Gateway NAMA

Gateway NAMA Has Moved

2007-07-03T05:51:00.000-07:00

We've moved to a new location so get ready to bookmark it.

You can now find Gateway NAMA at www.gatewaynama.com.

Terry Barr Meeting Well Attended

2007-01-09T11:26:00.000-08:00

Our January meeting is just finishing up with some questions and answers with Terry Barr. We've got about 60 people here!

If you missed today's meeting then you missed information from our speaker like his belief that we'll see a potential doubling of ethanol production within 4 years and a doubling of how much corn is being used to make ethanol. Along with these predictions he's providing his assumptions. We're going to continue to hear lots about this since what happens in the biofuels markets has such an impact on other commodities and with legislation.

Make sure you find time to support your chapter and attend an upcoming meeting. Keep an eye on your inbox for those announcements and right here.

January Meeting Announcement

2007-01-02T10:18:00.000-08:00

Gateway NAMA & the St. Louis AgriBusiness Club present:

Implications for Agribusiness with an Updated Outlook of the U.S. Economy

...Interrelationships in the outlook for the U.S. and global economy and the implications for agriculture and agribusiness. Factors shaping the rapid structural transformation of the U.S. and global food, fiber and agriculture business systems and the implications for farm policy, agriculture trade policy and rural infrastructure.

WHEN: Tuesday, January 9, 2007

SPEAKER: Terry N. Barr is currently the Chief Economist for the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives and Vice President of the Cooperative Business Center in NCFC. The National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, located in Washington, DC, is a nationwide association of farmer cooperative businesses. Prior to joining NCFC in 1985, Terry held several positions during his 14 years at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). He served as Chairman of the World Agricultural Outlook Board, which was responsible for coordinating the commodity forecasts of USDA and publishing the monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates. He also served in the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture as director of the Economics Analysis staff, which prepared economic analysis and assessments of alternative farm policy options and decisions.

TIME: 11:30 a.m.-Networking Reception .......12:00 p.m.-Luncheon & Program

LOCATION: Sheraton Westport, St. Louis, MO – 900 Westport Plaza Drive– East Ballroom

RSVP by January 5th. Cost is $20 per person, payable by cash or check at the door. E-mail gatewaynama@yahoo.com or call 636/449-5040 to reserve your spot. No-shows will be invoiced.

December Meeting Announcement

2006-12-05T20:10:00.000-08:00

The St. Louis Agri Business Club and the Gateway Chapter of NAMA Present …

Exploring Specialty Markets: The Current “Landscape” of the Horticultural and Turfgrass Industries

Speakers: Mary Ann Fink, Missouri Botanical Garden and Tom Keeven, Emerald View Turf Farm

Date: Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Time: 11:30 a.m. Networking Reception
12:00-1:30 p.m. Luncheon & Program

Location: Sheraton Westport, 900 Westport Plaza Dr., St. Louis, MO

Cost: $20 per person (payable by cash or check) or $10 with the donation of nonperishable food items - to be given to a local food bank.

About the Program: There’s more to agriculture than commodities! Here’s a chance to learn more about the specialty markets of horticulture and turfgrass – current size and scope, the major issues facing these industries, opportunities and challenges.

Mary Ann Fink is a certified arborist, master gardener and horticultural educator. In her position at the Missouri Botanical Garden, she teaches a variety of professional and home gardening classes, as well as coordinating the Garden’s Plants of Merit Program. Her background includes 20 years professional experience in the home gardening industry, many years of volunteer work as a Master Gardener and as a Plant Doctor at the Missouri Botanical Garden's Kemper Center for Home Gardening.

Tom Keeven is owner of Emerald View Turf Farms, which has three locations in Missouri and Illinois. Since 1951, Emerald View has been providing and servicing turf for lawns, golf courses and sports fields throughout the area, including Busch Stadium. Tom has served in a number of positions, including president, for Turf Producers International, and is a regular speaker for the turfgrass industry.

RSVP: Please e-mail gatewaynama@yahoo.com or call 636/449-5040 by Friday, December 8 to reserve your spot for this meeting.

Cause-related Marketing

2006-11-27T15:19:00.000-08:00

Steve Drake, president and CEO of Drake & Company, an accredited association management company, spoke at the November 21 meeting of the St. Louis Agribusiness Club and Gateway NAMA Chapter.

The topic centered on cause-related marketing based on the example of FedEx and Christmas Spirit Foundation's Trees for Troops initiative. Last year FedEx and CSF joined to provide Christmas trees to servicemen and women overseas and their families on the homefront. FedEx provided the logistics and transportation; the National Christmas Tree Association provided the trees.

Although the story was a more or less a footnote nationally, it generated significant media impressions regionally and influenced the purchase of millions of Christmas trees. The program is on again this year, with more trees going to more locations.

Generation Y is driving cause-related marketing. With greater spending power than the boomers and a greater interest in helping others, there is a desire to court the demographic through causes such as the Koman Foundation or local schools.

The power of a cause to generate business is getting noticed. Associations, agencies and corporations are taking an initiative to link with causes that will further the brand.

For more information about cause-related marketing, contact Steve Drake: drake@drakeco.com.

November Meeting Announcement

2006-10-17T13:33:00.000-07:00

Gateway NAMA and the St. Louis AgriBusiness Club Present:

Connecting the Unconnected: Case Studies in Cause-Related Marketing

Speaker: Steve Drake, CEO, Drake & Company

Tuesday, November 21
11:00 a.m. – Special Presentation by Janet Braun, Croplife Ambassador Network
11:30 a.m. – Networking Reception
12:00-1:30 – Luncheon & Featured Speaker
Sheraton Westport Plaza (900 Westport Plaza Drive)
Sponsored by: Drake & Company

Consider this:

Eight in 10 Americans prefer to do business with companies and organizations that support causes. Among the 72 million people in the emerging Gen Y population, 50% would switch brands and two-thirds would switch retailers for one with a good cause, assuming price and quality are equal. 91% of consumers say they have a more positive image of a company or product when it supports a cause. Is your company or organization tapping into this market?

Drake & Company CEO Steve Drake will explain the purpose of cause-related marketing and what it can do for your company. He will also share some case studies of successful cause marketing programs, such as the National Christmas Tree Association’s Trees for Troops program.

Steve Drake is founder and owner of Drake & Company, an accredited association management company that serves as headquarters and staff for leading national associations. After beginning his career as a reporter for The Associated Press, he launched a public relations career in higher education and associations spanning 29 years. For his work, the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) has awarded him three Silver Anvils, the highest award in the public relations profession.

In addition, Janet Braun of the Croplife Ambassador Network will present a special workshop at 11:00 a.m. for all who are interested. The CropLife Ambassador Network (CAN) will reach out to elementary school students in St. Louis and across the Midwest this fall with their program titled "America's Abundance." Urban populations lack understanding of agriculture's affects on their daily lives and the processes used to produce an abundant economical supply of food and fiber. So if you have the desire to help connect children to agriculture, contact the CropLife Ambassador Network. Participating in their network saves you time because you will have access to free presentation materials, visuals and coordination services. Your time will be spent directly with educating 4th - 6th grade students. To learn more or join, visit our volunteer orientation page at http://ambassador.maca.org or call Janet Braun, Program Coordinator, at 314-849-9446 or 800-625-2767.

To reserve your spot for the meeting, e-mail gatewaynama@yahoo.com or call 636/449-5040 by Nov. 17, 2006.

A Great Meeting

2006-10-11T13:02:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who attended yesterday's meeting of Gateway NAMA and the St. Louis Agri Business Club. About 75 people joined us for our Agency Roundtable, featuring speakers from some of the leading ag advertising agencies in the area, and led by moderator Janice Dahl of Anchor Management Group. Our October meeting was sponsored by Osborn & Barr Communications.

Our speakers for the meeting were:

Joe Osborn, Osborn-Barr Communications
Scott McClure, Brighton
Bill Shelton, Left Field Creative
Scott Kington, WoodruffSweitzer

Thanks also to our NAMA Board Members who helped with this meeting - including Janice Dahl, Chris Luelf, Rhett Hawkins and Brian Reuwee.

