Executive Director’s Report—Jay
Jackman delivered the executive director’s report to the board.
Details of the report were as follows:
NAAE
Membership Survey
–
We are working on this with Dr. Carol Conroy using some research techniques
that will help to ensure that the survey is valuable to NAAE.
Capitol
Advantage – State Participation Opportunities – In
addition to the federal level information that is available on the
NAAE web site, we have the option to add state level information to
the site. The pricing schedule varies for states if we go on
a state-by-state basis. If we add all 50 states, however, the
costs are much more reasonable. We can add all 50 states for
an annual fee of $7,500 (over the current payment of $2,500 – so $10,000
per year total for all 50 states and the federal information).
This means we need at least 10 states to pay $1,000 each to add the
state level information. The extra cost we would have to charge
the states would be to cover NAAE staff time to maintain the state-level
information. (This was referred to the Legislative Affairs committee.)
Choice
Hotels Membership Benefits Offer
– Adding this membership benefit will be free to NAAE.
I called to verify this – it really is a free service. They
will print membership cards with NAAE printed on them for our members.
This seems like a "no-brainer” to me. (This was referred
to the Member Services committee.)
Purchase
Power Gold Membership Benefits Offer
– This membership benefit program will cost NAAE 60 cents
per member. It is not free to NAAE members. (This was
referred to the Member Services committee.)
NAAE
Staff Situation
– Susan’s last day was Friday, July 20, 2001. There
will be a luncheon for Susan and Rosco on Tuesday, July 24th.
Connie has also requested that she be allowed to resign from her position.
I have asked her to stay until we get the administrative assistant
position filled – and she has agreed to this. Connie is a most
loyal employee. Our top priority now is finding a replacement
administrative assistant.
ASAE
Legislative Summit
– I attended this year and pick-up some ideas for increasing
our legislative advocacy efforts. One option for us would be
to encourage our members to host fund-raisers in the home districts/states
for members of congress. (This was referred to the Legislative
Affairs committee.)
ASAE
Annual Meeting
– I am attending this in August 2001. This will
be the first time I have attended an ASAE annual meeting. I
hear good things from my colleagues in association management.
I will be participating in the CEO Boot Camp.
ASAE
“Human Resource Legal Issues” Workshop –
I attended this luncheon meeting and picked-up very valuable information
about human resources issues.
FFA’s
On-line Membership Plans
– I am serving on FFA’s on-line membership task force.
FFA is moving their membership database maintenance to an Internet-based
system. Either state staff or chapter advisors or FFA staff
will enter membership information on-line. I have provided to
the FFA staff a list of the variables we try to collect on our members.
I do not know if they plan to use these variables in their database
and I do not know if they are interested in collecting teacher data
on ag ed professionals other than FFA advisors. I will continue
to follow this and report to the NAAE board if there seems to be a
decision you need to make regarding this.
Ag
Day – America’s Largest Ag Classroom
– The Ag Council of America changed their plans to have
an ag teacher present a lesson during the Ag Day Celebration in Washington,
D.C. So, our plans to assist in this regard were not necessary
after all.
National
Ag in the Classroom Conference
– I attended this meeting in Chicago. Once again,
we made progress in getting the NAAE visible with AITC state coordinators.
The meeting next year will be in Washington, D.C. I have offered
to serve on the planning committee if they need me. I have specifically
offered to do a Capitol Hill workshop for the state coordinators and
teacher participants during the conference. The conference will
be hosted by Washington, D.C. AITC and Maryland AITC.
National
Ag in the Classroom Teaching Awards
– I was the chair of the USDA review committee that selected
the national AITC teaching awards this year. I convened the
conference call to finalize the decisions and I wrote the award summaries
for all candidates – winners and non-winners (about 20 candidates).
Food,
Land and People
– I have not yet revised and submitted the MOU back to
FLP. I really need to get this done soon. Mark Linder
sent NAAE a letter asking us to help fund a dinner FLP is hosting
in Washington, D.C. That dinner is going on at the same time
as this NAAE board meeting. So, I did not accept Mark’s invitation
for us to help sponsor the event. (During this discussion, Chuck
Stranberg suggested that the NAAE position on the FLP board be a 2-year
term that would rotate between the first and second year regional
vice presidents. More discussion is to be held on this topic
later in the meeting.)
