The Official Newsletter of the National FFA Alumni Association
Volume 12, Issue 3 • September 2007
Association Holds Convention for Second Year in Indianapolis
Theme Focuses on Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Present
$117,000 (see auction catalog insert for details).
Celebrity recording artist Michael Peterson
he National FFA Alumni Association
will
kick
off the FFA Alumni Awards Session on
will hold its 36th annual convention on
October 25-26, marking the second year it will Thursday, October 25 (see schedule below). Prior
hold the event in Indianapolis. This year’s theme to his country music career, this national champion collegiate football player spent 12 years teachfocuses on honoring the past and celebrating hundreds of thousands of junior
ing the present accomplishments of the
and senior high school students
association and its membership.
across North America “how to live
The convention will begin with the
with uncertainty and not be paraopening of the silent benefit auction on
lyzed by fear” with a powerful
Wednesday, October 24. This annual event
assembly entitled “Who Cares?” He
provides an opportunity for attendees to show
is a contributing author to the New
their support and help raise funds for student
Michael Peterson
York Times best selling Chicken
scholarships. (See schedule below for more
Soup
For
The
Soul series with two new books
information on times and locations.) Last year, the
silent and live benefit auctions raised more than released in fall 2006. He is a proven hit song-
T
writer with multiple #1 songs in gospel and country categories both in the U.S. and Europe.
At this year’s business session on Friday,
October 26, delegates will elect new leaders for
the National FFA Alumni Council, including
the president-elect and representatives for the
Western and Central Regions. Alumni officials
will also share the 2006-2007 National FFA
Annual Report and other important national
issues with all those in attendance.
Important Registration/Parking
Information, see page 3
Other Convention Information:
Benefit Auctions, page 4
2007 Council Candidates, page 4
Auction Catalog, insert between pages 4-5
2007 National FFA Alumni Convention Schedule
2007 Hypnotist Shows*
National FFA Alumni Convention*
Thursday, October 25
4-6 p.m.
FFA Alumni Awards Session
205-207
Friday, October 26
8-9 a.m.
Meet the Candidates
8-9:30 a.m.
Delegate Registration
9:30 a.m.-Noon
FFA Alumni Business Session
205-207
205-207
205-207
National FFA Alumni Benefit Auctions*
Wednesday, October 24
1-6 p.m.
Silent Auction Open for Bidding
500 Ballroom
Live Auction items on display through October 26
Thursday, October 25
9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Silent Auction Open for Bidding
500 Ballroom
Friday, October 26
9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Silent Auction Open for Bidding
4-10 p.m.
Silent Auction Payment/Pickup
5-6 p.m.
Live Auction Social
6 p.m.
Live Auction Begins
500 Ballroom
500 Ballroom
500 Ballroom
500 Ballroom
Saturday, October 27
8-10 a.m.
Auction Payment/Pickup
10 a.m.
Mini-Auction for Unclaimed Items
500 Ballroom
500 Ballroom
Wednesday, October 24
Shows at 6, 8, and 10 p.m. in Sagamore Ballroom 3-5
Thursday, October 25
Shows at 6, 8, and 10 p.m. in Sagamore Ballroom 3-5
Friday, October 26
Show at 2, 4, 6, and 8 p.m. in 205-207.
* All events will be in the ICC - Indiana Convention Center.
For additional convention information/updates, visit
www.ffa.org/convention/view/dsp_pln_alum.cfm.
To obtain tickets for hypnotist shows and other FFA
convention events, visit online convention registration
at https://register.ffa.org/event/4409.
The Official Newsletter of the National FFA Alumni Association
Convention is a Time
of Harvest, Celebration
A
s you read this article, harvest time will
undoubtedly be taking place in many
regions of the country, marking a time to
measure the fruits of the year’s labors.
Many farmers are hoping to reap a bountiful
harvest based upon their
hard work, good management, wise use of
resources, and the blessings of God.
Monte Ladner
Our convention in Indianapolis is no
different. It marks a time for our association
to reap the harvest of its members’ labors
throughout the past year. Our theme this year
is “Honor the Past; Celebrate the Present.”