Our next meeting is set for November 21, and the topic is Cause-Related Marketing. Check back soon for more details.

Agency Roundtable

2006-10-11T09:32:00.000-07:00

Photos from the Gateway NAMA and St. Louis Agribusiness Club Agency Roundtable, October 10, 2006 at the Sheraton Westport.

October Meeting

2006-09-28T11:36:00.000-07:00

Join us for the October joint meeting of Gateway NAMA & the St. Louis Agri Business Club.

The Changing Voice of Advertising: An Agency Roundtable Discussion

The agricultural market is changing in voice, response and message acceptance. Join us to hear some of the leading area agencies discuss how to market to reach today's agricultural consumer.

Date: Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Time: 11:30-12:00 p.m. - Registration & Networking Reception; 12:00-1:30 p.m. - Luncheon & Program
Location: Sheraton Westport Plaza - 900 Westport Plaza Drive, St. Louis, MO
Cost: $20 per person
RSVP: by Oct. 6 to gatewagatewaynama@yahoo.com or 636/449-5040

Panel Discussion will include:

Joe Osborn, President, Osborn & Barr Communications
O&B is a full-service agency with offices in St. Louis; Kansas City; Des Moines; Guelph, Ontario; and Winnipeg, Manitoba. Agriculture clients include Deere & Company, Monsanto, Intervet, United Soybean Board, USDA and many more. Visit www.osborn-barr.com for more information.

Bill Shelton, Owner & Founder, Left Field Creative
Founded by Bill Shelton, Left Field Creative clients in the agricultural and specialty markets, including Purina Mills - Horse Business Group, Purina Mills - Show Feed Business Group, and Purina Mills - Wild Game Feeds & Outdoor Business Group. Visit www.leftfieldcreative.com for more information.

WoodruffSweitzer
Originally started in Columbia, Woodruff Sweitzer now has offices in Kansas City and Calgary, Alberta, serving clients ranging from Arysta Lifescience, Bayer Animal Health Canada, Kubota Tractor Corporation and the National Pork Board. Learn more at www.woodruffsweitzer.com.

The St. Louis Agri Business Club will also be presenting the Agri Business Leader of the Year Award to Sen. Jim Talent.

Hope to see you there!

Welcome to Our New Member!

2006-09-25T09:31:00.000-07:00

In August, the Gateway Chapter added Beth Lutter of Paradowski Creative to its roster. Welcome to Beth!

If you or someone you know is interested in joining the Gateway Chapter, please visit www.nama.org or contact us at gatewaynama@yahoo.com.

Here's Becky

2006-09-15T13:01:00.000-07:00

Our chapter President is Becky Rasmussen, Drake & Co., . She was on the program today briefly to fill us in on our next meeting. I'll make sure to get that posted as soon as I get the details.

Today's meeting was more of an Ag Club meeting since it was their 25 year celebration. The next meeting or two are being planned by our chapter.

Secretary Of Agriculture Speech

2006-09-15T12:58:00.000-07:00

Our combined meeting of the St. Louis Agribusiness Club and our NAMA chapter is over now.

The keynote speaker was Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Johanns. The Secretary covered a lot of topics from drought assistance to talking about energy and the upcoming USDA/DOE "Advancing Renewable Energy" conference here in St. Louis October 10-12.

Listen to his speech here: Sec. of Agriculture Mike Johanns Speech (27 min MP3)

September Meeting Announcement

2006-08-26T14:25:00.000-07:00

Another summer is coming to a close and it's time to get ready for our first meeting of the fall.

2006-07 NAMA/AgriBiz Club Kick-off Meeting
AgriBiz Club 25th Anniversary Celebration

Friday, September 15

11 a.m. — Networking and Social Noon – 2 p.m. Luncheon & Program

Location: Crown Plaza Hotel - Clayton, Grand Ballroom on lower level, 7750 Carondelet Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63105 (Garage parking with fee waived. Driving directions - attached)

$25 with advance registration - NO SHOWS WILL BE BILLED.

RSVP: E-mail GatewayNAMA@yahoo.com or call 636-449-5040 by September 5th

Meeting Sponsors to date: Missouri Dairy Association, Monsanto, and CoBank

Speaker: United States Secretary of Agriculture, Michael Johanns.

Mike Johanns was sworn in as the 28th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on January 21, 2005. Secretary Johanns' strong agricultural roots stretch back to his childhood. He was born in Iowa and grew up doing chores on his family's dairy farm. As the son of a dairy farmer, he developed a deep respect for the land and the people who work it. He still describes himself as "a farmer's son with an intense passion for agriculture." Prior to coming to USDA, Johanns was Nebraska's 38th governor. During his six years in office, Johanns was a strong advocate for rural communities and farmers and ranchers. That's why, with a new farm bill on the horizon, Johanns went to the country in 2005 to hear first-hand from producers about what was working with current farm policy and what was not. Johanns hosted 21 of 52 farm bill forums held in 48 states. Secretary Johanns is married to Stephanie Johanns, a former Lancaster County Commissioner and State Senator. The couple has two children and three grandchildren.

Also, hear from past presidents and officers of the St. Louis AgriBusiness Club as they recall some historical moments. All attending will receive a 25th Anniversary Booklet of Memoirs

Board Roster And Notes

2006-07-09T08:21:00.000-07:00

The board held a conference call recently. Here's some notes from that meeting and a link to a Word doc with the roster of our board for the new year.

Board positions have been finalized (see this list)

In the next couple of weeks, Program Chairs will be lining up speakers for our joint meetings for December & January (Horticulture Panel and the visit to Busch Stadium). If anyone has specific suggestions regarding speakers for the Horticulture Panel, please pass these along to myself (Becky Rasmussen), Mandy or Chris.

Our November meeting has been confirmed with Steve Drake as the speaker. Brian is working on confirming AgCareers for the February meeting on HR issues in agriculture.

Need to check back around mid-July to see where we stand on speaker confirmations in order to start preparing final calendar.

This year, we are responsible for lining up sponsors for each of our meetings. The cost is $250, and helps cover the pre-meeting reception and our AV needs at the hotel. (Depending on cost, we may or may not need a sponsor for the Busch Stadium event.) Possible sponsors for 2006 meetings were suggested, including Osborn & Barr, Monsanto, Drake & Company…may be helpful for the Program & Publicity Chairs to draw up a form or announcement that outlines what’s involved with sponsorship…this could then be sent to potential sponsors, along with the available meeting dates/topics for the year.

It was decided that we will be hosting our own NAMA event in September (Ag Club will be doing their 25th anniversary banquet that month). Will still be a luncheon meeting at the Sheraton Westport – set for Tuesday, September 12. (I have confirmed this date with the hotel and they will have a room available for us.) The topic will be an Agency Roundtable with the directors of some of the agencies in town. Rhett is working up a brief outline of the topic and the issues to be discussed; will determine down the line if a moderator is needed.

To expand our prospects list and get our name out in the marketing community, it was also suggested that we sponsor events for other marketing organizations, such as St. Louis Ad Club and the Business Marketing Association. Need to get exact details of dates and what’s required of us – but it was agreed to go ahead with at least a couple of sponsorships, preferably toward the beginning of the year.

Latest Membership Report

2006-06-05T12:22:00.000-07:00

In case you'd like to see how our chapter membership is doing, you can see the latest report here. (pdf)

You can also view the complete roster here. (pdf)

REGION II Leader Workshop - June 28, 2006

2006-06-04T13:28:00.000-07:00

The Region II workshop has been scheduled for Wednesday, June 28, the evening before the MoKan Golf Classic. The workshop will take place at the Kansas City Airport Hilton, Wednesday, June 28 at 3:00 p.m. The Hilton is located at 8801 NW 112th Street (just east of Interstate 29, two miles south of the KCI Airport).

Call the NAMA office to RSVP for the Region II Leader Workshop or e-mail your RSVP to Kathi Conrad in the NAMA office.

If you are interested in attending the MoKan Golf Classic on June 29 visit here.

Membership Survey Results

2006-06-04T13:22:00.000-07:00

Our membership survey has been conducted and in case you're interested in the results we've got them for you.

