Washington FFA Alumni and Supporters Meeting Minutes

The Washington FFA Alumni and Supporters held their meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 2, at the Washington FFA AG Ed Room at Washington High School. Washington FFA Alumni President, Taylor Flynn called the meeting to order. Eight alumni members, four Washington FFA Chapter Officers and Adviser Trent Steinhart were present.

The first item on the agenda to discuss was our roster update, affiliation program and membership fees. Washington FFA Alumni currently has 23 lifetime FFA members and 53 annual members. Members discussed seeking additional members both lifetime and annual membership.

Mr. Steinhart gave an update on the Greenhouse Construction Project. Washington FFA Chapter received a $25,000 Monsanto grant to put toward this new addition to their program. They are applying for a $10,000 Farm Credit grant to cover additional costs. The chapter is in the process of securing bids with companies to take care of the concrete, plumbing and will do much of the electrical work themselves in their hands-on classroom experiences. It is hoped that it will be up and ready to use by Christmas with annual seasonal plant sales to offset expenses and provide classroom instruction.

Washington FFA Chapter officers, David Hora, Ellie Bell, Sophie Bell and Ellie Todd, shared many upcoming opportunities for the alumni to get involved with the chapter. They discussed their Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Donation Drive set for Nov. 12-19; Food Resource Bank Donations which promotes Agriculture Sustainability in Third World Countries; Washington FFA Chapter Blood Drive at Washington High School on Dec. 3; the Washington FFA Hunger Banquet which educates kids of all economic levels around the world on Dec. 11 at Washington High School; Washington FFA Contest Run Through and Application Review where alumni and friends of FFA will listen and give feedback to FFA members competing in contests and award opportunities; National FFA Week Activities Feb. 16-23; Iowa FFA Leadership Conference April 14-16; Washington FFA Animal Day at the Elementary Schools and Care Centers on April 26; May 11 Farm Safety Day and Food for America programs presented to Washington Stewart and Lincoln Elementary Schools and St. James School students; and on May 21 the Annual Washington FFA Chapter Banquet. It was noted that after each chapter meeting their minutes would be emailed out to the Washington FFA Alumni and Supporters to keep in the know of what the chapter is involved in and ways they can be more involved with upcoming events and activities.

Mr. Steinhart addressed the members present about the need for many, many FFA volunteers needed on Monday, Feb. 18, as the Washington FFA Chapter will host the Sub District FFA Contests. We will be in need of three judges from our community for each of the following contests: Public Speaking, Parliamentary Procedure, Job Interview, Creed Speaking, Extemporaneous Speaking, Conduct of Meetings, Chapter Program of Activities, Agricultural Sales, Agriculture Broadcasting and Welding. We also will need volunteers to run a concession stand, judge's hospitality room, scoring room, etc.

If any Washington FFA Alumni member or supporter would like to attend the State FFA Alumni Conference on Jan. 19 at the FFA Enrichment Center located on DMACC Campus in Ankeny, they need to let Mr. Steinhart know.

Discussion took place on the FFA Alumni Constitution. It was decided by the chapter that they will meet at least four times per fiscal year. Officer terms will change each year at the January meeting. Mr. Steinhart reviewed the alumni and FFA account process recommendations.

The meeting was adjourned by Washington FFA Alumni President, Taylor Flynn.