MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT |
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Keith Dickinson, CFP®, CAC, RICP |
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There are some months when I have a specific topic that I would like to communicate to membership in this message. Then there are months, like the current month, when there are several ideas that come to the surface. So, with this message, I’m going to give you a few ‘bullet points to stimulate your thinking towards ASAC in the coming month. -
Plan now to attend the 2024 ASAC Annual Conference in Fort Myers, Fla. We have a nice program coming together. You will start to see some highlights of planned presenters on our social media channels over the next few months. The hotel registration block is open now, so go ahead and reserve your room! More information on the conference, including the link and contact information for our headquarters hotel can be found here: https://www.agconsultants.org/2024_annual_conference.php
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Continue to share ASAC with potential new members as you are out and about in your own practices. Our marketing committee developed some nice business cards for ASAC that can be handed out to potential new members. Carry a few with you whenever you are attending conferences and/or ‘in the field’. If you do not have any cards, please reach out to Jean Merry – evp@agconsultants.org.
- Do you have skill in the areas of marketing and promotion? If so, ASAC could use your talents. We are still looking for a willing person to step up and be the chairperson of the ASAC Marketing & Promotion Committee. Please reach out to me at president@agconsultants.org if you are interested.
- Mark your calendars now for the 2025 Annual Conference. The planned dates are November 2-5. The details on the specific location are in the final stages of development. I expect that we will be able to announce those details in our May Communique.
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Do you have an idea for a topic or information that you would like to either learn more about or, better yet, share with our ASAC members? If so, please reach out to Scott Mickey, our Continuing Education Committee Chair (smickey@clemson.edu), and/or Dave Mielnicki, our President-Elect and Meeting Planning Committee Chair (David.Mielnicki@nmrk.com).
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Finally, stay tuned for an email from Jean Merry on behalf of the Strategic Alliance Committee. Norm Brown and his committee have developed a spreadsheet survey tool that we will be sharing with our membership soon to gain your feedback on the list of potential strategic partnerships for ASAC. The survey takes less than 10 minutes to complete (as long as you have access to Excel on the device that you are using to fill out the survey). Please help this committee with your input when you receive the email from Jean!
Standing Committees: Membership – Ron Rabou - raboufarms@gmail.com
Nominating – Pete Weisenberger - pete.weis0956@gmail.com By-Laws – Abigail Byerly - majerus@snowymountaindevelopment.com Ethics and Grievance – Ethan Robertson - ethan.robertson@farmcrediteast.com
Continuing Education – Scott Mickey - smickey@clemson.edu Annual Meeting – David Mielnicki - david.mielnicki@nmrk.com Finance – Keith Raynor - keith@trpsumner.com Ad Hoc Committees: Marketing and Promotion – Chair Needed
Strategic Alliance – Norm Brown - norm@fbssystems.com Keith Dickinson President P.S.: As this issue was being uploaded to send to the membership, we learned that Roy Ferguson, 98, passed away Friday morning, April 26. According to the funeral home website, no services have been planned at this time. For those who did not know Roy, he was an active member of ASAC in the early years of the organization and continued as a member for several decades. |
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING NOTES, April 2024 |
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Financial Report – Russell Morgan, CFO
Budgets for 2024 were included in the board packet, but some minor adjustments may be needed. The finalized documents will be available for the May board meeting. Meetings Committee - Dave Mielnicki, Chair
A lot of progress has been made on presenters and topics. Confirmed speakers were listed, but there are still four slots to fill on Monday. Everything else, in terms of topics, is pretty well set. Speaker forms and pics are coming in. A list of ideas and potential speakers to fill out the schedule was discussed. The committee is also working on a form for conference sponsorships and a few potentials were mentioned. Social media posts promoting the conference began in April. Continuing Education Committee - Scott Mickey, Chair Suggestions for topics and presenters are welcome. Finance Committee - Keith Raynor, Chair There was a special executive board meeting on April 2 to approve the budget that was put forward from the April 1 special budget meeting. Strategic Alliance Committee – Norm Brown, Committee Chair
The ranking system for potential alliances was reviewed. More input is needed. An interactive spreadsheet will be sent to board members initially. Later it will go to the membership. It should only take about 10 minutes to complete the form. Completed spreadsheets should be sent back to Norm.
Next Board of Directors Meeting - May 21 - 11 a.m. CDT (open to all members to listen in): https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89918075286?pwd=LEUjUgLopYS47U3q6wNmIiJcqdYsTt.1 |
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2024 Annual Conference Taking Shape |
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Rusty Rumley, JD, LL.M, National Ag Law Center; Chrissy Wozniak, North American Ag; and Don Tyler, Tyler and Associates, are among the speakers slated to make presentations at the 2024 Annual Conference in Fort Myers, Fla., November 3-5.
Rumley, back by popular demand, will give attendees an update on the ag industry’s ever-changing legal and policy landscape during the Monday afternoon session, November 4. The evaluation forms from the 2023 attendees indicated a strong interest in hearing from Rumley again this year, and he has agreed to return.
Following her recent ASAC ShopTalk on how consultants can improve their web presence, Wozniak has been invited to cover additional business improvement strategies. As the creator of two ag industry podcasts, she will address “Leveraging Technology to Efficiently Build Your Brand” in her November 5 presentation.
After speaking at the 2023 conference on some of the challenges consultants face as business advisors, Tyler received requests from participants to provide his insights on situations where clients seek assistance with more personal matters. “How to Switch from Consultant to Counselor” is on the conference schedule for Monday morning.
Other presentations will include the latest on the citrus industry and its global implications, land values, the cattle industry, consulting ethics, and more. Speakers and time slots are currently being finalized and will be announced in May.
When the education sessions are finalized, the committee will turn its attention to the Tuesday afternoon ag tours.
The hotel information and reservation link for the conference room rate of $169 per night at the Crowne Plaza Fort Myers Gulf Coast can be found here. Our hotel contact has informed us that the group booking link works best on computer rather than on mobile devices.
Conference details, including sponsorship opportunities, will be added to this page on the ASAC website as they become available. |
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New Full Members - Last 30 Days - 04/22/2024 : Thomas Hammer |
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Strategic Alliance Committee
05/13/2024
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Annual Conference Planning Committee
05/13/2024 |
2024 BOD Monthly Meeting
05/21/2024 |
Strategic Alliance Committee
06/10/2024 |
Annual Conference Planning Committee
06/10/2024 |
| 2024 BOD Monthly Meeting
06/18/2024
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Strategic Alliance Committee
07/08/2024 |
Annual Conference Planning Committee
07/08/2024 |
2024 BOD Monthly Meeting
07/16/2024 |
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KEEP UP WITH THE ASAC BLOG |
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IB'S INSIGHTFUL INTROSPECTIONS |
Ib Hagsten was a longtime member of ASAC who left a lasting legacy with our organization. It is impossible to replicate Ib's wit and down-to-earth observations. In his honor, we offer these words of wisdom... What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly.
Thomas Paine If you don’t give anything, don’t expect anything. Success is not coming to you. You must come to it. Marva Collins
None of us suddenly becomes something overnight. The preparations have been in the making for a lifetime. Gail Godwin |
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President Keith Dickinson, CAC |
| President-Elect Dave Mielnicki, ARA |
| Vice President & Secretary Abigail Byerly |
| Chief Financial Officer Russell Morgan, CAC |
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| Immediate Past President Pete Weisenberger |
| Executive Director Jean L Merry |
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Eastern Director Ethan Robertson, CAC |
| Western Director Ron Rabou |
| Northern Director Don Tyler |
| Southern Director Scott Mickey |
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