• Meet the President 2009-2010
• 2009 - 2010 Officers
• Board of Directors (pdf) Adobe Acrobat is needed to view this file. If you do not have it, you can download it here.

When Delta Council was organized in 1935, members focused on three main areas of activity. These areas were:

(1) The promotion of agriculture, including agricultural research and legislation relating to agricultural programs of special significance to area farmers.

(2) Flood control and drainage which are imperative to the area's welfare.

(3) The promotion and development of transportation facilities and services with special attention to the development of a modern highway system throughout the entire Delta. After a short period, the program of work of Delta Council expanded to cover all aspects of the area's economy. Delta Council has continued to make strides toward improving the three initial areas of concern that have been of historical importance to the area; the promotion and protection of the competitive position of Delta agriculture both in the United States and in foreign markets; the development of a comprehensive and effective program to protect the area from annual overflows from the Mississippi River and its tributaries; and the development of a modern highway program.

Committee System

The work of Delta Council is carried on through a comprehensive committee system that represents all phases of the economy of the area. Every member is provided with the opportunity to serve on one or more committees. These committees study problems, develop alternatives, propose solutions and present their recommendations to the Board of Directors for review and action. Policy statements approved by the Board are made a part of the organization's program of work. Many of the policies relating to agriculture have been incorporated into legislation at the national level. This is especially true of cotton, rice, and soybean programs; however, Delta Council also promotes the interests of new crops and enterprises that offer potentials for a profit. An example of this is catfish production which had a value of approximately five hundred million in 1998.

Annual Meeting

The people of the area concider the annual membership meeting of Delta Council as a "red-letter day". Held at Delta State University in May of each year, the Council's annual meeting is, in the words of local print media sources, "a combination political happening, social event and old-fashioned dinner on the ground." It is attended by several thousand members and guests who are provided the opportunity to hear nationally known speakers, review the results of Delta Council programs, enjoy a top-notch cotton fashion show sponsored by local talent and enjoy a hot catfish and hushpuppy dinner.

Past Speakers

Speakers at the Council's annual meeting have included nationally recognized leaders including Senators, Congressmen, White House officials, Cabinet members, Generals, Admirals, scientists, business leaders, writers and astronauts. On Delta Council Day in 1947, Dean Acheson, then under the Secretary of State, substituted for President Truman and unveiled the outline of The Marshall Plan. In 1952, William Faulkner, Mississippi's Nobel Prize-winning author, lectured the audience on the connection between independence, freedom and responsibility. Other noted speakers have included David Rockefeller, Dr. Werner von Braun, Admiral Alan B. Shepard, Apollo 14 Commander, former Vice-President George Bush, Governor Bill Clinton and many other notables.

Citizens in Action

Delta Council is a unique example of "citizens in action." During 2001, Delta Council coordinated approximately 370 meetings, drawing from the input and participation of more than 2,500 people in the 18 Delta and part Delta counties that are a part of the Council's committee process. Although Delta Council is most often recognized for it's contributions to farm legislation, highway development, and national initiatives to fund important programs for the development of the area's economy one, of the greatest values of Delta Council has been the ability of it's leaders to foresee problems and to initiate actions which address concerns before they actually occur.