The American Agri-Women Show is a series by, for and about farm and ranch women.    In this half-hour series, AAW brings a weekly topic of concern to farm, ranch and agribusiness women and shares information about how to manage risk in agricultural operations.  Each show features expert advice on that week's topic and includes a visit with a farm woman who is addressing that issue in her farming operation.  Farm women from Oregon to North Carolina are featured on the show.

AAW President Chris Wilson said, "It's been our goal to bring programming to farm and ranch women throughout the country. We are very grateful to RFD-TV President Patrick Gottsch for making this dream a reality, and we are excited to be part of this great network."

Topics include marketing your commodities; evaluating new enterprises, such as agritourism; promoting agriculture; agricultural labor issues; educating students and policymakers about agriculture; managing risk through crop insurance; business planning; accessing farm credit; and resources for women in agriculture. The series is sponsored by the Risk Management Agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  The host is award winning farm broadcaster and AAW member Kathy Patton Strunk.

Launched in December of 2000 and now beginning its 10th year of broadcasting, RFD-TV is the nation's first 24-hour television channel dedicated to serving the needs and interests of rural America with programming focused on agriculture, equine and rural lifestyle, along with traditional country music and entertainment. The channel is now distributed into more than 40 million homes worldwide by DBS and cable systems including DISH Network (231), DIRECTV (345), Comcast, Verizon FiOS TV (247), Mediacom, Charter, Bresnan, Brighthouse, Time Warner, Cox, SKY, Freesat and more than 600 independent rural cable systems. 

American Agri-Women (AAW) is the national coalition of farm, ranch and agribusiness women, with 59 affiliate state and commodity organizations nationwide. Visit us on the web at americanagriwomen.org.  We are @Women4Ag on twitter.

AMERICAN AGRI-WOMEN TV SHOW PROGRAMS
AIRING ON RFD-TV - 11:30 AM Wednesdays

RFD-TV is Channel 345 on DIRECTV and 231 on DISH and is available on many cable channels throughout the country

We would like to congratulate the 2009-2010 initiates of the Order of Omega:

• Virginia Chamberlain, University of New Hampshire
• Kendall Eisele, University of Wyoming
• Sarah Patricia Johnson, Louisana State University
• Ashley Miller, Colorado State University
• Abbey Scherling, Colorado State University
• Carling Vantine, University of Deleware

The Order of Omega is a honor society for members of Greek organizations. The organization recognizes juniors and seniors who have exemplified high standards in the areas of scholarship, leadership, involvement within their respective organization and within the Greek, campus and local community.  Members are selected from the top 3% of Greeks at each institution. To learn more about the Order of Omega, see www.orderofomega.org. 

Peace Corps provides our host communities with sustainable solutions by sharing America’s most precious resource – its people. Peace Corps is a people-to-people form of public service at the grassroots level.

• Americans are ready to serve, and for those who are prepared for the challenge of public service overseas, Peace Corps is a life-defining leadership experience.
• Peace Corps has always reflected the diversity of America – Volunteers range in age from 18-85 and represent all 50 states. We are working hard to recruit the next generation of Volunteers who represent the diversity of America.
• We are recruiting Americans with liberal arts degrees who have a commitment to public service. We are also looking for people with specialized degrees and technical skills related to Peace Corps assignment areas.
• While most Peace Corps assignments require a college degree, there are some positions available for applicants with 3-5 years of relevant work or life experience and a demonstrated interest in public service.
• Peace Corps Volunteers are creative problem solvers who have demonstrated a commitment to community service, leadership, and a willingness to learn a new language.
• Volunteers work in cooperation with local governments, schools, and entrepreneurs to create sustainable community-based projects.
• Peace Corps offers meaningful public service opportunities in 76 countries around the world for qualified Americans age 18 and over. There is no upper age limit to service.
• Peace Corps is a great way to launch a career. Volunteers return to the United States as global citizens, with leadership, language, teaching, and community development skills that position them well for educational and professional opportunities.
• Through President Obama’s support and Congress’ corresponding 2010 budget appropriation, Peace Corps is poised to grow significantly over the next several years.
• Peace Corps has increased the number of volunteer opportunities for Americans interested in public service abroad and is actively recruiting the next generation of Peace Corps Volunteers.
• Peace Corps is actively recruiting for thousands of positions now.
• We are recruiting for Volunteer opportunities in six work areas: education, health, business development and ICT, agriculture, environment, and youth and community development.
• Education is our largest service program (35%) and volunteer opportunities in education are expected to grow. Many of our 76 host countries are requesting additional Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) expertise and support.
• President Obama’s “call to service” has inspired many Americans to contribute their creativity, enthusiasm, and time to local communities in a meaningful way both at home and abroad.
• Every day Volunteers in the field and those who have returned home are contributing to the great American tradition of community service. This is the legacy of President Kennedy’s innovative idea.
• While times have changed since the Peace Corps’ founding in 1961, the agency’s mission—to promote world peace and friendship—has not. Nearly 200,000 Americans have served with the Peace Corps

