Teacher Recruitment/Retention, Career Development Events: Terry Hughes

Please Note: All applications/forms must be postmarked by the date shown unless otherwise noted. If a deadline is electronic, documents/registrations must be submitted electronically by midnight unless otherwise specified. Send State Required Documents to: Send Nat'l FFA Documents or Applications to: To request a chapter visit, banquet speaker or contact a member of the state officer team please visit our website at: http://www.nysffa.org/officers/ and fillout the form at the bottom of the page. FFA State Staff Contact information: Student Events, Programs & Services/State FFA Officer Coordination : Derek Hill Office: (607) 254-2880 Email: dhill@cornell.edu Teacher Services/Agricultural Education Program Services: Shari Lighthall Office: (3) 346-222 Email: slighthall@cornell.edu Teacher Recruitment/Retention, Career Development Events: Terry Hughes Office: (58)23-3463 Email: thughes@cornell.edu Administrative Support (Website, Dues, Registrations, etc) : Nancy Grossman Email: nancy.grossman@cornell.edu New York FFA State Office Attn: Derek Hill or Nancy Grossman 300 Kennedy Hall, 3rd Floor Cornell University Ithaca, NY 4853 National FFA Organization Attn: Contact or Program Name 6060 FFA Drive/PO Box 68960 Indianapolis, IN 46268 www.nysffa.org https://www.ffa.org/contact Membership: New York Only (6th Graders ONLY) State and National Membership (Grades 7-2): Link provided through www.nysffa.org. $6/student Do not send any information via fax. All requested electronic documentation must be submitted via email as a pdf attachment or unless otherwise directed. Log in to YOUR My FFA at www.ffa.org $3/student Payments: State FFA Foundation: Derek Hill or Nancy Grossman 300 Kennedy Hall, 3rd Floor, Cornell University Ithaca, NY 4853 All payments should be made out to NY Association of FFA. Todd Lighthall, Executive Director FFA Camp Oswegatchie Educational Center 9340 Long Pond Rd Staff: 9340 Long Pond Rd Croghan, NY 3327 Croghan, NY 3327 (3) 346-222 (3) 346-222 www.nyffafoundation.org www.oswegatchie.org tlighthall@oswegatchie.org Bill Waite wwaite@oswegatchie.org Robin Waite rwaite@oswegatchie.org

District CDE Contacts & Information 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 District President: Stephanie Vera Carreon, District Advisor: Chloe Fuentes - cfuentes6@schools.nyc.gov District President: Patrick Coombe, District Advisor: Tara Berescik - taraberescik@trivalleycsd.org District President: Aleecia Seymour, District Advisor: Karen LaBombard - klabombard@nacs.org District President: Justin Rodda, District Advisor: District President: Taylor Rollins, District Advisor: Paul Perry - pperry@madisoncentralny.org District President: Ethan Billman, District Advisor: Tedra Bean - tbean@bhpanthers.org District President: Brett Jillson, District Advisor: Kimberly Davidson - DavidsonK@SouthernCayuga.org District Advisor: TBD District Advisor: TBD District President: Gwen Chase, District Advisor: Kelly Maleski - kmaleski@sherman.wnyric.org

New Initiatives for 207-208 Agricultural Education and FFA continues to experience growth and interest at all levels. The State Officers, Trustees, Committee Members and State Staff continue to look for new opportunities to offer our students and teachers to help enhance their leadership experiences and demonstrate why agriculture is a promising career field to explore. Some ideas that we are exploring include: -Agricultural Education Career Conference: Calling all Juniors or Seniors interested in teaching agriculture! A conference designed just for you to help plan your future in agricultural education! -International or National Exploration of the Agricultural Industry and FFA Experience: Gain a new perspective of agriculture and FFA through this 7 day international/national experience of a lifetime. Discover new ideas and bring home experience and knowledge that you can apply to your chapter, SAE or future career. -State FFA Membership Affiliation: We are discussing ways to provide financial support to move our state closer to the affiliation type membership. This may include reducing the state membership fee and subsidizing some of the national fee. -State Fair Experience: We have the privilege of having David Townsend, National FFA President, visiting our state during the State Fair. He will be with us from August 24-29th. We are exploring the possibility of hosting a leadership type event during this time frame at the State Fair. -NEW Agricultural Education/FFA State Grant Program: New York Agricultural Education and FFA received additional funding this year to encourage schools to start new programs and to assist existing programs with their needs. These funds can be used to support agricultural education programs, FFA chapters and supervised agricultural experiences. We are developing the outline of the grant program and will have additional information coming out this fall. These are new initiatives that we are exploring to provide you and your students more opportunities. Although they are not listed in the following outline for the coming year, these are things that may become a reality and we want you to beware that this may have an impact on the calendar for the coming year. Once things are finalized we will do our best to get you the information that you need as quickly as possible to allow you to inform your students so that they can take advantage of these experiences.

