National Service Project finds purpose in Puerto Rico
Alpha Zeta and the beach don't generally cross paths. But during the National Service Project in Puerto Rico, the sand and surf was hard to ignore.
Eight members from three chapters attended the five day trip in January. Cindy Sanchez, Lori Russo, Meryl Comins and Soheila Sanchez from the Cook Chapter at Rutgers University; Gwen Pokalo and Dave Lucero from the Green Mountain Chapter at University of Vermont; Jesse Dotterer from the Townshend Chapter at Ohio State and Brian Reuwee, AZ Associate Director participated in the Puerto Rico Chapter planned event.
The group worked on service projects including an organic garden for a homeless shelter. Participants helped build a compost shed; clear land to expand the garden; and planted bananas, plantains, oranges and sweet potatoes. The garden is an ongoing project for the chapter.
The Puerto Rico Chapter also planned tours of several unique agricultural sites including the Tropical Agricultural Research Station in Mayaguez and the Experimental Station in Adjuntas. Both featured agriculture not typically found in the mainland United States including coffee and citrus research.
The chapter also took the group to two beaches. According to the Puerto Ricans the water was a bit cold, but it was better than dealing with snow in the Northeast or cold in the Midwest.
More about National Service Project activities is available on the Alpha Zeta Blog.
AZ returns to Gulf CoastAlpha Zeta returned to Southern Louisiana in December to continue its efforts aiding farmers and ranchers affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Thanks to the support of the Louisiana Farm Bureau and the Alpha Zeta Foundation, 32 members from chapters across the country attended the five day project. The group rebuilt fences, cleared fence rows, corralled horses, built a chicken coup and cleaned up at several farms in Vermilion and Cameron Parishes. Louisiana Farm Bureau Field Service Directors Scott Bickham, Julie Baker and Raquel Landry assisted in coordinating the project. This was the third Gulf Coast Work Trip. Originally, Alpha Zeta planned to only support the National Service Project to Puerto Rico, but thanks to a little nudge by the North Carolina Chapter and the hospitality of the Louisiana Farm Bureau, AZ returned to the region. Although there was a lot of work to be done, participants enjoyed outstanding food and a tour of the Rockefeller Wildlife Reserve where students got to pass around two young alligators. Alpha Zeta is exploring different ways to continue its relationship with Louisiana Farm Bureau as the agriculture industry continues to recover in the Gulf Coast.
High Council, Foundation Board meet in Indy The High Council of the Fraternity of Alpha Zeta and the Alpha Zeta Foundation Board of Directors met Saturday, October 27, in Indianapolis for annual meetings.
The High Council appointed Fahran Robb (Illinois Beta, '04) as Alumni Representative to replace Kristine Hodgeson (California Eta, '05) who is fully engaged in rebuilding an FFA program in California. The board also accepted the North Carolina Chapter's bid for the National Agricultural Leadership Conference and 51st Biennial Conclave in 2009. The conference will be held March 26-28 in Raleigh. North Carolina hosted the NALC in 2004 with great success, and planning has already begun for 2009. Both the High Council and Foundation authorized launching a search for a new accounting firm to prepare the Fraternity and Foundation's tax returns and any audits that may take place. Also discussed were recent contacts with chapters, alumni and administration, ways to improve alumni relations and job descriptions for Foundation board members. Minutes from the High Council and Foundation meetings are available. AZ Minutes 10-27-07 | AZFI Minutes 10-27-07 AgCareers.com hosting three online resume workshops Whether you will be actively looking for a job or considering an internship, this informative web seminar will prepare you for getting your dream job. Learn what actual agribusiness HR professionals are looking for in college graduates as future employees. Presenters will take you through finding job opportunities to effective resume writing, and interviewing to proper follow-up.
