NAMA LEADER'S MESSAGE.

One very successful aspect of NAMA has been Careers, the support of the student chapters. Nearly every professional chapter has a student chapter from a nearby college or university that it sponsors. There are several reasons the Careers area has been strong on both the chapter and national level. The mission is clear - to encourage marketing careers in agribusiness - and the students naturally generate enthusiasm. Also, the National Careers Committee, headed by Stephanie Gable of the Missouri Soybean Program, shows tremendous leadership.

Stephanie has assembled an outstanding national committee of leaders. Committee members include Melissa Sanders, McCormick Advertising; Shannon Latham, Meyocks & Priebe Advertising; Kirk Heinze, Michigan State University; Chadelle Robinson, New Mexico Department of Agriculture, Bob Wilhelm, Osborn and Barr Communications; Leigh Ann Cleaver, Osborn and Barr Communications; Beth Burgy, TBWA Chiat/Day; Amy McDonald, Conseco Finance and Nancy Johnson, Miller Meester Advertising.

In addition to conducting the Student Marketing Competition and Outstanding Student Chapter recognition, the committee oversees all aspects of the Careers program. The committee has defined its goals, set its tasks, assigned responsibilities and stays focused on getting the job done. They defined their first goal as to keep their committee activities top notch. Their second goal is to ensure that the national committee is providing support for the local chapters in working with the student chapters. The third goal is to improve interaction among the students.

At their most recent meeting, in addition to discussing the Student Marketing Competition, the Careers committee discussed ways to enhance the recruitment of graduating student chapter members into professional chapters. They also brainstormed ways to increase interaction among the students and professional members and discussed ways to improve student interaction at the spring conference. The committee determined ways to improve communication, including through the student newsletter, "NAMA on Campus" and discussed TEAM NAMA, a program in which professionals review and provide comment on the written marketing plans prior to the Student Marketing Competition presentations.

There are 1,100 student NAMA members, many of whom will one day be working for our companies and organizations and interacting with us on a professional level. Anything the professional chapters and the national Careers committee can do to assist them in their development will benefit the entire NAMA organization. Please keep this in mind and make the effort to meet student members at your chapter and national meetings. Also, consider volunteering to assist your chapter's Careers chair. I'm sure we all can benefit by getting to know our student members.