Our January meeting is just finishing up with some questions and answers with Terry Barr. We’ve got about 60 people here!

If you missed today’s meeting then you missed information from our speaker like his belief that we’ll see a potential doubling of ethanol production within 4 years and a doubling of how much corn is being used to make ethanol. Along with these predictions he’s providing his assumptions. We’re going to continue to hear lots about this since what happens in the biofuels markets has such an impact on other commodities and with legislation.

Make sure you find time to support your chapter and attend an upcoming meeting. Keep an eye on your inbox for those announcements and right here.

Steve Drake, president and CEO of Drake & Company, an accredited association management company, spoke at the November 21 meeting of the St. Louis Agribusiness Club and Gateway NAMA Chapter.

The topic centered on cause-related marketing based on the example of FedEx and Christmas Spirit Foundation’s Trees for Troops initiative. Last year FedEx and CSF joined to provide Christmas trees to servicemen and women overseas and their families on the homefront. FedEx provided the logistics and transportation; the National Christmas Tree Association provided the trees.

Although the story was a more or less a footnote nationally, it generated significant media impressions regionally and influenced the purchase of millions of Christmas trees. The program is on again this year, with more trees going to more locations.

Generation Y is driving cause-related marketing. With greater spending power than the boomers and a greater interest in helping others, there is a desire to court the demographic through causes such as the Koman Foundation or local schools.

The power of a cause to generate business is getting noticed. Associations, agencies and corporations are taking an initiative to link with causes that will further the brand.

For more information about cause-related marketing, contact Steve Drake: drake@drakeco.com.

Thanks to everyone who attended yesterday’s meeting of Gateway NAMA and the St. Louis Agri Business Club. About 75 people joined us for our Agency Roundtable, featuring speakers from some of the leading ag advertising agencies in the area, and led by moderator Janice Dahl of Anchor Management Group. Our October meeting was sponsored by Osborn & Barr Communications.

Our speakers for the meeting were:

• Joe Osborn, Osborn-Barr Communications
• Scott McClure, Brighton
• Bill Shelton, Left Field Creative
• Scott Kington, WoodruffSweitzer

Thanks also to our NAMA Board Members who helped with this meeting – including Janice Dahl, Chris Luelf, Rhett Hawkins and Brian Reuwee.

Our next meeting is set for November 21, and the topic is Cause-Related Marketing. Check back soon for more details.

Photos from the Gateway NAMA and St. Louis Agribusiness Club Agency Roundtable, October 10, 2006 at the Sheraton Westport.

Join us for the October joint meeting of Gateway NAMA & the St. Louis Agri Business Club.

The Changing Voice of Advertising: An Agency Roundtable Discussion

The agricultural market is changing in voice, response and message acceptance. Join us to hear some of the leading area agencies discuss how to market to reach today’s agricultural consumer.

Date: Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Time: 11:30-12:00 p.m. – Registration & Networking Reception; 12:00-1:30 p.m. – Luncheon & Program
Location: Sheraton Westport Plaza – 900 Westport Plaza Drive, St. Louis, MO
Cost: $20 per person
RSVP: by Oct. 6 to gatewagatewaynama@yahoo.com or 636/449-5040

Panel Discussion will include:

In August, the Gateway Chapter added Beth Lutter of Paradowski Creative to its roster. Welcome to Beth!

If you or someone you know is interested in joining the Gateway Chapter, please visit www.nama.org or contact us at gatewaynama@yahoo.com.

Our chapter President is Becky Rasmussen, Drake & Co., . She was on the program today briefly to fill us in on our next meeting. I’ll make sure to get that posted as soon as I get the details.

Today’s meeting was more of an Ag Club meeting since it was their 25 year celebration. The next meeting or two are being planned by our chapter.

Our combined meeting of the St. Louis Agribusiness Club and our NAMA chapter is over now.

The keynote speaker was Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Johanns. The Secretary covered a lot of topics from drought assistance to talking about energy and the upcoming USDA/DOE “Advancing Renewable Energy” conference here in St. Louis October 10-12.

Listen to his speech here: Sec. of Agriculture Mike Johanns Speech (27 min MP3)

Another summer is coming to a close and it’s time to get ready for our first meeting of the fall.

2006-07 NAMA/AgriBiz Club Kick-off Meeting
AgriBiz Club 25th Anniversary Celebration

Friday, September 15

11 a.m. — Networking and Social Noon – 2 p.m. Luncheon & Program

Location: Crown Plaza Hotel – Clayton, Grand Ballroom on lower level, 7750 Carondelet Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63105 (Garage parking with fee waived. Driving directions – attached)

$25 with advance registration – NO SHOWS WILL BE BILLED.

RSVP: E-mail GatewayNAMA@yahoo.com or call 636-449-5040 by September 5th

Meeting Sponsors to date: Missouri Dairy Association, Monsanto, and CoBank

Speaker: United States Secretary of Agriculture, Michael Johanns.

Mike Johanns was sworn in as the 28th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on January 21, 2005. Secretary Johanns’ strong agricultural roots stretch back to his childhood. He was born in Iowa and grew up doing chores on his family’s dairy farm. As the son of a dairy farmer, he developed a deep respect for the land and the people who work it. He still describes himself as “a farmer’s son with an intense passion for agriculture.” Prior to coming to USDA, Johanns was Nebraska’s 38th governor. During his six years in office, Johanns was a strong advocate for rural communities and farmers and ranchers. That’s why, with a new farm bill on the horizon, Johanns went to the country in 2005 to hear first-hand from producers about what was working with current farm policy and what was not. Johanns hosted 21 of 52 farm bill forums held in 48 states. Secretary Johanns is married to Stephanie Johanns, a former Lancaster County Commissioner and State Senator. The couple has two children and three grandchildren.

Also, hear from past presidents and officers of the St. Louis AgriBusiness Club as they recall some historical moments. All attending will receive a 25th Anniversary Booklet of Memoirs

The board held a conference call recently. Here’s some notes from that meeting and a link to a Word doc with the roster of our board for the new year.