Gateway NAMA Member Survey Results

Chapter President, Becky Rasmussen says, "We had about 1/3 of our members respond – I’ve also shared these results with the Ag Club leadership and our national NAMA office. Most of the comments are pretty positive. I think one of our strengths this past year has been in providing strong meeting programs and this seemed to be reflected in the survey. Some of the things we need to focus on this year are reaching out to new members, new companies & new sectors of the industry – for meeting attendance and to join our chapter. Also need to continue to make sure programs meet the needs and interests of our members, even if it means planning programs outside the regular NAMA-Ag Club partnership."

Take Our Survey And Provide Your Input

2006-05-22T12:52:00.000-07:00

As we wrap up the year for Gateway NAMA and begin planning for next, we want to know your thoughts and suggestions. Please take a few moments to complete a brief online survey using the link below - telling us what worked, what didn't, and what's important to you as a NAMA member.

Your comments will be used to help us plan for the future of the chapter. Thanks!

Take Our Online Survey

BTW. If you're interested in helping our chapter in any way please give Becky Rasmussen a call (636/449-5070). There's a board meeting scheduled for June 6. Your offer to help would be greatly appreciated and maybe you could attend the meeting.

Final Meeting of the Year

2006-05-10T15:54:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Chapter President Becky Rasmussen for this summary of our meeting yesterday:

The Gateway Chapter of NAMA concluded its 2005-06 year with a meeting focused on the issue of The “New” Small Farmer. In our industry today, there is a lot of focus on consolidation and discussion about the “big business” of farming. But we decided to look at the flip side of the issue. What are the rest of the farmers, who make up a majority of the farming community, doing to promote their businesses and find markets for their products?

Our featured speaker was Jane Eckert, founder and president of Eckert AgriMarketing, a full-service consulting and marketing firm that offers a variety of services to the tourism industry and agricultural operations. And yes, she’s related to “those” Eckerts – the popular Eckert Orchards that have become a family institution throughout the St. Louis and southern Illinois region. In her presentation, Jane said that it’s no longer enough for farmers to be experts on the issues of farming – pest management, soil chemistry, meteorology, etc. Today’s farmers also have be marketing professionals. And more importantly, farm operators need to be recognize the value of their farms beyond just agricultural production. More and more farms are opening their gates up to visitors – for retail sales, for family entertainment, for hunting and fishing, for “farm experiences” and much more. Jane highlighted farms around the nation that have become agritourism destinations, all because their owners were willing to think outside the box. According to a survey, agritourism operations received more than 62 million visitors in 2002 alone. Jane pointed out that agrimarketing professionals need to be aware of how this industry affects agriculture and find ways to reach out to these farmers and ranchers, helping them find ways to preserve their farms through alternative sources of income. For more information on agritourism and our speaker, visit www.eckertagrimarketing.com.

A special thanks to our 2005-2006 Gateway Board of Directors. These individuals contributed their time and effort to make this year’s programs run smoothly. If you are interested in joining the board or volunteering your time toward a specific event, please contact us at gatewaynama@yahoo.com or 636/449-5040.

Vice President & Student Liaison: Jeff Moore, Brownfield
Treasurer: Marie Findley, Rabo AgriFinance
Communications Co-Chair: Chuck Zimmerman, ZimmComm New Media
Communications Co-Chair: Rhett Hawkins, Osborn & Barr Communications
Membership Chair: Chris Luelf, Brighton

Our Prez is Jazzed

2006-04-23T17:46:00.000-07:00

Our chapter president is jazzed about NAMA.

I think she's actually "Gateway NAMA President for Life," don't you?

Becky Rasmussen, Drake & Co., Gateway NAMA president, is jazzed about NAMA. Becky is Jazzed (1 min MP3)

This was recorded with her at the NAMA Conference in KC, MO last week.

May Meeting On "The New Small Farmer"

2006-04-17T07:42:00.000-07:00

Announcing the May meeting:

“The New Small Farmer” – presented by Jane Eckert of Eckert Agri-Marketing

More and more, producers are looking outside the mainstream commodity market for new business opportunities – agritourism, agri-tainment, direct marketing and more. Jane Eckert, founder and president of Eckert Agri-Marketing, will discuss how growers are adapting and exploring new opportunities and niche markets.

Date: Tuesday, May 9, 2006
Time: 11:30 reception/registration; noon lunch & program
Location: Room East C on the Lobby Level of the Sheraton Plaza Tower, Westport
Cost: $20 per person

Register: Reserve your spot for this meeting by e-mailing gatewaynama@yahoo.com or calling 636/449-5040 by Friday, May 5.

About Jane:

Jane Eckert was raised on her family’s apple orchard outside of St. Louis, Missouri, and eventually pursued an executive career in corporate marketing for more than 15 years, working for such giants as Atlantic Richfield Oil Company. Combining her marketing expertise and her passion for agriculture, she returned to her roots as Vice President of Marketing for Eckert’s Country Store and Farms. Through her innovative ideas and through working closely with CVBs and tourism authorities, she helped develop the farm into one of metropolitan St. Louis’ most popular entertainment and tourist destinations, attracting 500,000 guests annually.

Jane has been featured in U.S.A. Today, Time and interviewed for hundreds of newspapers, magazines and radio shows throughout the country. In her speeches and workshops, she has helped thousands of tourism and ag professionals to see the financial benefits of promoting the niche product of agritourism. In 2001, Jane created Eckert AgriMarketing, a full-service marketing and consulting firm that offers a variety of services to the tourism industry and agricultural operations, helping them harvest the rewards of agritourism. As a reflection of that effort, Jane was given the outstanding leadership award by the North American Farmers’ Direct Marketing Association in 2005.

She has been an active member of Convention and Visitors Bureaus both in Missouri and Illinois. She is past president of the St. Louis Attractions Association, the Belleville Tourism in Illinois and The North American Farmers’ Direct Marketing Association. She is also a member of the National Speakers Association, the National Agri-Marketing Association, and has served both the Missouri and the Kansas Agritourism Councils.

April Meeting Information

2006-04-03T14:10:00.000-07:00

Agricultural companies and universities are combining resources and working together in innovative ways to bring new technologies and products down the pipeline.

Join the St. Louis AgriBusiness Club and The Gateway NAMA Chapter on Tuesday, April 11th to learn more about these business and research partnerships including funding opportunities, strategies for technology commercialization, and example technology developments soon to be on the market.

Richard Vogen, Director of College Planning for the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois, will be discussing research and development strategies for successful business partnerships.

Tuesday, April 11: University/Business Partnerships in Bringing New Technologies and Products to Market, Sponsored by CoBank

11:30 a.m. — Networking Noon — Luncheon & Program

Location: Holiday Inn, Collinsville, Illinois, Ballroom B, 1000 Eastport Plaza Drive

$20 with advance registration - NO SHOWS WILL BE BILLED. RSVP: E-mail GatewayNAMA@yahoo.com or call 636-449-5040 by Friday, April 7th

More About Our March Meeting

2006-03-08T07:48:00.000-08:00

At our upcoming meeting on March 17 we'll have a special guest speaker. He's Dwight Little,…Vice President of the National PAS Organization Officer Team, PAS member for 3 years. Currently majoring in agricultural business and accounting at Bringham Young University.

Remember to email your RSVP to: GatewayNAMA@yahoo.com

You can download the latest newsletter here: Newsletter (pdf)

Upcoming Meetings:

Tuesday, April 11, 2006 - New Business Partnerships
Agricultural companies and universities are combining resources and working together in innovative ways to bring new technologies and products down the pipeline.
Special Location: Holiday Inn, Collinsville, IL

Tuesday, May 9, 2006 - The “New” Small Farmer
More and more, producers are looking outside the mainstream commodity market for new business opportunities – agri-tourism, agri-entertainment, direct marketing and more. Jane Eckert, founder and president of Eckert Agri-Marketing, will discuss how growers are adapting and exploring new opportunities and niche markets.
Location: Sheraton Westport at 900 Westport Plaza.