Additionally participants will have the opportunity to submit their resume for critiquing by the presenters. Resumes will be returned via email with feedback from employers for changes to make your resume your ticket to the 'Hot Seat'. This one-hour web seminar will get students ready for the 'Hot Seat' and NALC! Register Today! This web seminar exclusively for Alpha Zeta members will include presenters from AgCareers.com and top employers in agribusiness industry. Being 100% web based, students can learn directly from their own desk with a computer and a phone line. The workshop will be held at 6 p.m., Central Standard Time, on three dates. Members can choose to attend: Wednesday, November 7
Tuesday, December 11
Monday, January 21
Topics will include: - Resources to find job opportunities
- Researching companies and their economic stability/culture
- Resume writing tips
- Deciding what attire is appropriate
- Interviewing techniques
- Negotiating salary
- What to know about head-hunters third party recruiters
- The importance of internships
- The importance of career guidance tools
- Resume Critiquing
Register Today! Bylaw change allows freshmen initiation
During the 50th Biennial Conclave, the general session passed an important amendment to Alpha Zeta's bylaws allowing the initiation of freshmen. "Gone are the days of state colleges with open admissions," said High Chancellor Paul Ruszkiewicz. "Students are better prepared for college because of advanced placement classes, dual enrollment and the competitive nature of the admissions process. Many freshmen are worthy of the distinction of being initiated into Alpha Zeta." The motion, which passed by a narrow margin, sets new minimum standards for membership. Chapters may initiate a new member who has established a grade point average within the college of agriculture that places him or her in the upper two-fifths his or her class (Fraternity Bylaws, Section 1.02.a, Adopted March 31, 2007). For example, a freshman with one semester under his or her belt and ranked in the top 10 percent may be initiated into Alpha Zeta, provided he or she meets the other qualifications for membership. "Qualifications for membership are minimum standards chapters must abide by," said Executive Director Alan Krob. "Some chapters may choose to take advantage of the amendments, others may subscribe to a higher standard." The move is designed to help chapters that have struggled to get students involved because sophomores and juniors are already heavily engaged with other organizations. Some chapters have found it difficult to recruit new members because they're entrenched in a group they started with as freshmen, according to Associate Director Brian Reuwee. "We wanted to level the playing field without sacrificing our standards. This amendment accomplishes that objective." The amendment went into affect March 31, 2007, upon approval of the majority of the Conclave. For more information about recruiting new members or how this change could affect your chapter, contact Brian Reuwee, reuwee@alphazeta.org or (636) 449-5090. Fraternity Bylaws (61K PDF) Monsanto pledges support for leader developmentCHESTERFIELD, Mo. (Aug. 20, 2007) - Monsanto has pledged more than $60,000 over three years to support the National Agricultural Leadership Conference (NALC), an annual event for collegiate agricultural students hosted by Alpha Zeta. "Monsanto recognizes the importance of recruiting the best agriculture has to offer," said Alan Krob, Alpha Zeta executive director. "Those individuals are members of Alpha Zeta." 
According to reports from the Bureau of Labor, more than half of today's workforce will be eligible for retirement by 2012. As senior managers, executives and vice presidents retire, the leadership pipeline needs to be replenished. Agricultural companies like Monsanto are turning to collegiate organizations such as Alpha Zeta to assist in training and recruiting new employees. "Alpha Zeta is a great organization with a long history of excellence," said Tom Hoogheem, Monsanto university relations manager. "Monsanto sees this as a great opportunity to help us find the best of the best in agriculture." Monsanto and Alpha Zeta have built a partnership that will help identify and develop outstanding leaders. The company will play a significant role in the National Agricultural Leadership Conference by hosting a leadership track for Alpha Zeta officers and participating in Alpha Zeta's Career and Internship Fair. The conference is set for March 27-29, 2008 in Columbus, Ohio. The agenda includes a career and internship fair; tours of local agri-industry; speakers on the topics of international agriculture, diversity in agriculture and professional development; and networking events with AZ alumni and agri-industry professionals. For more information about the NALC, go to the conference web page. Please contact Brian Reuwee at (636) 449-5090 or reuwee@alphazeta.org, if your company is interested in becoming an NALC sponsor or Career/Internship Fair exhibitor. Alpha Zeta is the oldest national professional honor society for men and women in agriculture and natural resources. Founded in 1897 at The Ohio State University, Alpha Zeta has grown to 73 chapters and initiates more than 1,000 of the brightest students in agriculture annually at universities nationwide. Alpha Zeta is dedicated to recognizing scholarship, developing leadership, building character and fostering fellowship in the agricultural and natural resource professions. Monsanto Company is a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality. For more information, please visit http://www.monsanto.com. Brian Reuwee
Alpha Zeta
reuwee@alphazeta.org
(636) 449-5090 Tami Craig Schilling
Monsanto
(314) 694-2247
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