JUNE 2 20 25 Online Certification of CDE/LDE teams (State Convention), National Chapter Award & Agriscience Projects through My FFA Advancing National Chapter of the Year and Agriscience Fair Applications due postmarked to State FFA Office NYAAE Teacher's Conference - Croghan, NY (June 20-23) Nat'l Leadership Conference and Camp Training for State Officers - Croghan, NY (June 25- June 30) Academics: Celebrate academic success. Turn a regular meeting into a pizza party and opportunity for students to simply study for finals and exams. Highlight the collegiate plans of graduating seniors. Connect with agriscience students or potential Youth Institute students about opportunities throughout the summer. Use chapter funds to buy graduating seniors FFA cords or sashes. Display their destination colleges in the ag room. Membership: Recognize outstanding students in ways that are personal and meaningful. Prepare applications for National Band/Chorus/Talent. Partnership: Present honorary recognition to key partners (business, administration & local legislators) at your chapter banquet. Remember, these people cannot be honored on a higher level until they have been recognized locally. Public Relations: Invite local media to your chapter banquet. Submit articles to local papers and agricultural publications about annual successes or about students with dairy projects for dairy month. SAE: Issue a SAE challenge before school lets out. Have students take 5-0 photos of themselves in action, developing themselves and their SAE to return with in September. The best presentation of 'what they did over summer vacation' will get a prize. This will help with proficiency applications next year.

JULY 2 4 7 9 6 23 24 30 30 FFA Camp Week One - Croghan, NY (July 2-7) Fourth of July Parades or Festival opportunities National Band, Chorus & Talent applications due online with submitted audition tapes. FFA Camp Week Two - Croghan, NY (July 9-4) FFA Camp Week Three - Croghan, NY (July 6-2) FFA Camp Week Four - Croghan, NY (July 23-28) State Presidents' Conference - Washington, DC (July 24-28) FFA Camp Week Five - Croghan, NY (July 30-August 4) Intense Career Conference - Throughout NY (July 30-August 4) Academics: Display local agriscience posters at county fairs. Prepare teams for county and state fair. Membership: Consider writing a letter home to your students. Thank them for their success and contributions the previous year or tell them you're looking forward to seeing them in the fall. Chapter officers can use this tactic to reach out to every incoming freshman before school starts. Guidance departments may be able to provide names and addresses. Partnership: At town parades, fairs or field days, have a chapter display and walk in parades. Watch for key community and county leaders and connect students with these individuals. Public Relations: Send pictures and articles to the paper and your school administrator after events during the summer to show your program is year-round. Create a display for the State Fair. Challenge students to create a presentation for the state fair, not just a display. SAE: Visit your students at work over the summer. Bring a camera to take photos of them in action. Include these photos in emails to administrators, advisory boards or for school newsletters.

