Mark your calendars and check out an upcoming chapter event!

If you have any write-ups or photo’s from your previous events, please send the information to Kathi Conrad at kathic@nama.org to get it in the NAMA e-News.

March 5

North Central NAMA
Agribusiness and Crisis
Crisis communications experts from Padilla Speer Beardsley and Weber Shandwick Worldwide will show you how the fundamental skills of crisis management can be applied in both short and long-term situations to protect reputation, enhance your brand, and save your bottom line.

The event will begin at 4:00 p.m. with beverages & appetizers followed by the presentation from 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. There will be a social hour following the presentation. Join North Central NAMA at Colle + McVoy in downtown Minneapolis, for directions, click here. Cost is $20 in advance for members or $25 at the event, Non-Members are $30 in advance, $35 at the event, Students get in free!

To pay/register in advance via credit card – click here

For questions, please contact, JoDee George, jodee.george@webershandwick.com or Sheri Hanson, SHansen@PSBPR.com

March 6

Desert Southwest
Blogging For Your Business
Join the Desert Southwest Chapter of NAMA for our monthly Lunch and Learn meeting at 12:00 noon on March 6. The speaker will begin at 12:00 noon with the luncheon, followed by some networking at 1:00 p.m. Cost for the event is $10 for members and students or $15 for non-members.

To insure that we have enough space and food, please RSVP no later than noon on Thursday, March 5th. To RSVP, please visit the e-vite invitation.

If you are a member and bring a non-member as a guest, your meal is FREE!

March 7

Desert Southwest
Arizona Ag Day

Check out the National Ag Day celebration happening in Mesa, AZ on March 7. Visit http://www.azagday.com/ for more information on the event.

March 11

Iowa NAMA
Technology Strategies, Solutions, and Support

The Iowa NAMA March meeting will take place at the Hilton Garden Inn in Johnston, IA. The event will begin with a social from 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon, followed by lunch and the program from 12:00 noon – 1:00 p.m.

Register now to Carrie Jorgensen at CJorgensen@mccormickcompany.com.

March 12

MoKan NAMA
Student Marketing Competition Presentations
On March 12, the student NAMA chapters from Kansas State University and Northwest Missouri State University will present their presentations for the student NAMA competition in April. Come out and preview the presentations and provide valuable feedback to our student chapters. The presentations will begin at 6:00 p.m. at the SFP offices, 11550 Ash, Suite 220, Leawood, KS, 66211 (park in the garage to the west, take the elevator to the 2nd floor).

Pizza will be provided from California Pizza Kitchen. Cost is $15 for members, $25 for non-members.

**Special Alert**
We will be drawing for a $50 cash door prize. Make sure to bring your business cards!

RSVP by March 9 to Tyler Kelley at kelleyt@osborn-barr.com or call (816) 410-5152.

Cornbelt NAMA
An Evening with Baxter Black – 23rd Annual Celebration of Agriculture
Farmers, agri-business leaders, lenders, and supporters of agriculture in Iowa will gather for the 23rd Annual Celebration of Agriculture at 6 pm on March 12th, 2009. The celebration, held at Cedar Rapids Marriott, will celebrate the vibrancy of the agriculture industry and feature entertainment by Baxter Black.

Join Cornbelt NAMA at the Celebration of Ag event on Thursday, March 12th at 6 pm in Cedar Rapids, IA. Please contact Luann Pisarik (319-624-2263 or luann@jlfarmakis.com) by Noon Monday March 9th to place your reservation. Cost is $40 per person and includes dinner.

March 19

Ohio NAMA
Sharing Better Practices in Working Smarter – An Open Forum with NAMA
Nationally recognized speaker and trainer, Jim Paluch, energizes and educates thousands every year. He will facilitate the day to help you and your team Work Smarter. The event will take place from 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and includes breakfast and lunch.

This event will take place at the Ohio State FFA Bldg. in Columbus, OH. Directions to FFA Bldg. Coming in on 71, exit on 17th avenue and head West on 17th. You will then turn North into the Expo Center. Drive into the parking lot and look for the FFA Bldg which is on the left side and has a white picket fence.

To Register, contact Mike Krouse at Unverferth Manufacturing at (419) 532-3130 ext. 1269 or email Mikek@unverferth.com. Cost is $80 for NAMA Members and $95 for Non-NAMA Attendees. Please RSVP before March 13, 2009, as we have a max of 50 seats available.

