Community

You

Teachers FFA Alumni-

Doing Together,

what we can’t do alone!

Supporting FFA & Supporting FFA & Agricultural EducationAgricultural Education

QuestionQuestion Are you a supporter of FFA and Agriculture education? Are you a parent or family member of someone in

FFA? Are involved in your child’s FFA chapter? Do you know other parents that are involved in your

child’s FFA chapter? Are you a former FFA member? Are you interested and excited about FFA’S success

and growth in your community?

Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! If you answered Yes to any

of these questions, then you are in the right place!

You are going to learn how easy it is to convert your support and enthusiasm into starting a local FFA Alumni affiliate in your hometown.

First, let’s define exactly what an Alumni affiliate does!

What is the purpose of a FFA What is the purpose of a FFA Alumni Affiliate?Alumni Affiliate?

An FFA Alumni association is an organized group of individuals who promotes the success and growth of their FFA Chapter, support agriculture education and care for their community.

Support and promote the FFA Organization, FFA Activities and agricultural education on local, state, and national levels.

•Agriculture teachers rely on FFA alumni members to help ease the outside commitments of teaching, bring more support to agricultural education programs and give teachers more freedom to do what they do best - teach kids!

•FFA relies on alumni members for student recruiting, scholarship money, aiding in camps, conferences, national FFA convention and other personal development programs. The high level of commitment the FFA Alumni offers the National FFA Organization and the communities in which they live helps make FFA students' lives better.

What is the purpose of a FFA What is the purpose of a FFA Alumni Affiliate? Alumni Affiliate? (Continued)(Continued)`̀

What does a What does a FFA Alumni affiliate do?FFA Alumni affiliate do?

The great thing about a local FFA Alumni affiliate is, you can decide how active you want to be!

Chaperone chapter, district, state and national functions

Hold a free chili super Assist with FFA fruit sells Raise money for an annual

scholarship Sponsor a FFA member to go

to National Convention Assist with organizing the

chapter banquet Serve as advocates for Ag

Education at school board meetings

Fundraising & advocacy

Social Activities

Recruitment

Activities

Basic steps in organizing your Basic steps in organizing your own Alumni Affiliate own Alumni Affiliate

1. Determine needs with Ag teacher

2. Organize Members

3. First Meeting

4. Elections & Chartering

5. Recruitment

6. Planning & Executing Activities

1.1. Determine needs Determine needs with Teacherwith Teacher

Gain teacher’s support.Identify classroom, FFA and community

needs with teacher.Research school policy on volunteer groups.Recognize that you are working in support of

the teacher. All ideas and activities should have the teacher’s approval.

2. Organize Members 2. Organize Members

Three to five interested individuals can start the nucleus of your Alumni affiliate. You will be recruiting and welcoming new members at each meeting!

Parent # 2 Supporter

Parent # 1

YOU!

Teacher

3. Hold First Meeting3. Hold First Meeting Contact all potential members Invite Chapter officers and advisors (maybe have them do the

opening-closing ceremony or give a short presentation) Have a State Alumni representative present or an alumni member

from another alumni affiliate, if possible Make use of State and National FFA Alumni materials Have agenda organized before meeting time Have snacks! Identify goals and ideas for the alumni affiliate

(Determined with the FFA Advisor before hand) Have a sign-up sheet going around during the meeting

The local advisor or a FFA chapter officer The local advisor or a FFA chapter officer proceeds to elect an Alumni presidentproceeds to elect an Alumni president

You can’t have an organized alumni affiliate and be successful with out leaders. Just like FFA Chapters elect officers, the local Alumni should too.

Make sure that the president is someone that is willing to put forth the time and energy necessary to start an affiliate.

Votes can be determined by an election of attendees in the meeting.

4. Elect Officers4. Elect Officers

The new Alumni president then proceeds to elect The new Alumni president then proceeds to elect the vice-president, secretary, and treasurerthe vice-president, secretary, and treasurer

Usually new officers are elected annually. You can form your committees as you establish what your local

FFA/ Ag Education needs are such as,

– A chair of the scholarship committee– The chili supper chairperson– Chair of community activities/ Advocacy – Chair of Livestock shows– Chair of Fund Raising– Chair of Chaperones*Don’t be afraid to start small. Focus on your greatest need, then

expand as your volunteers and resources grow!