AUGUST 8 6 23 Empire Farm Days - Seneca Falls, NY (August 8-0) - August 0 - CDEs (Welding & Safe Tractor Operation) Special Needs requests for National FFA CDE competitors due to National FFA - Includes Dietary Restrictions LAST DAY TO ADD FFA MEMBERS FOR NATIONAL MEMBERSHIP Check My FFA to confirm State Fair competitors are official members. Last day to cancel National Convention rooms for a $50 cancellation fee; $75 nonrefundable cancellation policy per room takes affect until September 20. New York State Fair - Syracuse, NY (August 23 - September 4) See State Fair webpage, www.nysffa.org or contact Terry Hughes for more information. State Fair CDEs require that participants wear a FFA t-shirt. Specific CDE questions can be made to CDE coordinators. The schedule for student participation is as follows: August 23 August 24 August 25 August 26 August 28 August 29 August 30 September September 4 Daily Opening Ceremony Agriscience Fair Displays Poultry Evaluation, Veg Crops ID/Horticulture Agricultural Electrification, Diesel Engine Troubleshooting & Small Gas Engine Troubleshooting Agronomy, Dairy Foods, Meats ID Livestock Judging, Nursery Landscape Horse Evaluation Dairy Cattle Evaluation & Dairy Handlers, Environmental & Natural Resources, Tree & Wildlife ID Last Day of Fair and Removal of Items Demonstrations in the FFA building and participation with the new Miracle of Birth tent. Academics: Display agriscience posters at State Fair. Choose a book to read with your officers and talk about when you return to school. Great examples could include: The Giver by Lois Lowry, The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch or Habitudes by Tim Elmore. Membership: Double check chapter rosters in My FFA to make sure ALL State Fair competitors are listed. After August, students cannot be added to the roster for competition. Develop a chapter t- shirt for students to wear at the State Fair for CDEs. Partnership: Use local experts to help prepare teams for State Fair CDEs. Visit a farm with your Dairy Foods team or a conservation officer or AP Environmental Science teacher re: Enviro- Natural Resources. Public Relations: Include opportunities for non-farm attendees to understand agriculture as part of your exhibits and displays at local and state fairs. If you have a dairy show, for example, how can you explain WHAT students are evaluating cattle for to someone who has never seen a cow before? SAE: At State Fair, help young students identify SAE areas they may be passionate about when visiting barns and exhibits.

SEPTEMBER 5 20 30 National FFA CDE/LDE/Agriscience Fair/Hall of States/National Chapter Award online uploads through My FFA are due by 5pm for the following contests: -Ag. Communications Portfolios -Marketing Plan Portfolios -Ag. Issues Portfolis -Prepared Public Speaking Manuscripts -Employment Interview Cover Letters and Resumes -Hall of States Exhibit applications -National Chapter Award Dinner tickets request Print & Mail Big E Waivers directly to Big E (http://www.thebige.com/p/competitions/327 ) First day of school! New membership year opens on My FFA. National FFA Convention Registration goes live @ pm. National LDE/CDE speaking judge nominations due National LDE/CDE Waivers Online National LDE/CDE and Agriscience Fair Team information finalized Online Make decisions about National Convention entertainment (concerts, dinners, hypnotists, rodeos, etc). (If not already complete). The Big E - Springfield, MA (September -6) http://www.thebige.com/p/competitions/327 Convention Housing Closes. Last day to cancel National Convention rooms for $75 cancellation fee, after this date the fee will be night's room and tax cancellation policy per room cancelled. Colt Conference @ Cornell University Academics: Have chapter set academic goals for the year. Consider scheduling study hours or accountability partners to make academic success a visible priority for your chapter. Next month the PSAT is offered in October. Encourage students to see if it is an option to take the exam as practice for their SAT later this year. Membership: Have chapter officers plan a chapter recruitment activity. Make sure high school seniors have active My FFA accounts to prepare for scholarship season. Partnership: Take a 'first day of school' photo of your members with backpacks and books outside of your school. Send it with a note to the members of your Ag Advisory Committee reminding them that school is back in session and thanking them for their support. Public Relations: Have your chapter reporter create a public relations plan of articles for the year and to identify contacts. They can make plans for PR for social media. Post goals and plans somewhere visible in the classroom. Encourage your reporter to use others to accomplish their goals. SAE: Review existing SAEs and help students identify potential SAE areas. Have students set short and long-term goals for their projects.

OCTOBER: 2 22 24 25 Chapter Visit Season begins. State Officer Tour (Potential Dates of October st-6th) Double check final CDE needs for teams. If changes are necessary, make state office aware and print out new participation waivers to mail and bring no later than October 8. National FFA Convention Bus Trips - Multiple. (October 22-29) Online CDE add/delete forms due by NOON. Any add deletes after this deadline will be completed in person at the convention no later than one hour prior to the first official activity for the respective CDE/LDE. National FFA Convention - Indianapolis, IN (October 25-28) Academics: Remind students about the PSAT offered this month. Students with experience taking this exam tend to be more prepared for the SAT offered this spring. Visit the agriscience fair at the National Convention and discuss ideas for projects on the local level. Have students plan to identify at least 3 potential colleges that offer their program of study. Talk about the importance of making visits to colleges and scheduling those visits into a student's personal organization system. Membership: Have a committee of members develop a trick or treat agricultural knowledge project that helps to communicate the pros and cons of current issues that may have multiple public opinions (examples: Organic Agriculture, GMOs, Hydro-Fracking). Partnership: Contact a local grocery store and ask about setting up a demonstration the week prior to Thanksgiving to share an agricultural message with consumers about locally grown food, the realities of food production or possibly collecting food for a local food bank. Public Relations: Submit articles about students attending the National FFA Convention. Present to Board of Ed about National Convention, emphasizing take-home value for your school district. Challenge members attending Convention to post about it on their social media accounts and share it with the NY FFA Association. SAE: Have students identify improvement areas for their SAE. Include specific review of safety practices, financial gain and potential for diversification. Encourage students to consider what they might do with an SAE grant and begin preparation for application for SAE grants - due mid-november.