March 17 Meeting - Pass It On

2006-02-26T11:09:00.000-08:00

Our next meeting will be a little different. The date is March 17, a Friday. We'll have a lunch at 12:00 with social time starting at 11:30am. This will be in conjunction with the National PostSecondary Agricultural Student Organization conference. You can find out more about the conference here.

You can get more information from this handout from the last meeting.

The location is the Millenium Hotel in downtown St. Louis at: 200 South Fourth St., 314-241-9500. We'll be in the Illinois/Missouri Rooms.

St. Louis Ag Club Issues RFP For Management Services

2006-02-24T11:53:00.000-08:00

The St. Louis Agri Business Club has issued an RFP for management services. (PDF File)

If you've ever wanted to manage an association then here's your chance. Feel free to visit their website and/or contact an officer if you have questions.

Global Agriculture Program

2006-02-19T05:52:00.000-08:00

Whether you’re a one-man (or woman) shop or an international firm, it’s important to understand the forces shaping global agriculture today and in the future. Gateway NAMA and the St. Louis Agri Business Club were fortunate to have Deborah Perkins from the New York office of Rabobank at the meeting on Feb. 14 to discuss issues of global agribusiness.

Deborah is originally from Western Australia and now serves as executive director of the Food and Agribusiness Research division of Rabobank, which consists of 74 employees in 12 countries.

In her talk, she discussed some of the demand and production factors driving agriculture around the world, particularly in China, India, South America and Europe. While the U.S. remains a key player on the world stage in terms of trade, we still need to be aware of these emerging markets, some of who may become exporters in coming years.

For more information on her speech or a copies of her data, drop us an e-mail. (gatewaynama@yahoo.com)

Thanks also to our sponsor for the meeting – Rabo AgriFinance!

February Meeting Announced

2006-01-17T18:58:00.000-08:00

The Gateway Chapter of NAMA and the St. Louis Agri Business Club Present…

“Global Agriculture – Current Issues and Future Trends” – presented by Deborah Perkins, Executive Director, Head, Food & Agribusiness Research, of Rabobank International, New York

Date: Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Time: 11:30 reception/registration; noon lunch & program
Location: Room East C on the Lobby Level of the Sheraton Plaza Tower, Westport
Cost: $20 per person
Register: Reserve your spot for this meeting by e-mailing gatewaynama@yahoo.com or calling 636/449-5040 by February 10.
Sponsor: Rabo AgriFinance (www.raboag.com)

Deborah Perkins joined Rabobank International’s Sydney office in September 2000, where she managed Rabobank’s Australian Food & Agribusiness Research (FAR) team. The Australian FAR department is part of Rabobank International’s global FAR department, which consists of 50 researchers and industry analysts with a wealth of knowledge of the various food and agribusiness sectors. These analysts are based in Australia, Asia, North and South America and Europe.

In January 2004, Ms Perkins relocated to New York where she heads up the FAR team for North America. In this role, Ms Perkins is responsible for undertaking strategic research into the issues facing the food and agribusiness sectors, and ensuring that the research activities of the department support the business objectives of the bank.

Prior to joining Rabobank, Ms Perkins worked for Bank of Western Australia Ltd. in its Credit and Relationship Management areas.

Ms. Perkins has an Agricultural Science degree from the University of Western Australia and Masters in Business Administration from the Melbourne Business School. She is originally from a wheat and sheep farm in Western Australia.

A Gateway NAMA Happy Table

2006-01-11T14:09:00.000-08:00

We had a good time at this month's meeting. See all the smiles?

These are mostly O & B folks. They pretty much took up a couple of tables. Of course they were our sponsors so they could take up as many tables as they wanted.

Thank you sponsors.

Becky Rasmussen At The Podium

2006-01-11T14:04:00.000-08:00

Here's our fearless leader, Becky Rasmussen, Drake & Co., getting the meeting started yesterday.

Yay Becky! Good job!

If you didn't attend this month's meeting we've got more coming up.

Bringing Internet Access To Rural America

2006-01-11T13:51:00.000-08:00

We decided to post Tim Ganschow's (Agristar Global Networks) complete presentation on "Bringing Internet Access To Rural America." It may be a little long but it's well worth a listen. Tim said he has a written report on the subject of his talk. You can contact him to request a copy.

You can listent to Tim here: Tim Ganschow Presentation (19MB MP3 - 41 min.)

Following Tim's talk and business announcements from both organizations a group stayed to learn how to blog and why blogging is considered such an effective communications tool today. Additionally, the seminar contained information on podcasting and the use of RSS feeds. The seminar was conducted by Chuck Zimmerman, ZimmComm, who publishes AgWired.

Thanks to Osborn & Barr Communications for sponsoring the meeting.

Blogging At Gateway NAMA

2006-01-10T11:56:00.000-08:00

The Gateway NAMA/St. Louis Ag Club meeing is over and we're blogging at the follow up seminar.

Subscribe To The Gateway NAMA Blog

2006-01-02T06:20:00.000-08:00

For some reason we didn't ever activate the RSS feed of the site but that's now remedied. If you use a feed reader like NewsGator or Google Reader you can just paste this url into appropriate place to subscribe to our website: http://gatewaynama.blogspot.com/atom.xml

If you use a custom home page in Google or Yahoo you can also subscribe to the feed with the "add content" feature.

Email Chuck if you have any questions.

January Meeting

2005-12-19T12:45:00.000-08:00

Mark your calendars and reserve your spot now for the first meeting of 2006!

Date: Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Time: 11:30 a.m. reception; 12 p.m. luncheon & program; 1:30-2:30 blogging workshop
Location: Sheraton Hotel Westport
RSVP: E-mail gatewaynama@yahoo.com or call 636/449-5040. Please reserve your spot by Friday, January 6.

Meeting Details:
We all know the Internet has changed the world – but how has it changed agriculture? For many years, farmers and rural residents were behind the technology curve – slow to jump on the Web bandwagon and lacking in the resources to do so.

But times have changed. A great deal of focus in the agriculture community – from the USDA to private companies – has been on how to bring rural communities up to speed. This has resulted in significant ramifications for the ag industry, from marketers to producers.

Kip Pendleton, President of AgriStar Global Networks, Chicago, Ill., will discuss how high-speed Internet access is changing how the agriculture industry does business. AgriStar Global Networks Ltd. has a 50-year track record of developing some of the pioneering communications and business advisory programs for the ag industry.

Following the regular meeting, there will also be a special Blogging Workshop presented by Chuck Zimmerman, of ZimmComm Marketing & Communications, from 1:30-2:30 at no additional cost. ZimmComm is the first firm in agrimarketing to offer blogging, podcasting and RSS services. Mr. Zimmerman has been presenting similar workshops and providing blog training for companies and associations nationwide. So whether you still don’t understand all the fuss about blogging, or whether you wonder how it can help your business – this workshop is for you. Please be sure to register for this when you RSVP for the regular meeting.

Hope to see you there!

Welcome to New Members!

2005-12-19T12:40:00.000-08:00

In November, Gateway NAMA welcomed the following new members to our chapter:

- Stephanie Chipman, Director of Career Services, University of Missouri-Columbia College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources

- Jill Gainer, Media Director, Osborn & Barr Communications

- Mandy Heth, Account Coordinator, Osborn & Barr Communications

- Keith Warden, Assistant Account Executive, Osborn & Barr Communications

Welcome!

Job Opening

2005-12-19T12:26:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to share a job opening that one of our board members passed along.

Rabo AgriFinance is seeking a Marketing Associate for its St. Louis headquarters.

Job Description: This position will initially be responsible for coordination of the company’s trade shows, events and special client meetings, as well as assist in the coordination of company and customer communications.

Qualifications: Bachelor's degree from a four-year college (Marketing or Journalism preferred) with a minimum of two years experience. Or, high school diploma and a minimum of 5 to 7 years related experience and/or training. Some desktop publishing experience is helpful, along with a good understanding of Microsoft Office applications. Working knowledge of production agriculture is also helpful.