The convention recognizes those members
who have given of themselves for many years
in service to the FFA Alumni. It acknowledges their hard work, good management,
wise use of resources, and love. These members have tirelessly supported our youth in
the blue and gold. We salute them for their
many years of dedication to the FFA and FFA
Alumni, and as steadfast advocates for agricultural education. These members and supporters are the bedrock of our organization.
Volume 12, Issue 3
our National FFA Alumni Council and our
National staff for all they have done beyond
the call of duty. You have been a blessing to
me and our organization.
I look forward to seeing each of you in
Indianapolis for our national convention.
Please join us for the following events:
■
■
■
Our awards program, during which we
will celebrate the present.
The business session, during which you
can mold our association’s future.
The national benefit auctions, providing
you with an opportunity to raise funds
for scholarships for our future leaders!
Plan now to attend the National FFA
Alumni Convention and enjoy great fellowship, gather information, celebrate success,
and have fun. I hope you will return home
with a renewed sense of enthusiasm to continue helping FFA members and chapters
build success. See you in Indy.
September 2007
FFA Alumni New Visions is prepared and published
quarterly by the National FFA Alumni Association as an
affiliate of the Future Farmers of America in cooperation
with the U.S. Department of Education as a service to
state and local agricultural education agencies.
Vision
The vision of the National FFA Alumni Association
is a world where people and communities grow and
develop to their fullest potential.
Mission
The mission of the National FFA Alumni Association
is to secure the promise of FFA and agricultural
education by creating an environment where people
and communities can develop their potential for
premier leadership, personal growth,
and career success.
Shipping Address
National FFA Alumni Association
6060 FFA Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46278-1370
Mailing Address
National FFA Alumni Association
P. O. Box 68960, Indianapolis, IN 46268-0960
317-802-4292 • [email protected] • www.ffa.org/alumni/
National FFA Alumni Executive Council
President, Monte Ladner, Mississippi
104 Fairway Boulevard, Carthage, MS 39051
President-Elect, Ronnie Ansley, North Carolina
4509 Burlington Mills Road, Wake Forest, NC 27587
Past President, Norman Gay, Georgia
P.O. Box 1765, Perry, GA 31069-1765
Ex-officio Members
Monte Ladner
National FFA Alumni Association President
You can do the same at the local level:
National FFA Advisor, Dr. Larry Case
National FFA Alumni Executive Director,
J. Frank Saldaña
© 2007 by the National FFA Alumni Association
■
■
■
Consider publicly thanking charter members with a special plaque or certificate.
Show your appreciation to long-time
contributing members, volunteers, and
supporters with signs and announcements (news releases).
Remember to show your gratitude for
member support and involvement by
promptly sending thank you cards.
I have enjoyed serving you this year as
your national president. Thank you for allowing me to participate in your meetings and to
share in your experiences. I also wish to thank
“Plan now to attend
the National FFA
Alumni Convention
and enjoy great
fellowship, gather
information,
celebrate success,
and have fun.”
2
How to Become Involved
In the December issue of New Visions,
National FFA Alumni Executive
Director J. Frank Saldaña will provide
specific information on
how Alumni members
can become strong
advocates for agricultural education.
“News You Can Use” is a column designed to keep Alumni members
and volunteers informed of valuable and timely information.
Earning Ad Money
Service Challenge
Local FFA chapters can earn up to $1,250 in cash prizes for creating a logo,
slogan, and brand for a new seed product print, radio, or television advertisement or public relations campaign. All chapters can enter the program
offered through Garst Seed Company’s Commercial Competition. This
year’s theme is “Technologies of the Future.” The program is especially suited for students enrolled in an agricultural communications or marketing program. For more information, visit www.garstseed.com.
Courtesy of FFA New Horizons
Local chapters can submit their service projects and download a worksheet to compile service hours by visiting the 1 Million Hour Challenge
webpage at www.ffa.org. Chapters can win cash awards for their chapters
and a chance to be featured on “FFA Today.” Alumni members are asked
to encourage their local advisors and chapters to participate. For more
information, contact [email protected].
Recruiting Recent FFA Members Can Build Local Success
T
he agricultural education community is
striving to meet a bold goal: have 10,000 quality agricultural education programs in place by
the year 2015. This initiative is popularly
known as “10 x 15.” Reaching this goal requires
a commitment from every member of Team
AgEd, including FFA Alumni members.