National
Ag Literacy Coalition
– The Ag Council of American convened a conference call
to discuss reestablishing the national ag literacy coalition.
I participated in the call along with several other ag industry and
ag association leaders.
Florida
Department of Citrus
– Even though our contact persons have changed, I feel
confident the Florida Department of Citrus will continue the Freshman
Scholarship Program with NAAE. I do know the FFA Foundation
has approached the Department about moving that program to FFA.
I believe the Department is committed to leaving the program with
NAAE.
Teacher
Mentoring Article and Research Project
– I am working with Dr. Dick Joerger at the University
of Minnesota to write an article on mentoring for News & Views.
He is also interested in working with us on a research project to
determine what’s being done in various states currently and then to
develop a plan to assist other state develop teacher mentor programs.
I do not know how this fits with what the Council and FFA are doing
with teacher mentoring.
State
Association Survey
– I think we need to revisit the state association survey
and try to get all states to provide us information regarding their
current name, dues collection processes and structure, state association
legal/tax situation, etc. (The board agreed to send the survey
to state leaders prior to the convention, discuss it during the State
Leaders Workshop during the convention in New Orleans, and do a follow-up
during the 2002 regional meetings.)
MANRRS
Conference
– Larry Case and I attended this year in Washington, D.C.
I recommend we continue to be involved in the conference. Collaborating
with the FFA seems to be working nicely.
State
Relationship Manager Project
– My understanding is that FFA is continuing their plans
to roll out the state relationship manager project this fall.
However, I have not provided any information on the NAAE piece yet.
I think the project is behind because of Anna’s challenges earlier
this year. I do expect the pilot project will go forward.
Trust
for Insuring Educators Business Meeting and Familiarization Tour
– The TIE business meeting and FAM tour will be in Pittsburgh
in September. I plan to attend representing NAAE.
AgKnowledge
– The AgKnowledge publication has changed its
focus since we discussed this in Indy last year. I have pulled
NAAE out of this project. I think AgKnowledge plans to
work with FFA by providing scholarship funds through the country music
group Montgomery Gentry.
Hydroponics
CD – Harley Smith, Superior Growers Supply – Harley
is a faithful organizational member. However, I have heard little
from him since the San Diego convention regarding the hydroponics
CD-ROM he volunteered to produce on NAAE’s behalf.
Dr.
Dennis Avery
– The Bridge articles we send out via the listservs seem
to be well received. The books were distributed last summer
and fall. The CD-ROMs with instructional materials to accompany
the books will be distributed this fall.
Teacher Recruitment
Issue – The new teacher recruitment brochure is now ready.
All of the NAAE suggested changes were incorporated into the revised
version. There has been some interest in a poster to accompany
the brochure. I believe you have already rejected this notion
– but the interest in such a piece (from one source, mind you) is
still alive and well.
NAAE Website
– The NAAE website is updated as often as necessary. Let me
know anytime you have suggestions for additions to the website.
Leadership
Development for State and National Ag Ed Association Leaders Proposal
– The proposal was approved for special project funding by the
National FFA Foundation Board of Trustees at the June 2000 meeting.
Kent and I have discussed the proposal, but no efforts have been made
to get it funded. I need to do some more work on the proposal
and then try to get the FFA Foundation more interested in it.
Do we still think this is a high priority? (Bryan Gause suggested
that the NAAE board consider having a “fly-in” meeting in the Washington,
D.C. area in late March or early April to provide state leaders with
state and federal legislative affairs training. This would also
be a revenue point for NAAE. Jay Jackman mentioned that NAAE
might should someday consider forming a Political Action Committee
(PAC) for agricultural education.)
Risk Management
in American Agriculture – The instructional materials are
now available on-line. The materials are posted on the Ohio
CMS website. A link to the materials is now on the NAAE web
site – so access to the information is easy.
USDA
Secondary Ag Ed Challenge Grant Program
– We have made good progress with this program.
The FY 2002 funding level is still pending but the House has put in
$1 million and we think the Senate will put in more. We’re hopeful
USDA will fund both secondary and 2-year postsecondary in FY 2002.
I have spoken with House Ag Committee staff about adding report language
in the next Farm Bill to “encourage” USDA to fund both levels of instruction.
National
Ag Ed Center of Excellence – I do not know where the Council
is with this project. Do we want to pursue it?
