It looks like there’s new life being breathed into the Agricultural Relations Council. I’m wondering if anyone would like to sponsor AgWired coverage of the annual conference? If so, please let me know.
The Agricultural Relations Council (ARC) announces its 2009 board of directors and its annual conference, set for March 12-14 in New Orleans.
The 2009 ARC Board includes: Deron Johnson, Rhea+Kaiser Marketing Communications, board president; Mace Thornton, American Farm Bureau Federation, first vice president; Katana Ewbank, Alpha Scouts, second vice president; and Bob Giblin, consultant, immediate past president. Directors include Mark Ingbritson, Rhea+Kaiser Marketing Communications; Amy Keith McDonald, McDonald Marketing Communications; Carroll E. Merry, Countryside Marketing; Janice Person, Monsanto; and Mike Opperman, Charleston/Orwig.
After maintaining a low-profile over the past few years, ARC is moving forward with a renewed direction to meet the needs of public relations/public affairs practitioners across the country. “We are excited about this new team and eager to rejuvenate and invigorate ARC in 2009 and beyond,” says Johnson. “We now have retained Gardner & Gardner Communications, an association management firm, to manage the organization and are dedicated to growing the organization in members as well as in professional development.”
Part of that professional development is the upcoming ARC Annual Conference set for the Bourbon Orleans Hotel in New Orleans. The theme this year — ARC New Orleans: Renewal, Rebuild and Restore – appropriately mirrors the current efforts of the host city. The Thursday through Saturday meeting provides a unique combination of professional development, New Orleans agricultural tours and more.
Some meeting highlights include:
Social networking, the online evolution and its continuing implications for PR
PR best practices roundtable discussion with agency/corporate/government representatives
Army Corps of Engineers session on rebuilding New Orleans after Katrina, with a focus on unique communications challenges — tour included
New ARC direction session
Gulf of Mexico oyster tour with Louisiana Farm Bureau
Schoolyard garden community-service project
Member registration for the meeting is $300. Non-member registration is $450, which includes a first year membership in ARC at a reduced rate of $150 (vs. regular annual membership of $175). For more information about the meeting, go to www.agrelationscouncil.org.
For more information about getting involved in ARC, including memberships, sponsorships, committee work, etc., contact Johnson at djohnson@rkconnect.com or Den Gardner, executive director, or Barb Ulschmid, associate director, at 952/758-5811.