NACTA Newsletter August 2023

In This Issue:

• NACTA Roundup with President Nick Fuhrman
• NACTA Regional Directors Seeking Volunteers
• Call for 2024 Blue Ribbon Speaker Suggestions
• NACTA 2023 Special Election Still Open
• NACTA Unveils Redesigned Website
  
• Welcome New NACTA Members!
• Renew or Become a New NACTA Member

NACTA Roundup with President Nick Fuhrman

New NACTA president, UGA's own Nick Fuhrman, brings you the highlights from this month's newsletter and even brings a friend to say hello.  Click here to view the message.

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NACTA Regional Directors Seeking Volunteers

Build your network, your expertise, and your profile by becoming an active member of NACTA! The organization can give you access to a world-wide network of active and like-minded people, and a great way to do this is to become volunteer for consideration as NACTA Assistant Regional Director or Campus Ambassador.

Assistant Regional Directors

• Each region will have up to four assistant directors (2-year term)
• Send welcome email to new members within the region
• Identify and network with Campus Ambassadors within the region
• Distribute Campus Ambassador packets as needed
• Contact and encourage administration about joining and/or maintain membership in NACTA
• Build community within region
• Those interested can submit an application to be assessed and chosen by the Regional Directors

Campus Ambassadors

• Volunteer position
• Distribute NACTA information packet to new faculty and graduate students each fall semester
• Share calls for NACTA abstracts, awards, and conference registration information with faculty and graduate researchers
• Assist in recognizing NACTA award winners on their campuses
• Convey the benefits of NACTA membership at faculty events and through communication

The deadline to volunteer for these roles will be Monday, August 21. If you are interested in volunteering for either position, please click a button above. If you have any questions, please reach out to support@nactateachers.org. We hope that you will consider becoming involved in this important and collegial work.

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Call for 2024 Blue Ribbon Speaker Suggestions

The NACTA EITI Committee welcomes nominations for the 2024 Blue Ribbon Speaker. The Blue Ribbon event is a highlight of the NACTA Annual Conference, featuring a speaker who is typically an active and long-term member of NACTA. Past Blue Ribbon speakers include Dr. Kevin Donnelly of Kansas State University, Dr. Mark Russell of Purdue University, Dr. Elaine Turner of the University of Florida, Dr. Jeannette Moore of North Carolina State University, and more! Any member of NACTA can nominate a Blue Ribbon speaker, and nominations are reviewed by voting members of the EITI Committee. Click here to submit your suggestions.

Nominations due: September 15, 2023

If you have any questions please reach out to support@nactateachers.org. Thank you for your engagement in NACTA.

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NACTA 2023 Special Election Still Open

The ballot for the NACTA 2023 special election is still available. As a reminder, this is a special election outside of our typical voting cycle. The leadership positions on this ballot are as follows:

• Chair - Educational Issues and Teaching Improvement Committee (2-year term)
• Chair - Experiential Learning Committee (2-year term)

You should have received a separate, automated email from ElectionBuddy Elections with your personal voter access key. Your access key is a 16-character alpha-numeric key, randomly generated and issued by ElectionBuddy. A single key is assigned to each specific voter, and so each key is unique to each voter. The keys are also single-use, so they ensure that a voter can only vote once. If your membership dues have not been paid as of July 20, 2023, you did not receive a ballot. If you did not receive this message by July 25, 2023 and your membership dues are current, please contact support@nactateachers.org.

Members of NACTA are asked to review the candidates' qualifications listed on the Election Buddy ballot and to thoughtfully consider the course each candidate would take to achieve our NACTA goals as discussed in their respective personal statements. In addition to those listed on the slate, NACTA members will have the opportunity to write in a candidate on their ballot. 

The election will be open until August 23, 2023. The complete listing of qualified candidates will be listed on the ballot. We ask that our members carefully read over the slate and consider each candidate carefully. 

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NACTA Unveils Redesigned Website

New, easier-to-navigate menus: We've simplified the menu navigation so that it's easier to find exactly what you are looking for. This allows not only for a smoother and faster experience, but more confidence in knowing you'll find exactly what you need.

Quicker access to the NACTA Journal for authors, reviewers and readers: Quickly find the most recently published articles and Teaching Tips from NACTA. Browse all articles from Volume 66 (2022) as well as Volume 67 (2023).

Looking to become a NACTA member? It's now easier than ever! Simply choose the category that fits you and/or your team.

• $100 - 1 Year Institutional Active*
• $270 - 3 Year Institutional Active*
• $125 - 1 Year Active**
• $340 - 3 Year Active**
• $35 for Students
• $25 for Emeritus
• $750 for Life - One-time payment
• $200 for Four-Year Institutions
• $100 for Two-Year Institutions
  * If your institution is a member and you'd like to join under their umbrella
  ** If your institution isn't a member but you'd like to join
  

In addition, we previously rolled out a new membership level called Life Plus. Life Plus is an optional membership plan allowing life members to donate $25 yearly to the NACTA Foundation—new or current Life members can opt into the Life Plus plan. If you have any questions, please reach out to us at support@nactateachers.org.

Already a member? To log in, please click here. If you run into any trouble logging in, please view this short instructional video. If you are still having login issues, please reach out to support@nactateachers.org.

We're still working on it! While it may not be perfect, we’re still working on it. The site will be getting new features over the next few months, as we look to expand our offerings further. Those include members-only access to newly published articles; expanded information for DTA, Judging Conferences and NACTA history; as well as NACTA Journal, abstract program and award book archives.

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Welcome New NACTA Members!

NACTA had 18 new members from May-August. We hope you will join us in welcoming them!

Canadian Region
Chris Budiwski, MB

Eastern Region
Paige Luck, NC
Pamala Morris, IN

Western Region
Kasey DeAtley, CA
Lindsey Freeman, WY
Kulbhushan Grover, NM
Mary Cathleen Kovarik, UT
Andrea Stapp, NM
Jeffrey White, NM
Marissa Wilson

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Renew or Become a New NACTA Member

NACTA is the largest professional development organization that focuses specifically on the scholarship of teaching and learning in agriculture, food and natural resources. Need to renew your membership? Want to invite a colleague to join? Want to change your membership status? Visit the membership page here. We appreciate your NACTA membership!