March 24

MoKan NAMA
Ag Day Pizza Party – Help Needed
Once again, the Mo-Kan NAMA chapter has volunteered to assist the Kansas Farm Bureau, Missouri Farm Bureau and Ag Hall of Fame with the bi-state observance of National Agriculture Day on March 24. The event is an excellent opportunity to educate youth in the Kansas City area about the important role agriculture plays in their lives, and it gives NAMA a chance to benefit both the communities in which we live and work and the industry we seek to serve.

Currently, nearly 700 elementary students are expected to attend the Ag Day Pizza Party at the Ag Hall of Fame on Tuesday, March 24 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Students and educators will rotate between stations to learn the origins of different pizza ingredients such as dairy, meat, vegetables, wheat, and soybeans. After gaining a better understanding about the ingredients needed to make pizza, the students will literally digest their newly acquired knowledge at a kid-friendly feast of pizza and ice cream. The celebration will conclude with magician Rex Getz’s “Magical World of Agriculture” presentation.

While Mo-Kan NAMA has financially supported Ag Day for several years, increasing our role is a great opportunity to increase our presence in the community and local agricultural industry. If you are interested in assisting in any of the ways listed above, please contact Lori Kruger at 816.255.1959 or lkruger@woodruffsweitzer.com or Becky Johnson at 913.220.9993 or becky@mariposapr.com for more information.

Iowa NAMA
SHARE: Connecting Through Valuesâ„¢ Engagement Training
SHARE training provides participants with the knowledge and tools necessary to constructively engage with people who are unfamiliar with contemporary farming practices. It also provides them with training to help them deliver their organizations existing key messages in a more effective manner.

Join Iowa NAMA from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. (lunch provided) on March 24 at the Stoney Creek Inn in Johnston, Iowa. The SHARE seminar will be presented by Matt Sutton-Vermeulen, The Center for Food Integrity.

Limited seating is available to first 15 registered participants. Please contact Stephanie Vinton-Pollock for more information at Stephanie@cmakc.com. Cost is $30 per person.

Communicating Renewables Summit 2009
April 21-23, 2009, Hilton Minneapolis

This is THE conference to attend if you are a communications professional working for a company, association or agency that promotes wind, solar, biofuels, geothermal, hydrogen and more!

Register by March 13th and NAMA members will receive $150 off registration and a FREE workshop. To apply, enter the “NAMA” code on the registration form.

Learn More at www.CommunicatingRenewables.com.

In his short time in office, President Obama has been campaigning for support on the economic stimulus package and the need to develop millions of green jobs through the growth of the renewable energy industry. But how will his legislation impact the alternative energy industry? How can the industry tap into the funds for both development and consumer education? With so much attention on wind, solar, biofuels and more, how do we create effective messages that will break through the clutter and ultimately spur consumer support and action? Want the answers? Then you need to attend the first annual Communicating Renewables Summit, April 21-23.

Three reasons why you must attend this conference:

1. To discover how to tap into the funds that have been, and will continue to be, earmarked through stimulus packages and other legislation (Renewable Fuels Standard, Farm Bill etc.).

2. To learn how to craft more effective public relations strategies, tactics and messages that consumers will listen to and move them into the direction of adoption.

3. To learn how to create and deploy tactics that will return a higher Return on Investment (ROI) crucial as budgets are tightening for an industry that is integral to economic recovery.

Sessions include:

• How to Tap Into Government Investments in Renewable Energy
• How the Administration’s Policy Will Change Your Tactics and Messaging
• A Strategic Relationship Approach to Fundraising
• Grant Writing 101

For more information about sessions and speakers and to register visit: www.CommunicatingRenewables.com. If you’re a member of NAMA, register by March 13, 2009. Registration will be $545.00 plus you’ll receive one FREE workshop session on April 21, 2009.

About 40 members and guests attended the February Mo-Kan NAMA meeting at the Golden Ox in Kansas City, Mo., on Feb. 18.

Following a buffet lunch, attendees were treated to the feature presentation by Carl L. Medley, Vice President, Business Strategist and Inspirational Speaker for Customer Communications Group. Medley’s presentation focused on the different generations in today’s workforce, and how they have different values, priorities, strengths and weaknesses.

The Matures, Baby Boomers, Generation X, Generation Y and soon the Millennials are all valuable members of today’s workforce, but all have different experiences and values. Medley stresses there is not a one-size-fits-all approach to managing or marketing to these different groups.

Following the presentation, the NAMA Chapter drew for a cash door prize, which was won by Lori Kruger of Woodruff Sweitzer. Mo-Kan NAMA also held a drawing for free registration to the National NAMA Convention in April in Atlanta. That drawing was won by Stephanie Meyers of Osborn & Barr.