One important way for the National FFA
Alumni Association to contribute to this goal is
for each affiliate to grow its membership
through recruitment. A strong, thriving FFA
Alumni affiliate adds quality to and support for
a local agricultural education program.
Numerous strategies exist
for recruiting new Alumni
members. But one of
the age groups that
ought to be targeted is often the one
most overlooked—those FFA members who are
just about to graduate or have recently graduated.
When trying to build an FFA Alumni
affiliate, it makes sense to start with the young
people who were recently FFA members. The
following strategies can help you succeed in
recruiting these young, energetic people:
1. Ask. Most seniors do not want to quit FFA
when they graduate. In fact, most want to stay
involved, but do not know how. Asking them to
become an Alumni member will provide them
with one way to remain involved.
2. Ask for time not money. Money is something most college-aged students do not have.
After you have asked them to join, seal the deal
by requesting an investment of their time and
not their money.
3. Give them purpose. Let these students have
the opportunity to make a direct and immediate
impact in your Alumni activities, whether by
serving as a council member, committee chair,
event coordinator, or coach. Having been recent
members, they know what current members
need and want.
4. Use technology. Nearly every single graduating senior has an e-mail address—use it to keep
them informed of when and how they can get
involved.
By helping former FFA members make the transition to active Alumni members, we can ensure
the success of local Alumni affiliates and, more
importantly, agricultural education programs
for years to come.
Ryan Hassebrook
National FFA Representative
National FFA Alumni Council
[email protected]
IMPORTANT: Registration and Parking Information for Convention Goers
Convention Parking
Parking passes may be purchased for parking facilities near the convention center during online convention registration (see earlier web link).
These passes are good for parking Tuesday-Saturday the week of convention
and cost approximately $50 (depending on the parking facility). If you will
be spending less time in Indianapolis, you will likely want to purchase parking on a day-by-day basis. Some hotels offer parking; contact your hotel
directly for availability, rates, and nearby parking facilities.
Convention Registration
All individuals attending the FFA and FFA Alumni conventions
MUST register for the convention. The registration process can be
completed in advance by visiting http://register.ffa.org/event/4409 or
convention registration in the Indiana Convention Center Maryland Street
lobby when you arrive in Indianapolis. Pre-registration ends on
October 8, 2007 at 5 p.m. (EDT). FFA convention registration will
provide you with the official convention badge that will grant you access to
the convention venues, including the career show, shopping mall, main
stage sessions, and all Alumni activities. In addition, you may purchase
tickets to special events (concerts, hypnotists, educational tours).
Alumni members representing their states as official delegates for the
Alumni Business session must also register onsite Friday morning,
October 26, from 8-9:30 a.m. at the Indiana Convention Center 205207. The delegate registration fee is $10.
3
2007 National FFA Alumni Benefit Auctions: Raising Funds for Student Scholarships!
“Arrr. Don’t be a scallywag—help us raise some loot!”
When:
What:
Silent Auction: Wednesday-Friday, October 24-26 in
ICC* – 500 Ballroom (see convention schedule
on page 1 for hours)
Live Auction Social: 5-6 p.m., Friday, October 26 in
ICC – 500 Ballroom
Live Auction: 6 p.m., Friday, October 26 - ICC –
500 Ballroom
Generous donors have provided an array of exciting
items on which to bid! Auction categories include
art/collectibles; celebrity items; clothing/jewelry; food,
fun, and travel; gift baskets; items for your home; and
tools/equipment. Convention attendees are encouraged
to vote for their favorite state basket contest entry. Each
state FFA and state FFA Alumni association is eligible to
enter a basket representing their state.
For each bid number issued, there will be a $5 charge, which will be
applied toward each bidder’s auction purchase.
Review the auction catalog inside this newsletter or visit www.ffa.org/
convention/view/dsp_pln_alum.cfm to see a complete listing.
Why:
Where:
The National FFA Alumni Association has set a goal of generating $125,000
at the benefit auctions. The funds will provide scholarships to FFA members
to attend the Washington Leadership Conference and collegiate scholarships
to students to pursue a career in agricultural education.
