It was a very long, cold winter and now it’s time for some summer fun and networking with your friends and peers on the golf course or at your local chapter meeting.

This spring and summer is host to many golf outings and chapter meetings that will keep you out of the office and in the warmth of a NAMA event.

Check out the NAMA Calendar of Events at https://www.namablog.org/?page_id=16 to locate a Golf Outing or Chapter Meeting near you!

Mark your calendars to attend the 4th Annual NAMA Boot Camp, August 21-23, in Kansas City!

This year’s Boot Camp will kick-off on Tuesday, August 21, at 8:00 a.m. with an optional day-long farm tour. Following the tour, registration for the Boot Camp will open along with a chance to network at the welcome reception. After the reception, enjoy dinner followed by a session on Speed Networking.

Wednesday, August 22, begins with breakfast and a general session with a Producer Panel. After the general session, line up for one of two breakout sessions. These breakouts will focus on Research and Trade Shows. Join us for a luncheon session on AgriTourism after the breakouts. The afternoon will begin with breakouts on BioSecurity and Shifting Demographics, and the final session of the day will be a client/agency panel discussion. Following the last session, join us at The Cashew in downtown Kansas City for a networking reception.

Thursday, August 23, will kick-off with breakfast followed by breakout sessions on the Farm Bill and New Media followed by the Boot Camp Closing Session.

To register for the 2007 NAMA Boot Camp visit, http://payment.nama.org/bootcamp07.htm.

If you are interested in sponsoring a session or event at the NAMA Boot Camp, please fill out the sponsorship confirmation form at www.nama.org/programs/bootcamp-spo.htm or contact Jenny Pickett at 913-491-6500 or via e-mail at [email protected].

For more information on the NAMA Boot Camp visit, http://www.nama.org/programs/bootcamp.htm.

Make the most of your membership by taking a committee role at the chapter level. Gain hands-on leadership experience that will benefit you in your professional and personal life.

Chapter leaders are currently recruiting committee members. If you are interested in becoming a member of a chapter committee contact your chapter president. A list of chapter president’s can be found at http://www.nama.org/chapters/chapters-index.html.

Note: Chapter President’s, if you have your leaders selected for the upcoming 2007-2008 program year, please submit them to Linda Schaefer at the NAMA office at [email protected].

Calendar Reminder: Chapter leaders, mark your calendars for the Regional Leader Workshops:

Region II Workshop – TBD

Region IV – May 31

Region III – June 21

It’s time to begin thinking about who to nominate for the 2007 Professional Development Awards of Excellence. The deadline for submitting nominations is August 31, 2007. These awards will be presented at the 2007 Agribusiness Forum, November 13-14, at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center in Kansas City.

These awards honor NAMA members based on outstanding achievement in each of the Professional Development Areas (PDA): (1) Marketing Communications; (2) Product/Species Management; (3) Public Relations; and (4) Sales. Nominees must be NAMA members. Nominators should target individuals with direct planning and execution responsibilities in the respective Professional Development Area from agribusiness and related companies.

The deadline for submitting nominations is August 31. If you have any questions regarding these awards, please contact Jenny Pickett at [email protected].

To download the nomination form in an Adobe .PDF format, visit http://www.nama.org/awards/PDAapplication.pdf.

You can also fill out the form on-line at http://www.nama.org/awards/pdaonlineform.htm.

Just a reminder to mark your calendars for the 2007 Agribusiness Forum, November 13-14 in Kansas City. The Agribusiness Forum will be held at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center in Kansas City. Once again, the Forum will dovetail the Regional Best of NAMA judging and the NAFB convention.

Keep watching the National NAMA e-News for the activities and sessions happening at the Forum.