Approximately 35 – 40 participants attended the Carolinas/Virginia Chapter event at Novartis Animal Health in Greensboro, NC on February 11.

Bruce Zawadzi, email marketing manager at Novartis Animal Health, and Bryan Kristof, director of marketing at Signal Design, shared eMarketing tips and success stories on:

• Internal and External…getting the Web sites right for brand and corporate
• Email marketing
• Online games for lead generation and sales training
• Web analytics
• Utilizing video online

Several new terms were mentioned including BACN (pronounced bacon) which is similar to spam but it is unwanted email that you did request rather than unwanted email that you did not request.  Also used were, SEM is Search Engine Marketing and SEO is Search Engine Optimization.

Zawadzi discussed PaperPetPals.com which was developed by Novartis as a fun web site that reminds pet owners when it’s time to renew their pet’s prescriptions. This site also has games like Mabel’s Rescue which is a matching game and a page where you can make the animals dance by clicking on several different types of dance which strings them all together.

Several tips were mentioned for designing or redesigning websites.  First, have positive messaging.  Refocus 80% of a landing page on a single primary audience.  Remove extra columns and use a larger typeface.

The speakers also discussed Blogger.com which is free through a Google account.  It allows specific groups of people to communicate in a blog. Another free tool through Google is Google Analytics which allows you to analyze who has visited your website by city where they are located.

Mark your calendars and check out an upcoming chapter event!

If you have events planned for the 2008-2009 year and they are not listed on the calendar at https://www.namablog.org/?page_id=16, please send the information to Kathi Conrad at kathic@nama.org to get it on the calendar.

February 17

Heartland NAMA
Strategies for Marketing
Join Heartland NAMA for lunch on Tuesday, February 17 from Noon – 2:00 p.m. for Strategies for Marketing with Krista Kinney, Illinois State Fair Marketing. The event will take place at the Illinois Department of Agriculture at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, IL.

Please RSVP to Theresa Miller at tboian@illinois.edu. Lunch will be provided by Heartland NAMA.

Midlands NAMA
Social Networking and The New Range War?
Join Midlands NAMA on Tuesday, February 17 on using social networking in the media with Randy Krotz, Sr. Vice President, Director of Marketing, v-Fluence.

This meeting will take place from 11:00 – 1:00 p.m. at the Embassy Suites Omaha in LaVista, NE. Pre-registration cost is $25 and $30 for on-site registrations. Please RSVP to Steve Johnson, Swanson Russell at stevej@swansonrussell.com or call 402-492-3230. Lunch is included.

February 18

MoKan NAMA
Join MoKan NAMA for Conquering the Generational Divide: Managing, Marketing and Serving with Susanne C. Medley, President of Customer Communication Group on Wednesday, February 18.

The meeting will begin with networking and lunch at 11:30 a.m. followed by the speaker at 12:00 noon. MoKan will meet at The Golden Ox Restaurant, 1600 Genessee St. (near Kemper Arena), Kansas City, Missouri. Meal cost is $15 for members, $25 for non-members.

Please RSVP to Amy Bugg at abugg@mccormickcompany.com or call 816.584.8444.

Badger NAMA
Marketing to the Badgers!
Learn how Badger Sports Properties helps market UW Badger athletics by partnering with businesses in Wisconsin. The event will take place from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. at the Kohl Center on the UW-Madison Campus.

Shake off the winter blues by socializing with your NAMA colleagues. Light hors d’oeuvres and refreshments included in the admission fee. Admission is $10 for NAMA members and free to student NAMA members!

Please RSVP to Tom Thieding, Rural Mutual Insurance at tthieding@ruralins.com.

February 19

Midsouth NAMA
World Cotton Outlook and Current Policies
Join Midsouth NAMA for lunch on Thursday, February 19 beginning at 11:15 a.m. at Corky’s Restaurant, 1740 N. Germantown Pkwy., Cordova, TN.

Dr. Gary Adams, NCC Vice President of Economics and Policy Analysis, will discuss the world cotton outlook and current policies facing the cotton industry. He will give a farm bill update, as well as highlight the various trade and economic issues facing the industry. Additionally, he will give a brief summary of the NCC’s planting intentions survey.

To RSVP, visit http://survey.archermalmo.com/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=86K2972.

February 26

Great Plains NAMA
Join the Great Plains Chapter at Commodity Classic 2009, in Grapevine, Texas.