To apply, please send resumes to:
Human Resources
Rabo AgriFinance
One CityPlace Drive, Suite 200
PO Box 410379
St. Louis, MO 63141

Biofuels Panel

2005-11-16T11:20:00.000-08:00

I forgot my camera yesterday, so unfortunately I don't have any pictures from the NAMA-Ag Club meeting. But you'll have to trust me that we had a great turnout -- nearly 60 people!

And no wonder -- renewable fuels is certainly a hot topic for the ag industry today. Attendees had the opportunity to hear an updates from David Sparks, regional manager for CoBank; John Kleiboeker, director of field services for the American Soybean Association; and Chris Standlee, executive vice president of Abengoa Bioenergy Corporation.

Mr. Sparks provided an overview of the risks and considerations involved in financing a biofuels production facilty. Mr Kleiboeker focused on the role of biodiesel and expansion efforts taking place here in Missouri, and Mr. Standlee discussed the growth of ethanol production and how Abengoa's research & development efforts were helping to expand this.

Special thanks to our sponsors for the meeting -- the National Biodiesel Board and the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council. If you would like additional information on this topic or on any of the speakers, please contact us at gatewaynama@yahoo.com

Our next luncheon meeting is set for January 10, 2006. Stay tuned for additional details.

National News Update

2005-11-16T06:33:00.000-08:00

Chuck caught me at the National NAMA Board Meeting in Kansas City (I tried to hide from his camera, but it never works.) Here's a brief update on some of the issues discussed.

1) If you haven't already heard, the 2006 NAMA Convention & Trade Show will be held in Kansas City in April. (The hotel we had originally booked in New Orleans will not be repaired in time.) Special task forces have been created to give a fresh eye to the Best of NAMA Awards Ceremony and the Trade Show -- and we brainstormed some ideas to reinvigorate these aspects of the convention. If you have ideas or suggestions -- please pass them along.

2) Chuck is right -- we did vote to change our fiscal year to match the calendar year. (It previously ended in May.) But this shouldn't affect much for our members.

3) We also discussed the continuing role of NAMA Advocates in helping to boost membership. If you would like more info on becoming an advocate, please contact myself or Chuck. And as always, we encourage you to bring friends and colleagues to a meeting so they can see what NAMA means for themselves.

Becky At The Board Meeting

2005-11-09T08:32:00.000-08:00

Our fearless leader attended the NAMA board meeting in Kansas City. I'm sure they discussed weighty matters and made very important decisions. Here's Becky Rasmussen, staying awake with a soda.

You'll have to get a report from her though on what was accomplished. I think I heard that NAMA changed its fiscal year to the calendar year and talked about the strategic plan that's been in the works, etc.

November Meeting On Renewable Fuels

2005-11-02T18:42:00.000-08:00

Renewable Fuels Panel Discussion - It’s Here …. Now What Does it Mean For Us?

Another joint meeting of the Gateway Chapter of the National Agri-Marketing Association & The St. Louis Agri-Business Club

Where: Sheraton Westport at 900 Westport Plaza.
When: Tuesday, November 15th
Time: Networking reception begins at 11:30 a.m., followed by lunch and the featured program at noon.

How to Register: Contact GatewayNAMA@yahoo.com or call 636/449-5040. Registration is $20 and will be collected at the door.

Renewable Fuels Panel Discussion

From producers to investors to industry researchers, increasing attention is focused on the role of renewable fuels, such as biodiesel and ethanol. Industry experts will discuss the impact of these technologies, how they will affect other agribusinesses and what’s coming on the horizon.

SPEAKERS:

Mr. Chris Standlee, Executive Vice president
Abengoa Bioenergy Corporation
Chesterfield, MO
Chris represents the second largest biofuels producer in the world. Their USA headquarters has been in Chesterfield for four years. They own and operate a number of facilities in different areas of the USA as well as in Europe. Abengoa is a leader in production technologies and research in the uses of several grains and other biomass products as sources of biofuels.

Mr. John Kleiboeker
Director of Field Services
Missouri Soybean Association
Jefferson City, MO
John has been involved in the development of soy biodiesel for a number of years. He currently spends 80% of his time on biodiesel development. Not only will John talk about industry trends, he will help us understand how soybeans become fuel and how the product reaches the end user.

Mr. David Sparks
Regional Manager, CoBank
St. Louis, MO
Think biofuels are small business? Think again! CoBank is one of the largest, if not the largest, financing organization of this rapidly expanding industrial use of farm products. To date CoBank is involved in over 30 biofuels facilities. David will help us understand the economics and the intense interest in one of the hottest growth areas impacting agriculture today.

Taking the Pulse of Biotechnology

2005-10-26T19:25:00.000-07:00

A big thanks to Communications Committee Co-Chair, Rhett Hawkins, Osborn & Barr (and Tammy Humm Donelson) for submitting a great write-up for our last meeting. In case you missed it here's what happened:

Dr. Roger Beachy, President of the Danforth Plant Science Center, internationally known plant scientist, addressed the St. Louis chapter of the Nation Agri-Marketing Association and the St. Louis Agri-Business Club regarding the opportunities and challenges in ag biotech.

The Impact of Ag and Biotech on the St. Louis Region and Missouri

With the Danforth Plant Science Center, Missouri Botanical Garden and Washington University at its hub, ag biotech impacts the St. Louis economy in a major way with ag contributing 12 percent of the regional economic value and involving 20 percent of the regional workforce (source: Regional Commerce & Growth Association). As a biotech think tank, St. Louis is home to 450 biotech PHDs working for Monsanto, Bunge, Pfizer, Solea, Chlorogen, Orion, Tyco Healthcare, World Ag Forum, Cargill and the Danforth Center. Currently, such organizations are working to define Missouri’s niche in crop-based fuels such as bioethanol and biodiesel and crop and non-crop plants as sources of a variety of bio-based materials.

Global Competition to Rise

On a broader scale, the United States faces increasing global competition to stay at the leading edge. Beachy warned, “For the U.S. to stay competitive, we must continue innovation in research and development in plant sciences and create a conducive regulatory environment. The open import/export market serves the U.S. only as long as we have more to offer than other nations” With regulatory costs for new product introduction approximately $50 million, research businesses in areas that discourage development will be bought and move to growth-friendly climates.

The Outlook for the Future

Beachy predicts that partnerships will be necessary to stay competitive in the future with joint research conducted in public and private sector labs. The science, safety and benefits need to be clearly communicated to the regulatory channels as well as the marketplace. Beachy claims, “There is so much opportunity in diet enhancement and enrichment. Folic acid and zinc can be increased by 60 to 70 percent [in some foods]. Without pills, we can provide a better nutritional balance. There is no doubt that we will be importing these foods from China in 20 years if we don’t develop them ourselves now.”

At the end of his presentation, Dr. Roger Beachy was presented with the 2004 St. Louis Agri-Business Leader of the Year Award.

Current Membership Report

2005-10-09T16:49:00.000-07:00

Not much to report this month for membership. According to the latest update we've got 93 members counting associates.

Let's recruit!

Another New Member!

2005-10-04T09:44:00.000-07:00

In September, Lindsay Lynch joined the Gateway Chapter of NAMA. Lindsay is communications coordinator at AgriGold Hybrids in St. Francisville, Ill.

Welcome to Lindsay! And if you know someone who would benefit from membership, or is interested in attending a meeting, be sure to contact a board member or visit National NAMA's Web site.

October Meeting Announcement

2005-09-30T05:55:00.000-07:00

Make plans now to attend our next meeting and hear from Dr. Beachy. Here's all the details.

Where: Sheraton Westport at 900 Westport Plaza.
When: Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Time: Networking reception begins at 11:30 a.m., followed by lunch and the featured program at noon.
How to Register: Contact GatewayNAMA@yahoo.com or call 636/449-5040. Registration is $20 and will be collected at the door.
TOPIC: St. Louis at the Heart of the BioBelt

Dr. Roger Beachy, president of the Danforth Center, will speak on the unique work and research being done at the Center. The Danforth Center partners with other research institutions across the region and the United States in conducting ground-breaking research in the plant sciences. Dr. Beachy is internationally known for his research on virus-resistant plants and oversees 160 staff and 12 labs at the Center.

