Gateway to Agriculture

The NALC featured workshops focused on ethics in agribusiness, shaping the image of agriculture and developing sound agricultural policy.

AgTours highlighted St. Louis' position as an agricultural industry leader and logistical hub. Groups visited the Anheuser-Busch Brewery, Monsanto, Missouri Botanical Garden and Purina Farms.

A Chapter Development Pre-Conference Workshop featured presentations by Monte Hemenover, Jill Casten and Brian Reuwee and roundtable discussions on recruiting, rentention, fundraising and service.

Also returning to the NALC -- bigger and better -- was the Career/Internship Fair. Bunge, Syngenta, Monsanto, Golden Harvest, Agriliance, Elanco Animal Health, FCS Financial, Nationwide Agribusiness, Osborn and Barr Communications and others were on hand to discuss career opportunities.

Conclave Business

The Conclave got to work March 31. They approved a term limits for and chapter representation limits on the High Council; ratified an official Chapter Installation Ceremony and signed off on edits to the Initiation Ritual. The Conclave discussed but did not vote on bylaw amendments to allow the initiation of second semester freshmen nor did it approve guidelines for intiation of transfer students. A reduction in the time needed to notify chapters about bylaw amendments -- from 90 days to 60 days -- was tabled for a later date. The Conclave established a Bylaws Committee to review the amendments and make a recommendation for the next Conclave in 2009.

Conclave Minutes 2007 (22K PDF)

NALC 2007 Conclave Agenda (14KB PDF)

NALC 2007 Proposed Bylaws (60KB PDF)

Proposed bylaws amendments are marked in red.

High Council

The Conclave elected five new officers at the Conclave:

High Censor

Ole Meland (California Delta)

High Treasurer

Jesse Dotterer (Townshend)

High Chronicler

Emily Morgan (California Eta)

Alumni Representative

Kristine Hodgson (California Eta)

Student Representative

Brittany Mosher (Cornell)

They join sitting High Chancellor Paul Ruszkiewicz (Cornell) and High Scribe Weston McCorkle (North Carolina). The High Council recognized the service of retiring board members: Jonathan Kui (Cornell), Jennifer Woodward-Greene (Maryland), Dick Steffen (Illinois Delta), Jennifer Dierkes (Illinois Beta) and Eryn Cramer (Oregon).

T-shirt Exchange

An NALC and Conclave tradition! Students bring a college of agriculture, university or Alpha Zeta T-shirt to the conference to swap with other students during the opening ceremony on March 29. It's a great icebreaker because it helps people learn where everyone is from and what kinds of activities they are involved in on campus.

National Alpha Zeta Scholars

Five students were named National Alpha Zeta Scholars at the NALC and Conclave. Two Montana Chapter members received the Keith Memorial Scholarships on April 20 and two additional members of the Cornell Chapter received the Kent L. Wells scholarships on April 30. Read more about the National Alpha Zeta Scholars...

Burkett-Cunningham-Dennis Scholarship

Andrew Bowman
Morrow

G.W. Roach Scholarship

Nicki Humphrey
California Eta

Centennial Scholar

Monica Galli 
California Eta

National Alpha Zeta Scholars

Kinsey Park
Morrow

Brittany Mosher
Cornell

Kent L. Wells Memorial Scholarship

Michael Oak
Cornell

Robert Farnham
Cornell

Keith Memorial Scholarship

Dael Householder
Montana

Melissa Richert
Montana

Founders' Cup

For the second year in a row the North Carolina Chapter took home the Founders' Cup Award for Chapter of the Year. The chapter does an outstanding job of keeping the national office informed about its many activities throughout the year. The chapter has a strong focus on fellowship, service to agriculture and the community and promotion of agriculture. Although many chapters are deserving of this award, North Carolina stood out from the others.

The Founders' Cup is awarded annually by the National Office. Selection is based on many criteria including: communication with the national office, participation in the national events such as the NALC and Conclave and National Service project, and meeting deadlines.

Middaugh Chapter Achievement Awards

The W. Stephen Middaugh Chapter Achievement Awards were established to recognize outstanding programs and projects conducted by the chapters. The are awarded biennially in seven categories.

New Member Development

Poker Tournament & Game Night
Cornell

Promotion of Agriculture

Farm Day Jubilee
Wisconsin Gamma

Service to Community

Needy Family
North Carolina

Fundraising

FFA Field Day
California Eta

Service to College and Campus

Arboritum Pledge Project
Cook

Chapter Development

Diversity Seminar
Townshend

Alumni Relations

Wine and Cheese Tasting
Cornell

AgCareers.com awards three travel grants

AgCareers.com sponsored travel awards for chapters attending the NALC and Conclave. Awards were given in three categories:

• Go Big or Go Home: North Carolina ($1000)
  
• Quality Crew: Delaware ($500) & California Epsilon ($500)

To qualify chapters had to submit an AgCareers.com Travel Award application, registrations and payment by March 1.

Officer of the Year

Jason Peiffer
Delaware

Alumni of the Year 

Advisor of the Year

Garee Earnest
Townshend Chapter Advisor

Banner Contest

The Puerto Rico Chapter captured the Best Banner Award. The chapter's banner featured photos of the chapter and a map leading from Puerto Rico to St. louis.

North Carolina, Florida, Townshend, California Delta and Cornell Chapters also participated in the contest. Chapters bring a banner portraying the theme of the conference, principles of Alpha Zeta (Scholarship, Leadership, Character, Fellowship, Service) and infuse it with the personality of the chapter. Winners are selected by the awards committee and presented at the Awards Banquet.

NALC and Conclave Schedule