TY ENGLAND April/May 1996 ALUMNI RECRUITS COUNTRY Sujlas SPOKESPERSON
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Volume 1, 189Ue 2 TY ENGLAND April/May 1996 ALUMNI RECRUITS COUNTRY SUJlAS SPOKESPERSON / , country sang for Brooks' band before launching his and agreed own solo career. During late 1994, he signed a contract with RCA and finished his first Alumnl album shortly thereafter. I nal On His Own spok The first single from England's self titled album, "Should've Asked Her Faster," Reaching for the Stars was a top five hit on Billboard's Country "The alumni association and Ty Singles Chart and clearly established him as England have a lot in common. We both one of country music's brightest new talents. believe in agriculture, education and England went on to earn "Song of the Year" America's young people," says Ricardo and "International Rising Star" nominations ~~PIN Valencia, national FFA alumni executive at the Great British Country Music Awards. director. "This partnership will help He has been a finalist as Performance Your next issue of New Visions will arrive in mid-June. Along with regular news, communicate the message that the alumni (continued on page 4) association is for everyone and promote the expect articles and feature stories on the need for community and family involve following ment in education." Ty England Shares Life's Dream In the Beginning England's first claim Building Successful Programs to fame started with With Advisors country music great Garth Brooks in 1988. The day Brooks signed a contract . ,..:.1, Capital Records, he asked England to { js band and move to Nashville. \... -~&'~ally, both were college singing buddies and roommates. For more than six years, he played and Ricardo L. Valencia Executive Director National FFA Alumni Association CHANGES ... As you begin to read this issue of New the advances necessary to move this Visiom, the primary message that is commu association forward. They are choosing to nicated in several articles is change. Change generate ownership among our in the national association. Change in the association's membership and move toward image. Change in the policies and our what our mission is all about. national constitution. Change in the way we do business. I personally hope that you find our new vision u~lifting and excitin~! { It is important for all of us to under stand that the changes that are occurring are Your national staff felt that it woul~· for you the members of the National FFA be important to share with you a passage Alumni Association and for the young men that we live by every day of the week. We and women of the FFA. hope you enjoy it. M Each of us as parents, teachers, former members and school administrators are responsible both individually and collectively for the fate of agricultural education and Bite off more than you can chew, FFA at the local, state and national levels. then chew it. And it is our responsibility to make the necessary changes in our association to ensure that each of us has the information and resources available to positively impact our programs. Change will occur anytime an associa tion begins to examine what the preferred future shall be. It will occur anytime an .......... _....,_._.__ />;'--; association begins to examine what it really ~PONDENCE: Addr.,.all~:il>• . wants instead of only what it thinks is Valencia. "'""'°""tdiro, FFA Alumni N,., V-1sim1i,,liG; li<ix: I Alenndri:i, Vuginla'.2230'J--0058, or ... « possible or the intermediate steps of getting then bear it. ADDRESS CHANGES: Pk= 1<nd dwi!I" of addi-ds, there. Change will most certainly occur bbel changes, ro Mdirula '!itu&-Ftwc~, edirorial assisw>4 ar the timd below. 'l1:ti::d cl... l"""l!C ""'";,paid .. Al=ndria. VA, when an association chooses to be exciting, Plan your castle In the air, ( additio..t offices. motivating and compelling. then build a ship to take you there. PE1'RA COMMUNICATIONS: Editorial and Production Consultant CW DESIGN: Design tnd Production Con'1lktnt I can assure you that your elected N.tional FFA Alwnni ~tk>n P.O. Box 1505&.Aleunclria. VA22309 • 7ll3·360·3600, F.xr. 293 are conscientiously making C Copyright 19% by the N:uional FFA Alumni Association Superintendents need to hear Practical Insight how agricultural education To explore this topic further, New Visions interviewed Dr. Peter provides real·life solutions. Behnke, administrator for Bonduel School District in northeastern ( "By showing how programs adds value," Wisconsin. \ .ins Dr. Joyce Winterton of National rrA's Partner Development Team, "alumni Q How do your responsibili· can build bridges and add a little good news ties affect the local program? to a superintendent's hectic day." A Since resources are limited, decisions concerning staff and Important Issues budgets impact local Bring key players, programs. My goal is including superintendents, to balance resources together and explain how and program