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Agricultural Relations Council holds annual meeting
The Agricultural Relations Council elected its 2010 board of directors at the Feb. 18 and 19 annual meeting in Memphis. The board also re-introduced the Golden ARC Awards, debuted a new logo and announced a new website launch by mid-March. The theme of the 2010 annual meeting was "Consumer Outreach for Ag." Activities included professional development training on social media, consumer messaging through innovative programs of the Tennessee Farm Bureau, a presentation by Agricenter International, and site visits to Ducks Unlimited and a behind-the-scenes look at barge and elevator loading operations at ADM facilities. The 2010 ARC Board includes: Deron Johnson, Rhea + Kaiser Marketing Communications, board president; Mace Thornton, American Farm Bureau Federation, first vice president; Katana Ewbank, Alpha Scouts, second vice president; and Bob Giblin, Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health, immediate past president. Directors include Mark Ingbritson, Rhea + Kaiser Marketing Communications; Amy Keith McDonald, McDonald Marketing Communications; Carroll E. Merry, Countryside Marketing; Janice Person, Monsanto; and Mike Opperman, Charleston/Orwig. The ARC is experiencing a rebirth after maintaining a low profile over the past few years. The 2010 ARC board was put in place in 2009 and was re-elected by acclamation by those in attendance at the annual meeting. "We made great strides in the past year," Johnson says. "We've put several new initiatives in place as we move forward as a relevant ag public relations/public affairs member organization. We are moving forward to enhance professional development within our organization." Among the new developments and announcements made at the annual meeting include: --Creation of a new logo developed on a pro bono basis by Rhea + Kaiser Marketing Communications; --Development of a new website to be completed by mid-March by Rhea + Kaiser Marketing Communications; --Announcement of the 2010 Golden ARC awards, which are divided into two divisions--Campaigns and Tactics (the deadline for 2010 is May 1, and the award winners will be announced at the Agricultural Media Summit in St. Paul on July 27); --A membership campaign that offers an ARC membership ($175) for just $100 between now and the end of the April 21 to 23 National Agri-Marketing Association meeting in Kansas City; --Continuation of the Silent Auction at the Agricultural Media Summit July 24 to 28 in St. Paul; and --Selecting Fort Myers, Fla., as the site of the 2011 meeting in late February. As an optional activity following the formal meeting, seven members participated in Project EverGreen's GreenCare for Troops yard makeover at a military family's home in Memphis. GreenCare for Troops provides free landscape service for military families where the major breadwinner is serving overseas. Members assisted Tracey Nealy, whose husband is serving in Iraq and will be home in May, by replacing a privacy fence, installing new landscaping and doing a general yard cleanup. "This is the right time to get involved again in ARC," Johnson adds. "We are committed to growing the organization and developing programs to meet member needs in the many facets of public relations and public affairs. There are many issues facing our constituencies from within our industry and to consumers who need to be effectively informed about the many benefits agriculture brings to the table. We look forward to great growth in the years ahead." For more information about getting involved in ARC, including memberships, public relations accreditation (APR), sponsorships, or committee work, contact Den Gardner, executive director, or Barb Ulschmid, associate director, at 952-758-5811 or arc@gardnerandgardnercommunications.com, or contact Deron Johnson at 630-955-6656 or djohnson@rkconnect.com.
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