In 2002, volunteer leaders forged a new vision for GEAPS. While it refocuses the organization and redefines priorities, it also adheres closely to the values that have made GEAPS credible, useful and successful over more than eight decades.
The vision recasts the organization as "the knowledge resource for the world of grain-handling industry operations." Generally, it means that GEAPS will concentrate on providing the knowledge that our members need to successfully carry out their professional duties.
Of course, GEAPS has always been a resource of knowledge. Our newsletter, Web site, annual Exchange and other educational forums have for years offered useful information for people in grain-operations professions. The new vision strengthens that traditional commitment, and at the same time enables GEAPS to concentrate precisely on the sorts of information that members need most.
To gain that precise focus, a GEAPS task force developed a list of seven "core competencies"--skill sets or knowledge categories--that people in the grain-operations industry need to perform their jobs. In order to be successful in the industry, a group of professionals working together would have to be proficient in all seven.
The core competencies were identified as:
- Grain-Quality Management
- Grain-Handling Equipment Management
- Handling Systems & Operations Technology Management
- Facility Operations Management
- Agribusiness Environment & Management Practice
- Human Resources Management, and
- Property & Casualty Risk Management
As "the knowledge resource," GEAPS will provide key information relevant to each category. In effect, the list offers the organization seven very precise "targets." If our aim is true, we'll satisfy fundamental industry needs.
How GEAPS delivers the knowledge for each core competency will vary widely, as it does now. However, it's important to note that the new vision defines GEAPS as the knowledge resource--not necessarily the original source. So while we'll continue to utilize the newsletter, the Web site, the Exchange and other educational forums, we'll also be casting creatively to find new, and credible sources of focused information and knowledge, and to link them to our members.