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

Who among us is not affected by the increasing "speed of business"? With the growing use of technology in today's society, one may believe that personal communications are taking on a very impersonal tone. In reality, the use of technology offers opportunities to expand our relationships beyond the previous realm of possibility.

All NAMA members have the opportunity to enlarge the sphere in which they do business by taking advantage of local chapter meetings, seminars, web sites, web conferences and of course, the Agri-Marketing Conference. The result of involvement on any level is an expanded Rolodex and a broader understanding and knowledge of how to approach the issues and challenges facing agriculture today as well as in the future.

Let's focus on the expanded Rolodex for a moment. One of NAMA's goals as a professional organization is to recognize people in the agri-marketing community who excel in their work and businesses. Think of the contacts with whom you interact on a regular basis. How often have you complimented someone for consistently bringing 110% to the work they do? Or for pulling a doomed project from the ashes? Perhaps they've elevated the performance of everyone with which they work. You and your contacts are pivotal in gaining recognition for those individuals that bring so much to the agri-marketing community.

NAMA recognizes outstanding performance in the following are as:

* Awards of Excellence

* Marketing Communications

* Public Relations

* Product/Species Management

* Sales

* NAMA Marketer of the Year

* Agribusiness Leader of the Year

The Awards of Excellence and the NAMA Marketer of the Year are exclusive to NAMA members. The Awards of Excellence are reserved for individuals that are responsible for the day-to-day execution of duties in the above mentioned job categories. The NAMA Marketer of the Year is most likely someone at a senior management level with oversight responsibilities. The Agribusiness Leader of the Year is NAMA's most prestigious award, encompassing upper-management positions within agricultural based companies. This individual does not have to be a member of NAMA.

Begin going through your Rolodex, Palm Pilot and contact management database now. You are NAMA's best resource for identifying those individuals that are most deserved of recognition. Who knows, you may just be NAMA's next award winner!

Executive Committee

Marjory Walker (MIS) - President National Cotton Council, Memphis, TN [phone]

Teresa Hinrichs (MOK) - First Vice President/President Elect CMS, Overland Park, KS [phone]

Mike Gustafson (MOK) - Sceretary/Treasurer John Deere, Lenexa, KS [phone]

Branch Carter (SOE) Media Products, Inc., Martinez, GA [phone]

Lia Guthrie (MIS) Vance Publishing, Collierville, TN [phone]

Jeff Patterson APR (MIL) Swanson Russell Associates, Lincoln, NE [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]

Chapter Presidents *

BAD   Badger (Wisconsin) Ellen Runge LaRose [phone]
CAR   Carolinas/Virginia, Jeff Tennant [phone]
CCN   Central California NAMA, Gary Schulz [phone], Dennis
      Duncan [phone]
CHE   Chesapeake (Baltimore, Philadelphia) Mandy Hilbert
      [phone]
CNA   Chicago
COB   Cornbelt (Quad CityArea, IA, IL)
      Vicki Henrickson [phone]
DSW   Desert South West (Arizona) Jerry Garner [phone]
EAS   Eastern (New York) Brad Bremer [phone]
FLA   Florida
GAT   Gateway (St. Louis) Deni Kogan [phone]
GRP   Great Plains (Dodge City, Wichita)
      Susan Armstrong [phone]
IOA   Iowa (Des Moines) Shannon Latham [phone]
MAM   Michigan, Molly Avis [phone]
MIA   Mid-America (Indiana) Mike King [phone]
MIL   Midlands (Omaha) Judy Mauch [phone]
MIS   Midsouth (Memphis) Al Fava [phone]
MOK   Missouri-Kansas, Jeremy Povenmire [phone]
NCL   NAMA Cal (Los Angeles/San Diego)
PAC   NAMA Pacific (San Francisco/Sacramento)
NOC   North Central (Minneapolis/St. Paul)
      Steven Mercer [phone]
NPR   Northern Prairie (Dakotas) Patti McEnroe [phone]
OHO   Ohio, Bob Hothem [phone]
ROM   Rocky Mountain (Denver) Mike Flesher [phone]
SOE   Southeastern (Georgia) Nancy Hood [phone]
SWT   Southwest (Dallas/Ft. Worth/Houston) Cheri Knoy
      800-795-5104

* Updated as chapter presidents are elected.
Councils

ABM    Agri-Broadcast Management Council
       Gary Cooper [phone]
AIAC   Advertising Internet Agribusiness Council
       Irene Hindman [phone]
ARC    Agricultural Relations Council
       Brian Baxter [phone]
CPG    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