National FFA and FFA Alumni Conventions, Indianapolis, Indiana
*ICC - Indiana Convention Center
Online Benefit Auction Bidding
Steps to Participate
Not able to attend the convention? Still want to participate in the
live benefit auction? No problem! The National FFA Alumni Live
Benefit Auction will be broadcast over the Internet! Enjoy the excitement
of the national FFA convention and the live benefit auction, while supporting our students from wherever you may be located!
Register to bid online at www.proxibid.com by 6 p.m. (EDT) on
Friday, October 26 to participate in the live auction as it takes place at
the national FFA Alumni convention in Indianapolis. Registered bidders
will be ready to bid on whatever auction item catches their interest.
Participants will be bidding against auction attendees at the convention
and others logged on via the Internet.
The purchases of winning bidders will be shipped to them (at their
expense) from the convention site.
1.
Log onto www.proxibid.com.
2.
Use the search tool to find the auction.
3.
Click “Register.” (Bidders will need to submit their credit card
information in order to register and purchase an item in the live
benefit auction.)
4.
Click “Create New Account” (accounts can be created 1-3 days
before the event).
Further Assistance
Visit www.proxibid.com/asp/help.asp about the online bidding
process: creating an account, learning about system requirements, and
submitting a proxy bid.
Courtesy of United Country Real Estate and Auction Services
as a special project of the National FFA Foundation
2007 Council Candidates
The following FFA Alumni members are listed on the ballot for National FFA Council positions. Their biographies can be viewed online at
www.ffa.org/alumni under “News & Notes.” Delegates will cast their votes at this year’s convention business session on October 26. Members
are encouraged to contact their state FFA Alumni leaders to express their candidate preferences.
Central Region
Diane Amera, Wisconsin
Steve Olson, Minnesota
Anita Schneider, Kansas
Roger Schonhorst, Iowa
Western Region
Robert Barton, Oregon
4
President-Elect
Sam Atherton, Kansas, currently
Central Region Representative
Dennis Ettestad, Oregon, currently
Western Region Representative
State Leaders Head to Portland for Education, Fun
T
he 2007 State Leaders Conference (SLC)
was held in Portland, Ore., on July 1015. Hosted by the Oregon FFA Alumni
Association, the 2007 SLC attracted more than
130 conference participants and guests. The
group also hosted the event in 1999, when 40 participants and guests attended the conference in
Eagle Creek, Ore. This year’s attendance demonstrated the increasing importance and popularity
of this conference for Alumni members.
The dinner on Tuesday evening kicked off
the conference. Dawn Ahmed of Toyota made a
special announcement and presented a check for
$1.4 million, representing Toyota’s two-year
sponsorship of the National FFA Foundation, to
the FFA and National FFA Alumni Association.
These funds will support National FFA student
leadership development and Alumni programs,
local community service projects, collegiate
scholarships, special events, and diversity in agricultural education.
Mornings throughout the week consisted
of instructional workshops presented by guest
speakers (see listing of workshop presentations
in the sidebar). Afternoons and evenings were
filled with educational and recreational tours.
The large group enjoyed wonderful homecooked meals and special treats hosted and prepared by the Yamhill-Carlton, Dayton,
Hermiston, Molalla, Canby, and North
Clackamas FFA Alumni affiliates.
It was a busy week for all the participants
who worked hard to raise funds for
Washington Leadership Conference (WLC)
scholarships for 2008. Cash raised onsite by
this dedicated group will support a total of
seven WLC scholarships.
The conference concluded with its traditional banquet on Saturday evening. National
FFA Advisor Dr. Larry D. Case thanked attendees for their support at the state and local levels. Participants also heard from Greg Ward,
Region 4 Vice President of Tractor Supply
Company (TSC). Ward spoke about the common values shared by TSC and the FFA.
A special thanks and appreciation is extended to the Oregon FFA Alumni Association.
