September Association & Committee News
Membership
As of July 27, ACN has 313 active paid members, including 94 Editorial, 83 Associate, 35 Student, 31 Partner, 25 Associate – Freelance and 31 Partner members. In 2022, the association had 346 paid members. The Membership Committee continues to encourage membership renewals; and membership continues to be promoted on ACN social media channels. In 2022-23, the Membership Committee worked with Filament, for the PR group to sponsor up to 50 student memberships. That effort has garnered 29 student members. Thank you to Filament for this generous sponsorship!
Our goals for 2023-23 are to continue to grow and retain membership, learn why folks aren’t renewing, grow and engage student membership and collaborate with other ACN committees on ways to bring value to ACN membership. – Jessie Bland, committee chair
International and IFAJ
This committee seeks a new chair/co-chair beginning Jan 1., 2024. The current chair, Elaine Shein, will continue to chair the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists(IFAJ) International Membership, Benefits and Outreach committee.
ACN had a considerable presence at the annual IFAJ Congress, held in Calgary/Olds, Canada, in June and July. The 2024 IFAC Congress will be held Aug. 14-18 in Interlaken/Berner Oberland, Switzerland.
Represented ACN on IFAJ Executive Committee; served on various IFAJ committees (Governance, International Membership, Benefits and Outreach). The committee chair represented ACN in IFAJ Executive Meeting and Press Tour in Guadalajara, Mexico, in February 2023, and also at IFAJ Congress held in Calgary/Olds, Canada in June/July, 2023.
- Selected Betty Haynes (Prairie Farmer) to represent ACN as our Young Leader candidate; she was then selected to be one of 10 international young leaders to attend IFAJ Congress/Boot Camp.
- Selected $1000-each PIF stipend winners for IFAJ Congress: JoAnn Alumbaugh (Alumbaugh Communications) and Chris Clayton (DTN/Progressive Farmer). PIF stipends for IFAJ Congress also went to Elaine Shein (as chair of committee), and Betty Haynes after she was successfully chosen by IFAJ for the Boot Camp.
- Was approached by IFAJ member Tamara Leigh who couldn’t attend at the last moment and who generously offered her already-paid Congress registration/hotel reservation to one of our ACN members. Olivia Hoots applied for and received the transferred registration/accommodation.
- Nominated a current ACN member to be on IFAJ Finance and Partnerships Committee. Pam Caraway has been welcomed to the committee.
During the IFAJ Executive Meeting in Canada, the decision was made to increase membership dues by 6.97%. There has not been an increase in fees since 2002; since then, IFAJ has changed considerably, including more members, more activities and more opportunities. – Elaine Shen, committee chair
Nominating
The ACN Nominating Committee submitted this slate of candidates for ACN Board of Directors for 2023-24. Article V of the ACN Constitution says the board must have President, President Elect, Past President and 6 directors at-large that include two partner members.
- Past President – Bill Spiegel, The Furrow
- President – Martha Mintz, Corral Creek Communications
- President Elect – Pam Caraway, Delta Farm Press
- Director – Joel Reichenberger, DTN/Progressive Farmer (exp 2025)
- Director – Katie Knapp, The Ag Photographer (exp 2025)
- Director – Jessie Scott, Dotdash Meredith (exp 2025)
- Director – Harlen Persinger, HLens Photos (exp 2024)
- Director – Rachael Davis, Noble Research Institute (exp 2026)
- Director – Joy Crosby, Georgia Peanut Commission (exp 2024)
- Director – Wyatt Bechtel, Filament (exp 2026)
- Director — Kenna Rathai, broadhead (exp 2024)
Bechtel and Davis are new to the board, representing the Partner and Associate categories, respectively. Completing terms on the board are Mindy Ward, Missouri Ruralist (past-president); and Jamie Cole, Red Barn Media Group. – Bill Spiegel, committee chair