Looking Back to Move
Ahead!
Mike Cox, 1999-2000 NAAE President
 The NAAE
convention in Orlando was a great success! I would like to thank everyone who
attended and participated in the conference events and activities. In addition, I would
like to thank all members for continuing to support NAAE as a progressive and
futuristic professional organization. As your new president, I would like to share some
comments and remarks regarding NAAE’s past and future. The purpose of my remarks is
neither to be visionary nor to predict the future of our organization. Rather, I hope to
shed light on the past in order to look toward the future.
Major Accomplishments from the Past
We all should be quite proud of the 20th Century history of NVATA, now NAAE. The
organization arose from the trenches of agricultural education—the classroom
teachers—and grew and prospered over the last half of this century. I believe there
were three courageous landmark decisions, which outlined the path for NAAE. Those involved
in the decision-making processes during those times must have labored diligently,
disagreed frequently and arrived at bold conclusions. This is very similar to what we will
seek to do in the 21st Century.
The office move from Lincoln, Nebraska to the Washington D.C. area ranks high among the
list of organizational changes. This decision allowed NVATA to be more politically active
and, as a result, encouraged its members to follow suit. We have a legacy of proactivity
given to us by our founders and early members. I ask each of you to honor this tradition
by staying politically active on behalf of NAAE and the ag ed profession.
The merger of the A and B (racially segregated) organizations during 1972 and later and
the inclusion of women into the profession brought great diversity and strength to NVATA.
We must honor the tradition of diversity by seeking to involve all. A more diverse
organization will be a stronger organization.
Teaching awards through many programs offered by NVATA/NAAE have provided peer recognition
for many who have excelled in our profession. We must honor this tradition by bringing
attention and appreciation to those, who like you, struggle, survive and thrive in the
classroom trenches day in and day out—for the sheer love of the profession.
Challenges for the Future
Members of NAAE, NASAE and AAAE and NCAE representatives have discussed the
reorganization/merger initiative of the national professional organizations quite heavily.
It is imperative that we, as NAAE members, continue to be open to potential avenues, such
as this important initiative, so that agricultural education may continue to be enhanced,
strengthened and respected as one of the leading educational entities in our country.
Further, our membership capacity necessitates constant attention as well. As a
progressive organization, NAAE must continue to promote and strengthen its membership
base. As members of NAAE, we must help encourage non-members to join and become actively
involved with conference activities, workshops, and leadership roles. We must also
recognize the importance of seeking membership from agricultural educators at the
postsecondary level and communicating to
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1999-2000 NAAE
Board and Alt VPs
1999
Distinguished Service Award
ACTE Board
Elections
Ideas Unlimited
Gothic Arch
Greenhouses
Regional Updates
1998-99 NAAE
Award Recipients
More 1999
Convention Highlights
Washington Beat
2000 Summer
Workshops
2000 Council
Workshop Opportunities
Importance of Ag
Careers
Teacher
Spotlight
Upper Division
Scholarships
Horticopia
Dates and
Events
National Ag Ed
Listserv
2000 NAAE Convention
December
2-6, 2000
San Diego,
California
Holiday Inn on the Bay
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