Appreciation is extended to our
Corporate Sponsors
2007 State Leaders Conference Memories
SLC PowerPoint Presentations
The National FFA Alumni Association is offering the PowerPoint presentations provided to state leaders during the SLC workshops. The purpose is to assist
state and local leaders, and the general membership, in building successful associations and affiliates that effectively support agricultural education. A brief description of each presentation follows:
■
You Too Can Be a Facilitator!—Bruce Kettler, Sales Consultant, Beck’s
Superior Hybrids: Discover the characteristics of a facilitator, purpose and
types of facilitation, and the preparation needed for effective facilitation.
■
Building Partnerships—Tammy Kettler, Regional Director, National FFA
Foundation: Learn the five phases of building partnerships: dream, blueprint,
building of solid foundations, structure stands, and nurturing/maintenance.
■
The “What” and “How” of Proposal Writing—Bobbie Donahue,
Director of Individual Giving, National FFA Foundation: Learn about a
step-by-step approach to proposal writing!
■
Special Events—Bobbie Donahue, Director of Individual Giving, National
FFA Foundation: Review the 10 steps to planning and executing successful events!
■
Organization Assessment Model for Your State Alumni—Dean P. Gagnon,
Director, Global Educational Consulting, Madison, Wis.: Understand how
state leaders can make the most of their precious time working with Alumni and
build their associations into world-class FFA Alumni organizations.
■
What’s the Message?—Kristina Watson, Member-At-Large, National FFA
Alumni Council: Review the principles of effective messaging to ensure that
intended messages of leaders and members reach their target audiences.
These presentations can be requested by
contacting 317-802-4293 or [email protected].
5
Toyota Motor Sales presents a check for $1.4 million at the kick-off dinner
representing its two-year sponsorship of the National FFA Foundation.
From left: Ronnie Ansley, National FFA Alumni President-Elect;
Chad Harp, Toyota; Doug Loudenslager, National FFA Organization COO;
Dawn Ahmed, Toyota; Monte Ladner, National FFA Alumni President;
Coty Back, National FFA Officer; and Jay Jackman, NAAE Executive Director.
State leaders interact and share ideas during a conference workshop.
Mark your calendar now!! Next year’s SLC
will be held in Washington, D.C.,
on July 15-19, 2008.
Grant Provides Funds for Computer, GPS Equipment
Equipment Offers Innovative Tools for Promoting Agriculture and Agricultural Education
LPS Grant
W
eir, Miss., FFA and FFA
Alumni members received a
$1,000 grant in 2006 for the purchase of a laptop computer and
two global positioning systems
(GPS). Local teacher Patrick
Lemoine says the new equipment
will enhance instruction and provide new tools to build awareness
of the technological advances in
the agricultural industry.
Equipment Raises
Student Interest
Lemoine says many of the
school’s students view agricultural
education and agriculture respectively as “boring and as an occupation of the past.”
One way Lemoine has
attempted to change these misconceptions is by assigning students in
his concepts of agriscience class to
research the new technologies and
careers in the agricultural industry.
They conduct their research online
using the new laptop, then present
their findings to their peers.
“When students researched
careers, they realized that agriculture was more than just working
on a farm,” says Lemoine, a sevenyear teaching veteran. “They discovered that tractor mechanics
need to know how to use computers too in order to run the diagnostic equipment.”
Preparing Students for a
Technology-driven World
The National FFA Alumni
Local Program Support Grant
Program is sponsored by
Lemoine eventually plans to
incorporate the new equipment in
his other classes as well, which
include plant and environmental
science. Students will obtain firsthand experience in using the new
equipment to increase production,
maintain files/records, and manage
agribusinesses. More specifically,
they will have the ability to track
farm equipment and animals with
GPS receivers.
When the Weir agricultural
education program was established,
it received a computer software program called Farm Works®
(www.farmworks.com). The program allows students to maintain
records for their supervised agricultural experience programs (projects). They have used the GPS
receivers to plot their land and
download the data to the program,
which has permitted them to determine how to utilize land better.
“Students today possess
advanced ability with technology,”
Lemoine explains. “Whenever
teachers can relate concepts with
new technologies students seem to
be interested in learning.”
Lemoine hopes to supplement in-class use of the equipment
with field trips to local sites where
GPS and computers are used in
real life.