NOVEMBER: 6 22/360 Registration available online National FFA SAE grant applications due ONLINE by 5pm Deadline to confirm/add FFA chapters to the Affiliation Membership program National FFA Scholarship Application goes live New York Farm Bureau Scholarship Deadline Academics: As midterms approach in January, set a chapter goal or contest for academic performance. The class with the greatest performance on their school-wide tests will win a pizza party or some other incentive. Membership: Talk about Personal Growth with your chapter. Encourage members to create personal growth plans with goals by the end of the year. Create a classroom 'Bucket List' display of quality, longterm goals in the areas of career, community service, personal development and just-for-fun. Address the seasonal focus on gratitude by challenging students to identify people who have helped them to become passionate or aware of opportunities and those who are helping them achieve these goals. Challenge your chapter officers to thank chapter members for demostrating qualities of excellence that make the chapter grow and become more successful just as you thank those outside of your chapter. Partnership: Connect with your County Farm Bureau. Attend their annual meeting and find partners for SAE or LDE/CDE development. Consider partnering with your County Farm Bureau to participate in their food drive to local food banks. Talk about the role Food Banks play with your FFA chapter - perhaps invite a staff member to address the issue of food insecurity as we focus so much on food. Ask your students what they can do to make solutions to food insecurity more accessible and more acceptable to the people who need them. Talk about weekend backpack programs, summer feeding programs and school breakfast/lunch programs and the role they play in food insecurity. Recognize that some schools have food pantries that operate out of the school system - ask your students how they can take action. Public Relations: Have a student write a letter to the editor with a theme of gratitude for local farmers in preparation for Thanksgiving - perhaps have a contest within the chapter to select the winning letter. Send thank you notes to school administration, board members & advisory committee members for their support of your program in the Thanksgiving season. SAE: Fill out National FFA SAE Grant applications. Empire and American Degree candidates should make sure they are on track to finish their needed hours by December 3 and adjust their work schedules accordingly. Proficiency award applicants should understand investments and hours for 207 applications must be completed and documented by December 3.

DECEMBER: 5 3 New York Farm Bureau State Annual Meeting - Albany, NY (December 5-6) Registration for 22/360 Conference closes Potential National Officer Candidates must notify State Staff of Intent to Run End date for SAE and financial records for all degrees and award applications Academics: Encourage students to begin research for LDE/CDE topics and manuscripts. Connect students with a language arts teacher for assistance with grammar and appropriate citation. APA citation is not the traditional citation used in high school manuscripts but is used in collegiate research. Students should understand the difference. Membership: Use the FFA creed as the foundation for a discussion for what we believe and why. Challenge older members to work with Greenhands and Jr. High members to learn the creed and create a statement of personal and chapter beliefs. Give your chapter officers the challenge of communicating the fundamental beliefs of FFA in a couple of months during your chapter's celebration of National FFA week. Connect students with "Through the Lens of a Farm Girl" photos and talk about the different ways we can communicate what we believe. Challenge members to a "Through the Lens of an FFA Member" competition to create the best photo-based belief image. Partnership: County Farm Bureau meetings may still be taking place. Be sure to get to these meetings with a few chapter members to see how they work. They will be voting to set policy at these meetings. Connect middle school students with local agriculturalists for People in Agriculture contest preparation. See if it is possible for students to shadow their career example of choice for a day during winter break. Public Relations: Send an article about local activities to regional ag publications like Country Folks. Consider delivering holiday cards, cookies or carols to local farms.if a local farm sells Christmas trees, volunteer to help provide and produce some agriculture facts that go with each tree purchased. Connect with tree sales in public places where consumers may be more removed from production agriculture. SAE: Students need to finish up their records for the year. NO hours, skills or photos should be included in 207 award applications that stretch beyond December 3.