A listing of some of the benefits of Peace Corps Service

• Develop Career Skills: fluency in foreign languages, international experience, and cross-cultural understanding are desired skills in today’s global economyunlike most international volunteer programs, there is no fee to participate in Peace Corps and travel costs are provided to and from the country of service
• Student Loan Partial Cancellation and Deferment: volunteers with Perkins loans may be eligible for a partial cancellation benefit, ranging from 15-70% of an existing loan. Volunteers may defer repayment of Federal student loans and some commercial loans
• Graduate School Opportunities: volunteers gain academic credit and financial incentives through Peace Corps’ two graduate programs. Masters International incorporates Peace Corps service into a master’s degree program at more than 60 colleges and universities. Fellows/USA programs offer returned volunteers scholarships or reduced tuition at more than 50 participating schools 
• Living Expenses: Peace Corps provides volunteers with a living allowance that enables them to live in a manner similar to the local people in the community, covering housing, food, and incidentals
• Medical and Dental: volunteers have full coverage during service and affordable health insurance for up to 18 months following service
• Vacation Time: volunteers receive two vacation days per month of service, a total of 48 days over two years
• Transition Funds: returning from overseas requires some adjustment. To assist with the transition back home, volunteers are paid over $7,000 at the close of 27 months of service
• Job Placement Support: The Peace Corps provides career and transition support services for returned volunteers. Former volunteers have served in a variety of leadership positions in both private and public sectors. U.S. Ambassadors, elected officials, university presidents, and corporate leaders are among our many alumni
• Be a part of a Vibrant Network: 200,000 Americans have served as Peace Corps volunteers, many of whom actively participate in local returned Peace Corps volunteer groups
• Receive advantages in Federal Employment: volunteers who complete two years of service receive one year of noncompetitive eligibility for employment in the Federal government

Here is some information about Peace Corps opportunities.

Become a fan of the Sigma Alpha Sorority Facebook page to get the latest updates and news about sisters throughout the country! http://www.facebook.com/sigmaalpha

You can also stay in touch with Sigma Alpha on Twitter! http://twitter.com/sigmaalpha

Are you looking for a new job? Want to connect with your sisters on a professional level? Join the Sigma Alpha group on LinkedIn to get the inside scoop! http://www.linkedin.com

Sigma Alpha Sorority would like to extend a warm welcome to Kellie Claflin as our new Communications Intern.  In this position, Kellie will promote Sigma Alpha Sorority through marketing techniques such as the Sigma Alpha websites, Facebook, Twitter and Wikipedia. In addition, she will work to improve communication of Sigma Alpha programs to our membership.  Here is a little more about Kellie:

My name is Kellie Claflin and I am excited to serve as Sigma Alpha’s communication intern! I am a senior at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls majoring in agricultural education with a minor in professional and organizational communication. I have been an active member of the Beta Zeta chapter since 2007, serving as scholarship chair and participating in several rewarding activities. My prior experience in communication stems from internships with the National Association of Agricultural Educators and the agricultural education department at UWRF. This summer, I will be interning with the marketing communications department at CHS, Inc. I am looking forward to learning more about the sorority and increasing Sigma Alpha’s communication with members.

