Supporting FFA

1
Supporting FFA Agricultural Education
FFA Alumni- Doing Together, what we cant do
alone!
2
Question

• Are you a supporter of FFA and Agriculture
  education?
• Are you a parent or family member of someone in
  FFA?
• Are involved in your childs FFA chapter?
• Do you know other parents that are involved in
  your childs FFA chapter?
• Are you a former FFA member?
• Are you interested and excited about FFAS
  success and growth in your community?

3
Yes! Yes! Yes!

• If you answered Yes to any of these questions,
  then you are in the right place!
• You are going to learn how easy it is to convert
  your support and enthusiasm into starting a local
  FFA Alumni affiliate in your hometown.
• First, lets define exactly what an Alumni
  affiliate does!

4
What is the purpose of a FFA Alumni Affiliate?

• An FFA Alumni association is an organized group
  of individuals who promotes the success and
  growth of their FFA Chapter, support agriculture
  education and care for their community.
• Support and promote the FFA Organization, FFA
  Activities and agricultural education on local,
  state, and national levels.

5

What is the purpose of a FFA Alumni Affiliate?
(Continued)

• Agriculture teachers rely on FFA alumni members
  to help ease the outside commitments of teaching,
  bring more support to agricultural education
  programs and give teachers more freedom to do
  what they do best - teach kids!
• FFA relies on alumni members for student
  recruiting, scholarship money, aiding in camps,
  conferences, national FFA convention and other
  personal development programs. The high level of
  commitment the FFA Alumni offers the National FFA
  Organization and the communities in which they
  live helps make FFA students' lives better.

6
What does a FFA Alumni affiliate do?

• Chaperone chapter, district, state and national
  functions
• Hold a free chili super
• Assist with FFA fruit sells
• Raise money for an annual scholarship
• Sponsor a FFA member to go to National Convention
  
• Assist with organizing the chapter banquet
• Serve as advocates for Ag Education at school
  board meetings

• The great thing about a local FFA Alumni
  affiliate is, you can decide how active you want
  to be!

7
Basic steps in organizing your own Alumni
Affiliate
5. Recruitment
4. Elections Chartering
3. First Meeting
2. Organize Members
1. Determine needs with Ag teacher
8
Determine needs with Teacher

• Gain teachers support.
• Identify classroom, FFA and community needs with
  teacher.
• Research school policy on volunteer groups.
• Recognize that you are working in support of the
  teacher. All ideas and activities should have
  the teachers approval.

9
2. Organize Members
Parent 1

• Three to five interested individuals can start
  the nucleus of your Alumni affiliate. You will be
  recruiting and welcoming new members at each
  meeting!

YOU!
Parent 2
Supporter
Teacher
10
3. Hold First Meeting

• Contact all potential members
• Invite Chapter officers and advisors (maybe have
  them do the opening-closing ceremony or give a
  short presentation)
• Have a State Alumni representative present or an
  alumni member from another alumni affiliate, if
  possible
• Make use of State and National FFA Alumni
  materials
• Have agenda organized before meeting time
• Have snacks!
• Identify goals and ideas for the alumni affiliate
  
• (Determined with the FFA Advisor before hand)
• Have a sign-up sheet going around during the
  meeting

11
The local advisor or a FFA chapter officer
proceeds to elect an Alumni president
4. Elect Officers

• You cant have an organized alumni affiliate and
  be successful with out leaders. Just like FFA
  Chapters elect officers, the local Alumni should
  too.
• Make sure that the president is someone that is
  willing to put forth the time and energy
  necessary to start an affiliate.
• Votes can be determined by an election of
  attendees in the meeting.

12
The new Alumni president then proceeds to elect
the vice-president, secretary, and treasurer
4. Elect Officers (continued)

• Usually new officers are elected annually.
• You can form your committees as you establish
  what your local FFA/ Ag Education needs are such
  as,
• A chair of the scholarship committee
• The chili supper chairperson
• Chair of community activities/ Advocacy
• Chair of Livestock shows
• Chair of Fund Raising
• Chair of Chaperones
• Dont be afraid to start small. Focus on your
  greatest need, then expand as your volunteers and
  resources grow!

13
Suggested Bylaws should be handed out and each
item discussed
4. Steps to chartering

• A suggested copy of your bylaws can be provided
  to you in many ways
• Visit http//www.ffa.org/alumni/ to retrieve a
  copy
• Locate a copy in your State or National Alumni
  information booklet
• Call the National FFA Alumni Association at
  317-802-4292

Bylaws
14
After this discussion, bylaws should be decided
on
4. Steps to chartering (continued)
Smith FFA Alumni Affiliate Bylaws

• Attendees at the meeting should accept the bylaws
  as agreed on
• The elected secretary and president should keep a
  copy of the bylaws and have one present at all
  meetings
• Consider giving a copy to new members as they
  join

15
Determine local dues organize finances
4. Steps to chartering (continued)

• The local FFA Alumni affiliate determines the
  amount of local dues to be paid.
• The elected Secretary/Treasurer should collect
  local, state and national membership dues and
  send them to the state association.
• A banking account is generally established to
  track alumni savings and spending.
• A copy of the financial records should be
  provided at each meeting.

16
State FFA Alumni Association Dues
4. Steps to chartering (continued)

• In order to charter a local alumni affiliate in
  the State and National FFA Alumni you must
  submit to the state state and National dues,
  membership roster, copy of bylaws and application
  for local charter.
• The above steps qualify you and your membership
  to participate in any state or national activity.
  Including using the tax exempt status for Alumni
  business.

17
What about National Membership?
4. Steps to chartering (continued)

• In order to charter a local FFA Alumni affiliate,
  national dues for at least ten members must be
  paid.
• Membership year runs from September 1 August
  31. Rosters and dues must be submitted to
  Nationals by May 15th to qualify for awards and
  delegates.

18
Benefits of joining The National FFA Alumni
Association
4. Steps to chartering (continued)
19
5. Recruiting Members (Anyone who supports Ag
education FFA)
20
6. Planning Executing Activities

• 1. Make a list with teacher of things the
  department/FFA needs.
• 2. Find out who can do the work
• 3. Research and know all the legal or policy
  requirements and liabilities
• 4. Analyze Community Resources
• 5. Have organized committee groups
• 6. All people can not do all things, find their
  niche.

21
Activity Ideas
6. Planning Executing Activities
Support the FFA Advisor Sponsor a FFA member to attend state leadership camp Sponsor a college scholarship Sponsor a FFA cookout Help with transportation Help train a team for competition Serve on the Ag Dept. Advisory Board Work with the FFA on a community project Provide equipment/assistance for chapter farm Make the news media aware of FFA Alumni and FFA activities Work together with FFA members on a safety project Help FFA Members select livestock for projects Assist with local FFA Auction Help set up field trips Help students find Ag-related jobs Help find sponsors for activities Serve as an advocate for FFA/ Ag Education at your school board meetings.
22
(No Transcript)