JANUARY: 4 5 2 9 New York Ag Society Meeting - Syracuse, NY 22/360 Initial rooming list is due to the state office 22/360 Payment Due Postmarked to NY FFA State Office 22/360 No rooming changes can be made after this date 27 27 NY FFA Governing Board Meeting - Syracuse, NY (In partnership with 22/360) 22/360 Leadership Conference - Doubletree Hotel, Syracuse, NY (/27-28) Registration start time: :30 am, January 27 Conference start time: :00 pm, January 28 Anticipated cost/student: $95 * Also this month: District competitions may begin. Manuscript deadlines and requirements will be communicated by District advisors or trustees. All questions about district competitions should be directed to the district president's advisor and the district competition host. Academics: Spend time developing resumes and cover letters. National FFA scholarship applications are live online and many other scholarships require resumes. This will also help students perform in the employment interview LDE and be prepared for college applications. Encourage juniors to sign up for SAT and ACT dates that fit best into THEIR schedules. Membership: Encourage new members to try a LDE/CDE. Encourage returning members to try a NEW LDE/CDE. Partnership: Find your county ToastMasters group. Send your prepared, extemp and creed speakers to their meeting for feedback and practice. This might be a great forum for an Ag Issues presentation as well. www.toastmasters.org If your chapter plans on traveling to Albany this year for the Taste of NY or to do legislative visits you should begin organizing this now. Public Relations: In line with the expected State of the Union address at the end of the month, develop a State of the FFA report you can share with stakeholders like parents, board members and administrators. Emphasize accomplishments and professionalism. SAE: Work on the financial and time documentation for award and degree applications. Grab your American Degree applicants while they are home for winter break to have them finish their applications in person.

FEBRUARY: 5 8 7 22 23 National FFA Scholarships Due Online Governmental and Global Awareness Institute - Albany, NY (Tentatively Scheduled for February 5-6) Scholarship signature pages due postmarked to National FFA. Empire Degree Applications due to the State FFA Office State Star Applications due to the State FFA Office District President Application Due Postmarked to the State office New Century Farmer (collegiate conference) due to National FFA Online National FFA Week - Local Events (February 7-24) New York Farm Show - Syracuse, NY (February 22-24) NY FFA Alumni Toy Auction - Syracuse, NY *Also this month: Legislative visits and opportunities. *Also this month: District competitions will be taking place through mid-march. Manuscript deadlines and requirements will be communicated by District advisors or trustees. All questions about district competitions should be directed to the district president's advisor and the district competition host. Academics: Introduce the concept of governmental advocacy to students. In the wake of State of the State, State of the Union and State of Agriculture messages being delivered, have classes identify an issue of importance to them and write to their local and state legislators in support of their issue. Membership: - February 7-24 is National FFA Week. Celebrate! If your school is on break during FFA week, plan to celebrate the week before or after. Make sure you are finalizing your FFA rosters so you can submit them WITH payment by the deadline on March. Watch for FFA Jacket Award applications coming out this month. Partnership: Utilize your partners as sounding boards and practice venues for Ag Issues competitions. Determine a time to include legislators in your program of activities to showcase what their local students are doing in FFA. Public Relations: Advertise your chapter during National FFA Week. Build connections with local radio stations and television stations to feature your chapter as a public interest story during the week. Practice with students before interviews so they are confident, have great key messages and are prepared to be the best representative possible. SAE: Develop high quality descriptions of skills attained for proficiency award applications. Find photos to be used in applications and caption them. Proficiency Awards are due at the start of next month!