National Board recently updated the National Chapter Guide and Advisor Guide for your continual use. As the Chapter President, you have the responsibility of making sure your guides are up-to-date and that the information is available to all chapter members. These two guides can be found at www.sigmaalpha.org on the Member Only site underneath “Files” as well as any forms within them. The forms are also located at the “News & Events” page on the public site.

There are many significant changes so please take the time to review all the documents that have been updated and highlighted on the NCG & AG Report Form. Once you have completed the items on the NCG & AG Report Form, please complete and email it to document@sigmaalpha.org by May 30th. If you have trouble finding the files or would like a CD with the files, please email Lisa Campion for assistance. We also welcome your suggestions on how to make the NCG & AG more user-friendly and how it can be improved.  Please submit changes by July 15th to be included in the August updates.

Daughters of American Agriculture Scholarships
These two scholarships are available to any farm, ranch or agribusiness woman or her daughter to pursue accredited courses in agriculture leadership, communications, rural sociology, medicine, or any other courses directly related to agriculture.

The Jean Ibendahl scholarship was initiated in 1991 by AAW member and educator, Jean Ibendahl of Illinois. It was later supported by a generous endowment of $10,000 by Jean and her husband Calvin. It is further maintained by donations by AAW member and affiliates. This scholarship is available to high school graduates and women aged 18-23.

The Sister Thomas More Bertels scholarship was begun in 1991 to honor a founding mother of AAW. Sister T. More Bertels was a history teacher at Silver Lake College in Manitowoc, WI. She traveled the United States and Canada extolling the virtues of agriculture and empowering producers to realize their potential. This scholarship is available to women who are returning students in agriculture and are 24 years old or older.

Both scholarships are for $500. Applications for each are due by June 1st of each year. A copy of the applications and the submission information may be found on the AAW website at www.americanagriwomen.org. 

Gail McPherson Scholarship for AAW Fly-in Attendance Scholarship
This scholarship was named to honor Gail McPherson of Pennsylvania. Gail was a founding mother of American AgriWomen and a past president of the Resource Center. She was proficient in parliamentary procedure; she was chair of the by-laws committee and author of many pertinent resolutions. Gail was instrumental in the creation of the first AAW Fly-In.

This scholarship is available to any AAW member to attend the annual AAW Fly-In held in June of each year in Washington, DC. The applicant may be any age, but cannot have attended a past Fly-In. Only one applicant per affiliate will be accepted.

This scholarship is for $400. Applications are due by April 15th of each year. A copy of the application and the submission information may be found on the AAW website at www.americanagriwomen.org.

Helen Whitmore Convention Scholarship
This scholarship was named to honor Helen Whitmore, a well-respected rancher and teacher from California. It was initiated in 1993 by a friend and AAW past-president Mitzi Ayala Perdue. It was established to increase active involvement in AAW and to encourage members to influence their home affiliate members.

This scholarship is available to any AAW member to attend the annual AAW Convention held in November of each year.The applicant may be of any age, but cannot have attended a past Convention. Only one applicant per affiliate will be accepted.

The scholarship is for $400. Applications are due by August 15th of each year. A copy of the application and the submission information may be found on the AAW website at www.americanagriwomen.org. 

Honorary Members:

• Jo Ann Smith
• Patricia Titus
• Cuptal Nelson
• Joe Sabol
• Serena Howard Sresbach
• Christine Stiles
• Martin Pond
• Jean Woloshuk
• Phyllis Davis
• Ann Veneman
• Larry Warren

Associate Members:

• Barbara Fisher
• Kenneth Jernigan
• Sandy Massey