needs. agricultural education and When local programs FFA provide solutions to are a key school problems and issues facing component, superin the school district. When tendents are more apt speaking, be sure to stress to give their fullest how your local program: support. • improves student achievement through Q How can alumni practical application of members develop math, science and win-win partner English; ;;...;;;;._~~~~~ ships with local • helps students apply new technology; superintendents? • improves self-esteem because students A Members are encouraged to visit expenence success; their schools frequently. Programs are ( :iuces drug and alcohol abuse by constantly changing and improving; we \ , coviding meaningful activities; need innovative ideas. Alumni are • helps at-risk students set and accomplish welcome to attend school events, observe goals and gives them tangible reasons to students in their daily classes and stay in school; and provide feedback. • involves parents directly in the program. (continued on page 8) Plans Unde1'ay fpr 25th Anniversary ~onvention \ . ' Nati7~1umnl staff.!'"' busily \I' Polioy Chanll" an menu" on page prerlLring for the associ !s 25th ?.) ' anniversary convention, Novertwber Auction Boost "' The n~edule has alumni~cials 15-16 in Kansas City, Mo. ~artid· opcimisiabo~n increase in FF~umni pants will ._ changes fhis year in a~ction rni?Ss'. coo. Auction items will be displaye egmnmg on Wednes with the convention's format~•nd hopes of i.iilding anticipation the Friday attractions. evening bidding. A Friday auction will allow Ji. more students, parents an<1adults to attend, Valencia says. We kend Offers Ben!\.ts ad of a j.Slllar mid-week, one-day ~ention, registrants w··i·ll· qnd a two-day Groups Targeted event s:heduled ~ay ~ Saturday. One other ben,,t of dule Alumni members should find it easier to change is the opportunity for the National a.lend a weeke¥ conference than a mid- FFA Alumni Association to target promo- week event. '- tions to two ke~roups: p~ts and young Since the conference is held a same adults. I time as the National FFA Conven , the • On Friday, approxi rely 2,500 reason for the new schedule was American FFA Degree ients and their the difficulty in finding rooms for m families will arrive for aylternoon TY ENGLAND Recruits Country Star as Spokesper: attendees earlier in t the Alumni Ricardo Valencia, 'onal FFA umni afternoon luncheon for recipi , the (Continued from page I) executive director. eginning Friday national association plans to include mornin.g, app.rox· rely 4,000 rooms w\in .. me~bership information an'fpplications in Magazine's "New Touring Act of the Year," a 20-mt!e radms owntown.K,ansas Citj their "'gree packets. · while Music City News has recently nomi typically become available for co~~~Ett'6n "This providJ' us wjsl{a chance to nated him for "Rising Star-Male." participants." attra nd work with rmembership that is The move will allow for sped rtant to us," Valencia s. Convention Promotions Planned weekend hotel and activities pac s for onvention pam s will mingle "We hope to make Ty an integral part conference participants our new vision with degree alumni promotions," says Jim Waller, alun bers. ts and their parents." marketing consultant. "Plans are underwa· y to include Ty at this year's national convp~ Amendments To Be Considered ion Highlights tion and have him sign autographs at ( The National FFA Alumni Council will Plans include moving the entire National FFA Agricultural Career Shovv present eight constitutional amendments to National FFA Alumni Convention from Kansas City." delegates at this year's convention. (For more Bartle Hall 2210C to the Conference Center Editor's Note: Watch the June issue for an in-de1 Ty specific information, see "Council Approves 4300 where the "Taste of Kansas City" interview with England on his musical career ___ reg;RtiQ!land auction have been held for the - --~--··- .. ~ .. ---·· _ ____, ~.starting ( t Local Program With more than 37 years of educational experience, Dr. Barbara Price knows what it takes to start a successful program. "Get the community behind the move," she says. "Once parents understand their children aren't taking just another vocational education class, they'll . ryort you all the way." ( . Show parents how agricultural education classes and FFA make academic subjects come alive. Talk about how students write and give speeches or learn about photosynthesis in practical ways. Other steps to establish agricul tural education locaUy or in another school district: 1. Have students who have high school agricultural education talk to those who don't have one. 2. Bring students and parents who don't have a local program to the state and national FFA conventions or your local meeting. 3. Invite a board member to join your alumni affiliate. Be sure to inform the local principal and superintendent first about Studies Sho\¥ Value your plans, cautions Price.