MARCH: FFA Rosters due electronically with payment postmarked to State Office. National FFA Rosters due submitted Online ($3/student) New York Only membership (grade 6 only) through www.nysffa.org ($6/student) Proficiency Award applications due postmarked to State FFA Office 7 Honorary Degree Nominations due to State Office via email State Officer Intent to Run due electronically to State Office via email. National Chapter Award Applications due postmarked to State Office Postmark Deadline for Substate LDE Manuscripts - Substate Competition is March 7 7 9 24 30 Districts -4: Districts 5-7: Districts 8-0: TBA TBA TBA Attn: TBA Attn: TBA Attn: TBA Address Address Address Address Address Address Dairy Breed Award applications due postmarked to the State FFA Office State Officer Nominating Committee Nominees due from Districts to State Office by email State Officer Applications due postmarked to State FFA Office Substate Competitions - Multiple Locations Agricultural Literacy Week (March 9-23, 208) SNOW DATE for Sub-States State Convention Housing: Deadline to book your rooms through the state housing block and to submit your rooming list. Academics: Prepare agriscience fair project ideas and plan a local agriscience fair for next month where you use administrators, industry and science teachers in your school as evaluators. Projects should be brought to the State Convention. Membership: - Challenge your chapter officers to figure out how to make leadership development a priority for all members, not just members in LDEs or those running for state office or nominating committee. Introduce the idea of Camp Oswegatchie to members. Partnership: Nominate your chapter s biggest supporters for degrees and awards. They should receive recognition on a local level first, but critical partners can be considered for Honorary State Degrees after they have been recognized with Honorary Chapter Degrees. Public Relations: National Ag Day is this month. Highlight your chapter s star SAEs or showcase agricultural careers. Have members showcase star agribusinesses and farms in your community to local media outlets. SAE: Use the start of spring to help new students identify and start a SAE. Be sure to keep an electronic copy of all proficiency awards submitted so it is easy to make changes to applications moving on for national consideration. Keeping photos electronically will be useful in the onstage recognition of winners.

APRIL: 9 2 27 American Degree Cover Sheets due postmarked to State FFA Office (April 2nd will be the deadline since the st is a Holiday) Convention Registration due online Payment must be RECEIVED by April 27th to the NY FFA Foundation to avoid late fees. State Convention Payment Deadline Student registrations and meal plan numbers cannot be dropped T-Shirt numbers cannot be dropped. Tours and workshops available on a first come, first serve basis. Additional registrations are still possible but you will need to contact the state office directly. State Officer Candidate Interviews - Tentative Date. (April 2-4) *Also this month: National Band, Chorus & Talent applications become available at www.ffa.org Academics: As convention nears, encourage students to stay ahead in their classes and to approach teachers in advance for work they might need when they miss school in a few weeks. Membership: - Have chapter members discuss opportunities and responsibilities at convention. Preparation for on-site LDE/CDEs, discussion of delegate issues & consideration of extra opportunities like service projects, leadership workshops and tours can build excitement and keep students engaged during the convention. Partnership: Use area experts to prepare teams for LDE/CDEs at convention. Connecting with partners early this month will give your students a month of opportunities to experience and master contest content - and it will give partners a month of connection with the reason why they support your program. Next month, send an email to these partners from the convention after students compete with results of how they did. Public Relations: April is an excellent month for a service opportunity. Double your effectiveness by not only choosing a service activity that matters to your community but one that reinforces what FFA is all about. Try to anchor your service in agriculture whether serving an agricultural need in your community or using an aspect of agriculture to meet a need. SAE: Consider visiting a local business or farm as an experiential learning opportunity for a class. These visits might lay the framework for SAE placements or post-grad internships. Use State Convention Tour opportunities to connect students with career area interests with industry experience.

MAY: 7 4 7 National FFA Convention Housing opens at pm Convention LDE/CDE manuscripts due submitted to LDE/CDE Coordinator. State FFA Convention On Site Preparation Begins (Rochester, NY) State FFA Convention - Rochester, NY (May 7-9) On site registration is possible with a late fee, however seating, meals and eligibility to participate in LDE/CDEs cannot be guaranteed to those who have not pre-registered. Convention information will be distributed through www.nysffa.org and via emails on nyffa-l@cornell.edu Academics: Revisit the World Food Prize from the start of the year. Work with students to develop papers they can have prepared to submit by the end of the school year. These papers can qualify for competition in early September. Use the discussion points printed in the convention guide to have conversations with your students about the convention when you return to class. Set goals or turn it into a journaling activity for class. Membership: Challenge chapter officers to incorporate something they saw at the convention into your chapter banquet. Ask them how to make it engaging, professional and something that tells the story of student success. Partnership: Send thank you letters to any sponsors or partners who help to fund or chaperone your convention trip. Have students pay special attention to the Honorary degrees awarded at the State Convention and ask them who they think they should recognize in their local community for the contributions made on their behalf, locally. Public Relations: Share your chapter s State Convention experience with everyone. Submit articles, visit the school board, have your chapter president thank the administrators for making your trip possible. Share student successes over the morning announcements. SAE: Encourage students to apply for chapter level proficiency awards and degrees. Have students put together displays or posters about their projects to display at the chapter banquet.