Advantage to Recruitment,
Local Support
Lemoine expects the equipment’s presence in the classroom
to lead to an increase in FFA membership. Currently the chapter has
50 members. While it is premature
to tell what effects its presence will
have on membership, he believes it
has raised prospective students’
awareness about the new technologies and their interest level in the
program.
The equipment also promises
to serve as a bridge to building
stronger ties between the chapter
and community due to a strong
local support for forestry. The GPS
and computer allow students to
map various forest lands in the
county, break down acreages, determine tree values in a given plot, and
number various tree species per
acre. After attaining this information, students can use the data to
make predictions about the future
of forestry in the county.
Preparation for
Forestry Competition
For more information,
Many Weir FFA members are contact Patrick Lemoine at
interested in the field of forestry, [email protected].
which is the county’s number one
agricultural
industry
and
Applications for the Local
Mississippi’s second most imporProgram Support Grant
tant agricultural commodity. The
Program are due
Weir FFA chapter has won the
July 1, 2008. Visit
state forestry competition three
www.ffa.org/alumni/
years in a row. Lemoine says GPS
to download an application.
has greatly helped the local team
prepare for the contest. A number
of Alumni members
are foresters, who
use the equipment
on a daily basis. In
turn, they have
taught students how
to use the equipment and prepare
for competition.
With global positioning systems and computers,
today’s agriculture has become precision farming.
Photo courtesy of John Deere Photo Library.
6
Partnerships: Increasing the Ability of Alumni
By Kristina L. Watson
H
ave you ever had a great idea, but
lacked the resources to implement it?
Ever felt frustrated at the limited reach of your
voice in your community or state? Ever wished
for just a little extra help? Chances are you
answered “yes” to at least two of these questions.
And maybe you were so stymied over how to proceed that you just tossed up your hands in exasperation and quit.
Don’t do that. There is a solution. It’s called
partnership.
Several years ago, the National FFA
Alumni Association created the slogan “Doing
Together What We Can’t Do Alone.” For
Alumni members and leaders, that is exactly
how a partnership ought to be defined.
Partnerships are a way of leveraging resources,
maximizing mutual benefits, and increasing
the Alumni’s ability to “do.” And for a nonprofit, volunteer-based organization like the
FFA Alumni, these things become increasingly important.
Partnerships can take many forms. Some
partnerships, like the National FFA
Organization’s partnership with Toyota, are
more formal, born of negotiations and supported by contracts. Others may be more informal
with perhaps only a handshake to cement the
relationship, as is the case in many situations.
Regardless of the way in which the partnership
is observed, all successful partnerships share several things. According to David Wilcox, author
of the Partnerships Handbook, successful partners must have a shared vision, firm trust, good
Louis Sallie, Pennsylvania Farm Bureau administrative
secretary, presents Pennsylvania FFA Alumni President
Kristina Watson with a check for the Alumni’s Jacket
Drive. Nearly 200 freshman and sophomores have
earned jackets since 2006.
communication, and understanding of mutual
goals and purpose. If these things are lacking,
then chances are the partnership will fail.
regulations, and devoting staff time to education and FFA activities.
Reaping Mutual Benefits
Finding a Partner
Successful partnerships are also about mutuIn 2004, the Pennsylvania FFA Alumni al benefits. They cannot be one-sided. The beneAssociation was reactivated after many years of fits to the Pennsylvania FFA are rather obvious,
slumber. Quickly, Alumni leaders realized that but what are the rewards for Farm Bureau? Both
in order to fulfill the group’s mission to support Louis Sallie, Farm Bureau’s administrative secretary, and Swan cited many reasons, but the idea
the FFA they needed help.
“We had a lot of ideas, but very limited that today’s students will hopefully lead Farm
resources,” said Krista Pontius, Pennsylvania Bureau and agriculture is key.
“We recognize that the FFA plays an
FFA Alumni treasurer, who was part of the
group that reorganized the FFA Alumni in important role in educating youth in producPennsylvania. “We knew we needed to find tion agriculture,” says Sallie. “The industry
partners who embraced our vision of helping depends on their future leadership and involvement in agriculture. FFA members are highly
FFA members and supporting agriculture.”
Alumni leaders found their perfect partner motivated and skilled—and those are the types
of leaders Farm Bureau wants as members.”
in the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau (PFB).