Welcome to our New Members!

2005-09-20T06:45:00.000-07:00

In August, we added three new members to our ranks at the Gateway Chapter. Be sure to take a moment to greet these individuals when you see them at events and meetings.

- Brenda Barnes, director of marketing & communications for IRON Solutions LLC

- Laurie Bonnot, account executive for Brownfield

- Becky Grisham, director of communications for Missouri Corn Growers Association

Welcome aboard!

For Those On the Job Prowl...

2005-09-20T06:33:00.000-07:00

If you know someone in Kansas City, or are looking out that way yourself, here are a couple of job openings from recruiter Mary Czarnecki at Osborn & Barr Communications.

1) Account Executive
Purpose of Position: Under the supervision of the Account Supervisor this position is responsible for the liaison between the client and the agency to position client issues and services, products and brands in the marketplace to achieve client and agency goals.
Requirements: BA in journalism, communications, marketing, public relations or related degree; 3-5 years account service experience - client side ok; animal health experience; communication skills & business acumen; organizational skills and leadership skills; occasional car & air travel required for meetings and occasional late hours and/or weekends.

2) Managing Director
Purpose of Position: In this capacity, this position serves as the senior leader on all Kansas City based accounts and provides direction and coordination of account activity. Developing and growing current business and bringing in new business to the agency is a prime responsibility.
Requirements: 10-15 years account management experience; BA degree in advertising, marketing, communications, journalism, business administration or similar; negotiation and communication skills; business acumen; leadership abilities.

To apply for either position, send resume and a brief cover letter with salary requirements to HR at Osborn & Barr Communications. E-mail is preferred: hr@osborn-barr.com. Please include job title in "subject" heading. Fax 314-726-6350, Mail: One North Brentwood Blvd, 8th floor, St. Louis, MO 63105.

For other positions, be sure to check out the National NAMA job board .

Meeting Schedule

2005-09-14T11:35:00.000-07:00

We have a meeting schedule which was handed out at the meeting earlier this week at Monsanto. You can download the PDF file here: Gateway NAMA Meeting Schedule

Here's what's planned:

Tuesday, October 18, 2005
St. Louis at the Heart of the BioBelt

Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Renewable Fuels Panel Discussion
It’s Here…Now What Does It Mean For Us?

December 2005
Anheuser-Busch After-Hours

Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Bringing Internet Access To Rural America
Special Blogging Workshop

Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Global Agribusiness

Friday, March 17, 2006
Agribusiness Luncheon with the National
Postsecondary Agricultural Student Organization

Tuesday, April 11, 2006
New Business Partnerships

Tuesday, May 9, 2006
The “New” Small Farmer

To register for a meeting, contact
GatewayNAMA@yahoo.com or call 636/449-5040.
Registration fee for all meetings is $20
(cash or check).

Schlafly - Happy Hour Time

2005-09-14T11:31:00.000-07:00

What do you say we do this every month?

Happy Hour Tap

2005-09-14T11:30:00.000-07:00

The man pouring the beer is always a very popular person at happy hour.

Pics From Happy Hour

2005-09-14T11:28:00.000-07:00

It looks like everyone was having a good time.

Opening Event - Happy Hour

2005-09-14T11:24:00.000-07:00

Here's a message from our fearless leader Becky Rasmussen:

Thanks for everyone who was able to attend NAMA’s kick-off event at Schlafly Bottleworks in Maplewood. We had a number of new faces in the crowd, and we hope everyone had a good time networking and learning a little more about the brewery and the Schlafly brand. Congratulations to Tim Leon, Jason Hoag and Wendell Knehans – who were the winners of our door prize drawings.

Attendees had the opportunity to visit with other members, enjoy some great beer, take a tour of the Bottleworks Brewery and learn more about Schlafly marketing from Dan Kopman, vice president and co-founder. Dan shared with us a brief history of Schlafly, his vision for the future, and some of the unique things the Bottleworks is doing to connect with the local community. For example, the Bottleworks hosts the Maplewood Farmer’s Market every Wednesday, as well as a number of other special events. On-site is a garden in which is grown nearly all of the herbs for the restaurant, along with many of the vegetables. The restaurant buys as much as possible from local vendors, and each month hosts “SLOWednesdays”, which offers the public the opportunity to learn more about where there food comes from and to meet local farmers and producers. For more information on these programs or to sign up for their newsletter, visit www.schlafly.com.

Look forward to seeing everyone at the meetings and events scheduled for the year!

September Meeting Keynote Speaker Kerry Preete

2005-09-13T06:14:00.000-07:00

Our speaker at our first fall meeting was Kerry Preete, Vice President of U.S. Crop Production for Monsanto. Kerry gave an excellent overview of all the changes the company has undergone in recent years. He said that the company is now 100 percent agricultural focused.

He had way more material than we can summarize here. It was interesting to note that he said the company really got their start using chemicals to obtain a result but that the future is in engineering traits into plants that will generate the same result and mean that we don't have to use so many chemicals.

The Presidents Speak

2005-09-13T06:06:00.000-07:00

At our first fall meeting, President, Becky Rasmussen, Drake & Co., handled our duties. This joint meeting with the St. Louis Agribusiness Club was set up by them.

Everyone was provided with a schedule of all our upcoming meetings. We'll have that posted here sometime this week.

Handling things for the Ag Club was their president, Dean Dittmar, Facilitating Coordination In Ag Education.

1st Fall Meeting At Monsanto

2005-09-13T05:59:00.000-07:00

Our first fall joint meeting with the St. Louis Agribusiness Club was held at Monsanto. The food was good and by the way, our speaker, Kerry Preete, VP of U.S. Crop Production, gave us an excellent overview of the company and how they see their business developing in the future.

After the lunch and presentation, attendees got a tour of the Donald Danforth Plant Sciences Center.

Become A NAMA Advocate

2005-09-09T09:29:00.000-07:00

Once you sign up as a NAMA Advocate and receive your AdvoKit from the NAMA office, you'll be expected to seek out potential members and lay the groundwork for recruiting members. After making contact, you'll coordinate the follow-up through the NAMA office. Or you can follow-up to "Close the deal."

Becoming an Advocate will bring you the satisfaction of helping the organization, and you'll be recognized in the NAMA News section of Agri Marketing magazine, the National NAMA e-News and the Grassroots newsletter. You'll also be recognized at the Agribusiness Forum and the Agri-Marketing Conference & Trade Show with a ribbon on your name badge. In addition, you will be invited to the "First Timer/Leader" reception at the conference.

Sign up now at http://www.nama.org/advocate/advocatesignup.htm to receive your AdvoKit and start advocating today!

Next Gateway Meeting Is Monday, September 12

2005-09-09T09:21:00.000-07:00

The Gateway Chapter of the National Agri-Marketing Association and the St. Louis Agri Business Club will kick off their joint meeting schedule Monday, September 12, with a presentation by Kerry Preete, Vice President of U.S. Crop Production for Monsanto.

His topic will be "innovative agriculture that creates incredible things today." Kerry is one of Monsanto's top management people and deals with a variety of agri-marketing issues, from biotech to trade and how they impact U.S. crop production and the future of US farming.

Mr. Preete joined Monsanto in 1985 as a sales representative in Saskatchewan and has served in a variety of sales, marketing and commercial development positions for Monsanto in both U.S. and international markets. Kerry has led the Global Product Strategy Organization and most recently was the Vice President of the U.S. Branded Business. In his current role, he has commercial responsibility for Monsanto's U.S. businesses that include chemistry, traits, and our branded and licensed seed businesses.

You don't want to miss a chance to hear what's in the pipeline at Monsanto that could dramatically impact the future of U.S. crop production! So mark your calendar for Monday, September 12, and join us at Monsanto's headquarters.

The meeting will be held on Monsanto's main campus in Creve Coeur in the St. Louis Room of Building A. You may enter the campus from either Olive Street Road or Lindbergh Avenue and just follow the signs to Building A.

A special addition to the program will be a guided tour of the Donald Danforth Plant Sciences Center across the street following the luncheon. But because of the Center's logistics, space is limited to the first 40 people who sign up.

