Selling Value When Budgets are Tight
Speaker: Cynthia D'Amour, People Power Unlimited, LLC
In the good old days, belonging to an association because it was the “right thing to do” may have been enough to keep members. Chapters had mailbox members who just kept paying dues out of habit, because they liked the newsletter, who knows?
It’s a new game today. Today’s members expect value for their dues. And when value is neither clear nor relevant, it’s time to move on. Join Cynthia D’Amour for a discussion about how to clearly communicate the value of being a member and become involved with your chapter. You will learn how to identify the eight value challenges, use three basic marketing strategies and teach members to connect value to membership. These simple how-to strategies will help you recruit more, and keep more, members!
2010 Crop Outlook Session
Speaker: Terry Francl, former Senior Economist, American Farm Bureau Federation
The past couple of years have been a rollercoaster ride for the crop sector. First, producers experienced skyrocketing commodity prices and a sharp upswing in the cost of inputs followed by a return to lower, somewhat more normal prices. Francl, who just completed 22 years of service as Senior Economist to Farm Bureau, will give his views and estimates on the major crops (corn, cotton, soybeans and wheat) for the upcoming marketing year. This will be an important session for crop producers that are working on their crop production and risk marketing plans for 2010.
A Pro-active Approach to Livestock Care Challenges
Speakers: The Ohio Farm Bureau
The Ohio Farm Bureau will share in detail the current situation in their state regarding animal rights challenges and the pro-active strategy they have implemented, including the establishment of a Center for Food and Animal Issues. OFBF and a coalition of agricultural groups in the state have been active in responding to efforts by out-of-state animal rights groups who wish to ban certain livestock practices in Ohio.
The Lazy Leader's Guide to Outrageous Results
Speaker: Cynthia D'Amour, People Power Unlimited, LLC
Do you dream of getting more done with more volunteers? Are you ready to let go of doing it all? If you are like many volunteer leaders, you may struggle with getting others involved. Instead of leading a vibrant team, you find yourself continuing to add more to your plate. It doesn’t have to be that way. The secret to creating an abundance of happy volunteers is committing to the way of the Lazy Leader. Cynthia D’Amour, MBA and author of The Lazy Leader’s Guide to Outrageous Results will teach you how to get more work done through the involvement of others. As a result of this program, you will know how to: embrace the way of the Lazy Leader, hit potential volunteer hot buttons to turn “I don’t have time” into “I can’t wait to volunteer!” and build a happy, thriving team of volunteers to move your mission forward. Warning: If you embrace what Cynthia teaches and implement with enthusiasm you may find yourself facing a new challenge: what to do with a surplus volunteers!
The Economic Outlook for the Livestock Sector in 2010
Speaker: Dr. John Anderson, Mississippi State University
Cattle and hog producers experienced more downs than ups in the 2009 marketing year. What does 2010 and beyond hold in store for livestock operators? Nationally-recognized market analyst Dr. John Anderson of Mississippi State University will share his insights into opportunities and threats in the red meat trade.
Global Warming: A Red Hot Lie?
Speaker: Christopher C. Horner, Competitive Enterprise Institute
You’ve read the media hype about climate change and been bombarded by environmentalists’ warnings. Now get the story behind the story. Come listen to a fascinating presentation that picks apart how activists, the media, the academic community and even international bureaucrats promote their own views. Christopher C. Horner, a frequent guest on national television news shows, has testified before the Congress, given numerous addresses to audiences in the European Parliament in Strasbourg and Brussels and is the best-selling author of two widely acclaimed books on “global warming” and environmental policy, law and politics: Red Hot Lies: How Global Warming Alarmists Use Threats, Fraud and Deception to Keep You Misinformed and The Politically Incorrect Guide to Global Warming and Environmentalism. An attorney in Washington, DC, he is a senior fellow with the Competitive Enterprise Institute.
Turn on the Lights; Technology Has Left Me in the Dark!
Speaker: Gina Schreck, Synapse3Di
Blogs, Wikis, Facebook, YouTube, Second Life, LinkedIn, Jott, Skype, Twitter…Aaaahhh! For those of you who resisted the “mobile phone” when we saw that big brick being carried around, and commented, “There isn’t anything so important that I need to be reached when I am out of the office,” this program is for you. In this program you will finally get your questions answered and discover which of the social media tools makes sense for you. Gina will help shed some light on technology and social trends that are shaping our world.
A Really Inconvenient Truth
Speakers: The Federal Deficit Task Force Committee, American Farm Bureau Federation
While we can talk about the weather all day, the biggest problem our country faces over the next several decades is our massive - and growing - federal debt. The Farm Bureau board recognized this and appointed a committee to advise on how we, as America's largest general farm organization, should approach the problem. This program will bring the Farm Bureau members who served on the committee together to give you a briefing on their findings and impressions. We must deal with this issue or hand our grandchildren an insurmountable problem.The Administration, the 111th Congress and the 2010 Elections
Speaker: The Honorable Charlie Stenholm
This Congress and the Administration have grappled with a long list of contentious issues, including an historic stimulus package, financial reform, climate change, and health care. They have had a tremendous impact on the Federal budget and many programs. But many pundits now predict the issues will have repercussions in the 2010 elections, with the potential of a significant change in the political makeup of Congress. What will it all mean, especially for agriculture? Former Congressman Charlie Stenholm will share his insights and outlook on these issues and more. A 26-year veteran of the US House of Representatives, Congressman Stenholm (D-TX) was a member of the House Committee on Agriculture throughout his entire career, serving as the committee’s most senior Democrat for his final eight years. He earned a reputation for building bipartisan alliances in areas as diverse as agriculture, resource conservation, food safety, Social Security, energy, health care and budget.
When Fish Fly: Lessons from the World Famous Pike Place Fish Market
Speaker: Dr. Joseph Michelli, Ph.D.
When Fish Fly shares insights into the underlying principles and amazing transformation of the World Famous Pike Place Fish Market. Excerpting from his book of the same name, Dr. Michelli reels in the complete fish story examining core principles that create Pike Place Fish's uniquely vital and creative culture. A culture that leads to excellent customer service, legendary employee morale, a fun and energized work environment, and ultimately makes a "World Famous" difference in the lives of those they serve. If Pike Place Fish can achieve world fame from a small storefront, with zero advertising in a smelly, physically arduous profession, just think what is possible for your Farm Bureau!
MARKET SIGNALS; What The Financial Markets Are Telling Us Now
Speaker: Peter Ricchuiti, Tulane University
“If the majority of people were right, the majority of the people would be rich…and they’re not!” Following the herd has rarely produced superior long-term results. Tulane University’s Peter Ricchiuti will share his informative and entertaining perspective on financial markets, the importance of proper diversification and the cyclical nature of both stocks and investment sectors.
Rural Development- Partnering for Big Results
| Speakers: | Harry Watts, Managing Director-Governmental Relations, Kansas Farm Bureau |
| Adam Sharp, Senior Director of Legislative and Regulatory Policy, Ohio Farm Bureau | |
| Debbie Hamrick, Director Specialty Crops, North Carolina Farm Bureau |
State Farm Bureaus have a track record of progress when it comes to improving the quality of life and fostering economic opportunity for rural residents. Hear how three state Farm Bureaus have successfully partnered with organizations that have similar goals to get results for farmers and ranchers. Get the inside scoop from Kansas, Ohio and North Carolina Farm Bureaus on their work to expand broadband, promote local foods and build vibrant communities. You will leave this session with ideas and models you can use back home to build partnerships to make your community a better place to work and live.