All NAMA members and their guests are invited to a gathering at 6:30 pm on Thursday, February 26th, at the Texan Station, 19th Hole, in the Gaylord Texan Hotel. A $100 gift certificate for KC Steaks will be given away! A cash bar will be available. No RSVP needed; just wear your name tags and come and be social.

(If anyone wants to donate additional door prizes, they will be appreciated. Just bring them that night to the social or email kbauer@kfrm.com.)

February 28

NAMA Bombers Event
Is your shifting foot itching? Scratch it at a special post-Commodity Classic NAMA Bombers Ride Saturday, February 28 around Dallas.

We’ll be renting bikes from SportRyder Rentals (renting sport bikes, touring bikes and cruisers, on the Web at www.SportRyderRentals.com) and riding in the countryside around Big-D. Exact start and end times to be determined based on schedules of riders.

And, new this year, we’re launching the NAMA Bombers Auxiliary for anyone who loves to ride on a bike but doesn’t want to drive one. Auxiliary spots are limited based on riders and willingness to carry a passenger, so sign up early.

If you’re interested in driving or riding, contact Jill “Biker Momma” Wenzel at jill.wenzel@syngenta.com for more information. Rides will be available to and from the bike pick-up/drop-off spot, which is conveniently located near the Gaylord and the airport in Grapevine.

And, mark your calendars for another Epic NAMA Bombers National NAMA Ride in April. Planning remains under way for … some kind of ride … either to, from or around Atlanta, or possibly a combination depending on weather and general initiative.

Join us on March 12, as the Agriculture Council of America (ACA) hosts two major events in Washington, DC: the Mix-and-Mingle Luncheon and the National Celebration of Agriculture Dinner.

The events kick off National Agriculture Week and mark a nationwide effort to recognize the importance and contribution of agriculture every day in the lives of Americans. A number of producers, agricultural associations, corporations, students and government organizations involved in agriculture are expected to participate.

The annual Mix-and-Mingle Luncheon will be held at the Cannon House Office Building at 12:30 p.m. There is no cost to attend, but advance reservations are required. Approximately 50 student delegates from FFA, 4-H and AFA will be in attendance. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) is the Invited Speaker. To sign up for the luncheon visit http://www.agday.org/lunchrsvp/index.php.

The National Celebration of Agriculture Dinner will follow at the USDA Whitten Building Patio at 5:30 p.m. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack has been invited to speak. Tickets are $100 and can be purchased at http://www.agday.org/dinner/index.php.

This is the 36th anniversary of National Ag Day (March 20, 2009), which is celebrated in classrooms and communities across the country and is part of National Ag Week (March 15-21, 2009).

If you are planning to host an Ag Day Event and would like some helpful ideas, visit the Ag Day web site at www.agday.org or if you would like to order Ag Day Materials, visit, http://payment.nama.org/agdayorder.htm or call the Agriculture Council of America at 913-491-1895 to order.

Join the Agriculture Council of America and NAMA in celebrating National Ag Week, March 15-21 and National Ag Day, March 20, 2009!

Charting Your Course in Uncharted Waters: Strategic Decision-Making in Uncertain Times

Volatile commodity markets, bank failures, government bailouts. These are only a few of the events that have caused turmoil and created a sense of uncertainty and anxiety about the future. Regardless of the storms that may be brewing around us, business leaders can’t simply postpone decisions until calmer seas prevail. Turbulent times create incredible opportunities. Navigating through these waters demands answers to questions like:

1. What are the fundamental drivers of change that are reshaping our business/industry?
2. What assumptions am I making about the future and what if I’m wrong?
3. What are the biggest uncertainties that could impact our business/industry?

If you have found yourself asking any of these questions, this session is for you! This pre-conference workshop is designed for anyone who has responsibility for developing internal business plans or helping clients anticipate, respond and react to the volatility and change impacting their business. Participants will gain insight into the key principles of scenario-planning and will be introduced to some tools that can be helpful in making both business and personal decisions.

Kevin Ochsner, Partner, Adayana Agri Business Group
Kevin’s speaking career began in college when he served as a National FFA Officer and traveled to more than 40 states representing the organization. Kevin spends more than 80 days each year making presentations and facilitating programs for many of North America’s largest agribusinesses.With a Master’s in Management from Purdue University, Kevin combines his high-energy, motivational speaking style with the marketing and management substance.

NOTE: Participants must be registered for the full Agri-Marketing Conference. Separate registration is required, but there is no additional registration fee. Registration is limited to the first 100 attendees who sign-up. Please sign-up at www.nama.org/amc/reserveworkshop.htm.