Please reserve your spot for the presentation (and please indicate if you're interested in the tour) by e-mailing GatewayNAMA@yahoo.com or by calling Becky 636/449-5040.

Date: Monday, September 12, 2005

Time: 11:30 reception, noon luncheon (followed by optional tour at Donald Danforth Plant Sciences Center ).

Location: Monsanto Campus, 800 N. Lindbergh Blvd. , St. Louis , MO 63167 ? St. Louis Room of Building A

Cost: $20 per person.

RSVP to gatewaynama@yahoo.com or 636/449-5040 by Wednesday, September 7.

Mizzou NAMA Extends Invitation To Professionals

2005-08-14T16:46:00.000-07:00

Our chapter supports Mizzou NAMA, the student chapter at the University of Missouri in Columbia. We're invited to attend any Mizzou NAMA meeting. They're held on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month. They’re hoping to host a resume clinic in November, and an interviewing workshop in February. If anyone is interested in attending or speaking at a meeting, they can contact Tom Koenigsfeld, 573/291-3433.

Schlafly Bottleworks Happy Hour

2005-08-14T16:30:00.000-07:00

The Gateway Chapter of the National Agri-Marketing Association welcomes you to its first meeting at Schlafly Bottleworks on Sept. 6. Networking and professional insight go well with a cold one.
Join us for a brewery tour, appetizers, cold drinks, door prizes, and the chance to chat with other chapter members. Schlafly Vice President Dan Kopman will also discuss the company’s innovative marketing tactics. And did we mention a brewery
tour and cold drinks?

WHAT: NAMA Happy Hour
WHERE: Schlafly Bottleworks
7260 Southwest Ave.,
Maplewood, MO
314-241-BEER
WHEN: Tuesday, September 6, 2005
5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
$10 per person
WHO: Friends, family, colleagues…everybody’s invited
HOW: RSVP to Becky Rasmussen by August 23.
Call 636-449-5040 or e-mail Rasmussen@drakeco.com

Latest Membership Numbers

2005-08-04T08:56:00.000-07:00

Each month we get a listing of our membership numbers and activity. According to the latest we have 90 members. Of those, 9 are associate members. That makes us the 5th largest NAMA Chapter. There are 31 chapters and 3 "councils." There are currently 1634 members in total. This includes Canadian chapters/members of CAMA.

Notes From The Region II Leadership Workshop

2005-07-20T10:31:00.000-07:00

In case you'd like to know what we discussed at the workshop in Kansas City you can open up this link to a Word document of the notes supplied by the national office.

Region II Workshop Notes

Please contact any board member with questions or suggestions!

NAMA Kick-Off Event - September 6

2005-07-12T13:58:00.000-07:00

Mark your calendars now for NAMA's beginning of the year happy hour. This is a great chance to meet and catch up with other local members before the start of our regular meetings.

Gateway NAMA will be hosting a happy hour on Tuesday, September 6 at Schlafly Bottleworks in Maplewood. The event will take place from 5 to 6:30 p.m. and will include a brewery tour, a brief presentation from Schlafly VP Dan Kopman and networking/social time.

We picked Schlafly Bottleworks for more than their great beer -- the owners have worked to build a unique business models that supports local agriculture and environmental causes. Among the projects they've implemented: a weekly farmer's market, a community garden project, monthly events with talks from area farmers, a "green" newsletter and much more.

We hope that everyone can attend -- and feel free to bring guests/spouses/colleagues -- all are welcome! The cost for the event is $10 and includes the tour, appetizers, a free beverage, and a chance to win some great prizes.

Invitations will be coming soon... for questions, contact one of the board members or myself. Look forward to seeing you all there!

National NAMA Seeks New Recruits

2005-07-06T13:26:00.000-07:00

If you haven't already heard, NAMA is gearing up for the second annual Agri-Marketing Boot Camp, to be held in Kansas City, Mo., August 17-19. This year's event also includes an optional tour that will visit local ag businesses and a nearby farm.

Based on my experiences at last year's Boot Camp, I highly recommend the program -- whether or not you're new to the field. (And I hear this year's camp will include a special presentation from Gateway's own Chuck Zimmerman on the subject of blogging.)

For more information or to register, visit http://www.nama.org/programs/bootcamp.htm

Gateway Chapter Well Represented At Leadership Workshop

2005-06-16T08:35:00.000-07:00

Our chapter was represented at the Region II Leadership Workshop by President Becky Rasmussen and board member Chuck Zimmerman.

If you'd like to know more about the workshop program you can listen to an interview Chuck did with our regional director, Don Schultz, Clear Channel Agnetworks.

You can listen to the interview here: NAMA Interview (21 min./10MB) The interview is an MP3 file which should automatically download when you click on the link as long as you're online.

Region II Leadership Workshop

2005-06-15T22:10:00.000-07:00

This evening the Region II Leadership Workshop was held in Kansas City. Gateway NAMA President Becky Rasmussen and board member Chuck Zimmerman attended.

Lots of ideas were discussed with leaders from several chapters.

Although many of our programs are already planned a few new ideas came up such as some possible webinars hosted by the national office that members can participate in and that we might even set up a venue to meet and view.

The national executive committee and board are considering implementing a NAMA Advocate program to encourage current members to help solicit new members.

We'll have more from the workshop in a future post (tomorrow). It's way too late at this point to be online!

They're Not Written In Stone....

2005-06-13T09:41:00.000-07:00

But here is a first look at the programs planned for the 2005-2006 year. The two groups hope to get the speakers and topics confirmed by August so that we can send out a complete calendar to all of our members.

All regular meetings are lunchtime programs, with a networking reception from 11:30-12, followed by lunch and the featured program from 12-1:30.

September 13: Kick-off Meeting - possibly with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns

October 11: St. Louis at the Heart of the BioBelt

November 8: Renewable Fuels Panel Discussion

December (date & time TBA): Anheuser-Busch After Hours (happy hour/program at AB)

January 10: A Wired Rural America -- w/ Kip Pendleton of AgriStar Global Networks
Special Workshop Opportunity: Blogging 101 w/ Chuck Zimmerman of ZimmComm

February 14: Global Agribusiness

March 20 special date in honor of Ag Day): Agribusiness' Impact on St. Louis w/ Mayor Francis Slay

April 11: (Note: Gateway NAMA typically does not offer a program in April due to the National Convention, but all are welcome to attend this program.)
New Business Partnerships: The Relationship Between Industry and Universities

May 9: Another Look at the Rural Lifestyle Market

This schedule may change depending on the availability of speakers or other hot topics that may arise. If you have information or material you would like to share on any of these topics, or speakers you would recommend, please drop me a note.

Gearing Up for Great Programs

2005-06-08T11:24:00.000-07:00

Some members of our Gateway NAMA board met yesterday with the board of the St. Louis Ag Business Club to begin planning events for the coming year. I think we have a great set of programs lined up -- we hopefully will be sending a calendar for the year out in August to all our members.

Until then, a couple of notes from the meeting:

All meetings will move from Mondays to the 2nd Tuesday of the month -- we thought this might be a better day for our members.

Meetings are set to be held at the Westport Sheraton (as with our May meeting).

We're hoping to organize a few events/meetings outside the lunchtime program schedule to accommodate those with busy schedules or to focus on topics specifically of interest to our group. First up, a beginning of the year happy hour/networking event.

If you'd like to participate in the planning of this or any events, let a board member know.

Some Job Opportunities In the Gateway Area

2005-06-02T06:58:00.000-07:00

For an extensive list of job openings and descriptions, I encourage all NAMA members to visit the National NAMA job network site.

But we will try to make a point of highlighting openings and opportunities in the Gateway area. Currently:

Doane Agricultural Services is seeking a copy/production editor for Agri Marketing.
Osborn & Barr Communications is seeking a PR account executive and an assistant account executive.
Brighton USA is seeking two account supervisors -- one in PR and one in account services.

For more information, visit NAMA's site or contact the companies directly.

If you know of any openings in the area, let us know so that we can help promote them among our members.

