NAMA leader's message. (National NAMA News).

Welcome to 2003!

Many of you probably started the New Year out with a resolution or two focused around your career. They might have sounded something like: I will do a better job reconnecting with people; I will not procrastinate; I will work smarter not harder or longer; I will take on new challenges, etc. If any of those sound like resolutions you made (or should have); I have some ideas you can COUNT ON to make those kinds of resolutions a reality for you in 2003. The best part is the answer is right before your eyes if you just open them up to the solution.

What else would you expect me to say this year except that the solution is NAMA. Now, don't stop reading, but instead consider for a moment where you are in your career. Are you the head of a huge organization or a company of a few, are you the lead person or the one that follows the lead to make it all work, are you firmly established, just beginning, looking for change or realizing that change has found you? It does not matter where you are in your career, the NAMA organization needs you and if you are looking to the future, you need NAMA.

The NAMA leadership team has spent the last several years focusing on strengthening the foundation of the organization so we have a healthy, active, in-tune organization for our industry. We have committed the resources of NAMA to 4 key areas that support delivering member value and generating revenue. Those areas are local chapters, Best of NAMA, the student organization, and national meetings like our Agri-Marketing Conference & Trade Show coming up in San Diego April 15-17.

Focusing efforts and delivering activities is only part of the solution. The rest is where you come in and it is how you can make those New Years resolutions a reality. Jump on the bandwagon. Get involved, attend a meeting, say yes when someone asks you for an idea, tell someone else in your company about the organization. You can COUNT ON getting value from NAMA no matter who you are or where you are in your career. Simply engaging in any of the four key areas will put you well on your way to accomplishing your New Years Resolution. The best part is you will ENJOY IT and the benefits to you are substantial.

Best Wishes for a great 2003! Come on, let us COUNT YOU IN for a great year ahead.

Executive Committee

Teresa Hinrichs (MOK) - President
  CMS, Overland Park, KS [phone]
Mike Gustafson (MOK) - First Vice President/President-Elect
  John Deere, Lenexa, KS [phone]
Tom Taylor (GRP) - Secretary Treaurer
  High Plains Journal, Dodge City, KS [phone]
Lia Guthrie (MIS)
  Vance Publishing, Collierville, TN [phone]
Tom Smull (IOA)
  Metro Iowa Plus, Des Moines, IA [phone]
Travis Brown (GAT)
  Gaines, Brown & Callahan, Jefferson City, MO [phone]
Sheri Seger (CNA)
  Progressive Farmer, Chicago, IL [phone]
Stephanie Gable (MOK)
  Bayer CropScience, Durham, NC [phone]
Patty Travis (MIA)
  5MetaCom, Carmel, IN [phone]

Chapter Presidents *

BAD    Badger (Wisconsin) Ellen Runge LaRose [phone]
CAR    Carolinas/Virginia, Robert Ratliff [phone]
CCN    Central California NAMA, Tim Alderson [phone]
CHE    Chesapeake (Baltimore, Philadelphia) Michael Ricciuto (302)
       892-7996
CNA    Chicago, Bob Schenck [phone]
COB    Cornbelt (Quad City Area, IA, IL)
       Terry Reilly, [phone]
DSW    Desert South West (Arizona) Jerry Garner [phone]
EAS    Eastern (New York) Brad Bremer [phone]
FLA    Florida
GAT    Gateway (St. Louis) Sarah Vacek [phone]
GRP    Great Plains (Dodge City, Wichita)
       Susan Armstrong [phone]
       Shirley Harrold-Albrig [phone]
IOA    Iowa (Des Moines) Lori Strum [phone]
MAM    Michigan, Molly Avis [phone]
MIA    Mid-America (Indiana) Mike King [phone]
MIL    Midlands (Omaha) Jane Schroeder [phone]
MIS    Midsouth (Memphis) Janice Person [phone]
MOK    Missouri-Kansas, Melinda Schwab [phone]
NCL    NAMA Cal (Los Angeles/San Diego)
PAC    NAMA Pacific (San Francisco/Sacramento) Bob Foiles (916)
       561-5585
NOC    North Central (Minneapolis/St. Paul)
       Bret Kealy [phone]
NPR    Northern Prairie (Dakotas) Cliff Meyer [phone]
OHO    Ohio, Marti Smith [phone]
ROM    Rocky Mountain (Denver) Mike Flesher [phone]
SOE    Southeastern (Georgia) Nancy Hood [phone]
SWT    Southwest (Dallas/Ft.Worth/Houston) Drew Wenner
       [phone]

* Updated as chapter presidents are elected.

Councils

ABM    Agri-Broadcast Management Council
       Kyle Bauer [phone]
AIAC   Advertising Internet Agribusiness Council
       Joyce Koranda [phone]
ARC    Agricultural Relations Council
       Greg Leaf [phone]
CPC    Commodity Promotion Council
       Monte Reese [phone]

National Agri-Marketing Association
11020 King Street, Suite 205
Overland Park, KS 66210
E-mail: [e-mail]
Web Site: www.nama.org