Chapter leaders have been busy planning their 2006-2007 program year and it shows! There are plenty of chapter meetings scheduled around the U.S. for you to choose from. Even if you are traveling in a different chapter’s area, don’t hesitate to attend their meeting, they’d be happy to see you!

Check out the upcoming events for September:

Midlands NAMA – September 19
Join the Midlands chapter for a tour of the UNL Agricultural Research & Development Center. The ARDC is a major research and education facility of the University of Nebraska Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR). With the scope and diversity of ongoing research projects, the ARDC is one of the most unique research facilities in the United States.

For more information visit, http://www.nama.org/chapters/mil9-19-06.htm.

Carolinas/Virginia NAMA – September 19
Best Practices with Print – On September 19, 2006, starting at 5:00 pm, chapter members and their guests will gather at PBM Graphics in Durham to learn more about the best practices in printed materials and processes. As a long-time provider of product promotional literature and other printed matter for agribusiness firms, come see how PBM uses some of the state-of-the art printing processes that can enable you to upgrade the delivery of your marketing communications messages using print.

For more information visit, http://www.nama.org/chapters/car9-19-06.html.

Chicago NAMA – September 20
Successful Time Management Skills – Not having enough time is a common problem these days, but Chicago NAMA would like to help. Come to the next Chicago NAMA event to learn successful time management skills presented by Frank Reed. Frank is the Staff Development Manager and Head Trainer for Rural Press Ltd., Sydney, Australia.

For more information visit, http://www.nama.org/chapters/cna9-20-06.htm.

Heartland NAMA – September 21
Developing Measurably Better Marketing and Communications –Presented by internationally renowned communications expert Angela Sinickas, President of Sinickas Communications, Inc., this meeting will help you align business goals, marketing, and communication plans; set proper performance targets; use evaluation tools measuring effectiveness, not activities; gain information needed to make strategic decisions; confidently report the results of your marketing and communication programs; and show senior management the value of marketing and communication programs.

For more information visit, http://www.nama.org/chapters/hrt9-21-06.htm.

MoKan NAMA – September 21
Guest speaker for the MoKan NAMA meeting will be Jason Tatge, Farms Tech. Jason is the CEO and a founder of Farms Technology, LLC. His vision, leadership and passion for empowering all participants in the agricultural supply chain have helped establish Farms Technology as a transactional leader in online grain and livestock marketing. Prior to taking the reins at Farms Technology, he served as a Senior Merchandiser for The Scoular Company, as well as the Director of Online Marketplaces for Farms.com, Ltd.

For more information visit, http://www.nama.org/chapters/mok9-21-06.htm.

Badger NAMA – September 23
Help the University of Wisconsin – Madison Student NAMA Chapter – An opportunity has arisen for the UW-Madison NAMA students to earn at least $2000 in one day by assisting with the final weekend of harvest at Botham Vineyards. The group is eagerly recruiting available, hardworking bodies to come pick grapes (we need 30-40 people working an 8-hour day to complete the remaining harvest in one day), but could use the assistance and support of NAMA alumni and friends.

For more information visit, http://www.nama.org/chapters/bad9-23-06.html.

Desert Southwest – September 27
The Desert Southwest Chapter invites you to their fall kick-off meeting on Wednesday, September 27, 2006 at 3:00 p.m. The professionals in the Desert Southwest chapter will be meeting with the ASU Student NAMA chapter for the meeting. Guest speaker for the event will be Wayne Rish, retired Vice President for Dow Elanco. His talk will focus on international marketing, technology products and his company.

For more information visit, http://www.nama.org/chapters/dswt9-27-06.htm.

North Central NAMA – September 28
Ethanol: Distilling Hope from Hype – The first North Central NAMA Chapter meeting will be a breakfast meeting on Sept. 28 in downtown Minneapolis at the offices of Padilla Speer Beardsley from 8:30 – 9:45 am. You won’t want to miss “Ethanol: Distilling Hope from Hype,” a moderated panel discussion with representatives from some of the key players involved in developing the ethanol industry.

For more information visit, http://www.nama.org/chapters/noc9-28-06.htm.

Take a look at the chapter events scheduled for October, November, and December at https://www.namablog.org/?page_id=16.

The NAMA Advocate program is part of the overall “Cultivating Connections” membership plan. The goal of the NAMA Advocate program is to enlist a core group of NAMA members to help recruit new members and advocate for the organization.

