October Committee Updates
Professional Improvement Foundation (PIF)
PIF is a member-directed non-profit entity that provides funding and direction for a number of programs and activities that benefit ACN members. Each year, PIF generates about $40,000 from dues and donations. Members are encouraged to apply for PIF grants to assist in our mission.
In 2022/23, we had 11 grant requests and we funded 9 of them, investing $29,600 in programming that enables the professional development of ACN and its members.
• $10,000 for Ag Media Summit speaker grant
• $6,500 for the Future Agricultural Communicator scholarship program
• $3,500 in ACN stipends for judges
• $3,000 in IFAJ travel stipends
• $2,000 for the Andy Markwart Horizon Award
• $2,000 for an ACN regional workshop
• $1,500 for the IFAJ Young Leader travel stipend
• $1,000 for the ACN webinar stipend
• $100 to sponsor the ACT Award of Excellence
In comparison, for the year prior PIF invested >$41,000 in professional development programming and tools & technologies that foster it.
Applications for 2023/24 were due October 9. PIF Trustees will evaluate and award grants in the coming weeks. – Julie Deering, committee chair
Legacy
The Legacy Committee selected two Lifetime Achievement Award recipients this year Greg Lamp and Karen McMahon, and awarded the Distinguished Service Award to Oregon producer Don Wirth. These recipients were celebrated at Ag Media Summit in July.
As so many LAA recipients have been separated from their previous employer or are freelancers, the committee thought it important that these awardees be given the rights and privileges afforded honorary members of the past.
While a number of these awardees still pay dues, we are aware of a few who haven’t paid them in a while. The committee thought it might be a good idea to give these long-time members a break and make an honorary membership part of the award package.
ACTION ITEM—The Legacy Committee hereby seeks a motion from the board and then to membership to automatically award honorary membership status to Lifetime Achievement Award recipients. This Action Item will be discussed at an upcoming board meeting.
Committee chair Larry Dreiling is retiring from the Legacy Committee, after 20 years as member and 17 years as its chair. – Larry Dreiling, committee chair