National
Ag Ed Summit – Indianapolis, Indiana – February 7-9, 2002 – I do not know if there will be stipends
available for an ag teacher per state to attend next year. But,
I do feel confident that teachers will be invited to participate.
(Bryan Gause pointed out that one option that is being considered
is to provide a grant for x-amount of dollars for each state and allow
the states to decide how the travel money should be used.)
Summer
Communications Internship
– Daniel Foster is doing an exceptional job for us.
He is participating in lots of NAAE activities during his month with
us and he will continue to work on the NAAE annual report after he
returns to Arizona. He will assist us with the convention in
New Orleans in December. Daniel was especially helpful with
the testimony we prepared for Paul Jaure to deliver before the House
Ag Subcommittee regarding the pesticide use in schools issue.
NYFEA
Report and Status
– We need to decide how to proceed to appoint a new NAAE
representative to the NYFEA board. The NAAE executive committee
had a conference call with NYFEA representatives. It was clear
that NYFEA wants to continue to have a NAAE representative on their
board. Do we want to appoint a board member, an alternate VP,
or someone else? (It was agreed to discuss this in detail later
in the meeting.)
NFRBMEA
Conference
–
Chuck Stranberg represented us this year.
PAS
Conference
–
Chuck Stranberg represented us this year.
Forum
on Education in Agriculture in Urban Schools – Orlando, Florida –
Fall 2001 – This is the urban ag ed program conference.
Do we want to attend and get more involved?
Life
Membership Certificate and Card
– A member called and inquired about this. Do we
want to do a special membership certificate and card for life members?
Evidently, there was one once upon a time for NVATA members.
(This was referred to the Member Service committee.)
Life
Membership v. Honorary Life Membership
– Is Honorary Life Membership just an award? Or,
is it also life membership with all of the rights and privileges thereof?
(This was referred to the Policy and Bylaws committee.)
Other
Upcoming Events:
National
Council for Agricultural Education Board of Directors Meeting – Columbus,
Ohio –October 4-7, 2001
2001
NASAE Annual Meeting – Louisville, Kentucky – October 23-25, 2001
2001
National FFA Convention – Louisville, Kentucky – October 25-27, 2001
2001
NAAE Convention – New Orleans, Louisiana – December 11-15, 2001
2001
ACTE Convention – New Orleans, Louisiana – December 13-16, 2001
2002
ACTE Convention – Las Vegas, Nevada – December 11-15, 2002
2001 NAAE Convention Planning—The
board discussed plans for the 2001 NAAE Convention in New Orleans.
Specifics of the discussion were as follows:
General
session presentations will include Harlen “Butch” Cotter, Jim Knight/Jack
Elliot, and a panel on state legislative action.
Region II will be in charge of the
auction with Region VI assisting. Each region is to bring two
major items and states are encouraged to bring items. Major
items will also be sought.
Sue Poland moved, Jeff Maierhofer
seconded, that NAAE will pay ACTE convention registration for Jay
Jackman and that all other board members will be on their own.
The motion carried.
The Louisiana Association will be
encouraged to put together about six off-site tours and they will
plan the host state social for Thursday evening aboard a riverboat.
The president elect candidates will
serve as hosts for the Partnership EXPO on Saturday morning.
Jeri Mattics will be invited to serve
as the convention photographer. We will also make an effort
to take posed photos of participants aboard the riverboat during the
host state social.
An option for a convention give-away
item is a stainless steel mug with the NAAE logo and convention theme
engraved on it.
Professional development workshops
will be scheduled for Wednesday morning and Friday afternoon.
Wednesday morning workshop will include the state leaders workshop,
using handheld GPS, marketing the ag ed program, and a diversity topic.
Friday afternoon workshops will include lawn care, self-directed learning
in agriscience, Hobar Publications, e-commerce in agriculture, the
GLOBE program, the National Board on Professional Teaching Standards,
and rural mental health. One workshop will be offered on Saturday
morning regarding recruiting ag teachers to pursue a Ph.D. in ag ed.
The draft convention schedule was
changed to eliminate the Monday board meeting; the board will meet
all day on Tuesday. The spouses program was changed to 9:00
a.m. rather than at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday. Also, board of directors
sessions were planned for each day so that board members can become
fully prepared for each day’s activities and events. The Saturday
board session would include lunch served in the meeting room or suite.
It was agreed that during the awards luncheon, the candidate speeches
would occur between the membership awards and PSA awards.