4. Elect Officers (continued)4. Elect Officers (continued)

Suggested Bylaws should be handed Suggested Bylaws should be handed out and each item discussedout and each item discussed

A suggested copy of your bylaws can be provided to you in many ways:

– Visit http://www.ffa.org/alumni/ to retrieve a copy – Locate a copy in your State or National Alumni information booklet– Call the National FFA Alumni Association at 317-802-4292

Bylaws Bylaws

4. Steps to chartering4. Steps to chartering

After this discussion, bylaws should be decided onAfter this discussion, bylaws should be decided on

Attendees at the meeting should accept the bylaws as agreed on

The elected secretary and president should keep a copy of the bylaws and have one present at all meetings

Consider giving a copy to new members as they join

Smith FFA Alumni Affiliate

Bylaws

Smith FFA Alumni Affiliate

Bylaws

4. Steps to chartering4. Steps to chartering (continued)(continued)

Determine local dues Determine local dues & organize finances& organize finances

The local FFA Alumni affiliate determines the amount of local dues to be paid.

The elected Secretary/Treasurer should collect local, state and national membership dues and send them to the state association.

A banking account is generally established to track alumni savings and spending.

A copy of the financial records should be provided at each meeting.

4. Steps to chartering4. Steps to chartering (continued)(continued)

State FFA Alumni Association DuesState FFA Alumni Association Dues In order to charter a local

alumni affiliate in the State and National FFA Alumni; you must submit to the state: state and National dues, membership roster, copy of bylaws and application for local charter.

The above steps qualify you and your membership to participate in any state or national activity. Including using the tax exempt status for Alumni business.

Local FFA Alumni Affiliate

$State Dues

Participation and Involvement in

State FFA Alumni Association

Completed Alumni Membership

Roster

4. Steps to chartering4. Steps to chartering (continued)(continued)

What about National Membership?What about National Membership? In order to charter a local FFA Alumni affiliate, national dues for at

least ten members must be paid. Membership year runs from September 1 – August 31. Rosters and

dues must be submitted to Nationals by May 15th to qualify for awards and delegates.

National FFA AlumniMembership

Annual Dues- $10Lifetime Membership-

$150

Complete Application For Local Charter

Submit the completed applicationfor local charter, roster, copy of local bylaws and National FFA Alumni membership dues

to your state alumni association.

4. Steps to chartering4. Steps to chartering (continued)(continued)

Benefits of joining The National FFA Alumni Association

Annual subscription to the National FFA Alumni’s newsletter, New Visions

and for $2 the FFA New Horizons

Watch your $10 at work for the advocacy of Ag Education and FFA!

Enjoy the satisfaction of giving back to the organization that has impacted your life or the life of your family.

Obtain tax exemption qualification for your

local affiliate

Provides $100,000 annually backto local affiliates in the form of rebates, WLC scholarships, college scholarships,

Local chapter grants, and awards

4. Steps to chartering4. Steps to chartering (continued)(continued)

5. Recruiting Members 5. Recruiting Members (Anyone who supports Ag education & (Anyone who supports Ag education &

FFA)FFA)

Counselors & Career Services

Agricultural Associations

Parent GroupsBooster Clubs

PTA

Community Leaders

FormerMembers

Farm Bureau

Teachers

Parents

School Administration

RecruitingCommittee

6. Planning & Executing Activities 6. Planning & Executing Activities 1. Make a list with teacher of things

the department/FFA needs.

2. Find out who can do the work

3. Research and know all the legal or policy requirements and liabilities

4. Analyze Community Resources

5. Have organized committee groups

6. All people can not do all things, find their niche.

Execute

Plan &

Research

Goal

Activity Ideas Activity Ideas Support the FFA AdvisorSponsor a FFA member to attend

state leadership campSponsor a college scholarshipSponsor a FFA cookout Help with transportationHelp train a team for competitionServe on the Ag Dept. Advisory BoardWork with the FFA on a community

projectProvide equipment/assistance for chapter farm

Make the news media aware of FFA

Alumni and FFA activitiesWork together with FFA members

on a safety project Help FFA Members select livestock

for projectsAssist with local FFA Auction

Help set up field tripsHelp students find Ag-related jobsHelp find sponsors for activitiesServe as an advocate for FFA/ Ag Education at your school board meetings.

6. Planning & Executing Activities 6. Planning & Executing Activities