Reminder: Board Meeting

2005-06-01T13:38:00.000-07:00

Don't forget -- the Gateway NAMA Board Planning Meeting, held in conjunction with the St. Louis Agri Business Club, will be held Tuesday, June 7 from 9:30-2:00 at the St. Louis Dairy District Council offices.

We hope to hammer out the schedule and programs for the coming year - so I look forward to seeing you there!

Gateway NAMA Board

2005-05-25T14:03:00.000-07:00

Gateway NAMA
2005-2006 Board of Directors

President:
Becky Rasmussen
Communications Specialist
Drake & Co./Natl. Christmas Tree Assn.
rasmussen@drakeco.com
Office: 636/449-5040
Cell: 314/560-4869
16020 Swingley Ridge Rd, Suite 300
Chesterfield, MO 63017

VP/Mid-State Representative:
Jeff Moore
Sales Account Executive
Learfield Communications
jmoore@learfield.com
Office: 573/893-7200
Cell: 573/999-5747
505 Hobbs Road
Jefferson City, MO 65109

Past President:
Sue Derscheid
Director of Membership/Marketing
American Soybean Association
sderscheid@soy.org
St. Louis office: 314/754-1312
Cell: 314/303-7366
12125 Woodcrest Executive Dr., Suite 100
St. Louis, MO 63141

Secretary:
Carolyn Caesar
Senior Account Specialist
Monsanto Company
carolyn.m.caesar@monsanto.com
Office: 314/694-5673
800 North Lindbergh Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63167

Treasurer:
Marie Findley
Business Analyst
Rabo AgriFinance
marie.findley@raboag.com
Office: 314/687-4020
One CityPlace Dr., Suite 200
St. Louis, MO 63141

Communications Co-Chair:
Rhett Hawkins
Senior Account Supervisor
Osborn & Barr Communications
hawkinsr@osborn-barr.com
Office: 314/746-1971
One North Brentwood, 8th Floor
St. Louis, MO 63105

Communications Co-Chair:
Chuck Zimmerman
Owner
ZimmComm Marketing & Communications
chuck@zimmcomm.biz
Office: 573/896-5842
Cell: 573/230-3024
1600 Skyview Dr.
Holts Summit, MO 65043

Membership Co-Chair:
Joyce Koranda
Senior Media Manager
Brighton Agency
joyce.koranda@brightonusa.com
Office: 314/919-3188
349 Marshall Ave., Suite 100
St. Louis, MO 63119

Membership Co-Chair:
Chris Luelf
Senior Account Executive
Brighton Agency
chris.luelf@brightonusa.com
Office: 314/919-3119
349 Marshall Ave., Suite 100
St. Louis, MO 63119

Minutes From NAMA Board Planning Meeting

2005-05-25T14:01:00.000-07:00

I don't know how well this will work but I'm going to post the full minutes from the meeting today. We'd love to have your feedback.

Gateway NAMA
Board Planning Meeting
May 25, 2005
11:30-1:30

In attendance: Becky Rasmussen, Sue Derscheid, Rhett Hawkins, Marie Findley, Joyce Koranda, Chris Luelf, Chuck Zimmerman (via phone)

-Introductions/Materials distributed regarding positions

-Financial Report
-current checking account balance: $12,221.45 (additional $1,000 or so in CD)
-big expenses for 2004-2005: Ag Day 2004 (ball game); Ag Day 2005 (media materials); donation to student chapter

-Membership Report
-current membership at about 84 – remained relatively consistent throughout the year
-Chris and Joyce are going to work on putting together a more formal membership plan for the coming year
-need to add possible prospects to the database
- please send any suggestions as far as members/companies to Joyce or Chris in the next couple of weeks
-possibly provide NAMA informational materials to local HR managers (O&B, Brighton, Monsanto, associations)
-more follow-up with expired members
-more recognition of new members – feature on Web site, follow-up calls from board members, greeting at meetings, possible gift, information packet with
Gateway schedule upon registration

-Thoughts on 2004-2005 Program Year
-all present (and surveys) agreed that meeting with Ag Club was a positive move; need to take a more active role in planning and implementation of next year’s programs – plan on taking control at least every other month; possibility for outside meetings and events when the topic warrants it
-need to talk to Ag Club about switching meeting day to Tuesday for a change to draw in members who may not have been able to attend in the past
-all agreed that the Sheraton is a good meeting location
-keep the sponsorship idea – but do away w/ the alcohol at the reception
-need to get final numbers from Ag Club as far as the costs involved with the Sheraton
-may want our communications chairs to work with Ag Club to get consistent signage (joint sign or banner)

-Program Ideas for 2005-2006
-Blogging 101 w/ Chuck Zimmerman (blogging, RSS, podcasting)
-Agency Panel – possibly with creative directors at local ag agencies, including Anheuser-Busch’s agency if possible; discussion of what makes for good creative, how ag creative differs from mainstream, etc.
-A Second Look at the Rural Lifestyle Market – research from Susan Spaulding at Market Directions; representative of Small Farm Today. Need to pin down exact format but agreed that this is still a hot topic.
-Media Research – MRI or Forrester were suggested as speakers
-St. Louis as the Bio-Belt – bring in RCGA/Coalition for Plant & Life Sciences to discuss the development and marketing of the St. Louis region as a center for these activities.
-Cardinals marketing/PR and/or St. Louis Blues marketing/corporate sponsors – could be an off-site activity
-Global agribusiness – research specialist from Rabo Agrifinance – hot topics in Brazil, China and elsewhere

-Web site
-Chuck has put together the start of a blogging Web site; Becky has the sign-in info to post; want to sign up other members to allow access
-Need to get the word out to our members about this for feedback; Becky will send e-mail this week or next
-Chuck will be taping meetings throughout the year and posting audio on site
-Everyone needs to remember to either post or pass content ideas along

-Other programs
-Definitely need to continue programming with student chapter – help with fundraising
-Possibly host a 5K run/walk in Columbia in fall or spring to raise money
-Consider holding a Columbia/Jeff City meeting for students/local professionals
-Still offer critique of student marketing presentation – but not necessarily as monthly meeting topic
-Try to work on increased communication throughout the year with the chapter
-Host a beginning of the year happy hour for networking – may help draw some of the younger members
-Tentative location – Schlafly’s brewery

Next board meeting will take place in August. Joint planning meeting with Ag Club on June 7. Also, Leader Training set for Kansas City on June 15th.

Looks Like a Great Board for 2005-2006

2005-05-25T12:04:00.000-07:00

The Gateway NAMA board had its first planning meeting for the 2005-2006 year - and we've got a great group of leaders with lots of enthusiasm and ideas. I'm looking forward to working with all of them and the rest of our members in the coming year. By creating this blog (thanks to Chuck Zimmerman!!), we're hoping to increase communication between the board, members and students -- and give everyone an opportunity to participate in the planning and organization of the chapter. If you ever have any questions about Gateway NAMA or suggestions for improvement, we want to hear them!

And since we're all just getting the hang of this new site, feel free to share any suggestions you have on its content or format.

The Board Will Be Seeking Your Input

2005-05-25T11:27:00.000-07:00

The board met and came up with a list of program topics for the coming year, which gets kicked off in September. As soon as I get it, I'll post them and seek your feedback. Feel free to contact any board member with your ideas in the meantime.

I'll also post a board list with contact information as soon as I get the new one.

Gateway NAMA Board Planning Meeting Today

2005-05-25T07:27:00.000-07:00

The Gateway NAMA Board is scheduled to meet for lunch today at Becky Rasmussen's office (Drake & Co.).

The agenda includes:

Overview of positions
Membership/Financial Reports
Review of 2004 programs
2005 programming ideas
Planning for working with St. Louis AgriBusiness Club
Other topics such as Student Chapter, Ad Day, Special Events, National NAMA
New web site

We'll provide a report from the meeting here as soon as possible. Please send in your ideas for the development of our blog!

The Beginning of Gateway Blogging

2005-05-14T11:49:00.000-07:00

This is our first post on the Gateway NAMA blog! It's just a baby blog for now. The board will all be able to post information soon. This is a starting point for future design and functionality.

Hope to see you at a NAMA meeting this fall.