NC Region
Fall 2007

At the NACAA post-conference board meeting in Grand Rapids, Hal Tatum, Chair NACAA Life Member Committee, expressed concern about the declining number of retiring Extension educators who elect to become Life Members of NACAA. One of the suggestions the NACAA Life Member committee made was to encourage state associations to issue NACAA Life Member certificates to retiring educators who pay Life Member dues. The committee also suggested state associations might want to consider paying Life Member dues when an active member retires.
I know there are states that pay their retirees� life membership dues, but I haven�t seen any certificates presented for a while.

If you would like to present certificates, I am sure there are many life members who would proudly display it on a wall in their home, or perhaps the location of a post-retirement job they have taken. Such certificates are available for order from Scott Hawbaker, NACAA executive director.

Another item the national life member committee requests is that states be sure to name a life member contact person. Many of our life members like to keep in touch with the NACAA, but that means we need to keep track of those members. A state contact person can help communicate with retirees and help the national association keep its mailing lists and e-mail lists up to date.

As states go about their business, remind life members of the member database on the NACAA webpage. Those members can help keep their contact information up to date and it can be a great tool for them to help keep connected with their friends in NACAA as well.

Recent State Visits

The past couple months have been a busy time for state visits around the north central region. In September, Chuck spent a couple days in Quincy, Illinois, with the Illinois members. They had an excellent combination of meeting and tours.

Their tours included an excellent, close-up tour of the lock and dam on the Mississippi River, a tour of one of the largest underground warehouse complexes in the country, and a very interesting private agricultural museum.

October had 10 hectic days as Chuck made visits to state extension and association meetings in Minnesota, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska and North Dakota. During that 10-day span, he covered just short of 3200 miles (all on the road). Air schedules around the region aren�t too friendly or cost-effective for these travels.

In that same time, Mark Stewart, vice-director, visited Indiana on behalf of the NACAA.

Although these visits take some time, they offer us excellent opportunity to visit with the state leadership, both in the association and in the states� extension program. It also lets us share topics of interest and concern with our members directly. Many people find it much easier to express themselves in person, over dinner or a beverage, than in an e-mail or phone call. We welcome any method of communication, and encourage calls or notes, regardless of how trivial you might think an item might be. If we don�t hear from our state leadership and members, we aren�t fully aware of issues the NACAA should consider.

Thanks to all the states that have hosted a regional director or vice-director this fall. It always good to visit with you and learn more of what is happening in the other states of our region.

Illinois state meeting�s up close tour of the Mississippi River lock and dam at Quincy.

Want Some Pictures from AMPIC in Grand Rapids?

If you were in Grand Rapids for the AMPIC and didn�t quite get the pictures you wanted of activities, sessions or awards programs, you can still get them by checking on NACAA home page.

Click on the link for the 2007 AMPIC from the home page and then AM/PIC photos. All the pictures taken by the official photographer are there for viewing and ordering.

Make Your 2008 Professional Improvement Plans Now

By now, many of you have probably made your decision about attending a national meeting in 2008. Remember, you have a couple of options this year � AMPIC and Galaxy III. Both programs will offer excellent opportunities for professional improvement and networking. July 13-17, 2008 Greensboro, NC

In the near future you will be seeing calls for papers and poster sessions from both programs. Please look at these as a chance to show and share the excellent work you have been doing in your extension programming. We realize not a lot of people have the resources to attend both meetings, but by all means, we hope you will chose one and make it your chance to grow in 2008. "Celebrating the Extension System: Strengths, Diversity, and Unique Qualities." Indianapolis, Indiana, September 15-19, 2008

Leadership Opportunities This Year

Just in case you forgot or hadn�t realized, this is the year for the North Central Region to elect a vice-president for NACAA. We have many good potential candidates around the region. If you have a member in your state who has been involved with the association, has leadership experience and has attended at least three AMPIC�s, encourage them to give this some thought. If you don�t have someone in your own state ready for that move but you know of someone in another state of the region, drop a note or call to them and their state�s leadership encouraging them to take a look. Remember, this entails a four-year commitment.

If you don�t� think you�re ready for the presidential cycle that starts with the vice-presidency, but still have some interest in serving nationally, we will also be electing a secretary this year. The secretary�s term lasts only one year, but they can be re-elected to three terms totally. It would be nice to see one of our good North Central region leaders in that position once.
In spite of what you might think about time away from your normal work, many of your county and state leaders view these as great opportunities to show our members as leaders and good professional citizens. You may be surprised how quickly they support your pursuit of a leadership position.

Dues are Due

Remember that membership dues should be sent to Scott Hawbaker, NACAA executive director, by December 31. Along with that, state contacts should be sure to update their state membership lists on the NACAA database. It is especially important that leadership and state committee chairs be updated. The national committees will be making contact with states soon about the national programs so the correct state contact is essential to a smooth flow of information.

National Committee Slots

It won�t be long and we will be seeking members from all over the country to fill out the national committee rosters. Be thinking carefully about where you would like serve. It takes work by a lot of members to conduct successful programs. Our committees are deliberately set up for representation from all regions of the country. That means we need some of you to step up to the plate when the need arises. Be watching later this winter for the committee applications. Please note that if you are selected to serve on a committee, it is important to attend the AMPIC to carry out your duties and learn more about the network of committee functions.

Dates for Your Calendar

November 8 NACAA Board Conference Call
December 13-15 Winter Board Meeting at Greensboro, NC
December 31 Membership dues to Executive Director
January 9 NACAA Board Conference Call
February 20-22 Regional Leadership Meeting, San Diego, CA
April 4-7 Spring Board Meeting
April 28-30 PILD, Arlington, VA
May 7 NACAA Board Conference Call
June 4 NACAA Board Conference Call
July 31-17 AMPIC, Greensboro, NC
September 15-19 Galaxy III. Indianapolis, IN