“It is a natural fit for Farm Bureau to partner with the FFA,” said Gary Swan, director of Saying Thank You
PFB’s Governmental Affairs and CommuniPartnerships can swiftly falter if partners
cations Division. “Many of our member fami- feel they or their contributions are being taken
lies were involved in FFA in their youth, and for granted. The easiest way to avoid this conmany of their children participate today.”
sequence is by saying “thank you” periodically.
One of the areas in which
“One of the lessons we have
the Farm Bureau proved to be a
learned is the value of saying
valuable partner was the
‘thank you’ and recognizing our
Alumni’s FFA Jacket Drive. In
partners for their work on our
2006, Alumni members began
behalf,” says Pontius. “This can be
raising funds to purchase jackets
as simple as a thank you note or
for freshman and sophomore
recognition at an event.” Pontius
Pennsylvania FFA members.
added that the Alumni association
Farm Bureau quickly backed the
presented a plaque to Farm Bureau
Kristina Watson, Pennsylvania
project, asking its county Farm
at the 2006 Blue and Gold Ball in
FFA Alumni president, congratuBureaus to contribute to the lates Ben Woodward, Greenwood recognition of its contributions.
fund drive. In the two years FFA Chapter member, on receiving
FFA Alumni leaders and
since the inception of the pro- a jacket through the Alumni’s members could have thrown up
Jacket Drive.
gram, Pennsylvania Farm
their hands several years ago when
Bureau members raised nearly $5,800, or approx- faced with big ideas and limited resources. But
imately 130 jackets, for FFA members in the state. they did not. Instead they searched for a partner
And they didn’t stop there; the organization’s state who shared their vision and passion for their orgaboard also sponsored jackets for the 11-member nization. And with a little help, Pennsylvania
state FFA officer team in 2006 and 2007.
Alumni members were able to realize their goals.
Since 2004, PFB has been a valuable part“Through partnerships we can create outner for the FFA, raising money for jackets, help- comes larger than the sum total of our parts,”
ing to sponsor the Pennsylvania FFA Alumni said Swan.
Association’s Blue and Gold Ball, lobbying for
And that is exactly what many Alumni
issues of mutual concern such as Perkins affiliates need to do as well.
Funding and favorable agricultural education
7
NONPROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
DAYTON, OHIO
PERMIT NO. 375
The Official Newsletter of the National FFA Alumni Association
Future Farmers of America
National FFA Alumni Association
6060 FFA Drive
Indianapolis, IN 46278-1370
Newsletter
Convention Issue
Convention Preview/Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Roundtable: President’s Convention Invitation . . . . . 2
News You Can Use/Recruiting Recent Grads . . . . . . 3
Benefit Auction Details . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
SLC Highlights/Presentations by Request . . . . . . . . 5
LPS Grant Review: Innovative Tools Promote Ag Ed . 6
Building Partnerships: Increasing Alumni’s Ability . . 7
DO SOMETHING NICE FOR YOUR PARENTS. GET THEM A $500 FFA BONUS ON ANY NEW DODGE TRUCK.
Dodge has been a proud sponsor of the FFA for over half a century. And we’re now offering FFA member families, alumni, and teachers an extra $500 cash
allowance on any new Dodge truck.* Contact your local Dodge dealer to take advantage of this limited-time offer on the Dodge truck of your choice — like
the hardworking Ram Heavy Duty with the available legendary 6.7L Cummins® Turbo Diesel, part of the longest-lasting,† most durable‡ line of full-size pickups. For more info, visit dodge.com or call 800-4ADODGE.
*Offer good 5/1/07–1/2/08 on ’06 MY/ ’07 MY Dodge Ram 1500, 2500, 3500, Ram Chassis Cab, Magnum, Caravan, Grand Caravan, Dakota, and Durango.
Excludes SRT models. See your dealer for details. †Based on R.L. Polk & Co. Vehicles in Operation registration statistics 1986–2005. ‡Durability based on longevity.
Properly secure all cargo. Chrysler Financial is a business unit of DaimlerChrysler Financial Services. Cummins is a registered trademark of Cummins, Inc.
Dodge is a registered trademark of DaimlerChrysler.
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