R  E  G  I  O  N  A  L     U  P  D  A  T  E  S

By the time you get this, about 75% of the school year will be over! Time flies as we approach the fair season, CDE finals, and proficiency sifting for our students. We spend many hours promoting our program through our students. I encourage you to take time to promote your program or yourself through the NAAE. Fill out the application for Outstanding Young Member or Teacher or Program. Bring an Ideas Unlimited Application to the regional conference. Recognize supporters through the Outstanding Service, Cooperation and Honorary Life programs.

I was pleased to see such outstanding participation from Region I at the NAAE conference in San Diego. Thanks to the CATA and especially Sam Walker for helping organize the tours, host state social and the record-breaking auction. The final proceeds from the 2000 auction were $11,936.50. I am proud to represent our region!

Also thanks to all who represented us at the committee meetings and congratulations to Earl Williams (OR) who was elected alternate VP. I look forward to working with him during the coming year. And, thanks to Mitch Coleman (OR) who stepped down from two years of service to our organization as alternate VP to spend more time with his family.

I encourage you to act as a mentor for a new or young teacher. As I talk with young teachers, the presence of a mentor is a great contribution to their retention. We cannot afford to lose good, qualified teachers; so take the time to contact the new teachers in your area.

Closing, I would like to encourage you all to attend the Region I conference in Carmel, California April 25-28. Contact me for further information. California is planning a great conference!

Sue Poland, (208) 257-3311 or spoland@mail.sd432.k12.id.us

It was great to see all of you who attended the NAAE Convention in San Diego. Thanks to the California Association for an outstanding job of hosting us. Also, thanks to all the Region II delegates for electing me as your Regional Vice President. I very much look forward to working with and serving all NAAE members. Benny Bell (LA) was elected as our Region II Alternative Vice President and I’m sure he will do a great job. Also congratulations to Bryan Gause for his election as NAAE President Elect.

Special thanks to Mr. James Dawley for the dedication and effort he has shown to the NAAE Board and Region II the past three years. He was a great mentor for me also.

Congratulations to all of our Region II award winners. I encourage each of you and the State Associations to participate in our NAAE awards program. Applications are available on the NAAE web site.

The Arkansas Association is organizing a great Region II Conference. The conference is scheduled for June 17-20 in Hot Springs. You don’t want to miss this conference. Bring your families; we’ll all have a great time!

I would like to thank the Kansas Association for their hospitality and friendliness during my visit to the Kansas Ag Ed Symposium. Your professionalism was very much appreciated. I am looking forward to visiting each of the states in Region II during my 3-year term. State leaders, please inform me of your conference schedules.

The NAAE appreciates all of its members and wants to be of service to each of you. Please feel free to call, write, or e-mail if I can be of any help or assistance to any of you.

Larry Long, (580) 225-1222 or long@itlnet.net.

Greetings from Region III. The San Diego Convention was a great success. Many thanks to all of you in attendance for your professional integrity and commitment. The issues addressed at this convention will continue to be discussed and worked on by your board and the state leadership of each of your states.

Special congratulations to the award winners at this year’s conference. A reminder to state leaders that the applications for next year’s awards need to be postmarked to the national office by May 15, 2001. Let’s make sure that we all have applications for each award area. These teachers and friends of agriculture are extremely worthy of these awards and need to be recognized.

Congratulations to Paul Larson on his election as Alternate Vice-President. I am looking forward to working with Paul this year and expect him to do very well in his position.

Region III’s summer conference will be in Chamberlain, South Dakota, June 19-21. I would invite each and every one of you to come and visit South Dakota. We are looking forward to a super conference.

Chuck Stranberg, (320) 693-3350 or chuck_stranberg@litchfield.k12.mn.us.

Region IV congratulates our new President Elect, Mr. Bryan Gause (IN). Those of us that have worked with him over the years can assure you that you will be hard pressed to find a more committed, insightful, and professional man to help lead our organization. We are in good hands.

Also, congratulations to Harold Eckler (MO) as he takes over our region’s alternate VP position.

If you were considering a trip to the national convention in San Diego, and did not attend, you should reprimand yourself. It was outstanding! Congratulations to last year’s Board and Staff for conducting a great conference! I always enjoy making new acquaintances and renewing old ones while at the same time growing professionally.

Grand Rapids, Michigan will be the site of the 2001 Region IV Summer Conference from June 26-28. Some discussion was held in San Diego about the possibility of changing the dates of the national conference to non-school days and relocating the summer conferences to the winter. An impression was left on me about an overwhelming response – the response that it was extremely important to continue to have the opportunity for family and friends (i.e., fellow ag educators) to get together in an informal setting during the summer. We should consider ourselves very fortunate to be able to belong to a profession that allows its members to have friends all over the country.

Have a great year!

Jeff Maierhofer, (815) 357-8761, ext. 115 or jeff@jmaierhofer.com.

Greetings from Region V. I hope that everyone has had a good holiday season and is having a good 2001 so far.

Thanks to everyone that went to the convention in San Diego. It was an excellent conference. Thank you to Lee James (MS) for an excellent job as Region V Alternate Vice President. Congratulations on being elected again as the alternate vice president. I hope that more people plan to attend the next convention in New Orleans.

Congratulations to all the award winners from Region V. It was really good to see all areas of NAAE represented by Region V. Let’s keep up the good work and do this again for this year and have award winners in all areas in New Orleans.

Thank you goes out to all the states in membership. This region had both the highest membership gain and the biggest membership percentage gain. Everyone in the individual states’ leadership is to be congratulated and thanked for a job well done.

Let’s all plan to attend the NAAE Region V Leadership Conference this summer in Florida. It will be held at the Florida FFA Leadership Training Center in Haines City, just outside of the Orlando area. The dates of the conference are June 24-27, 2001. I know the Florida agriculture teachers have been working on the plans for us to have a good conference.

I encourage you to fill out the applications for the different award areas of NAAE. If you have any questions about the awards, please feel free to contact me. Again thank you for your participation in your national organization and I hope that you have a good spring and hope to see you in Florida.

Roger Teeple, (828) 686-3852 or rteeple@vistatech.net.

Happy New Year! I hope that each of you were able to spend some time with your loved ones over the holidays and are looking forward to 2001.

Congratulations to all those who attended the National Convention and helped to make it a success. Two of our members, Robin McLean (NJ) and Leroy Dreibelbiss (PA) were elected to vice-chair positions and we welcome Terry Hughes from New York as the new Region VI Alternate Vice President. Congratulations to these folks for stepping into NAAE leadership positions. I would also like to thank Robin for her outstanding work serving as our region’s alternate vice president during the convention.

We are in the planning stages for the upcoming regional conference to be held in Maryland, July 6-9. The Six State Conference will also be included in this conference. Pre-registration information was sent in January. Please let Maryland know of your intentions as soon as possible. If you want a personal invitation sent to your administrator or supervisor, please contact me with this information.

Encourage those teachers in your state who are not NAAE members to join and receive the tangible and intangible benefits that the organization has to offer. Professional involvement is their key to success! As always, please contact me if I can be of service to you or your state organization. I look forward to hearing from you!

Sarah Osborn Welty, (240) 236-7200, ext. 67263 or sowelty@yahoo.com.