Your efforts are part of the bigger membership picture. The national NAMA membership committee is working with chapters on recruiting while simultaneously the NAMA office is working on targeted prospecting.

What will I have to do?
You’ll receive membership materials from the NAMA office. You’ll be expected to seek out potential members and lay the groundwork for recruiting members. After making contact, you’ll coordinate the follow up through the NAMA office. Or you can follow up to “Close the deal.”

What will I get in return?
Along with the satisfaction of helping the organization you’ll be recognized in the NAMA News section of Agri Marketing magazine, NAMA e-news and Grassroots newsletter. You’ll be recognized at the Agribusiness Forum and the Agri-Marketing Conference with a ribbon on your name badge. You will also be invited to the “First Timer/Leader” reception at the conference.

Current Advocates
Ken Anderson, David & Associates
Sally Behringer, Nicholson Kovac, Inc.
Cyndi Calloway, Exhibit Resources, Inc.
Leigh Ann Cleaver, Blasdel Cleaver Schwalbe Communications
Sandy Creighton, Farm Progress Companies
Jean Custer, CNH America LLC
Ken Dean, High Plains Journal
Lee Dueringer, Arizona 4-H Youth Foundation
Dawn Foster, Farm Credit Services of America
Teresa Hinrichs, CMS
Angela Jamison, Communicopia
Phil Johnson, Colle+McVoy
Amy Jolliff, Rhea & Kaiser Marketing Commications
Kim Lang, Learfield Communications
Bev Larson, NK Brand Seeds
Sue Lee, Farm Journal Media
Kara McDonald, Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association
Robert Ratliff, ProfitableFarming.com Corp.
Jane L. Schroeder, NC+ Hybrids
Don Schultz, Clear Channel Ag Networks
Joe Shefchik, PR Marketing Precise Results
Tom Smull, Associations, Inc.
Lori Strum, Strategic America
Frank Timberlake, R.F. Timberlake & Co., Inc.
Stephanie Vinton, Agri-Access
Catherine Wang, Gibbs & Soell
Jeff Winton, Schering-Plough Corp.
Chuck Zimmerman, ZimmComm New Media LLC

If you would like to become a NAMA Advocate today, sign-up at http://www.nama.org/advocate/advocatesignup.htm.

The Best of NAMA Call for Entries should be in your mailbox, so get started on putting your entries together for the Best of NAMA competition. The deadline for submitting entries is October 13.

The Best of NAMA program honors the best work in agricultural communications. Entries are sent directly to the national NAMA office and judged by industry professionals at a regional level for possible advancement to national competition. A minimum point standard will be used at the regional level. If you place first or merit at the regional competition and score above the minimum point standard, you are eligible to advance to the national competition. The national awards ceremony will take place April 11, 2007, at the Hyatt Regency Dallas.

What’s Eligible
If you’re a NAMA member you’re eligible to submit your company’s communications materials produced for first use in 2006. (If entered in 2005, the EXACT SAME entry will not be eligible in 2006.) Additions or modifications to an ongoing campaign will not be eligible year after year. Entries are open to agricultural, ornamentals, turf, livestock veterinarians and any other ag-related products or services whose primary audience is farmers, ranchers and growers (except as otherwise noted). New International categories were added last year to showcase work in other countries. Please submit translations where necessary. Each entry should be submitted through one region only.

Support Your Chapter
Your local chapter receives $25 per regional entry. So, enter your work in Best of NAMA and support your local chapter at the same time.

If you have not received your Best of NAMA Call for Entries in the mail yet, you can view the categories and download the entry form on-line at http://www.nama.org/amc/bon/index.htm.

Would you like to see the industry’s best work? If so, take part in the Regional Best of NAMA Judging, November 13-14. If you have 3 or more years of experience in the agribusiness industry and are a NAMA member, you’re eligible to be a judge.The judging will be held at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center in Kansas City. This will be convenient for those of you attending the 2006 Agribusiness Forum at the Hyatt and/or the NAFB Convention at the Westin.

Judging Schedule
Monday, November 13 from 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, November 14 from 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Travel arrangements are to be paid for by the judge, but NAMA will cover one night’s hotel stay. The deadline for signing up to judge is Friday, September 29. If you are selected as a Best of NAMA judge, you will be notified by October 6.

To sign up to be a regional Best of NAMA judge visit, http://www.nama.org/amc/judging.htm.