ATS Newsbrief May 2013
Recently more than 90 ATS members attended a special morning tea to commemorate our 50th anniversary. It’s one of several initiatives being held throughout the year to mark this important milestone and we’ll keep you posted on the other commemorative events proposed in the coming months.
Neal Shaw, Chief Executive
The past 50 years have seen a significant amount of change within the agricultural industry as a whole, and more specifically, agricultural servicing and farming practices. It has been a continual challenge for ATS to grow with these changing times while still remaining true to its original mission of lowering input costs for farmers.
Who could have foreseen 50 years ago what farming in our district would look like in 2013? Planning for the future is not an exact science, but it is important to have a strategic direction so your business has the ability to adapt and change to meet whatever challenges come your way. ATS is no different and recently the ATS Board and management have worked through its current Strategic Plan which specifically focuses on ATS’s business plan for the next three years. This process has also been aided by feedback through a recent member survey conducted by ATS. It has been timely to review our business and ask “how does ATS create value to you as shareholders?” Like any good survey, it raised some questions which need to be addressed by the business and we would like to thank those members who took the time to complete this survey and supply us with their valuable feedback.
Upcoming Events
12 May
Mother’s Day 21 May
ATS Federated Farmers Mid Canterbury Nutrient Seminar, Ashburton 1–3 June
Queen’s Birthday Weekend ATS will be closed. If members have any urgent requirements the Duty Manager can be reached on 03 307 5100 or 027 487 6865. 18 June & 23 July
Farm Safety Training for members For more information or to RSVP call 0800 BUY ATS (289 287) or email book@ats.co.nz.
This special anniversary year promises to be a year of change for ATS, as we look to ensure ATS continues to remain relevant to its members for another 50 years.
ATS Supplier Updates ATS sub accounts—making accounts easy ATS sub accounts provide members with the opportunity to create an account under their main ATS accounts, saving you time and money when it comes to doing your bookwork. A sub account allows you to separate your personal spending from your main farm account, or to create separate accounts for different enterprises within your farming operation. Sub accounts are attached to a shareholder account, and each application must be signed by the shareholder. The shareholder is the account owner and is ultimately liable for any non-payment. A shareholder account can have a number of sub accounts attached to it – including family members, a farm manager or an employee. Sub accounts receive the same discounts and benefits and operate in the same way as shareholder accounts, however no shares are purchased and there are no rebates paid on these accounts. Spend from sub accounts is included in the shareholders account when calculating rebates. The monthly invoice is sent direct to the account holder which gives them extra privacy, and payment is made by direct debit from the account holder’s bank account on the 20th of each month. For further information please contact the Customer Service team on 0800 BUY ATS (289 287). Reminder: Shareholders are responsible for all sub accounts connected to their main account, whether the person is still in their employment or not. If you are unsure of sub accounts connected to your main account please phone ATS Administration on 03 307 5100 to verify.
For a full list of ATS suppliers and discounts, please visit www.ats.co.nz
new SUPPLIERS Brosnan Transport 148 Meadows Road, Washdyke, Timaru Tel: 03 683 9009; Fax : 03 683 9098 brostrans@xtra.co.nz 5% discount on all freight services
Brydone Motel (Kingsgate) 115 Thames Street, Oamaru Tel 03 433 0480 kingsgate.oamaru@millenniumhotels.co.nz www.millenniummotels.co.nz Room rate of $90.00 per night. 10% discount on food and beverage.